For Ages 13 - 18. If you have any questions regarding age, payment, or class content, please call (412)281-2234.
How Shakespeare Saved My Life with Jacob Ming-Trent
Friday, Nov. 13 | 4:30pm
Finding Your Voice. Owning Your Story. Bringing Shakespeare to Life.
Join acclaimed writer and performer Jacob Ming-Trent, creator and performer of How Shakespeare Saved My Life, for an unforgettable time exploring the transformative power of theatre.
Students will get an inside look at Jacob's personal journey and discover how classical theatre can shape, challenge, and change an artist's life. Through hands-on coaching in classical monologues, with a special focus on Shakespeare, students will explore the language, intention, and bold choices that bring these timeless characters to life. The experience concludes with an opportunity to ask questions and gain insight from an artist who knows firsthand the power of finding your voice.
Production: How Shakespeare Saved My Life
O'Reilly Theater | November 11–22
The Art of the Multihyphenate with Lara Hayhurst
Friday, Dec. 4 | 4:30pm
Actress. Casting Director. Animal Handler. One Extraordinary Career.
In today's entertainment industry, being a great actor is just the beginning!
Join Lara Hayhurst, star of Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh's upcoming production of Who's Holiday, for a behind-the-scenes look at what it really means to build a multifaceted career in the performing arts.
An Equity actress, casting director, and animal handler, Lara has built a career that reaches far beyond the stage. Students will discover how these seemingly different professional paths intersect, explore the skills needed to thrive in multiple areas of the entertainment industry, and learn what it takes to remain adaptable, resourceful, and creative in an ever-changing business.
Because sometimes the best career move is refusing to put yourself in just one box!
Production: Who's Holiday
Greer Cabaret | December 2–23
The Art of Directing & the Audition with Trey Compton
Wednesday, Dec. 9 | 4:30pm
From the Director's Chair to the Audition Room: Get Inside the Mind of the People Casting the Show.
Join Trey Compton, director, fight choreographer, and teacher, for a unique opportunity to explore the theatrical process from both sides of the audition room.
As the director of Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh's production of Who's Holiday, Trey brings extensive experience directing at regional theaters across the United States. Students will get an insider's perspective on the art of directing, discovering how a director develops a vision, evaluates performers, and makes the creative decisions that bring a production to life. This workshop goes beyond the director's chair! Trey will take students inside the audition room, offering an honest look at what directors are really looking for when performers walk through the door. Which songs and monologues are being overused? Why does your choice of material matter so much? What makes an audition memorable, and what might cause a performer to get lost in a sea of similar submissions?
This is a chance to hear the things performers don't always get to hear firsthand: what directors notice, what makes them excited, and how to walk into an audition room prepared to make a lasting impression. Whether your ambitions lie in the director's chair or center stage, learn to see the audition process through the eyes of the person on the other side of the table.
Production: Who's Holiday
Greer Cabaret | December 2–23
Bah Humbug to Bad Acting! with "Ebenezer Scrooge"
Wednesday, Dec. 16 | 4:30pm
An Afternoon with a Broadway/Film/Television performer.
Bah! Humbug! It's time to put the ghosts of bad acting past behind you!
Join the star of Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh's upcoming production of A Musical Christmas Carol for an exclusive opportunity to sit down with a Tony and Emmy - nominated actor and explore the craft of becoming a truly unforgettable performer.
Who is Ebenezer Scrooge? What makes a character's transformation believable? How does an actor create a fully realized character that audiences will remember long after the curtain falls?
Students will have the opportunity to ask questions, discuss the creative process, and gain valuable insight into the discipline, imagination, and professional experience that go into bringing a legendary character to life.
Production: A Musical Christmas Carol
Byham Theater | December 11–23
Class time: 4:30–6:00pm (60-minute class + 30-minute Q&A).