NYC July 23-25
Acting Shakespeare Road Map
NYC - July 23,24,25 -6:45-10:15pm
AMDA Studios in the Theatre District
244-250 West 54th Street
12th Floor, New York, NY 10019
The Acting Shakespeare Road Map is an intensive 3-day course dedicated to helping actors and teachers unlock the full potential of Shakespearean performance. Our program combines the best of the Meisner technique with time-tested methods for interpreting and performing Shakespeare’s works.
- Tue, Jul 23New YorkJul 23, 2024, 6:40 p.m. – Jul 25, 2024, 10:20 p.m.New York, 244-250 W 54th St 12th floor, New York, NY 10019, USAActing Shakespeare Road Map in NYC: an intensive 3-day course dedicated to helping actors and teachers unlock the full potential of Shakespearean performance. Our program combines the best of the Meisner technique with time-tested methods for interpreting and perfo
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Our Instructor
Paul Hopkins has extensive Shakespearean experience, including 8 years as the Artistic Director of Montreal’s Shakespeare-in-the-Park, 2 seasons at the Stratford Festival, and working with Michael Langham (former Director of the Drama Division at Juilliard and Artistic Director of The Stratford Festival and Guthrie Theatre) at the Atlantic Theatre Festival. He trained under Domini Blythe (Royal Shakespeare Company), Niel Freeman (Shakespeare’s Folio), and the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre Training. In 2013, Paul was one of three finalists for The Christopher Plummer Award of Excellence in Classical Theatre, chosen by Christopher Plummer himself. Paul also has extensive experience in film and television, including playing the role of Michael Tolliver in Armistead Maupin’s More and Further Tales of the City.
1. Paraphrase
2. Act it out
3. Imagining
4. Use the Poetry
5. Punctuation
6. Paraphrase 2
BONUS step: learn how to use the Folio to...
• Combine all the previous steps. Perform with the insights and techniques you’ve gained. Make the text your own and bring Shakespeare’s words to life with your unique interpretation.
Six Steps to Mastering Shakespeare Monologues
THE MEISNER TECHNIQUE
Suitable for actors (and other theatre, film and tv professionals) of all levels.
The Meisner technique is renowned for its capacity to help actors access their intuition, leading to authentic and instinctive performances. Through participation in this course, you'll transcend self-consciousness and overly intellectualized acting, enabling deeper connections with your character, scene partners, and audience. Our aim is to establish an ongoing atelier where artists can continuously refine their craft. Guided by our experienced instructor, you'll collaborate with fellow actors in a nurturing environment.
At the core of the Meisner technique is the principle of "the reality of doing." By fully immersing yourself in the action, your performance gains simplicity and fluidity, making you exciting and magnetic to watch. Additionally, we emphasize "putting your attention on the other person." Paradoxically, as you shift focus away from yourself, your inner qualities* begin to shine, enhancing your presence. Through practice, you'll cultivate a keen awareness of the present moment, honing your ability to observe, be present, and engage with others.
Acting is a dynamic art form, a dance between artists, that unfolds in the creative act, a choreography within the interplay of performer, given imaginary circumstances, audience, and imagination. Once you grasp the principles of this approach, you'll experience newfound freedom, creativity, and fulfillment forged through connection, language, intonation, gestures, body language, and facial expressions. This approach enriches performances, generating a whole new level of meaning and sense of play.
LEVEL 1: INTRO TO MEISNER
In this introductory course, we will delve into the foundational exercises pioneered by Sanford Meisner to hone the skills of actors. Whether you're a seasoned actor or new to the craft, this course is tailored for you, as well as other professionals in theatre, film, and television.
Upcoming session in...
Waterloo Region TBA Fall 2024
London TBA Fall 2024
Please click the button below to submit a resume and a brief note to join our mailing list.
LEVEL 2: ADVANCED ACTING
STARTING JUNE 5TH, WATERLOO REGION
Building on Meisner Basics
Working alongside artists who are already familiar with the rudimentary Meisner exercise, this course will offer customized instruction with a limited number of students. The first half of each session will focus on building upon the Repetition Exercise (scales for actors). Drawing from the principles of Meisner, the second half will delve into specific areas such as Knocks and Activities, stakes, cold reads, scene study, and monologues—tailored to the needs and interests of the enrolled students5x3.1/2 hour sessions
OUR COACHES
PAUL HOPKINS
Toronto/Kitchener-Waterloo/Montreal
Paul Hopkins
His extensive acting career includes two seasons at the Stratford Festival; a leading role in the ground-breaking, Emmy-nominated series, “More and Further Tales of the City”. Currently he’s best known as the latest "Disney dad", the Dale Wells character on “Z.O.M.B.I.E.S 1, 2 and 3”. He was, for 8 years, he was the Artistic Director of Repercussion Theatre in Montreal and one of his most recent theatre production, “Civilized”, received rave reviews across Canada.
Aside from an extensive career as an actor and director, Paul studied the internationally renowned Meisner-accredited teacher Jacqueline McClintock; and with Sandy Marshall, in Los Angeles, where he worked alongside a dedicated class of seasoned actors who maintained their actor chops through Meisner's work.
“The Meisner technique has taught me how to listen in a way that taps into a depth of creativity and generosity beyond what I could imagine.”
JULIA LOZANO
Montreal
« La technique Meisner a été une révélation pour moi. Un outil pour faire confiance à mes impulsions et laisser des connexions authentiques se faire par elles-mêmes ». Julia a été formée à cette technique pendant plus de 5 ans par Scott Williams de l’Impulse Company à New-York City, Londres et Paris, et par Robert Cordier à Paris.
Artiste pluridisciplinaire en chant, danse et théâtre, Julia commence sa carrière en France en théâtre musical, opérettes et théâtre classique avant de s’intéresser au travail pour la caméra. Elle travaille notamment plusieurs années avec Jacques Duparc ce qui la mènera sur les scènes de l’Opéra de Reims et de l’Opéra d’Avignon. Elle joue du Molière au Théâtre Fontaine à Paris dans la Compagnie Colette Roumanoff, interprète le Prince dans la comédie musicale « Le Prince et Le Pauvre » de Julien Salvia et Ludovic Alexandre Vidal. En 2016 elle arrive à Montréal, où elle interprète Hâgar dans « Hâgar » et la source de Mounia Chadi, puis rejoint le collectif Passeurs de Voix en tant qu’artiste et coach d’acteurs, pour leur création immersive et déambulatoire d’après Migraaants de Visniec.