Festival On Demand!
Welcome to Maine Thespian's Festival On Demand!
Because we can't meet together in 2020, Maine Thespians has invited the best of our Festival Presenters to offer live online workshops that teachers may select to enhance your remote classroom experiences for your students. Please peruse the offerings from professional teaching artists below, and contact the presenter directly if you are interested for more information. We will continue to add new workshops continually so please come back periodically to check for new offerings!
Mariel Roy
Director, Atlantic Dance Arts, Gorham, ME
After receiving my BA in Dance from Dean College, I moved back to Maine to teach dance, and eventually opened my own studio, Atlantic Dance Arts. In addition to running a studio, I also choreograph musicals at Biddeford City Theater, Gorham High School, and teach for the York County Regional Fine Arts program.
Musical Theatre Dance
We will begin class with a basic warmup and stretch and then work on an excerpt of (my own) choreography from a musical.
Workshop length:
45 minutes (this can be adjusted if necessary)
Contact info:
Email: meroy626@gmail.com or mariel@atlanticdancearts.com
Cell: (207) 671-5161
Pricing:
Please contact Mariel for more information.
Mark Drum
A NYC-based artist and graduate from the University of Northern Colorado, with a B.A. in Theatre. Mark is an EdTA professional member, ETF Board of Trustee, EdTA Board Member, proud Thespian alum from Thespian troupe 6513 and Junior Thespian troupe 88331. He was also an ITO representative in 2005-2006. Mark was on the MTV reality competition 90’s House that was seen around the world. He has also appeared in shows on ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, HBO Max and NBC. Follow him on social media @whoismarkdrum and check out his website www.whoismarkdrum.com
Hip Hop Choreography
Come break it down! The tempo and complexity of each class will be tailored to the participants involved, so all are welcome to join the crew! You'll learn not just a basic hip hop routine, but also to not be too timid to try new things or to ask questions.
Learn a movement combination, participants to explore movement, participants will ask questions and be able to try new things in a safe and controlled environment.
Workshop Length:
Can be 45 - 90 minutes, depending on time needed
Contact Info:
https://www.whoismarkdrum.com/contact
Pricing:
Pricing is negotiable. Please contact Mark for more information
Teaching Artist Alliance
TAA To Go
TAA To Go offers a collection of live (synchronous) and recorded (asynchronous) workshops by professional teaching artists from across the country for remote learning classes and festivals.
Please visit their website for more information:
Nick Turner
Nick Turner is the Executive Director of The Grand in Ellsworth which presents film, live music, opera, and produces four live theater productions a year – pre-pandemic. Nick spent two years in NYC where he worked for a Tony Award winning producer and taught theater workshops in all five boroughs. He spent over 20 years in Colorado owning and operating a performing arts school, a 49-seat cabaret theater and 380 seat dinner theater. He has cast, directed and/or produced over a hundred productions. He has also written numerous plays and mini-musicals and was a member of the Playwright’s Unit at the Denver Center of the Performing Arts.
Yes, Shakespeare!
If you haven’t already, you will someday be asked to do a classical monologue probably from Shakespeare’s works. In this class, actors will be coached through selecting to performing a piece from one of Shakespeare’s plays. The goal is to go beyond the acting to engage the audience and draw them into the wonder and humanity that is infused in the plays.
(Student’s experience levels and interests will be ascertained, monologues recommended and approved. A brief review of acting Shakespeare will be presented and discussed including the history and evolution of approaches. Then we’ll work through the interpretation and acting of the piece referencing examples and theories. And have fun.)
Workshop Length:
Length of class sessions will be adjusted to class size but 1-2 hours at time is optimal. All can be over several weekly sessions. Very flexible.
Contact Info:
Nick Turner – director@grandonline.org – 970-412-4413
Pricing:
There will be no charge.
Nick Turner
Nick Turner is the Executive Director of The Grand in Ellsworth which presents film, live music, opera, and produces four live theater productions a year – pre-pandemic. Nick spent two years in NYC where he worked for a Tony Award winning producer and taught theater workshops in all five boroughs. He spent over 20 years in Colorado owning and operating a performing arts school, a 49-seat cabaret theater and 380 seat dinner theater. He has cast, directed and/or produced over a hundred productions. He has also written numerous plays and mini-musicals and was a member of the Playwright’s Unit at the Denver Center of the Performing Arts.
Playwriting
A small group class exploring scriptwriting from inspiration to performance. Interactive writing experiments will engage us as writers and encourage collaboration and the gifting of sparks that serve another writer’s work better than our own. Then we work through to a final script in a supportive and positive environment.
(Student’s experience levels and interests will be ascertained, and their goals discussed. Using a selection of proven creative exercises, we will pursue inspiration for the story each writer wishes to tell. Then, we’ll go through all the stages from notes to multiple drafts to a “staged” reading as time and opportunity allows. And have fun.)
Workshop Length:
Length of class sessions will be adjusted to class size but 1-2 hours at time is optimal. All can be over several weekly sessions. Very flexible.
Contact Info:
Nick Turner – director@grandonline.org – 970-412-4413
Pricing:
There will be no charge.
Nick Turner
Nick Turner is the Executive Director of The Grand in Ellsworth which presents film, live music, opera, and produces four live theater productions a year – pre-pandemic. Nick spent two years in NYC where he worked for a Tony Award winning producer and taught theater workshops in all five boroughs. He spent over 20 years in Colorado owning and operating a performing arts school, a 49-seat cabaret theater and 380 seat dinner theater. He has cast, directed and/or produced over a hundred productions. He has also written numerous plays and mini-musicals and was a member of the Playwright’s Unit at the Denver Center of the Performing Arts.
No Worry Auditioning
A practical look at audition preparation with a strong focus on the process, the monologues and what happens after you get the role. Also, a look at musical theater auditions.
(Student’s experience levels and interests will be ascertained, and their goals discussed. The basics of auditioning will be reviewed, and audition pieces approved. Proven techniques and methods of preparation will be explored and practiced, and actors will have multiple opportunities to audition for the class. And have fun.)
Workshop Length:
Length of class sessions will be adjusted to class size but 1-2 hours at time is optimal. All can be over several weekly sessions. Very flexible.
Contact Info:
Nick Turner – director@grandonline.org – 970-412-4413
Pricing:
There will be no charge.
Shirlee Idzakovich
Costuming Your Show
from A to Z
from A to Z
We will learn to costume a show from the very beginning to seeing it on stage. This work-shop teaches you the core elements of how to start and touching on every step alongthe way. If you are a beginner or an advanced costumer, this is for you. I have combined allmy experiences as a professional costumer, an educator to guide you on how to do this. Eachworkshop we will be building a lesson and I hope you join me for a great and positive work environment that allows you to express how you can build your show better and more efficient.
1- Forming your plan, envision.TH:Cr1.1.I.a. Apply basic research to construct ideas about the visual composition of a drama/theatre work.
TH:Cr1.1.I.c.Use script analysis to generate ideas about a character that is believable and authentic in a drama/theatre work.
Creating your team
Script analysis/Character analysis
Starting your book
Discussions - Jobs in theatre, costuming.
2- Prepare, Developing your book
TH:Pr5.1.I.b Use researched technical elements to increase the impact of design for a drama/theatre production.
TH:Re7.1.I.a. Respond to what is seen, felt, and heard in a drama/theatre work to develop criteria for artistic choices.
Director Directions
Budgets
Time Frame
Costume Plot
Discussions - Color Coding What is it?
3- Evaluate, Research - ArtisticTH:Re9.1.I.a. Consider the aesthetics of the production elements in a drama/theatrework.Mood BoardsCroquisColor storyBBBR (Buy, Build,Bring or Rent)Discussions - What if I am not artistic?4 - Evaluate, to the stage!TH:Cn11.2.1.I.b. Use basic theatre research methods to better understand the socialand cultural background of a drama/theatre work.Mic PlotsCostume ParadeHow it all fits together, lights, sound, set, actors, crew.Discussions- Everyone has a seat at the theatre table.Added CurriculumStrategies for Inclusion:Sketching alternativesVisual sharing alternativesOral presentation alternatives.
For more information, contact Shirlee Idzakovich, shirleezak@yahoo.com
Michael Trautman
For more information, please contact Michael at info@michaeltrautman.com
207.450.5342
Mime and Physical Character
This unique performer has performed by invitation in 16 different countries on 6 different continents. Across the USA he has presented in prestigious venues such as The Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian, The National Storytelling Festival, The Mesa Performing Arts Center, The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival plus dozens of other storytelling festivals and educational institutions across the USA.
Antonio has received several awards and grants, including the once in a lifetime Circle of Excellence Award. This award was presented to him in 2015 by the National Storytelling Network for his exceptional commitment and exemplary contributions to the art of storytelling. He has studied under Tony Montanaro, Marcel Marceau and earned at summa Cum Laude Theatre BA from the Univ. of Southern Maine. Even under COVID Mr. Rocha has had a busy 10 months broadcasting from his home studio to several events around the country and abroad.For more information please visit: www.storyinmotion.com
Physical Eloquence
Antonio Rocha has worked with several High School Theatre groups for the One Act Competition. He has done several very successful productions with the Yarmouth Players, and also run workshops for Cape Elizabeth and Camden HS.
Physical eloquence is of great importance while developing a character, especially if you are a teenager playing a person who is much older then you are. Observation and mimicry are key elements during this process. Detail, detail.....Did I say detail? Nope, I wrote it. The Devil is in the detail folks. If your physical foundation is not solid, you will not find the right voice for your character, for over 70% of how we communicate is based on our body language. My first lesson on physical eloquence was when my mother took me to watch an Akira Kurosawa movie called Dersu Uzala when I was 10 years old. The scene showed a Siberian guide analyzing a footprint on the snow. He could tell a lot simply by looking at the print. He could even tell if the adult footprint was that of a young person or not. How could he tell? He answered that young people hold their body weight forward, so the front of the print will be deeper on the toes and lighter on the heels. Older folks are just the opposite. That was an incredible lesson for my later work in physical eloquence. Youth is driven forward towards the future, old age, is more settled back in their memories. The general thought process of a character changes the way they stand. This is the work I am talking about. I hope to see you soon.
Duration: One hour to 90 minutes.
Each workshop is presented live and the cost is $100 per school theatre group
Storytelling
Storytelling is one of the oldest art forms in the world. It is the foundation from which multiplayer theatre (plays) came from. Storytelling is not just in theatre, but it is in the business world as well. The best speeches, and business presentations are usually punctuated with stories and not just facts. So, knowing how to hold your place, alone, and have the audience in the palm of your hand, not only requires the right story but also good techniques. During this workshop you will learn not only how to use your voice, but how to capitalize on the movement of your eyes, and the eloquence of your hands. So, come and study with one of the best in the storytelling industry, and your stories will never be the same.
Duration 60 to 90 minutes.
Each workshop is presented live and the cost is $100 per school theatre group