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Workshops for Teachers
(confirmed workshops—others added based on enrollment)

Whose Classroom Is It Anyway? (With James Thomas Bailey)
Thanks to the television show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, students are more interested in improv than ever. If you’re like most teachers, you probably never had formal training in improvisation because most universities don’t offer it. This class will teach you how to use improv techniques to enhance your program and teach the skills of acting so that your classroom isn’t overrun by teenage boys who think they’re Jim Carrey.

American Melodrama: Teaching Theatre using the California Visual and Performing Arts Standards. (With Carolyn Elder)
This activity-based workshop will emphasize the importance of academic instruction in the arts for all students. Participants will take part in a standards based model theatre arts lesson that focuses on the creative process as well as language skills. The workshop will culminate in an informal performance. No acting talent is required.

Raising The Curtain: Exhilarating Ensemble Experiences For Your Classroom, Cast, and Rehearsal (With Gai Jones)
A participatory, interactive workshop which provides ensemble experiences that the theatre educator can implement in the classroom as well as rehearsals for students of all ages. There will be "take-aways" outlining the experiences for warm-ups, focusing, and playfulness-putting the play back in the word "Play."
 
Acting Workshop (With Ken Sonkin)
This master class is for the teacher who’d like to add a few acting tools to their bag. Rehearsal techniques, acting exercises, text analysis and theater games -- all designed to help you get the most out of your theater students. From organic methodologies to the technical demands of your project, these tools are there to maximize your students strengths and instill in them the power to grow. A “child-like desire of make-believe” is the basis for Ken’s approach and his tools empower actors by allowing them to exist within the world of the play. Topics covered: Warm-up: hand to hand stage combat. Rehearsal atmosphere, scene study, characterization.

Voice and Speech Workshop (with Peter Novak)
Perhaps the single most important element for the young actor is clear speech and effective volume. This master class leads you through a series of exercises and resources that are easily replicated in class or rehearsal, including a vocal questionnaire that helps students understand their own vocal mechanism more clearly. A guide to finding resources on accents and building your own accent library is included.

Workshop Leader Profiles

James Thomas Bailey is Artistic Director of the National Comedy Theatre and ComedySportz Los Angeles, the longest running show in Los Angeles, and runs the largest teen improv program in the United States. Mr. Bailey has appeared in theatre, television and film, most recently as a regular cast member of World Cup Comedy on PAX TV. Mr. Bailey has served as a creative consultant/trainer for Universal Studios, Walt Disney, ABC and Coca-Cola, among others. He recently received the professional Artist Award from the California Educational Theatre Association and was inducted into the California Thespians Hall of Fame. He is the president of the World Comedy League. www.ComedySportzLA.com

Carolyn Elder received a B.A. in theatre arts and a M.A. with an emphasis in Art Education  from California State University, Sacramento. where she worked in the costume shop for many years. She has taught high school and middle school. As well as serving on the CETA Board, she has served on the Boards of  Directors for Sacramento Regional Arts Council, River Stage and Sacramento Community Opera Theatre. She has worked on the writing committees for the California VAPA Framework and VAPA Standards. In addition she is a TCAP Fellow. Currently she teaches theatre arts at Samuel Jackman Middle School and directs the CETA Middle Stage Fest.

Gai Jones, founder of CA Youth in Theatre (CYIT); CSU Fullerton first woman to receive an MA in Theatre; teachers of kindergarten-senior citizens; theatre arts consultant, director, actor, voice over artist, text book author of Raising the Curtain; Past president of CETA, CETA South, CA State Thespians; past regional director EdTA; guest editor of AATE national theatre journal; contributor to Teaching Theatre; VP membership of CETA, DTASC and CA EdTA; director OACT, board member Ojai Performing Arts Theatre Academy; New Plays Producer for Theatre 150; creator of Sage to Stage, acting workshops for senior citizens; national workshop leader for Texas Educational Theatre Association; EdTA Middle School Teachers' Forum, Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado State Thespian Conferences.

Peter Novak is the Chair of the Performing Arts Department at the University of San Francisco where he directs the Performing Arts and Social Justice majors. He has an MA in English literature as well as an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater and a Doctorate in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism from the Yale School of Drama. His work focuses on language and literature through performance. He recently launched a bilingual (English and American Sign Language) Shakespeare website for teachers of Deaf students (www.aslshakespeare.com).

Ken Sonkin has acted and directed with such companies as American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep, Denver Center Theatre Company, Marin Shakespeare Festival, Pennsylvania Centre Stage, Sacramento Theatre Company, The B Street Theatre, San Jose Stage Co., Alternative Theater Ensemble (founding member) and Sonoma Rep (Associate Artist). He holds a BFA degree in acting from Ohio State University and is also a graduate of A.C.T.’s Masters Program. He has taught at such institutions as A.C.T., The National Theatre Conservatory, Northwestern University, Stanford University, Cornell College, Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute, Dominican University,The Pacific Actors’ Conservatory, Solano College’s Actor Training Program, and is currently a proud faculty member of University of San Francisco where he teaches acting as well as oversees the USF Cabaret program.

Workshop Letter To Teachers from The Board of CETA:

Dear Theatre Educator,

The California Educational Theatre Association announces a day-long series of workshops specifically designed for high school and middle school teachers of theatre and drama. Hosted by the University of San Francisco, the workshops and roundtable events will provide you with a small arsenal of resources for the classroom and rehearsal hall. The day begins at 9:00 a.m. in the Studio Theater on Lone Mountain at USF, and continues until 5:00 p.m. A break for dinner on your own is followed by a performance of Angels in America: Perestroika at 7pm in the Studio Theater.

Scheduled into the day will be times to meet other teachers from your area and to brainstorm ideas and possibly share resources. We hope you can join us.

The cost for the entire workshop ($30) includes a parking permit, lunch, tickets to Angels in America, and all of the workshops. Enclosed is additional information about each of the confirmed workshops as well as bios of the workshop presenters. Additional information (including added workshops) will be sent via email upon your registration on the website. The DEADLINE for registration is Wednesday, February 28th, 2007. Late registration on the DAY of the Workshops costs $40.

You may register and pay for the event at: www.usfperformances.com

• When: Saturday, March 3, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. followed by a performance at 7:00 p.m.
• Where: The University of San Francisco (The Studio Theater on Lone Mountain, 2600 Turk Street, San Francisco)
• Cost: $30 (covers parking, the workshops, lunch, and tickets to Angels in America: Perestroika at 7pm).

Come meet other theater teachers and share your ideas with colleagues from across Northern California. It promises to be a rewarding and exciting day of theater.

Sincerely,

The Board of CETA