Courses & Programs
The Theatre Lab offers the area’s most comprehensive theatre arts curriculum for adults, teens, and youth, most taught by the area’s finest theatre professionals. With both in-person and online classes in acting for the stage and screen, musical theatre, voiceovers, playwriting, directing, and drama criticism, you can shape a unique training program that is right for you.
Adult Classes: Read class policies. Apply for financial aid.
Youth Classes: Read class policies. Apply for financial aid.
Results
Techniques for interpreting lyrics, connecting to the character you're singing to, committing to the circumstances, making strong movement choices, and using your voice to maximum effect. For every singer who acts and every actor who sings.
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An intensive introduction to scripted work through preparation and performance of scenes and monologues. Emphasis on learning effective rehearsal techniques and expanding the actor’s range. Requires approximately 3–5 hours of rehearsal with an assigned partner outside of class each week. Taken together or in succession, this course and Intro to Acting constitute essential training in the basics of the actor’s craft.
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Tuesdays and Thursdays 7-10pm
Saturdays 10am-1pm, no class Apr 8 (Easter)
Dress Reh Tues Apr 25, 6-11pm
Final Dress Wed Apr 26, 6-11pm
Performs Apr 27, 28, 29, 30
This double-session course will give students the experience of preparing a complex role from the beginning of a rehearsal process through the moment of performance. Working with a professional director (Theatre Lab favorite Randy Baker), students will explore all the elements of acting in a full production, including text analysis, dramaturgy, character development, blocking, giving focus, taking direction, connecting to other actors, and dealing with the audience. This offering of the course culminates in four public performances of Arcadia, often considered Tom Stoppard's masterpiece. (His Leopoldstadt is currently a mega-hit on Broadway.) Arcadia is a funny, moving, complex play with meaty roles for actors of all types at all experience levels. Auditions will be low-key – no monologue required. At over 100 hours of training, with structured rehearsals and live performance, this is one of our most cost-effective courses.
Begins February 28
Tuesdays 7-10, Thursdays 7-9 and Saturdays 1:30-4:30pm, no class 4/8
Tech Sat May 13, 10am-4pm
Dress Tues May 16, 6-11pm
Final Dress Wednesday, May 17, 6-11pm
Performs May 18, 19, 20, 21
Auditions will be held in early 2023. Please fill out this form to apply.
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No class 5/15, 5/29
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To remove barriers to access, this class is being offered as Pay-What-You-Can. Please submit this brief form to begin the registration process.
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No class May 27 (Memorial Day Weekend)
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Student Level
Adults (18+)Acting a Song
Instructor
Evan Casey
Day
Wednesdays
Dates
Apr 19 - May 24
Time
7 - 10 PM
Techniques for interpreting lyrics, connecting to the character you're singing to, committing to the circumstances, making strong movement choices, and using your voi...
MORE INFOSESSION
Late Spring
LOCATION
In Person
COST
$370
-
Student Level
Adults (18+)Auditioning
Instructor
Michael Russotto
Day
Tuesdays
Dates
Feb 21 - Mar 28
Time
7 - 10 PM
This course is designed to improve student performance in all the major aspects of auditioning for the theatre: monologues, cold readings, and "in the room" demeanor...
MORE INFOSESSION
Early Spring
LOCATION
Online
COST
$310
-
Student Level
Adults (18+)Beginning Scene Study
Instructor
Nathan Whitmer
Day
Mondays
Dates
Feb 20 - Mar 27
Time
7 - 10 PM
An intensive introduction to scripted work through preparation and performance of scenes and monologues. Emphasis on learning effective rehearsal techniques and expan...
MORE INFOSESSION
Early Spring
LOCATION
In Person
COST
$370
-
Student Level
Adults (18+)Beginning Scene Study
Instructor
Bryanda Minix
Day
Tuesdays
Dates
Apr 18 - May 23
Time
7 - 10 PM
An intensive introduction to scripted work through preparation and performance of scenes and monologues. Emphasis on learning effective rehearsal techniques and expan...
MORE INFOSESSION
Late Spring
LOCATION
In Person
COST
$370
-
Student Level
Adults (18+)Creating a Musical Role: As You Like It
Instructor
Deb Gottesman
Day
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
Dates
Feb 2 - Apr 30
Time
See schedule
This double-session course takes students through the entire process of rehearsing and performing a major musical and culminates in a full production int he Undercrof...
MORE INFOSESSION
Winter
LOCATION
In Person
COST
$790
-
Student Level
Adults (18+)Creating a Role: Arcadia
Instructor
Randy Baker
Day
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
Dates
Feb 28 - May 21
Time
See schedule.
This double-session course will give students the experience of preparing a complex role from the beginning of a rehearsal process through the moment of performance. ...
MORE INFOSESSION
Early Spring
LOCATION
In Person
COST
$750
-
Student Level
Adults (18+)Directing
Instructor
Michael Russotto
Day
Mondays
Dates
Apr 17 - Jun 12
Time
7 - 10 PM
An intensive course for actors and anyone else interested in expanding their theatrical skill set by learning the art of direction. All aspects of directing will be...
MORE INFOSESSION
Late Spring
LOCATION
In Person
COST
$400
-
Student Level
Adults (18+)Finding Your Voice
Instructor
April Harris
Day
Saturdays
Dates
Feb 25 - Apr 1
Time
10 AM - 12 PM
This class explores what it means to have a voice – in society, in a meeting room, in artistic practice, in public speaking situations, or in personal relationships...
MORE INFOSESSION
Early Spring
LOCATION
Online
COST
$310
-
Student Level
Adults (18+)Finding Your Voice
Instructor
April Harris
Day
Saturdays
Dates
Apr 22 - Jun 3
Time
10 AM - 12 PM
This class explores what it means to have a voice – in society, in a meeting room, in artistic practice, in public speaking situations, or in personal relationships...
MORE INFOSESSION
Late Spring
LOCATION
Online
COST
$310
-
Student Level
Adults (18+)Getting Started in TV and Film
Instructor
John Judy
Day
Thursdays
Dates
Feb 23 - Mar 30
Time
7 - 9:30 PM
This class will cover the ins and outs of all aspects of the film industry in the DC area, including commercials, corporate videos, indie and feature films, and where...
MORE INFOSESSION
Early Spring
LOCATION
In Person
COST
$340