Touchstone and Allentown Public Theatre Announce Actor Training Program

Touchstone Theatre founder Bill George and Allentown Public Theatre artistic director Joshua Neth announce that they will be co-teaching a year-long program of actor training starting this fall. Entitled the Valley Actor's Lab (VAL), the program seeks to provide excellent and systematic training to seriously inclined actors in the Lehigh Valley.
George and Neth describe themselves as "two theatre artists who hold their love of actors and the work of the actor above all earthly things"; coming from different backgrounds and different theatre educations, they have joined teaching skills in this unique effort to advance the life of the actor in the Lehigh Valley. Their intention in creating VAL is to strengthen the work of the Valley theatre community by deepening the base of well-trained artists in the region and facilitating collaboration between producers and performers.

Scheduled to start in September of 2014, VAL classes will use theatre exercises, games, demonstrations, and discussions to systematically explore the work and culture of the actor. Revolving around an exploration of two great texts - Shakespeare's The Tempest and Chekov's The Seagull - the actor's work will be approached from the "inside out" (starting from an actor conceptualizing their character) as well as "outside in" (using tools like mask and puppetry to evoke and inform acting choices).

Participants will conclude the year with a dramatic presentation of their classwork at the end of June. Additional perks for participants include discounted tickets to area theatre productions, free and discounted admission to area theatre workshops, and audition support and coaching for area theatre productions.

The Valley Actor's Lab will hold classes on Wednesday nights from September 3, 2014 through June 27, 2015, over three eight-week sessions and one ten-week session. Interested actors should contact Bill George at Touchstone Theatre (610-867-1689 or bill@touchstone.org) to schedule an interview.

About Touchstone

Celebrating over thirty-three years, Touchstone Theatre produces and presents both original and classic productions, with a dedication to the renewal of theatre as a vital art form. Touchstone works to foster collaboration on a local and national level through educational and youth empowerment programs, using theatre as a community-building tool. Visit us on the web at www.touchstone.org

About Allentown Public Theatre

Founded in 2008, Allentown Public Theatre works to enrich the community by presenting memorable performances and providing employment and training for theatre artists. APT also works to build community in neighborhoods and contribute to the education of young people through theatre performances and workshops. Visit us on the web at www.allentownpublictheatre.com