We will look at sonnets and speeches, verse and prose as we analyze text to reveal how Shakespeare creates remarkable opportunities for honest and vibrant human expression. You will be encouraged to explore your personal response to the material, accessing the visceral expression of your body, voice, creativity and imagination. This work will increase your kinesthetic and intellectual understanding of the material and help you perform Shakespearean text with vitality, spontaneity and confidence.
Shakespeare
This workshop provides a deep introduction to the art of speaking and performing Shakespearean language. Intended for actors who are new to Shakespeare as well as those who want to refresh their skill, these six weeks will focus on developing tools that every actor needs to demystify and inhabit the meaning, imagery, sounds and rhythms of Shakespeare’s remarkable texts.
Course Overview
TRANSFORM
Meet Your Instructor
Jim Elliot – With over three decades of acting and directing under his belt, Jim Elliott has happily worked on 15 of Shakespeare’s plays. Some of his more memorable acting roles include Petruchio, Hamlet, Romeo, Malvolio and Cassio. He started his directing career with As You Like It, before moving onto critically successful runs of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night.
What You’ll Learn
PURPOSE:
To implement the students working approach to Acting Shakespeare with scene work. This course extends the work on self and character into classic scene study, with an emphasis on Shakespeare’s text and Acting Shakespeare. We will continue our work on text and the “music” of the language. We will continue exploring how to bring yourself to the role, while maintaining the understandability of the language. This is an organic and text-based approach to heightened language in which actor and character meet, and the tools for storytelling required for classic plays are honed. The material will be explored through rehearsing and showing assigned scenes throughout the class.
METHOD:
We will accomplish our goal through scansion work, detailed examination of textual idiosyncrasies, exploration of the Sounds of Spoken English, Work on Metaphor and Imagery and of course, Performance. During the class, you will perform One Scene. You will read multiple Shakespeare Plays.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
•Further explore the technical aspects of approaching Shakespeare’s text.
•Deepening your understanding of Shakespeare’s text and seeing the unique
possibilities available to each performer.
•Perform scenes with a partner.
•Connect personally to Shakespeare’s text.
•Acquire confidence when approaching any classic material.
Schedule a Discovery Call
Have questions? Book a one-on-one chat with our Director of Admissions and Enrollment. We’re here to help you determine if Terry Knickerbocker Studio is the right fit for you.
FAQs
Find answers to commonly asked questions about our Studio.
What is the Meisner Technique?
The Meisner Technique is a highly regarded acting method developed by Sanford Meisner. It focuses on truthful and spontaneous acting, emphasizing the actor’s connection with their scene partner.
Do you offer acting classes for beginners?
We do—in fact, most of our classes can be taken without any prior experience. Our Conservatory and Intensive programs each offer foundational training which can be equally suitable for someone just starting out and for the seasoned actor, as can most of our Special Topicsclasses (unless prerequisites are otherwise noted). At our studio, how much or how little experience a student has is much less important than the student’s sincere desire for and commitment to becoming the best actor they can be.
Do you offer virtual classes?
Most of our offerings are in-person, because we believe that face-to-face instruction allows us to develop a more nuanced understanding of our student’s strengths, current challenges, and progress. It also allows both teacher and student to be fully present, and for students to connect with their peers. That said, we occasionally offer virtual Special Topics classes. Please refer to the Programs and Classes page for more information.
Do you offer Scene Study classes?
TK Studio offers an Advanced Scene Study class taught by Nathan Flower for students who have already completed foundational training. On occasion, Terry teaches a Scene Study Master Class at the Studio, online, and outside of New York City. He has taught at studios in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Berlin. Please contact Christopher Booth to inquire further.
How do I apply to TK Studio?
To be considered for admission to any courses or workshops at Terry Knickerbocker Studio, you must submit an official application through the website. There is no application fee to apply to TKS, only the following elements:
- Your contact information
- A forward-facing photo (don’t worry if you don’t have a headshot, we’re happy to accept other kinds of photos)
- Your resume
- Your answers to a few questions that tell us who you are (including your relationship to values around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), what you’re looking for, and how you think our classes might help you