Presented by Julissa Roman –
Held online:
This class is oriented to helping the trained actor develop a set of tools for building a character.
Acting is doing. The major question is: “What do I DO to get what I want?”
The structure of this class is based on Uta Hagen’s brilliant Physical Destination Exercise. The actor will discover the profound depth of the Destination Exercise and will learn how it can provide the actor with the necessary foundation for living truthfully under the given circumstances on stage or in front of a camera. You will learn through the application and exploration of the Destination Exercise, and possibly the other exercises, how to use these methods towards finding the emotional core of the character and most importantly how to play moment to moment.
We will start by working individually on Uta Hagen’s Destination exercise to establish the fundamental understanding of this base exercise. (Actors that have studied the Hagen exercises before can combine exercises.)
In the following sessions, we will work on the Destination Exercise set in the context of an assigned character of a scene. You will be asked to re-work this exercise taking in consideration all the text analysis that will take place in class. The destination exercise will become our tool to embody not only our character but also all the text analysis that will happen during class. Finally, we will move into scene work and possibly applying Double Destinations (guided paired improvisations using Hagen’s exercises) in the context of the assigned scenes. Our final purpose is to build a bridge between the acquired technique and the scene work.
Students will be assigned specific scenes and characters as well as the Destination exercise.
Recommended for actors who are actively pursuing work or have some prior acting training or experience.
Required Reading:
- A CHALLENGE FOR THE ACTOR by Uta Hagen.
- The play from which the scene is assigned
Required Rehearsal time: Students must meet for rehearsal via zoom outside of class at least once before bringing work to class (preferably a minimum of two rehearsals).