Classes

2023 Faculty

• Acting: Amara James Aja
• Creative Collaboration Lab: Liz Dahmen, Max Reuben
• Creative Theater Making: Ellenor Riley-Condit
• Directing - Script Analysis: Caley Chase
• Directing - Stage Composition: Liz Dahmen
• Movement: Matt Mastromatteo, Ellenor Riley-Condit
• Playwriting: Max Reuben
• Script Analysis: Amara James Aja
• Soundpainting: Max Reuben
• Text Analysis: Steven Mazzoccone
• Voice and Speech: Xavier Clark 

Actors

Actors gain practical tools that they can begin to apply to their varied projects. They meet for class daily, with the core classes being acting, voice, text, movement, script analysis and Soundpainting. Classes are taught by leading artists in their fields. The core curriculum is supplemented with workshops, master classes and discussions with artists in residence. Actors are cast in one of the two outdoor productions plus studio projects and workshops.

At the end of the program, actors are cast in new theatrical pieces, developed over the course of the summer by the directors and writers of the training company.

Directors

Directors meet in two sessions, each twice a week, with one session devoted to the reading and analysis of text, and one session devoted to the fundamentals of theatrical composition. Additional classes in acting, collaboration, movement, Soundpainting, and a roundtable discussion of the Powerhouse season support these sessions.

Directors are also assigned observerships of the rehearsal process for both training company and professional company productions. Each director will have the opportunity to work alongside one of the productions in the Powerhouse season, observing their process as they tackle the challenges of bringing a new project to life.

At the end of the program, directors and writers will collaborate to present a new theatrical piece, developed over the course of the summer, featuring actors from the training company.

Playwrights

Playwrights gain practical tools for generating work by writing and revising new short plays every week, both in and out of a rehearsal process. Additional classes in acting, collaboration, movement, Soundpainting, and a roundtable discussion of the Powerhouse season support these sessions.

Playwrights are also assigned observerships of the rehearsal process for both training company and professional company productions. Each playwright will have the opportunity to work alongside one of the productions in the Powerhouse season, observing their process as they tackle the challenges of bringing a new project to life.

At the end of the program, writers and directors will collaborate to present a new theatrical piece, developed over the course of the summer, featuring actors from the training company.

Master Classes

Below are some members of the Powerhouse community who have shared their time through master classes and/or talkback sessions designed exclusively for training program participants:

*former Powerhouse Training Program Participant