The Ringwald and Papa Weeze Partnering for Theatre Lab

Hoping to fill a unique niche developing up-and-coming theatrical talent in Metro Detroit, The Ringwald and Papa Weeze are partnering to offer a local arts academy, dubbed "Theatre Lab."

The collaboration will initially present two four-hour workshops the first on February 6, 2016 from 11 AM to 3 PM and the second on February 20, 2016 from 11 AM to 3 PM. The workshops are designed as a master acting class involving theatre games, text analysis, scene exercises, and partnering work. A portion of each session will address audition technique. The classes will be taught by local theatre professional Travis Reiff and will offer an unprecedented level of access to local actors, producers, and technicians.

All classes will be held at The Ringwald's performance space in Ferndale.

Performers who attend will gain insight into acting fundamentals, working on a range of material and practicing their skills among peers with immediate feedback from Reiff and other faculty.

· Barbie Weisserman, executive director of Papa Weeze, explains, "We have so many exceptional local performers, and we wanted to create a forum - at a reasonable price point - that could bring all of those folks together to learn from each other and to incubate new projects and creative growth. We hope this is the beginning of an academy of sorts where we can diversify the educational offerings and really specialize in stage, film, and production work."

· Reiff adds, "I'm really excited to share what I've learned in my career with these students. Conducting the class at The Ringwald will give them access to play in a professional space, and these workshops will also create new connections among all of the participants that will hopefully result in new work, new collaborations, and new opportunities for everyone involved. I think it's going to be phenomenal."

· Register by emailing Papa Weeze at papaweeze.inc@gmail.com or contact the Ringwald at www.theringwald.com no later than January 30, 2016 for the February 6, 2016 workshop and February 13, 2016 for the February 20, 2015 workshop.

· Cost to attend the workshops is $60 per student per workshop.