in person

with John Markland

may 27th - july 22nd

Empathy is the bridge connecting our hearts. Allow your body to empathize with those parts that maybe suppressed or hidden and become whole.

There are infinite variations of self, or in other words, we are everyone. BUT we live a narrowed version of all that we could be. Consciously choosing aspects of personality, behavior, expression, tone, style, energy, speech, posture all so that others may find us pleasing, safe, seductive, controllable or small. But behind our unconscious doors and deep in our emotional basements, other parts of us survive, alone, but they see a slice of light through the blackened window and dream of what it would be like to live in the world.

We are drawn to acting for many reasons but within most of us is a calling to be seen, to be heard, to be accepted, and ultimately, to express ourselves. If we are only expressing parts of our self, how much can we lend to those we are tasked to breath an authentic life into? The more whole you are. The more aware you are. The deeper you are. The deeper your art will be. Maybe creating characters too real to absorb, at times, for they will reflect that which most are not able to express... or fear to. Perhaps, tapping into parts you have yet to live.

This approach focuses on exposing and integrating the unexpressed selves. We will invite, coax, suggest or we may run kick down doors, scratch, and claw deep into the soil to bring these parts of ourselves to life. Liberating each one of these unexpressed selves, we will grow bolder, truer, more present, and inevitably, come closer to being who we authentically are.

We will explore the unexpressed through movement, posture, eye contact, facial expression, vocal tone and cadence, gesture, and breath. Creating rich, unusual and wholly original characters.

The second part of this approach connects empathy with the newly freed emotional selves. We will engage this through allowing the emotions to transform or evolve from one state to the next, allowing these selves to live in this world... witnessed... accepted.

You will be tasked with expressing four characters. They will be pulled from the library of buried selves and yet-to-be explored selves. This may include but is not limited to: one buried during childhood, one discarded or abandoned from a love, one denied friendship, acceptance, or attention, one you judged as ugly or unlovable, one dangerous, one lost or one the great pretender. There are also parts of us that are unexpressed because of an underlying belief that keeps them from being reached. You may have an impeccable version, an extrovert or introvert, a ball- buster, a feminine or masculine, a joker, a sexualized, a goofy, an asshole, an intelligentsia, a guru, a fabulous or even a baby each with its own behaviors, movement, and voice.

This is an 8-week series that will include scene work, private moments, improv, monologues, immersive active imagination work and play. SPACE IS LIMITED.

AUDITING