MET Ensemble School Offers Winter/Spring 2015 Actor Training

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) is proud to announce its spring schedule of classes for The Ensemble School. Taught by working actors and directors, the Ensemble School is a training ground for professional and aspiring actors of all skill levels with classes for students from age seven to adult.

"With the opening of our new Stage2 space, we have more opportunities for producing student work", said Gené Fouché, Director of The Ensemble School. "This semester we are instituting the 'Teen Performance Ensemble' which will be performing in several improv shows throughout the year. As the teen ensemble grows, we will also be producing plays in order to give them more stage experience."

The MET will be holding an Open House on January 29 from 4:30 - 6:00 pm. The Open House will offer prospective students the chance to meet the instructors and to tour the space.

The Youth Classes this Semester include "Acting Out!" taught by Caitlyn Joy. Open to ages 7-9 the class features games and exercises that build self-confidence and encourage the creative mind. Caitlyn Joy, a veteran of The Ensemble School and a graduate of the Theater program at Towson, will also teach the class for ages 10-12. Students in this class will use improv, scene work, and vocal techniques and explore ensemble-based movement to create realistic acting within an ensemble structure. Caitlyn Joy is also teaching two new classes at The Ensemble School, including "Teen Improv Performance Ensemble", open to ages 13-17, and "Musical Theatre". Thom Huenger will also be teaching the "Musical Theatre" class, which will be offered to youth students in the spring and teenage students in the fall. This class will explore vocal technique, choreography and acting skills. All skills needed to make you a "triple threat" will be integrated.

"Teen Improv I" will be taught by James McGarvey, and will feature an hour of short and long form improv games and scenes that encourage on-the-spot thinking, creativity and fun. Matt Lee will teach "Teen Acting", which will give students the skills to tackle any role they may encounter, as well as exploring core concepts in understanding the actor's process. "It's important for students of theatre to keep training. Like dancers or musicians, actors need to refine skills in the classroom that will transfer to the actual performance. Of course, actors can be cast in shows without training, however, this often leads to bad habits that become extremely difficult to break and prevent artistic growth," said Fouché.

The Ensemble School will be offering two classes for adults. "Adult Improv" will be taught by current member of The Comedy Pigs, Laura Stark, who has performed with improv troupes in DC and NYC. MET company memberVanessa Strickland and Director of the Ensemble School Gené Fouché will teach the Adult Acting class, which will include scene study to incorporate script analysis and research, along with characterization, to assist students in preparing for any role. Students will also work on auditioning techniques.

All classes are 12-week sessions that begin the week of February 9, meet once a week and have limited class sizes. All classes are held at Maryland Ensemble Theatre located in the historic FSK Hotel at 31 W Patrick Street in downtown Frederick.

In addition The Ensemble School will offer music lessons taught by MET Ensemble Member and long time music instructor, Thom Huenger. There are private lessons for voice, piano, guitar and music theory. For more info on music classes you can contact Huenger directly at 301-401-9189 orthom.huenger@gmail.com.

Since 1995 The Ensemble School has been offering classes to students who have gone on to work on stage, TV and film in NYC, Chicago and Hollywood. In addition to The Ensemble School, MET offers thought-provoking theatre, fun family entertainment, artist residency programs for public schools and side-splitting comedy.

For more information on The Ensemble School including class schedules and tuition rates, visit
marylandensemble.org or call 301-694-4744.

THE ENSEMBLE THEATRE INFORMATION:

Winter/Spring 2015 Classes * New classes begin week of February 9 and run for 12 weeks.

ADULT CLASSES

Adult Acting- Scene Study & Auditioning Technique * Tuesdays * 6:00 - 7:30 pm * $220

Adult Improv * Tuesdays * 7:30 - 9:00 pm * $220

YOUTH CLASSES

Acting Out! (Ages 7-9) * Mondays * 4:30- 5:30 pm * $180

Musical Theatre (Ages 8-12) * Thursdays * 4:30 - 6:00 pm * $220

Performance Skills (Ages 10-12) * Mondays * 5:45 - 6:45 pm * $180

Teen Improv I (Ages 13-17) * Wednesdays * 4:30 - 5:30 pm * $180

Teen Improv II Performance Ensemble (Ages 13-17) * Thursdays * 6:00 - 7:00 pm * $180

Teen Acting (Ages 13-17) * Wednesdays * 5:30 - 7:00 pm * $220

To register for theater classes: Call 301-694-4744 or marylandensemble.org or at the MET, 31 W Patrick Street Frederick MD

To register for music lessons: For private music lessons or group guitar you can contact Thom Huenger directly at 301-401-9189 or at Thom.Huenger@gmail.com.

Photo courtesy Maryland Ensemble Theatre.