Overview

An intensive course that focuses on the development of each student’s unique imagination. Using a technique called “Mantle of the Expert” created by Dorothy Heathcote, students will explore various characters from within, enhancing the actor’s ability to be present and connected and to have honest impulses. An excellent follow-up course for students who enjoyed Intro to Acting, the Drama Workshop, or other similar, improv-based acting courses, or for actors seeking to develop enhanced spontaneity and naturalness in their scripted work. 

Class Size*

6-12 

* Note: Small class sizes are a fundamental part of our training philosophy at The Theatre Lab. Classes are intentionally kept small to ensure every person receives extensive personalized feedback from instructors and meaningful collaboration with other students. If a class is full, we encourage you to join the waitlist, and we will contact you if a spot becomes available.

Prerequisites or Prior Experience

No formal prerequisites are necessary. Students who take this class typically have some background experience in acting and/or have taken both of 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. 

Recommended Next Steps

Students who complete this class often continue with:

• Improv for Auditions
• Comedy Improv
• Intermediate Scene Study
• Meisner Technique I
• Stanislavski Method 
• Uta Hagen Technique I
• Viewpoints

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

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. 

Class Policies

We encourage all students to review our Adult Class Policies prior to enrolling.