Breaking it Down: Character, Development and Scene Interpretation (to book the job and beyond…)
From the text -> to the text. This is a technique class with practical applications - taught by Jessica Aquila Cymerman and Éanna O’Dowd. The structure is that of an intensive, mimicking the speed of text-turnaround that auditions require of the actor. We apply text analysis and script interpretation techniques to scenes and monologues, in order to make them second nature, not just theoretical. The aim of this class will be to strengthen your specificity in the scene at hand - taking the evidence from the text - and creating a backstory that fuels your choices and emotional engine in the moment. We will be covering techniques of Adler, Meisner, and Chekhov.
The work we do in this class will directly help you having confidence in both the audition room and on the job. Each actor will work on a scene for two classes, and then switch, culminating in three scenes over the 6 weeks.
Class will be Hybrid: in-person and online
*All new students must email submission materials to be approved for class. Please send materials to officeadmin@theaquilastudio.com.
All Core Classes are on a rolling 6-week cycle for the year. Please see the next available sessions below.
Class dates for 2025: Sundays, 6 - 10pm PST. Class will be Hybrid: in-person and online
Jan 26 - Mar 2
Mar 9 - April 13
April 27 - June 8 (no class May 25)
June 22 - Jul 27
Aug 3 - Sept 14 (no class Aug 31)
Sept 21 - Nov 2 (no class Oct 26)
Nov 9 - Dec 14
*Class dates are subject to change
Breaking it Down - $450 in-person / $400 online over Zoom for 6-Week Hybrid Course
The Scene Study Experience: Discovering what is behind the words is a collaborative effort that starts with you and the author. We start with the themes, the big ideas, in the scripts we explore in class. From there we build the world, the backstory and the emotional core of the character as applied to the scene.
Our courses/intensives are a learning experience. It is not an audition or employment opportunity. When the course/intensive is over, the instructor teaching this course/intensive will not be taking home, nor be given access to your headshot, resume, or any of your other promotional materials.As we are an educational institution, the use of the studio and faculty’s names and likenesses for any professional or personal purposes without our permission is strictly prohibited.