[BATA] Acting Class at The Pear Avenue Theatre

[Jeanie Forte]

Hello all of you-- hope you've been having a wonderful holiday
season so far, and that it continues through a happy and safe
New Year...  I wanted to update you all on the Acting/Scene Study
class at the Pear Avenue Theatre, that WILL start FOR SURE, come
high water or earthquake, on Tuesday, Jan. 6.  There are some
changes that you need to know about.

One, there will be a new teacher for this opening session in 2004.
Her name is Jane Geesman, and she's fabulous, and you will love
working with her.  She is a talented director and actress, has a long
and lustrous resume, and has taught acting on all levels for many
years.  We met to discuss the class, and we have a very similar
approach to acting training and philosophy about stage work.
I HIGHLY recommend her as your mentor, and hope you will
do the class in order to benefit from her expertise.  There's
a short bio for Jane at the end of this message.

Two, the class will operate slightly differently.  The class will be
offered in eight-week sessions, with slight breaks in between
each session.  Students are asked to sign on for the entire eight
weeks, at $200. per student.  This is the same cost as the previous
set-up; still a bargain!  But this allows us to have more consistency
with student attendance and setting up the class.  We ask that you
sign up just as you would with any other class you might take, and
make payment in advance of or by the first class session.  If this
presents a hardship, let me know.  The class dates for this first
session are Jan. 6, 13, 20, and 27, and Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24.
All Tuesdays, all 7:00 - 10:00 pm.

Teaching will continue to be shared by Jane, me (Jeanie), and
Diane Tasca.  On some occasions you might have the benefit
of all three of us--  but teaching will be consistent within a given
session, to provide continuity.

For the first session of 2004, Jane will begin with a series of
workshops designed to teach and sharpen stage skills, good
for the seasoned actor as well as the beginner.  You won't
need to come prepared with a scene; those will be assigned
after the session begins.  Below is Jane's description of the
kinds of things you'll be working on.  =46rom our discussion,
the work sounds vital, exciting, and fun.

To sign up:  Simply hit reply and let me know that you're on for
this first session.  Then put a check for $200 in the mail, made
out to The Pear Avenue Theatre (put Acting Class in the memo),
and send it to:
Acting Class
Pear Avenue Theatre
1220 Pear Avenue, Unit K
Mountain View, CA 94043
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to e-mail me or
give me a call-- (650) 321-9520.  I do hope you'll be joining us in the
New Year-- It's an exciting development for our class!  I also look
forward to seeing both "old" and "new" students...
Sincerely,
Jeanie Forte

Jane's "blurb" about the class:
This class is for you if you want to:
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Learn (or review) the =
key fundamentals of the craft=20
of acting
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Learn how to approach =
a script, how to develop a=20
character
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Get the most out of =
yourself as you train your acting=20
"instruments" -- your voice, your mind, and your body.
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Gain poise and =
confidence in front of people
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Increase your =
listening and communication skills
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Experience the =
intimacy, connection, and fun of acting

=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0A common misconception about acting =
is that actors "lose"=20
themselves in their roles. =A0Not so! =A0It is the responsibility of =
actors=20
to find themselves in their characters through a process of=20
self-discovery, enhanced self-awareness, and a solid grasp of acting=20
principles. =A0A character, after all, is little more than words on a=20
page. =A0It is only when the actor -- a living, breathing, feeling human=20=

being -- steps into the world of the play (the "given circumstances")=20
and utters the lines of dialogue that the character takes on life. =A0And=20=

the more willing the actor is to reveal himself or herself, the more=20
fully realized the character will be.
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0This class is for those people who =
are interested in=20
exploring themselves and the craft of acting. =A0Acting principles are=20=

presented and experienced through a series of exercises, including=20
improvisation, movement, scene study, and breathwork. =A0The class focus=20=

is not on final performance, but rather the process of learning=20
important fundamentals and incorporating those concepts in scene work. =A0=


Jane's Bio:
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Jane Geesman, who moved to the Bay =
area from Portland,=20
Oregon, two years ago, has been a professional actress since 1980,=20
appearing in numerous theatrical productions, as well as commercials=20
and films. =A0Having earned her MFA in Drama, she began teaching acting=20=

in the early 1990s when she joined the faculty of the Portland Actors=20
Conservatory. =A0She has also taught at community colleges, and =
currently=20
leads acting workshops both in Portland and the Vancouver, B.C. area.=20
Jane's directing credits include "Stop Kiss" and "Memory of Water" in=20
Portland, as well as "Anton in Show Business" at Palo Alto Players and=20=

"Collected Stories" here at the Pear Avenue Theatre.

__________________________________________________
"It takes more than greasepaint and footlights to make an actress,
it takes heartache and hard work."
-- from "Stage Door" by Kaufman & Ferber