NEW: Playwriting for Adults
Watching your words on a page become three-dimensional characters living onstage is a truly magical experience. This course is perfect for writers interested in trying dramatic form, beginner playwrights looking for structure, actors who have an idea for the page, and storytellers of any experience level. Working with a professional playwright, students will follow prompts, learn from different styles of play, and work on their own projects. This class runs from Oct 1 to March 11, with students then prepped to enter OST’s Playwriting Contest in the spring.
NEW: Physical Theatre for Adults
Body first! English theatre often falls into the pitfall of working so hard on the voice and text that the body is forgotten – but the body can tell the whole story. This course works on the fundamental principles of physical theater, introducing students to movement analysis and philosophical thinking. Themes include segmentation of the body, articulation of movement for dramatic expression, rhythm and muscular comedy, body movement in space, and character steps. Bring your acting skills to a whole new level.
NEW: Intro to Stage Movement and Dance for Seniors (55+)
Join us at OST on Friday afternoons to work with a professional dancer and choreographer, exploring inclusive movement and dance for stage. Appropriate for beginners or those wanting to get back into performance, instruction will go at the pace of the class and above all give physical vocabulary to creative expression.
Class will be followed by a coffee social time in the OST studios.
Adult Musical Theatre
Designed for musical theatre lovers, either at the beginning stages of their performance experience or wanting to improve their chops. Come have fun as you learn musical theatre singing, dancing, and acting, and work together to put together a musical revue performance in March!
Storytelling for Adults
Enhance your oral presentations, interview skills, and theatrical performances by learning three pillars to become a more engaging storyteller: passionate delivery, voice work, and audience interaction.
Under the premise of creating a 5 minute children’s story, participants will learn the skills necessary to communicate their story passionately, make it as entertaining as possible, and maintain the attention of a variety of audiences. This course will culminate in a public storytelling presentation for the Shenkman Arts Centre’s Fête Frissons on February 7.
Stand-up Comedy
Learn techniques of stand-up comedy and the mechanics of humour, and workshop your own solo piece! This class is perfect for anyone interested in creating their own comedy work, stand-up style or otherwise. It will consist of group activities and teaching of comedy styles and skills, as well as provide a structured and supportive environment for workshopping your own material. This class will culminate in a studio show, and other potential performance venues.
Adult Acting Foundations
With an emphasis on play, physicality, character and emotion, be prepared to learn as you have fun! Students will learn foundational skills in voice and movement, and in script analysis, using class exercises, monologues, and scenes to build their acting toolkit. This class is perfect as a stand-alone course in acting essentials, or as preparation for the Adult Stage Performance class in the winter.
Adult Stage Performance
Bring your performance skills to the stage as you work as a team to put on a show! Perfect as a follow-up to our fall Adult Acting Foundations class, or as a stand-alone class for those who are ready to focus on stage performance. Students will be taught acting skills in the context of their show characters and will rehearse a play for performance in the OST Student Showcase in May.
While almost all courses at OST provide equal stage time to all students, Adult Stage Performance does not guarantee equal lines or stage time. This class is for all skill levels, but roles will be assigned based on skill levels and other casting needs. However, there are no small roles in theatre, and every student will receive a great experience from this class in a collaborative environment.
Note that class length may change in the lead-up to production as the rehearsal schedule clarifies.
Term Dates and Class Locations