Playwright Sarah Ruhl and SMASH's Wesley Taylor to Lead Summer Workshops to Support Off-Broadway's THE CLEARING

Tony nominee Sarah Ruhl and Smash's Wesley Taylor lead a one-of-kind workshop series for theater artists of all kinds. Don't miss this rare opportunity to learn with some of the masters of the craft! All proceeds from every workshop will help fund the upcoming Off-Broadway play produced by Feola and BrIan Patrick Murphy.

These workshops cater to all theatre artists whether your focus is acting, directing, or playwriting. Workshops rage from $50-$115 and are designed to be an intimate learning experience for all involved. Please email TheClearingPlay@gmail.com to book your spot. For more information on The Clearing or for booking your workshop, visit www.theclearingplay.com.

The Clearing, a new play by Jake Jeppson of Yale's School of Drama, will get its New York City Premiere at Theater at St. Clements in New York City, directed by Drama Desk Award winner Josh Hecht. The Clearing tells the story of two brothers who climb to a clearing at the top of a gorge: a place to tell stories, to escape their dysfunctional mother, and to honor a buried family secret from their childhood nearly twenty years later. The sacredness of the clearing is challenged when one brother introduces his new lover to their lives. Jeppson's multi-faceted characters weave a compelling story about a family trying to pick up the pieces after a mysterious event challenges their ties to one another.

The following workshops are offered at various prices.

Producing Your Own Cabaret with Ben Rimalower
Wednesday July 31st 2013 6:00 - 8:00

Don't miss this unique workshop experience where aspiring cabaret performers will have a chance to learn from Off-Broadway's downtown gem, Ben Rimalower, currently starring in his critically acclaimed one-man Cabaret: Patti Issues (M.A.C. Award, Outstanding New York Debut, and Bistro Award, Best Solo Play, featured presentation at Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Summer Conference). The creator and star of this one-of-a-kind theatrical experience teaches an intimate master class on the ins and outs of creating your own Cabaret sensation. Ben will talk about the pros and cons of self-producing. In addition to helpful tips and feedback on your own Cabaret ideas, each student will receive a pair of complimentary ticket to PATTI ISSUES currently playing at The Duplex on Thursdays at 9:30 before August 15 (two drink minimum). It is recommended that each student attend the show prior to the workshop. This is a not-to-be-missed workshop for anyone considering self-producing their own Cabaret.

Experiments in Quick Writing with Sarah Ruhl
Friday August 2nd 5:00-7:30

Tony Award nominee Sarah Ruhl will lead a one-of-a-kind workshop in which playwrights will have an opportunity to do in-class writing - drawing on exercises used by automatic writers like Stein. She will also work with playwrights and explore how meditation might impact automatic writing. Followed by a Q and A and a group discussion about process. Playwrights will not be required to have pieces prepared.

Auditioning for Musical Theatre with Wesley Taylor
Monday August 12th 5:00-7:30

This Musical Theatre Workshop, led by Smash's Wesley Taylor, will help performers rediscover their audition material. Wesley will work with each artist individually on his or her audition material and will help find a new and fresh approach to something that's been sung a million times. Performers will be asked to prepare 32 bars of their favorite audition piece and get feedback from an actor's perspective to rediscover the depth and meaning of the material.

Tools for Teaching Artists with Kathleen Dorman
Tuesday August 13th 5:00-8:00

Sharpen your skills as a teaching artist with the Director of Education at Off-Broadway's Award Winning Classic Stage Company (CSC), Kathleen Dorman. This workshop follows the same format as the training received by Columbia University MFA Acting candidates that are then employed as teaching artists with CSC's Young Company program. Students will explore theories of teaching and learning, gain a general overview of practical activities and techniques, and exchange and learn new drama games for the classroom while considering best practices. Kathleen will work with students on how to obtain teaching artist jobs and will end the class with a Q&A. Whether new to teaching or looking for a brush-up, this workshop will enhance the quality of your work in the classroom.

Devising Your Own Work with Josh Hecht
Thursday August 15th 5:00-7:30

Drama Desk Award Winner Josh Hecht will lead a workshop where the focus will be making ensemble-generated, devised work. Working quickly and collaboratively, the group will explore various techniques for generating material, and then break into small working groups to create highly theatrical compositions that can be the basis for full-scale pieces. The workshop is open to all writers, directors and actors, to actors interested in writing, writers who are interested in acting, directors who want to generate their own material, people interested in multi-disciplinary work, and anyone interested in imaginative ways of telling stories.

Collaborative Leadership for Directors with Stephen Kaliski
Monday August 19th 5:00-7:30

Forget the popular belief that the director should be the center of attention. Or the ultimate authority. Or the smartest person in the room. When it comes to effective storytelling in the theater, the director is less often the puppeteer than the primary audience member, working with open ears, empathy, and a crafty sense-of-play to elicit the very best work from the production team. Join director and educator Stephen Kaliski (teacher of "Joy in the Performing Arts) for a liberating exploration of how a director can effectively collaborate instead of ineffectively control. Discover how you can lead a powerful production by taking the attention off of yourself and putting it on the brilliant artists and stories surrounding you.

Auditioning for Shakespeare with Craig Baldwin
Monday August 26th 5:00-7:00

This class, led by Red Bull Theater's Associate Artistic Director Craig Baldwin, will give you tools to deactivate your fears, and reactivate your classical monologue. You will discover ways to stay present and centered in those high-pressure situations. You will explore how the language can free you. Along with general class work, each student will be given specific one-on-one opportunities. Students are asked to come prepared with a 3-minute classical monologue.

Interested candidates should email theclearingplay@gmail.com for more information on cost and payment options. For more information about the The Clearing and donation instructions, visit www.theclearingplay.com.

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