Saturday, July 21, 2012

Fast and Furious

The Summer Shakespeare ensemble performs Coriolanus exactly three weeks from yesterday. In a five week intensive it is vital for all student actors to jump into the work without hesitation. Already director Jonathan Hopkins is blocking the play in rehearsal, moving quickly through the text and demanding precision and detail. A fast-moving and in-depth process can be an opportunity for tremendous growth. In addition to their work as actors, students often learn something new about themselves. They may be suddenly confronted with challenging questions like what are my real strengths? What weaknesses do I need to address to improve? Why have I developed this particular vocal or physical habit? Is my mind as open and free as it should be? Am I willing to take the risk of looking silly in order to grow? Student actors are invited to share their thoughts and observations on their personal growth on this blog. It takes courage but it is part of the work that is necessary for an artist's growth.

15 comments:

  1. This week was amazing! The classes were super intensive, but very helpful and indeed effective. My favorite part of the week was doing exercises of saying things, but meaning something different, I found out it is quite helpful (specially while performing Shakespeare) to say your line, while you think of it in your head as you would say it in your own words. With that said I'm super thrilled for this upcoming week to start!!!
    - Fania Suarez

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  2. I learned a lot this week especially about Shakespeare,his plays are not as complicated as I thought it would be. He's actually a pretty funny and talented man. I think what made it easier for me to understand his play was being able to add action to it not just read it. I also learned that when you say your lines, you're not just saying it because its the lines the person you're playing has, but because you as that person want those lines to mean something more than just words.
    -Mariel

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  3. I love this program I learned a lot and I can't wait to see the outcome of the play :3
    -lueshen Swainson

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  4. This week, I feel that I learned a lot about myself as a person, in a way that I would not usually think of myself. I am suddenly realizing that I am quite shy. Not in front of people but rather if I look silly to anyone around or myself. I am easily overcoming this in exercises and as we progress through the play. I am very excited about bringing this play to life!

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  5. This past week has been awesome. I really enjoyed getting deeper into my character and blocking the play.Iam learning how to exsplore different choices as an actor.I cant wait to do even more chracter work this week!

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  6. 2 week at the summer camp Shakespeare program .. And I'm enjoying it .. A lot .. We're in the process of making the play and I think my group is really professional 'cause we are really far from what we were ... And it's really amazing 'cause we all wanted that .. :D

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  7. In week two in Summer Shakespeare we focused a lot on blocking the play. I really enjoy the energy and all the amazing ideas that are being incorperated into the production. I have been expirementing with discovering the intention of my characters and his choices. All teachers encourage us to keep moving forward and to never stay at the same point from our previous classes. This week I learned that another great source of energy remains in the ensemble, and we all must push ourselfs to work at 110% to help our fellow classmates recieve this, to perform with their full potiential.

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  8. Shakespeare at Stella has taught me a lot about myself. One of my strengths I've noticed is that I don't have "happy feet" haha It isn't hard for me to stand with prescence on stage. But what I have noticed that I've already begun to work on is not being afraid to be louder and silly to loosen up!

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  9. Ebony -

    the two weeks that i have been in this learned to never let fear get the best of you and always have the power to control the audience and stage. this program also opened me up to be a better actor by taking me out my comforted zone and also have fun with it.

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  10. This program has been amazing . In my second week I became more comfortable and I was able to learn more about acting. I got more in touch with my self and I learned my angles more.
    -Tajaye Donaldson

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  11. This week in the Stella Adler program has been wonderous, I have learned so many new things & i have also learned about my limits when it ocmes ot acting and that i can surpass it at anytime. patience is key and this week i have learned that.

    -York

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  12. Emily -

    Last week, it has been getting a lot fun and I learned that whatever how you are feeling even if its depressing, I can still run the show realisticly by just making my own reactions to whats been going on in the play. I can still feel happy if I am nervous without playing my emotions because of what goes on in the story.

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  13. Casterline -

    My second week at Stella Adler has helped me reach out and really experience what its like to put on a play. I love the exercises that we do to warm up, they are fun and actually do help me get in touch with myself and my body. I have learned many new acting techniques and I can't wait to see whats in store for the next three weeks.

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  14. Lizzy G. -

    The stella adler Shakespeare program has really helped me develop as an actress. my second week was even better than the first! Carlos really helped us face our fears and connect with our peers. This week we started blocking our scenes for the play and memorizing our lines. I can"t wait to see where next week takes us!

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  15. Mohamed -

    This second week of this program was very intense very fun. i actually got to learn a lot the play that we will be performing In 3 week learning my lines and position knowing what u saying and saying to the person working on blocking this week and a whole lot of fun things

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