CLASSES

Photo by Seth Jacobson Photography

Theater

Scripted Acting 101

with Tammy Brown

Ever wanted to try acting, but don't know how to start? Tammy Brown, Associate Artistic Director of the Contemporary Theater Company, is teaching a great introduction to Scripted Acting! Have fun discovering your inner actor. We believe anyone can have fun and succeed at acting on stage, so come try it yourself!

Ages 14 and up - anyone from teens to seniors is welcome in this intergenerational class!

Sundays, Jan 12 - Mar 1, 5 pm - 7 pm, $149, financial aid available (email info@thecontemporarytheater.com for details), 327 Main Street, Wakefield, RI 02879

$149

Scripted Acting 202

with Tammy Brown

Want to dive further into acting? Work on your craft outside of a show? Just want to have fun acting? Tammy Brown, Associate Artistic Director of the Contemporary Theater Company, is teaching a great Scripted Acting 202 that's perfect for you! Ages 14 and up - anyone from teens to seniors is welcome in this intergenerational class!

Thursdays, Jan 16 - Mar 5, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm, $149, financial aid available (email info@thecontemporarytheater.com for details), 327 Main Street, Wakefield, RI 02879

$149

Directing 101

with Christopher J Simpson

Directing is perhaps the most misunderstood and under-appreciated aspect of theatrical production. In this course, we will examine the director’s responsibility to create safe and rewarding experiences in the rehearsal process that foster growth and discovery for actors and lead to rich and rewarding collaborations.

This course features a practical approach with strong theoretical underpinnings:

Each Saturday we will examine the necessary elements of an excellent and efficient rehearsal, and then create and dissect small projects designed to compel a director to explore their collaborative function and their capacity to exact specific changes through efficient and inspiring notes.

Each Wednesday one student will propose a full-length production. After detailing the project, the student will conduct a simulated “first rehearsal” wherein they lead actors through initial explorations of key scenes. The session includes peer feedback on the director’s proposal, demeanor, and efficacy.

Weekly assignments will include reading a full-length play, directing a small scene or playlet to present on Saturday, and supplemental reading. Each student will prepare a proposal for one Wednesday session.

The course will culminate in a presentation of final projects by all students.

Historically, this course has been a very successful tool for developing directors’ capabilities and preparing them to take on larger projects.

Saturdays, Jan 18 - Mar 21, 10 am - 1 pm and Wednesdays, Jan 29 - Mar 25, 6 pm - 8 pm, $299, in Rehearsal Room at 321 Main Street, Wakefield, RI

$299

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Photo by Seth Jacobson Photography

*Financial aid is available for all classes. Contact Chris Simpson at for more information.

Improv

Improv 101: Intro to Improv

with Christopher Simpson

Our most popular and longest running class, Improv 101 with Artistic Director Chris Simpson is a perfect fit for anyone and everyone! Students have ranged in age from 14 to 80+, and all backgrounds, careers, personalities, and levels of experience and ambition are welcome!

This class makes it fun and safe to play, improvise, and even perform in the most supportive and enjoyable environment imaginable - and it is the perfect introduction to the CTC's signature style of acting - supportive, in the moment, and here to play!

Ages 14 and up – We have students from their teens to their eighties, so all are welcome!

Mondays, Jan 13 to Mar 2, Graduation Show Mar 9, 6:30 pm - 8 pm, $149, financial aid available (email info@thecontemporarytheater.com for details), 327 Main Street, Wakefield, RI 02879

$149

Musical Improv 101: Playing with Music

with Cynthia Burke and Sophie Pearson

We dive further into the world of music improv to take your scenes to the next level! Have fun and be silly with this new adventure. Our teachers make music improv fun, easy, and not at all intimidating! No music experience of any sort required!

Improv 101 completion or instructor permission required to attend.

Sundays, Jan 12 - Mar 1, 6:30 pm - 8 pm, $149, financial aid available (email info@thecontemporarytheater.com for details), 327 Main Street, Wakefield, RI 02879

$149

Improv 303: Status and Gibberish

with Ashley Macamaux

Delve into the next level of improv with an exploration of status – the basis of great scenework! We also have some fun using gibberish to find new ways to explore our improv, our physicality, and our scenes.

Build on the collaborative work of Improv 101 and discover new possibilities in improv!

Completion of Improv 101 & 202 or instructor permission is required.

Sundays, Jan 12 - Mar 1, 5 pm - 6:30 pm, $149, financial aid available (email info@thecontemporarytheater.com for details), 327 Main Street, Wakefield, RI 02879

$149

Improv 505: Improvised Narrative Shows

with Christine Cauchon

Stories are the building blocks of our world, and they are integral to our style of improv. An exploration of narrative - how to build it, how to enjoy it, and how to make it work for you, in the service a Student Narrative Show.

Students and instructors work together to create a medium-length improvised show format, in the mode of the CTC's improvised shows like Whodunit, Slamming Doors, and Bravo! This class culminates in final performances.

Mondays, Jan 20 - Mar 23 , 6 pm - 8 pm, $249 for 10 weeks, Improv 101, 202, 303, and 404 completion or instructor permission required to attend - and it is necessary for all students to be able to attend all of the sessions - talk to the instructors with any concerns.

$249

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Youth

Young Actor's Studio (Ages 11-14)

with Matt Fraza

Students will learn the fundamentals of theater and creating a show, all while continuing to develop our abilities to talk about, explore, and create theater. And, of course, we'll have lots of fun!

Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan 14 - Mar 5 (week off for February Break), 3:30 pm – 5 pm, $199, at 327 Main Street, Wakefield, RI

$199

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Photo by Seth Jacobson Photography

Summer Camps

Vocal Intensive Camp (13-17 years old)

with Jean Maxon Carpenter, Katrina Fortier, Stephen Grueb, and guest Master Classes with Erika Van Pelt

Join a sensational lineup of the CTC's foremost musical educators for a week-long vocal intensive featuring Master Classes, a group choir, an A Cappella group, one-on-one instruction, classes on vocal technique, solfege, music literacy, and articulation, and even some extremely fun improv and musical improv exercises to learn to bring joy and freedom to your music. There will also be one-on-one portfolio/college audition prep sessions!

Returning Summer 2020, $349 (snacks included, bring a lunch), at 327 Main Street, Wakefield, RI

$349

Young Writers Camp (9-13 years old)

with Maggie Papa and Andrew Katzman

Over a week of camp, students ages 9-13 will learn to turn the creative ideas in their head into a real play! Students will work together to write a play over the course of a week with guidance from the instructor. The July camp will focus on writing a new play to be produced as the CTC's August children's show! The August camp will be more free form diving into more advanced writing and following the group's muse! Both camps will be a great writing experience, so let your inner writer out!