Primary Stages Establishes New Theatre School

Primary Stages Company will be offering a series of intensive classes in Playwriting, Acting,  Producing, and On-Camera Technique to be taught by Casey Childs (Founder and Executive Producer of Primary Stages), Andrew Leynse (Artistic Director), and Elliot Fox (Managing Director), as well as other established theatre professionals.

"We wanted to create a theatre school as part of our artistic plan at Primary Stages for a long time," said Casey Childs.   "This Fall's classes will be the first step in the creation of a full-fledged program."

"Our mission has always been geared to nurturing young talent," added Andrew Leynse.  "We want the training program to celebrate developing new works, and we are seeking students who, like us, are committed to creating new work."

Acting classes will include scene study classes designed for working actors as well as classes in basic acting technique for beginners. Recognizing that young actors must be flexible enough to work in all mediums, Primary Stages will also be offering courses in on-camera acting taught by Linda and David Laundra.  Together, the Laundras ran the Writer's Theatre in New York for many years.  Ms. Laundra was a producer on CBS's "The Guilding Light" and produced and directed NBC's "Another World."  PSC will also offer after school acting workshops for teenagers taught by PSC artistic staff members Tessa LaNeve and Michelle Bossy as an extension of their educational outreach program. 

Elliot Fox, Primary Stages Managing Director, will conduct a ten-week seminar geared toward producing Off-Broadway, which will include discussions with playwrights, directors, designers, actors, and other arts management professionals. 

Playwriting classes will be taught by established young writers including Julia Jordan, Andrew Case, David Caudle, Brooke Berman, and Rogelio Martinez.

Childs, who has directed many new plays at Primary Stages and other Off-Broadway theatres, along with directing and producing many episodes on several television series (currently, ABC's "All My Children"), will serve as director of the school. 

All classes will begin in mid-September and meet once a week for ten weeks.  Admission into the scene study classes taught by Mr. Childs and Mr. Leynse will be by interview/audition only.

For further information or to receive a registration packet, please email school@primarystages.com.

Photo - Andrew Leynse

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