Overview

One of The Theatre Lab’s signature programs, Creating a Role is a double-session class that gives students the experience of preparing a complex role from the beginning of a rehearsal process through the moment of performance, culminating in a full public production. The course replicates a typical professional production experience, from the first table read through taking the bow.

Creating a Role is one of our most rigorous, cost-effective courses, offering students over 100 hours of training, structured rehearsal, and live performances. Students work with a professional director to 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 year’s show is Macbeth, the explosive classic by William Shakespeare, directed by beloved Theatre Lab faculty member Madeleine Regina. Casting will be diverse and non-traditional, with roles for many students at all levels.

Please fill out this application to audition here

Additional Class Details

Rehearsal Schedule: March 10 – June 7

Weekly Rehearsals

• Tuesdays: 7:00–10:00 PM
• Thursdays: 7:00–10:00 PM
• Saturdays: 1:30–4:30 PM

Additional / Extended Rehearsals

• Tuesday, June 2: 6:00–11:00 PM
• Wednesday, June 3: 6:00–11:00 PM

Performances

• Evenings of June 4, 5, 6, and 7

No Class

• April 2 and April 4 (Easter)
• May 23 (Memorial Day)

Class Size

Students admitted to this class will form an ensemble of actors, each with one or more roles in the production. All students are guaranteed substantial stage time and attention from the director and/or instructor.

Prerequisites or Prior Experience

All roles are cast by audition. Auditions are beginner-friendly—no monologue nor prior experience is required. 

No formal prerequisites are necessary. However, students who take this class typically have some background experience in acting and/or have taken the following classes at The Theatre Lab: 

• Intro to Acting*
• Beginning Scene Study*

* Note: For new students with no prior acting experience, we recommend starting with Intro to Acting, and then taking Beginning Scene Study, for our essential training in the basics of acting. 

Tuition Discount

Theatre Lab members receive a 10% discount off of class tuition, automatically applied at checkout. Annual memberships cost only $70 per year and also include discounted tickets to all Theatre Lab performances. Read more about becoming a member here.

For our early bird specials and other exclusive discounts on class tuition, subscribe to our emails and follow us @theatrelabdc on social media for updates. 

Recommended Next Steps

Students who complete this class often continue with:

• Acting in a Professional Production
• Honors Acting Conservatory

Class availability depends on the session. Return to our course catalogue to explore what is currently open for enrollment.

Class Policies