Acting Classes
Milwaukee Rep Education & Engagement offers a variety of programming for students of all ages, interests and backgrounds, including adults.
Adult Acting classes at Milwaukee Rep are designed for adults ages 18+ who are interested in learning more about acting and stagecraft. Whether you are a total beginner looking to try something new, or a seasoned performer looking to sharpen your skills, we offer classes to fit your needs! Class sizes are limited to ensure one-on-one feedback for each student. Check back often as we continue to update our class schedule throughout the season!
For theater-based training for businesses and professionals, we offer Corporate Training workshops. Learn more on our Corporate Training page.
Contact
Register online or contact Xodia Choate, Education & Engagement Manager, at 414-290-0709 or xchoate@milwaukeerep.com.
Want to stay up to date on all Adult Acting offerings? Click here to join Milwaukee Rep Education & Engagement’s outreach list.
BASIC ACTING I: CREATING A CHARACTER
Session 1: Tuesdays, July 9 - August 13, 2024, 6:00-8:0pm
Location: Sugar Maple, 441 E Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee, WI 5320
Instructor: TBD
Session 2: Thursdays, July 11 - August 22 (no class August 8), 2024 6:00-8:00pm
Location: The Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Instructor: Stephen Thompson, MKE Rep Teaching Artist
Session 3: Thursdays, October 10 - November 14, 2024, 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Plymouth Church, 2717 E Hampshire St, Milwaukee, WI 53211
Instructor: TBD
Class fee: $250 for 6 2-hour class sessions (12 hours total)
All great performances begin with building a compelling character. In this 6-session course, students will approach a theatrical text as a living, breathing roadmap, rather than a piece of static literature. Through monologue work and engaging performance exercises, students will explore character objectives, tactics, physical life, and much more! Whether you are a seasoned performer looking to revisit your roots, or new to the world of acting, this course is for you!
BASIC ACTING II: DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS
Session 1: Tuesdays, October 8 - November 12, 2024, 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Sugar Maple, 441 E Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee, WI 5320
Instructor: Barry Weber, Milwaukee Rep Teaching Artist
Class fee: $275 for 6 2-hour class sessions (12 hours total)
Clear relationships are key to strong performances. This 6-session course will build on the character development skills acquired in Basic Acting 1 with a special emphasis on person-to-person interaction. On stage, participants will create believable moments by practicing active listening and responding. Off stage, they will learn how to safely and collaboratively share ideas with a scene partner to create a convincing fictional relationship.
Prerequisite: Basic Acting I
Specialty Workshops & Intensives
Throughout the year, Milwaukee Repertory Theater hosts specialty classes and one-day intensives. These classes are in-depth explorations of specific topics and performance techniques. Specialty course offerings vary from season to season depending on availability and student interest. Previous classes have included: Dialects, Voiceover Work, Audition Technique, Vocal Technique and more.
ACTING SHAKESPEARE
Schedule: Mondays, August 26 - October 7 (no class September 2), 2024, 6:00-8:00pm
Location: Plymouth Church, 2717 E Hampshire St, Milwaukee, WI 53211
Class fee: $275 for 6 2-hour class sessions (12 hours total)
Instructor: Zach Woods, Associate Director of Education at Milwaukee Rep
This special workshop series will challenge students to breathe new life into 400-year-old characters, by bringing them from the page to the stage. Participants will actively explore the intricacies of some of the Bard’s greatest scenes and monologues by combining modern character-building techniques with conventions that may have been used during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Performers of all experience levels are welcome!
MUSICAL THEATER STORYTELLING
Schedule: Mondays, October 7 - November 11, 2024, 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Class fee: $275 for 6 2-hour class sessions (12 hours total)
Instructor: James Carrington, Associate Director of Engagement at Milwaukee Rep
Develop the art of the musical monologue and cultivate techniques to ACT a song. In this 6-week course you will work with Associate Director of Engagement and professional actor, James Carrington, to learn and perform a full musical theater piece. Analyze text, rhythm, and phrasing to bring the song to life; explore the history and perform different styles of musical theater. Participants will work on different prepared musical theater songs each week with an in-house accompanist. You will also have the opportunity to perform and record your final song for use in future reels!
THE LABAN APPROACH
Schedule: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 10:00am-2:00pm
Location: Brick House, 504 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Class fee: $150 for one 4-hour session
Instructor: Jacob Horstmeier, MKE Rep Teaching Artist
This intensive will introduce participants to Rudolf Laban’s four Effort factors (Time, Space, Weight, and Flow). Whether preparing a callback or rehearsing a role in production, Laban’s Efforts will serve the actor in myriad ways: generating physically and vocally dynamic characters, clearly communicating a character’s inner attitudes, or developing an understanding of a character’s unique energy. Through physical and vocal explorations participants will discover the expressive potential of Laban’s Efforts as character building tools. Experienced performers and newcomers are welcome!
Check this webpage often and sign up for our interest form to be the first to know when classes are added!