Scene Study (Intermediate/Advanced)

An actor is always working on their craft.  When you’re not working, you should be in class. Scene Study is for working actors and for those that have the desire and work ethic to be a working actor. Verve’s Scene Study class is a safe, vigorous, nurturing environment for you to build and practice your technique.  Only through long-term training will you achieve your goals, stretch your previously held limitations, and learn to be flexible and adaptable while remaining true to the character and the script. 

Through partnered scene work, monologues, and solo Uta Hagen exercises, you will learn to create truthful, organic moment-to-moment life on stage on a weekly basis.  The combination of expert coaching and self-critique will allow you to identify and articulate what is working and what isn’t, and most importantly, why. 

While Scene Study is an Acting Foundations class, students must be experienced before entering. To meet the pre-requisite, complete Acting Foundations: 1. Core Technique, Acting Foundations: 2. Whole Body Acting, Acting Foundations: 3. Get Personal or through an Audition.

Scene Study on Mondays with Amanda is for Intermediate, Advanced and Master level students.  All levels are eligible for the Showcase, but will require invitation.  If you are not yet signed, you must also have completed Commercial L1 (and L2 is recommended). 

The 2023 Industry Showcase is scheduled for June 12.  Advanced/Master Students must be enrolled in Term 2 and 3, Intermediate must be enrolled in Terms 1, 2 and 3. 

For the Guest Artist Master class, only Advanced and Master class level students are eligible to present scenes (Intermediate will audit).  Only 2 scenes will be selected to present at the class.  

BOOKS:

Required/completed: Uta Hagen’s A CHALLENGE FOR THE ACTOR. 

18 HOURS OF CLASS PER TERM
3-hour class once a week for six weeks.
Maximum: 14 students.
Minimum deposit of 1/2 of full tuition must be put down to secure spot in the class. Balance is due no later than one week prior to the Term.  No cancellations after one week prior to the start of the Term.

Keep a list of the parts/plays/scenes/types you want to play.

Read plays from the digital or physical library (link is in your registration confirmation).

Read ahead on the Hagen exercises so you can discover them as they come up in your real life.

Email Amanda by noon every Monday with what you'll be putting up in class.

Class is not a substitution for rehearsal.

REQUIRED BOOK:

Required: Uta Hagen’s A CHALLENGE FOR THE ACTOR. 

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:

RESPECT FOR ACTING by Uta Hagen

ACTING: THE FIRST SIX LESSONS by Richard Boleslavsky | Amazon 

ACTING AND LIVING IN DISCOVERY – A WORKBOOK FOR THE ACTOR by Carol Rosenfeld.  This is a personal workbook that can be a great accompaniment to your work. |  Amazon  

FINE ON ACTING: A VISION OF THE CRAFT by Howard Fine.  Also based on Hagen’s work, but includes auditioning and present day actor challenges and solutions.  | Amazon 

SCENE STUDY MASTER CLASS: SAM SHEPARD (2022)

Open to Advanced actors, Master Class: Sam Shepard explores the rich characters and relationships in Sam Shepard's plays.  Actors will prepare one of Uta Hagen’s exercises (Recreating Physical Sensations) as well as monologue and scene work from Shepard's rich canon to create deep, meaningful characters. Each class also has a physical and vocal warm-up. Led by Laura Winstin; this class is by invitation only.Access to Verve's library and Sam Shepard's plays will be provided prior to class one.

SCENE STUDY MASTER CLASS: CHARACTER (2020)

Open to Advanced actors, Master Class: Character digs deep into period characters.  Utilizing classic plays set in the 1940s as the backdrop, actors will prepare two of Uta Hagen’s exercises (Historical Imagination and actor’s choice) as well as monologue and scene work from this rich period of history to create deep, meaningful characters.
Each class also has a physical and vocal warm-up. Led by Laura Winstin; this class is by invitation only.