Spring 2023
Youth Workshops
All Spring Classes are Currently Full
Sign up for wait list and we’ll call for options
The Morgan-Wixson Theatre and the Youth Education / Entertainment Series (Y.E.S) have been working with youth actors and delighting audiences throughout the Los Angeles area for over 26 years. In addition, this educational program has been offering workshops in vocals, acting, dance and audition preparation for the past year! A highly skilled team has designed curriculum for all levels of experience from the novice to the advanced.
We hope you can join us!
Location:
All Workshops will take place at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica. More details provided upon registration.
Dates:
Workshops begin the week of January 30, 2023.
Tuition:
Our goal is for total inclusion and we realize that there will be families that cannot afford this opportunity given current circumstances. The tuition is listed below under each workshop description, but if you are unable to pay part or all of the tuition, we are accepting all students on a “pay what you can” basis. There is no need to apply for a scholarship or to provide any family financial information. If your family is able to donate monies above the tuition to help support this program, we will provide you with a donation letter for your tax return (and be eternally grateful).
Vaccinations:
All students must be fully vaccinated or provide proof with a doctor’s note for exemption and wear masks during workshops in order to maintain the health of our actors involved in a Y.E.S. show.
https://www.morgan-wixson.org/covid-policy
Please Note:
These workshops are designed to support and expand a young actor’s skills. Therefore
it is possible to be enrolled in a workshop and still be cast in a Y.E.S. show.
The instructors of the workshops and directors of the shows will work together to
schedule around workshops days. In addition, during tech week, where rehearsal for a
Y.E.S. show is required, the workshops will take that day off in case any workshop
members are in a cast.
*Please note that enrolling in workshops is not a guarantee of being cast in a show.
Additional Training Module
This module is designed to be taken with one of the workshops above or separately
Stage Combat
Like dance, theatrical swordplay is both complex in structure and beautiful in execution. The timing must be precise and the form flawless all while being executed with effortless flair. Training in theatrical combat will improve your posture, balance, eye-hand coordination and isometric strength. You will memorize sequences and time your actions with a partner all while recalling the movements, attacks, parries and evasions. This workshop requires a certain amount of mental focus.
February 5 through April 2, Sunday, 4:00-5:30pm for ages 10 to adult
--Class Full--
Sign up for wait list and we’ll call for options
Session $300 as a single class, $150 in combination with a preceding Workshop
Workshop Placement: It is our goal that each participant has the most beneficial experience. Please email us if you would like guidance to find the workshop that most fits your students needs. In addition, our administrators may wish to move a participant into a different class dependent on experience and will consult with the participant and parent(s) as needed.
Registration: Limited Enrollment – please register by Friday, January 20th to reserve your place.
To register for a workshop, please follow the link to our registration form:
If you have any questions, please contact us at YouthWorkshops@morgan-wixson.org.
Intro to Theater
7-13 yrs
--Class Full--
Sign up for wait list and we’ll call for options
For youth with very little or no experience and/or training.
To introduce novice artists to all aspects of theatre by teaching fundamental skills in all areas of performance: Acting, Dance, Voice & Musical Theatre Auditions
Mondays, 3:45-5:00 pm
Tuition: $350
January 30 through May 22, 2023
*NO CLASS on 2/20, 3/13, 4/3, 5/15 for breaks during tech weeks of Y.E.S. shows and spring break.
Intro to Theater
7-13 yrs
--Class Full--
Sign up for wait list and we’ll call for options
For youth with very little or no experience and/or training.
To introduce novice artists to all aspects of theatre by teaching fundamental skills in all areas of performance: Acting, Dance, Voice & Musical Theatre Auditions
Tuesdays, 4:00-5:15 pm
Tuition: $350
January 31 through May 09, 2023
*NO CLASS 3/14, 4/4 for breaks during tech weeks of Y.E.S. shows and spring break.
Intro to Theater
12-18 yrs
--Class Full--
Sign up for wait list and we’ll call for options
For students who have completed two sessions of an Intro Workshop or are recommended by an instructor to be placed in this workshop.
To overview theater techniques and continue to build upon skills learned in Acting, Dance & Musical Theatre Auditions
Mondays, 5:00-6:30 pm
Tuition: $375
January 30 through May 22, 2023
*NO CLASS on 2/20, 3/13, 4/3, 5/15 for breaks during tech weeks of Y.E.S. shows and spring break.
Performance Foundations
--Class Full--
Sign up for wait list and we’ll call for options
Students are introduced to a method of script analysis to apply to scene work, monologues as well as musical theatre auditioning that focuses on aligning with the writer's intention. They'll be given new tools to define beats and actions, and will explore physical ways of creating characters as well as accessing emotions on the spot. They'll be given a step by step technique on approaching acting and music rehearsals.
Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00 pm for ages 10-18
Tuition: $425
February 1 through May 24
* NO CLASS on 3/15, 4/5, 5/17 for breaks during tech weeks of Y.E.S. shows and spring break.
“Since I am really wanting to continue with the MWT, these workshops were extremely helpful to me because I could get familiar with some of the theater’s/director’s expectations and styles.”
“What a wonderful program you created for our kids to learn and practice their craft. (Our daughter) would light up every Wednesday knowing she got to spend time with her MWT peeps. In times like this, it means even more to give our children positive experiences that bring them joy.”
“I really grew so much as a performer! It was really helpful.”
Praise for our Workshops!
Our Instructors
Anne Gesling (Co-Administrator and Instructor) is the founder of the Annual Youth Musical and a co-founder of the YES Program at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre. In 35 years at the MWT, she has directed and/or music directed over 150 youth and mainstage productions and served as costume designer on over 50 productions. She has received awards for direction from the National Youth Arts and the NAACP in addition to numerous awards at the MWT. Her passion is working with and training young actors.
Ellen Doyle (Instructor) is a Los Angeles based teaching artist and actor and voiceover artist originally from Chicago. She has directed/taught kids in musical theatre, commercial workshops, acting and improv in the West Hollywood area for the last 8 years. Ellen can be seen in over 15 national commercials (some of which are currently airing), heard in voiceover campaigns like JBL and McDonalds and was recently seen in "Good Girls". She has performed regional theatre throughout the Chicago land area and has trained at Groundlings in LA and Second City in Chicago.
Katie Herling (Instructor) is an actor and teaching artist, with a BFA in Performing Arts from the Oregon Center for the Arts in Ashland, OR, where she studied with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s resident fight choreographer, U Jonathan Toppo. She was last seen as Fight Captain/Neferrus in BoomStick Theater’s Space Captain: Captain of Space, and has instructed with theaters and conservatories up and down the West Coast, including CalShakes Student Conservatory, Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, the Quinan Street Project, Turning Point Independent School, and more. Katie is excited to join the team at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre!
Eve Keller (Co-Administrator and Instructor) has been teaching musical theatre and audition techniques to youth (throughout the LA area) for over 20 years. She is also a director for the Y.E.S program at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre where she has received nominations for her directing from National Youth Arts. Eve has her Masters in Child Psychology and combines her passion for children’s development with her knowledge of the performing arts to create an inspiring theatrical space to allow young performers to comfortably tap into their artistic gifts.
Michelle McGregor (Instructor) is thrilled to bring her teaching to the YES Program at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre. Michelle has studied various techniques in acting all over the country; from Meisner and Stanislovksy, to Commedia Dell'arte and Improvisation technique. She is committed to sharing a wide range of techniques and tools with her students. Michelle has her BFA in theatre from the College of Santa Fe, and her MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama. She has taught script analysis, acting fundamentals, and creation of character since 2009 and looks forward to this collaboration with Morgan-Wixson.
Maggie Randolph (Instructor) received a BFA at Syracuse University after attending Interlochen Performing Arts School during her high school years. Soon after graduation, Maggie toured in many productions around the world and won many awards for her performances, including winning LA's Next Great Stage Star in 2016. These past five years she has had a career in teaching and private vocal coaching and is passionate about sharing her knowledge to young performers of all ages while continuing to perform in Los Angeles.
Krystle Simmons (Instructor) is an international performer with NAACP and Ovation Awards nominations for best leading actress and has been performing professionally for over 13 years. Krystle also teaches acting and musical theater dance from coast to coast and has a passion and love for educating children in the arts. As a seasoned performer with experiences that vary from Luxury cruise lines, regional theater, to being a featured vocalist on national television, she has lots of insight to share with her students.