Structure

The Class Coordinator has sole responsibility of planning and scheduling classes, including as many as possible with outside teachers.

Responsibilities

• Plan at least one class in October, one in November, and one in December.
• Announce all classes at least 7 days in advance.

Recent Classes

• Spring 2014

  • How to Be Funny with Nicole Dalton
  • Voice & Speech with Prof. Olivia D'Ambrosio - she's awesome AND interested in doing another workshop! We'd love to have her again. 
  • How to Design Workshop: Panel with designers from each department answer questions, then split off into groups and create mock designs for an imaginary director's concept
  • How to Audition Workshop - has been taught by Arielle Lipshaw (Sp2014) and Mark Velednitsky (Fa2012); ask previous directors or older members
  • Swords Combat Workshop with Ted Eaton
  • Logistics Workshop with the Officers - how to organize events at MIT and other running Ensemble advice

• Fall 2013

  • How to Use Power Tools
  • Hand Combat Workshop with Ted Eaton
  • Scansion Workshop
  • Story Structure Class
  • Movement Class

Other Possible Classes

• Theater Games
• More Stage Combat (Ted Eaton has taught this in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014).
• How to Be a Man (Sabrina Neuman)
• The Physicality of Acting
• Tech classes including Vectorworks
• All About Lights
• How to Use the Sewing Machine
• Ensemble Website Class
• How to be useful before and at put-in
• Using MIT Resources (CAC, ASA, Reservations, Registration, Publicity, Finboard)
• Memorizing Lines
• Shakespearean Acting

Directors Contact

We have found that classes are better attended when they are taught by outside teachers. For some sample contacts, see ensemble-directors@mit.edu.

Advice

• PLAN AHEAD. Come up with ideas for classes at the beginning of the semester and start emailing out for interest. Plan to have 1-2 classes every month.
• For fall shows with 7 weeks of rehearsal, it is possible to do 4 days of classes before formal rehearsals start. Coordinate with the director to see if they'd prefer to have that extra week of rehearsals or not.
• It is possible to do a class or two during show season, but don't overload. Try doing it during a long weekend or a day without rehearsals. See if you can relate it to the current show.
• Be wary of people's schedules. Don't try to make a class during Hell weeks or when people are very stressed about the show, or no one will show up, and you'll be sad.
• Get classes on the Ensemble calendar as soon as you have them scheduled. Email out to ensemble@ and ensemble-dartes@ about classes at least a week in advance, then email a reminder closer to the date.
• Have fun with it! Coordinate classes that you find interesting and would want to do - then go do them!