Bravo!

Congratulations to the Summer Shakespeare Ensemble! Four performances of Julius Caesar concluded the program. Student artists talked about their growth over the past five weeks:

Before this program I felt that there was a high level of insecurity in me. I’ve learned a lot about myself during the course of this program. I am more open with myself and with people. This program has showed me that my voice can be heard if I’m loud enough. I’m the only one that can make a difference in my life…I feel like I’m a new, more open person and no longer that shy, insecure kid. – R

A few lessons that will stay with me after Stella Adler are the ways I learned to present myself and also my public speaking. But soft, what light is this through yonder window breaks; It is the east and Stella Adler is the sun… -M

The Stella Adler Outreach program has broadened my way of thinking towards myself and life in general. I’ve learned the basics and techniques of acting as well as professionalism towards the craft…Stella Adler Studio of Acting is my second home…Stella always takes away my stress because it allows me to express myself freely. – L

I look back at the first time I entered here a year ago, afraid to express myself and to be me. But now, looking at the present and seeing how I have changed, I have become more open. I can honestly say that I am thankful to every body here at the studio. – J

This program made me find a lot of things I thought I didn’t have. My life lessons that will stay with me is always be big and never be shy to express yourself; always give 100% of your all to everything you do…I would like to join again next year in the summer to make more friends and do another play. – C

There is so much you could learn about Shakespeare, let alone theater. On this program I learned how to trust in my abilities and allow myself to open up to be free as an actor…I’ve learned that when studying lines, especially when doing something that is foreign to me, you should take the time to sit down and define and understand the words in your lines. Because by doing this, you have the ability to help the audience understand what they’re watching as much as you understand what you are performing. – B

Each day in this program means more and more to me. I learn new things about myself and gives me confidence in myself to accomplish my goals. Before coming here I had a hard time in trusting people. I had very few friends and I didn’t open up to a lot of people. Coming here has let me realize that there are people that have the same passions as I…Stella Adler is more than an acting school. It’s a place not to find yourself, but to reassure yourself; to accept your positives and negatives; move on from your past and better yourself. – C

Before I came here I used to think that acting was an escape place where my troubles were miniscule ideas. Now I see it’s a place for me to emote and embrace my problems and turn them into a fruitful process. – L

Being in Stella Adler for these short five weeks I have learned so much. I learned how to be vulnerable and open up to new things. This has helped me in my personal life. I am more comfortable being myself because I know that’s what makes me a better actress. – K

I’ve been at Stella Adler for a full year now and I’ve learned so much from being here. To this day I’m not completely comfortable with myself but Adler has taught me to just accept myself. Being with different teens from all over the city has taught me that no one will or can be perfect. It is so hard for me to let go and be silly but in this class anything is possible and no one is judging you…Adler has honestly taught me to be who I am and be happy with myself. I couldn’t have asked for more because being comfortable with myself is something I never thought I would learn. – A

Coming to the Stella Adler school every day has made me a better person. It has also made me open up as a person and it taught me not to be afraid to think outside the box. It made me not be a shy person…It helped me be myself and not try to be what anybody else wants me to be. – J

In this program I think and I’m feeling that my language is growing, my pronunciation and accent is changing. In Stella Adler I learned many new things. I learned Shakepeare’s words. They’re really, really hard words; difficult to understand his words. But I learned most of the words from teachers and also from friends…In first week of classes I really couldn’t understand what I’m saying. Then next week I understood them. I really want to be in this program again. – H

The longer I stayed in the group the more I saw myself opening myself to my peers and I no longer walked with my head down. – R

Ever since I been in this program I’ve learned so much about Shakespeare and, more of all, learning how to be myself. In the beginning I thought I was going to give up, but something stopped me from making that decision. Also, I’m in a place where there’s no judging others or making fun of who they are…Before I was always worried about how I look and my appearance but now all that matters is how big I can be and how my voice is heard. – J

I started this class not knowing any Shakespeare. Now I know the story of Julius Caesar. Before I came to the Adler Outreach program I didn’t think I would ever be able to read Shakespeare or be able to interpret the language. After I leave the program I’m gonna leave with the knowledge of who is Shakespeare and what type of plays he writes. – M

The first day of Adler there was a sense of hunger in the air emitting from the other cast members. This hunger to learn and grow has been consistent throughout the whole program…Working with a cast on Julius Caesar has been a challenge and an eventful learning experience. – D

I’ve realized that when I’m in a scene it’s not just about knowing your cues or what your motivations are but rather being able to fully listen to what your scene partner says or does and react…I’ve learned how to be more comfortable with my body onstage and not to judge myself. I no lonber care if I have sweat dripping off my face or if my shirt rides up. I also have learned how to be more open to my emotions and not judge how I react… - J

This program means a lot to me. One of the main reasons why is that it taught me everything I needed to know about theater. I personally didn’t know anything about acting onstage. I used to think acting was all about being in movies or TV shows…If I get a chance to attend this program again I’ll do it. during this month I had the best time of my life. – D

I am an intellectual and a perfectionist. I am pretty hard on myself and judge what I do a lot. Stella Adler is teaching me that it’s OK to mess up, be a little silly and just go with the flow. I am also an eccentric. Most people think that I am weird…when I am here it’s OK. I am with kindred spirits. That means a lot to me when I have a harder time making friends as some people don’t understand me. Being here has allowed me to meet some very interesting people that I’m proud to consider my friends. – J

Before I came here I felt like I was just a one-note actor, but now I know I have a vast emotional range…I came to Adler thinking I knew everything I needed to know and wasn’t going to change. I was sadly mistaken. Now that the program is almost over I can safely say that I have grown as an actor and that I want to grow even more. – G

The people I have met here I know will be friends for a long time…I’m more open than I ever was before. I’m not as shy when first meeting people. This program has embedded an experience on my heart. And these memories will always be with me. – A

All of us here don’t come from a wealthy background and knowing that we can get a chance like this is just amazing…But truly what I really learned this summer that there are people here just like me, that have the same dream as me…It’s such an amazing feeling to know there’s people out there who understand you and believe in you and that’s what Stella offers. – M

This program is so important to me…Playing a man was a huge challenge for me. I am small and thin. However I have learned to summon my inner power and let it live through Cassius…Another thing that was awkward for me was to get into a sinister mindset. I’m used to being the victim and in this play I had to accuse. I have learned that in every character there is something to love and defend…I’ve learned that speaking to the people you work with respectfully will solve problems better than holding it in. That is something I will take with me wherever I go. - G

Final Details

Student artists just finished their fourth week of training and rehearsal. The fifth and final week starts tomorrow and should consist of fine-tuning detail work. It has been said that details are the most important part of the actor's job. This maxim makes the actor's job infinite: we can always find more truthful ways to get what we want in a scene, more interesting relationships with our partners, more compelling prop use, more nuance in the way we communicate and so on and so on. Even after actors are off book and letter perfect on their blocking, there is more work that can be done. And all that is required to be successful is time, imagination and, most importantly, the will to be better and to serve the audience better.

BONUS: Students were profiled in an article about the Stella Adler Outreach Division.

The Heat Is On

In the third week of rehearsal the heat was turned up - both literally and figuratively. Rehearsals became more demanding, new skills were introduced and New York City had a heat wave with temperatures climbing over 100 degrees.


Students has a special workshop with combat choreographer J. Steven White. Steve taught the basics of fisticuffs and directed the stage fight for the murder of Julius Caesar. His class required the quick understanding and executing of physical work. Like professional actors, the students will rehearse the fight dozens of times before performance in order to obtain physical relaxation and accuracy.


At the start of this week, the entire play was blocked. It is now essential for actors to be completely memorized (or off book) so that they can play, explore and improvise in rehearsal. Once an actor knows their text so well that they can recite it in their sleep, they create the possibility to be able to do more in rehearsal. Artistic Director Tom Oppenheim has said that for an actor to know their lines is the very least they can do. In the next phase of rehearsal we are excited to see how the student artists grow, what steps of theatrical courage they take and how both the group and the individuals in project evolve.


BONUS: Students were profiled in an article about the Stella Adler Outreach Division.

Work In Progress

The second week of rehearsal went by in a flash and included successes and challenges. Heidi worked with student artists on getting a deep grasp of the story, characters and timeline of events of Julius Caesar. They worked in the Studio One theater and blocked the entire play. Emily gave the class a voice and speech workout and the most diligent artists employed their skills immediately, warming up in the hallways before class time. Carlos saw the ensemble grow in leaps and bounds but thought the students needed much more foundational work in order to use their physical, vocal, intellectual and imaginative instruments to their full potential in performance. For the first half of the week Carlos worked with some artists in the student lounge while others were in the studio rehearsing. This unanticipated opportunity allowed cast members to gain a deeper understanding of the kind of theatrical courage and boldness that is necessary onstage.

While breakthroughs and advancements were celebrated, there were also some setbacks. One key actor lost his right to be in the cast because of a series of late-nesses and absences. He was replaced by a fellow actor who is stepping up to learn the role quickly. Carlos and Heidi impressed upon the rest of the cast how vital it is to behave like a professional and not like a student. With five short weeks of rehearsal, the dedication, commitment and professionalism of every single cast member is needed in order to make this project a success. Another challenge was a limit of space and class time. Carlos' classes in the student lounge had a great affect, but they were given on a voluntary basis in a transitory location. Funding for the program would result in more classes, more vigorous training and more rehearsal hours.

Over all, the creative team was very impressed with the high level of work delivered by the ensemble. Student-artists were on time, enthusiastic about learning and rehearsing and making self-discoveries at an inspiring rate.

So, we ask the ensemble: what are you learning about yourself as an artist? What are you learning about yourself as a human being? What skills and aspects of your personality are strong/ helpful to you in this process? Have you encountered any personal challenges in the process, and, if so, how are you working through them?

Welcome

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting welcomed twenty-two New York City teens to the Summer Shakespeare program today. Forty-five student-artists applied for a limited number of spots to this free, five-week program for qualifying youth. Twenty-two teens were selected based on need, passion and enthusiasm. As Director of Outreach Carlos Caldart pointed out, “All of the applicants deserve to be commended for their courage to call, come for an interview and return for an audition.” Congratulations to all of those who were accepted and to those who had the courage to apply.

For the next five weeks students will undergo an intensive course of study and practice. Students will be in the rehearsal hall for fifty hours over five weeks in July and August. They will study voice and speech, Adler technique, physical acting, improvisation and Shakespearean scene study while rehearsing Julius Caesar. Carlos Caldart will oversee all classes and warm-ups while professional theater practitioner Heidi Mueller Smith will direct the play. The program ends on August 5th with a performance of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

This blog is devoted to tracking the learning and rehearsal process, student growth and progress. Students are especially encouraged to leave comments describing their experience in the program. Please check in on a weekly basis to see what the 2011 Summer Shakespeare ensemble is up to!