(LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- New Jersey Repertory Company “NJRep”, located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch, is proud to announce the launch of their Adult Education program with two classes designed to offer adults the opportunity to expand their theatrical enjoyment. Beginning May 16 and running until July 11, (no class on July 4) these 8-week sessions are designed to allow each student to work at their own pace regardless of experience. Students at all levels are welcome and encouraged to attend. Classes will be held at West End Arts at 132 West End Avenue, Long Branch. Parking is free.
The Acting Technique Class, taught by Donna Marrazzo, will address all aspects of acting, including script and character analysis, improvisation technique, the physical and vocal qualities of a character, monologue and scene study technique, emotional preparation and working truthfully moment to moment. You will be introduced to the techniques of Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler, and Lee Strasberg. Through this training you will learn to calm your inner critic and work on a level of trust and instinct.
The Playwriting Workshop, taught by award winning playwright, James Hindman, will include exercises to keep you going from first draft through revisions, and time to read pages aloud and discuss in a supportive controlled manner. This class will provide you with positive support by de-mystifying the playwright’s process. You will work at your own pace as we examine themes, structure, dialogue and character in an environment that brings out and channels their unique creativity. Whether you are starting from scratch, moving forward with a work-in-progress or wanting to focus on one-acts, everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring forth your unique voice. The goal is to give you the tools to move forward with your writing while keeping the ‘play’ in playwrighting.
ABOUT THE TEACHERS
DONNA MARRAZZO recently retired from her tenure as a professor in the Department of Theatre at Adelphi University. She has also taught at Studio Arena Theatre, Walnut Street Theater, BMG Talent New York, Mike Lemon Casting, and Camden County College. In 2001 Donna Marrazzo Studio was established in NYC. Donna has many private clients that she coaches and has worked with TV personalities from Food Network and Dancing with the Stars. After receiving her B.F.A. in drama from Adelphi University, Donna continued her training, studying with Salem Ludwig, and Fred Kareman, where she received intensive training in the Meisner Technique. She has also had the pleasure of studying with two of the leading voice teachers of our time, Kristin Linklater and Cecily Berry. Her passion is to share the craft of acting with her students and help them become the best actors they can be.
JAMES HINDMAN is an award-winning playwright and actor who recently returned from the International Gay Dublin Theatre festival where his one man show, WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU, received a five star review in The Irish Times and was nominated for three Oscar Wilde Awards. As a writer James’ New York credits include: POPCORN FALLS directed by two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle, PETE 'N' KEELY (Outer Critics Award nomination, two Drama Desk nominations), THE AUDIENCE (Drama Desk nomination), BEING AUDREY (Transport Group, NEA Grant recipient), A CHRISTMAS SURVIVAL GUIDE and THE GORGES MOTE. James is a Terrence McNally Award finalist who’s plays have been developed and performed at theatres in New York and across America including The Vineyard, Second Stage, Long Wharf, Walnut Street, Goodspeed, Denver Theatre Center, New Jersey Rep and Papermill Playhouse. Many of his short plays and monologues are published in Best Play anthologies and he has taught playwriting at The Barrow Group in New York City and The Art Workshop International in Assisi, Italy. His most recent productions include THE PIN UP GIRLS at New Jersey Rep. and NOW COMES THE FUN PART at Penguin Rep. As an actor he’s performed in many films and television shows including ‘The Gilded Age’, HBO’s ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’, Marvel’s ‘Iron Fist’, ‘The Report’, ‘Oceans 8’, ‘Things Heard and Seen’, ‘Three Women’, ‘Godfather of Harlem’, ‘The Americans’, recurring role on Steven Spielberg’s ‘Public Morals’, ‘Madam Secretary’, ‘House Of Cards’, ‘The Sopranos’, ‘Law and Order, SVU, CI’ and ‘The Blacklist’. On Broadway and tours: Mary Poppins, The Scarlet Pimpernel, 1776, City Of Angels, A Grand Night For Singing, Once Upon A Mattress, Falsettos, Dancing At Lughnasa, Cats.
The New Jersey Repertory Company (NJREP) was founded in 1997 by SuzAnne and Gabor Barabas. Its current central headquarters is the Lumia Theater located on lower Broadway in Long Branch. The theater’s mission is to develop and produce new plays and to make a lasting contribution to the American Stage. Over two decades NJ Rep has produced 150 plays of which 125 have been world premieres. The theater has the additional distinction of having had many of its plays produced by other theaters around the country totaling over 200 subsequent productions in the U.S. and overseas. In 2012 and 2018 NJ Rep was the recipient of a National Theater Company Grant from the American Theater Wing that sponsors the annual Tony Awards for Broadway in recognition of its contribution to the repertoire of the American Stage. Only seven theaters have had this distinction. In addition, the theater has presented over 400 developmental readings as well as introduced 136 new works through its Theatre Brut Short-Play Festivals that focus on visionary and avant-garde works. In May 2016, NJ Rep acquired a new property, a 28,000 square foot school situated on 2 ½ acres and located just five minutes from its Main Stage Lumia Theater and two blocks from the Jersey Shore. The theater plans on gradually transforming the school in stages into a cultural center that will house additional performance spaces, an art cinema, an art museum, a rooftop café, an arts education wing, and residences for out-of-town actors and playwrights. When completed, the center will present a wide array of programs in acting, playwriting, art, sculpture, poetry, music, and photography and will serve as a catalyst for economic development and as the foundation for the cultural renaissance of the community.
NJRep thanks the following for their support: The Shubert Foundation, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, SBA Shuttered Venues Program, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey, New Jersey CRF, NJEDA, JENNJOE Fund, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, OceanFirst Foundation, Princeton Area Community Foundation, Manasquan Bank, Community Foundation of New Jersey, Monmouth County CARES, Investors Bank Foundation, Jewish Communal Fund, Darien Family Fund, Vasi Laurence, Caroline Huber, Caryl Sills and Linda Mitchell.
