WORKSHOPS

The workshops at The Actor's Avenue offer acting training of exceptional caliber by renowned casting directors, acting coaches, and film / stage directors brought in from New York, Los Angeles, as well as locally.  Following is a list of the 2007 acting workshops.

 

2007 WEEKEND WORKSHOPS

These workshops are provided in order that the actor may become immersed in the work and advance faster into the world of professional acting.  The trainings give actors a broad array of tools to add to their repertoire in order that they may draw upon them while in class, at auditions, and on booked jobs.  It is very important for the actor to have a serious commitment to the work.

 

Feb 23, 24, & 25                    Laurel Smith-Vouvray, Acting Coach
                                                       Scene Intensive Workshop
                                                       Cost:                $300.00
                                                       Deposit due:    $100.00 by 01/10/07
                                                       LOCATION: Portland, OR.
 

 April 27, 28, & 29                  Paul Warner, New York Film & Stage Director
                                                       Project:  The Lover by Harold Pinter
                                                       Cost:                $360.00
                                                       Deposit due:    $100.00 by 04/01/07
                                                       LOCATION: Portland, OR.
 

June 15, 16, &17                    Laurel Smith-Vouvray, Acting Coach
                                                        Scene Intensive Workshop
                                                        Cost:                $300.00
                                                        Deposit due:    $100.00 by 05/10/07*
                                                        Balance due:   $200.00 by 06/10/07*
                                                        LOCATION: Portland, OR.
 


Aug 10, 11, &12                      Paul Warner, New York Film & Stage Director
                                                        SCENES FROM WOMEN PLAYWRIGHTS:
                                                        Beth Henley, Marsha Norman, Sarah Kane,etc.
                                                        Cost:                $360.00
                                                        Deposit due:    $100.00 by 07/13/07*
                                                        Balance due:   $260.00 by 08/01/07*
                                                        LOCATION: Portland, OR.


Aug 18                                   Mark Tillman, CSA (Casting Society of America), Hollywood Casting Director
                                                       EXPOSE YOURSELF!
                                                       One-day Workshop:  Cold Reading, Meisner, Q&A about the business
                                                       Cost:                $120
                                                       Deposit due:    $60 by 08/06/07*
                                                       Balance due:   $60 by 08/13/07*
                                                       LOCATION: Portland, OR.
 

Aug 19                                   Mark Tillman, CSA (Casting Society of America), Hollywood Casting Director
                                                       EXPOSE YOURSELF!
                                                       One-day Workshop:  Cold Reading, Meisner, Q&A about the business
                                                       Cost:  $120
                                                       Deposit due: $60 by 08/06/07*
                                                       Balance due: $60 by 08/13/07*
                                                       LOCATION: Portland, OR.
         

Sept 15                                   Adrienne Flagg, Acting coach/director/actress
                                                       IMPROVE WITH IMPROV!  Learn valuable improvisation tools
                                                       Cost:  $120
                                                       Deposit due:  $60 by 09/03/07
                                                       Balance due:  $60 by 09/10/07
                                                       LOCATION: Salem, OR.
 

Sept 16                                   Adrienne Flagg, Acting coach/director/actress
                                                       IMPROVE WITH IMPROV!  Learn valuable improvisation tools
                                                       Cost:  $120
                                                       Deposit due:  $60 by 09/03/07
                                                       Balance due:  $60 by 09/10/07
                                                       LOCATION: Portland, OR.


Oct 26, 27, & 28                     Paul Warner, New York Film & Stage Director
                                                       Project:  To be announced
                                                       Cost:                $360.00
                                                       Deposit due:    $100.00 by 09/29/07*
                                                       Balance due:   $260.00 by 10/16/07*
                                                       LOCATION: Portland, OR.


Dec 1& 2                                Instructor to be announced

 

        *Due to the expense of these workshops, deposits must be paid by the dates indicated, and are non-
        refundable.  Balances must be paid by dates indicated.   If you withdraw from a workshop after paying
        the balance, a refund is available on balances paid up to seven days prior to a workshop.  No refunds are
        available after this time.  (You may arrange for another actor to replace you if you must withdraw after pay-
        ing a deposit or balance). 

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES

 

Laurel Smith-Vouvray:  Laurel studied in New York City at The Neighborhood Play House with Sanford Meisner, as well as at HB Studios under the guidance of Uta Hagen.  She moved to Los Angeles where she had a successful career as a casting director, working with such people as Kevin Spacey, Rene Zellweger, Dustin Hoffman, Liam Neeson, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, John Malkovich, Martin Sheen, Oliver Platt, Ellen Burstyn, Benicio Del Toro, Tim Roth, and many others.  In 1999, she founded The Actor’s Avenue where she dedicated herself to creating fully realized and responsible actors using as a foundation truthful listening and responding.  

For her workshops, each participant will be assigned a scene partner and be cast in a scene soon after the deposits deadline.  You will be expected to have prepared your scene, made character choices, rehearse with your scene partner, and be completely off book prior to the start of the workshop.  Laurel will provide intensive coaching, direction, and instruction for each scene, and each participant will receive valuable one on one input from Laurel. 

Paul Warner:  Mr. Warner is a cutting edge New York film and theater director, a professor, and an acting coach who has directly influenced past and current theater movements and trends in the country and the world.  He is a gifted instructor/director who approaches the work from a completely collaborative effort.  Mr. Warner has been involved with The Actor's Avenue for many years and has been coming to Oregon to conduct workshops for over fourteen years. 

During Mr. Warner’s workshops, you will learn various vocal, breath, and movement techniques from a range of approaches including Meisner, Grotowski, Suzuki, Stanislavski, etc.  These techniques are then applied to selected pieces which are rehearsed throughout the day Saturday and Sunday.  The rehearsals culminate in a performance in front of a live audience on the last night of the workshop.  Mr. Warner’s workshops challenge the actor both physically and psychologically and require a willingness to take risks and step out of comfort zones.  Participants are expected to have a strong commitment to the work and to be open to a variety of approaches towards acting.

Mr. Warner has directed more than fifty stage productions and numerous short films. His first feature, “FALL TIME,” (Artisan/Lions Gate) starring Mickey Rourke, Stephen Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, David Arquette, and Jason London, premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival.  His award-winning short,  “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER”, also premiered at Sundance and garnered the Cine Golden Eagle, the Gold Hugo Award from the Chicago International Film Festival, first place at The British International Film and Video Festival, and best cinematography at The Atlanta Film and Video Festival.  Recently, he completed a series of shorts including: “DISARRAY,” “BORN AGAIN” and “OPENINGS,” while developing a new feature, “ELEMENTAL,” which he looks forward to directing.

In the winter of last year, he directed the premiere of “DESIRE:  A Fantasia” at TADA! Theatre in New York City.  Prior to that, he received a grant from The Drama League of New York to co-translate and workshop a new English-language version of Nelson Rodrigues’ “THE WEDDING DRESS.” His production of Scot James’ “STARS OF THE SWEET DECLINE,” a new science fiction opera was developed for HERE Arts Centers’ Culturemart festival (NYC), where he also directed the premiere of Gary Sunshine’s new play “MERCURY”, co-presented by HERE and Eve Ensler (“THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES”), to launch the new playwrights program at HERE.  Favorite theatre productions include:  the world premiere of David Vando’s play, “EROICA” at the Tabernacle Theatre in London as well as the North American Premiere of Nelson Rodrigues’ Brazilian classic, “THE WEDDING DRESS,” at Theatre 40, in Los Angeles.  The production won seven Dramalogue awards, including Best Direction.  Other productions include:  “OUT IN AMERICA”— (starring Stephen Baldwin and Daryl Hannah, Westbeth Theatre Center, NY), “SAVAGE/LOVE,” by Joseph Chaikin and Sam Shepard (Circle Rep Lab, NY), “CHINESE CABARET: A Dance Opera,” by Warner and composer Peter Melnick (The 1994 Los Angeles International Theatre Festival/Artistic Director, Peter Sellars), a jazz-rock rendition of Shakespeare’s “TWELFTH NIGHT,” (R.A.P.P. Arts Center, NY), and “MASKED ANGEL,” by Bruce Dale (The Cast Theatre, LA).  He has also developed new plays in collaboration with educational institutions, such as Swarthmore (Beth Henley’s “L-PLAY”).

Warner’s numerous awards and fellowships include a grant from The Princess Grace Foundation, which enabled him to serve as The Artistic Associate/Resident Director of New York’s Second Stage, as well as a directing fellowship from The Drama League of New York.  Warner is also a recipient of The Princess Grace Foundation’s Statue Award and a Cite-Read grant from The Drama League.  Most recently, Warner was the subject of a FUJI TELEVISION special for his directing and acting techniques.

He began his film-directing career by assisting mentors Fred Schepisi (“ROXANNE”/”PLENTY”) and Ed Zwick (“GLORY”/”THE LAST SAMAURI”/ “BLOOD DIAMOND”).  The latter encouraged him to attend the American Film Institute, from which he graduated in 1992 with an M.F.A in filmmaking and the Ashley Amulis Fellowship for directing.

Upcoming projects include a science fiction feature, “ELEMENTAL,” “POSITIVELY HAIGHT STREET,” by Academy Award-Winning screenwriter, Christopher McQuarrie (“THE USUAL SUSPECTS”), and “THE DIVAN,” a new feature/television pilot, which he co-wrote.

In addition to receiving his M.F.A. at The A.F. I., Warner is a graduate of Harvard University (B.A.) and The Phillips Exeter Academy.  He has taught directing and acting at NYU, SVA and SUNY Purchase as well as at The Los Angeles High School For The Arts.  Currently, he is a senior instructor of acting and directing at The New York Film Academy, where he has been instrumental in developing the curriculums for both programs.

Visit www.paulwarnergroup.com for more on Paul Warner. 

 

Mark Tillman, CSA:  Mark was trained at New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse under the guidance of Sanford Meisner.  He is a successful Hollywood casting director with over twenty years experience in the business.  He also teaches acting classes in Los Angeles.   

Mark is a member of the Casting Society of America, with over twenty years experience casting television movies, series, pilots and independent features.  His many television credits include several seasons on MTV comedy series The Andy Dick Show and Blunt, and the nighttime MTV serial Undressed, the pilot and series for the UPN network’s As If, syndicated pilots and series Highland: the Series and RoboCop: the Series, four seasons with ABC’s MacGyver, plus casting contract roles for daytime’s General Hospital and All My Children and the hosts for FX’s DVD on TV. 

Mark’s television movies and mini-series include Stephen King’s: IT and Judith Krantz’s Till We Meet Again starring Hugh Grant and Courtney Cox, Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story, ABC’s Small Sacrifices starring Farrah Fawcett, cable movies such as The Colony with John Ritter, and for Showtime, Hitman’s Run and The Base. 

Listed among his many independent features are Christopher Walken’s Prophecy II & Prophecy III, Slamdance Festival winner Driven, Aspen Film Festival favorite Suckers, Intoxicating, the Jury Choice at Methodfest, and Beverly Hills Film Festival’s Audience Award winner Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck.  

He has had the pleasure of auditioning and casting such notables early in their careers as Brittany Murphy, Patricia Arquette, Christian Slater, Carrie-Anne Moss, Seth Green, Mariska Hargitay, Michael Madsen, Kathryn Morris, David James Elliott, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, newcomers Adam Brody, Sara Rue, Chad Michael Murray, and Jay Hernanadez.  Oscar winners Cuba Gooding, Jr., Hilary Swank and George Clooney, are also among the hundreds of actors that auditioned and were cast through his office.

Please check his listing at www.IMDB.com (the Internet Movie Data Base). 
Visit his website at www.tillmancasting.com.

    

Adrienne Flagg:  Adrienne is the Artistic Director of The Portland Theatre Brigade and is the former Artistic Director of Toad City Productions.  Adrienne trained in New York at SUNY Purchase and the New Actors Workshop with Gene Hackman, Paul Sills, Mike Nichols and Elaine May.  Adrienne has worked as an arts educator throughout the NW, in Seattle and Portland school systems, as well as the Artists Repertory Theatre, Clark Community College and Mount Hood Community College.   She was the founder of NW Academy's theatre program and theatre program leader for seven years at Young Musicians and Artists at Willamette University.  In addition to developing new work with playwrights, Adrienne has produced and directed for Toad City Productions, Stark Raving Theatre, Integrity Productions and CoHo Theatre.  Some of her favorite Portland performances include the lead in The Choice and Oceanus in Prometheus Bound (Stark Raving), The Cat in Reference to Salvador Dali . . . (Miracle Theatre), Cynthia in The Real Inspector Hound, Jingle Spree (CoHo), ensemble member of Toad City's many Improvisational Cabarets, touring ensemble member in Chasing Empire's Soul (Artists Repertory Theatre) and the lead in The Waiting Room (Bump in the Road) for which she was awarded a Drammy for best actress in a lead role.

 The Actor's Avenue
'A path to success through creativity'