Piven Theatre Workshop Announces Its Spring 2010 Classes

Piven Theatre Workshop proudly announces its Spring 2010 session of theatre classes for children and adults, as well as its continued growth in outreach programs throughout the Chicago-land area. The Spring 2010 session offers a wide variety of classes featuring the nationally recognized Piven Training Technique. Youth classes begin February 1, 2010 and Adult classes begin February 15, 2010; all courses culminate in a workshop series open to the public in May 2010. Classes are held at Piven Theatre, 927 Noyes St, Evanston, IL.

Piven Theatre Workshop's renowned Training Technique is a combination of improvisation exercises designed to bring truth and honesty to an actor's performance of scripted work. The goal of the improvisation is always to develop the creative impulses, listening skills, and social perception necessary for acting out a playwright's text. Celebrating over 35 years as a nationally recognized and acclaimed theatre arts training center, Piven Theatre Workshop offers a full curriculum of classes for both young people and adults. With a focus on ensemble and artistic collaboration, students of all ages are encouraged to express their own unique voice and point of view, while maintaining a responsibility to the group.

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED FOR THE FULL LISTING OF PIVEN THEATRE WORKSHOP ADULT & CHILDREN'S COURSES

ABOUT THE PIVEN THEATRE WORKSHOP
For over 35 years, the Piven Theatre Workshop has remained a nationally respected acting school and professional Equity theatre. Within recent history, Piven Theatre has received a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Sound Design, and an After Dark Award for Outstanding Ensemble. The theatre has also received several Joseph Jefferson Recommendations, a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Adaptation, and Jeff nominations for Best Original Score, and Best Ensemble. Co-Founders Byrne & Joyce Piven have trained countless theatre artists such as John and Joan Cusack, Kate Walsh, Aidan Quinn, Lili Taylor and Jeremy Piven, to name only a few. Stagebill honored the Pivens with the designation "Chicago's first family of acting." The Pivens have been awarded the Evanston Mayors Award for the Arts, Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Chicago Improv Festival, and the University of Chicago's Glorious Gargoyle Award for lifetime contribution to the theatre. They were named 1996 Artists of the Year by the Chicago Tribune and were recipients of the Chicago Drama League's 1998 Crystal Award. In 2000, they were awarded a Joseph Jefferson Lifetime Achievement Award. For more information, please visit www.piventheatre.org.