Category: Acting

This summer, Acting for the Camera Workshop students will learn how to boost their on-camera acting techniques while gaining confidence and telling compelling stories with actor Kevin Murray.

Currently serving as the interim director of the School of Theater at George Mason University, Mr. Murray is a teacher, acting coach, and arts education advocate. Throughout his acting career, Mr. Murray has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including “House of Cards,” on Netflix, “Veep” and “The Wire” on HBO, and “Homicide” on NBC. His collaborations extend to top Hollywood movie stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Aftermath” and Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in “Runaway Bride.” His latest appearance is in an upcoming limited Showtime series, “The Good Lord Bird.”

During this three-day workshop, students will work on individual and small group scene works, receive acting coaching, learn audition tips and tricks, and record their camera performance, all packed in six hours.

In addition to teaching acting techniques, Mr. Murray will give guidance on how to conquer a video audition, share his knowledge about the film industry as an actor and scholar, and explore acting in new media such as on the web or apps like Netflix, Instagram, or YouTube.

 

 

The program is open for everyone regardless of prior acting experience. Students who audition for theater programs or music competitions can look forward to learning a wealth of knowledge on performing on camera.

The program is open for registration in the week of June 22-26, July 13-17, and July 20-24. Workshops will be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m.-noon (Age 7-11) and 1-3 p.m. (Ages 12-18). For more program details, including sample class schedule and technology requirements, please visit Acting for the Camera Workshop.

 

 

For Madison McVeigh, theater performance is beyond a program of study or a hobby: it’s a personal passion. Acting reminds her to be brave, a message which she shared on her graduation cap—“Be brave enough to go outside of my comfort zone. Be brave enough to try something new. Be brave enough to be myself.”

As a little girl, McVeigh loved watching the Oscars with her family and putting on home plays while directing her siblings as cast members. Her theater career began when she was 15, and she developed her fondness for acting when she first read the New York Times best seller novel series, “The Hunger Games,” where she dreamed to audition for a character in the adapted movie series.

“That was the first time I decided to pursue acting as a career path and a passion I want to explore. I began searching for theater programs and found the Acting for Young People.”

 

 

McVeigh first joined AFYP’s summer Weekly Acting Camp as a freshman in high school. The faculty and staff encouraged and motivated her to continue pursuing her love and passion for acting. After her first experience, she continued participating with AFYP through the Summer Advanced Showcase, the Summer Musical Showcase, and the Advanced Actors Showcase.

“When we met McVeigh during her first summer as a student, we knew she was something special,” said Mary Lechter, founder and director of AFYP, the Academy’s theater division. “She was not only doing excellent work as an actor, but setting a strong example for younger students along the way. McVeigh joined us as a teaching assistant and quickly became a leader. Over the past few years, she has been an assistant teacher for our summer camps, a lead teaching artist for our after school programs, and has grown through the ranks to head up our Mini Actors’ Showcase. We are so proud of all that McVeigh has accomplished, and grateful to know that she will continue to work with us after graduation.”

 

 

“AFYP has been such an important part of my life as a student, and I don’t want to spend any moment not realizing that,” McVeigh reflected on her experience throughout years as she advanced her roles in AFYP. She said nothing comes naturally but the hard work.

“One of my favorite showcases was the musical showcase ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ which I was hoping us to do the show for years,” said McVeigh. “After I heard this announcement, I trained with a vocal coach months before the audition. When the staff told me I would be the ‘Belle’ in the show, I was over the moon. Every rehearsal was a joy, and I was so excited to go to it.”

McVeigh explained that playing the lead role of “Belle,” taught her how to strive to be an actor. “Being in a leadership position, I remember the weight over my shoulder that the whole cast was looking up to me.”

 

 

From day one of “Beauty and the Beast” cast rehearsal, McVeigh challenged herself to be better each day. “I don’t think I was good at choreography, but I kept practicing and pushing myself to step outside of my comfort zone. I remembered vividly that Ahmad Matty, the showcase choreographer, at one rehearsal cheered and said, ‘Yay McVeigh, I have never seen you dance like that.’”

McVeigh carried her work ethic and her passion to college, where she majored in theater performance at George Mason University. There, she met Ms. Lechter again, but as a member of the theater faculty and her mentor. “It was an exciting day when I took attendance in my Acting II class, and there she was! Throughout the semester, she showed the same level of excellence that I had come to know from our earlier collaborations.”

During her time at college, McVeigh was fully immersed in the world of theater. Her studies led her to explore many different facets of theater, including playwriting, stage management, costume design, and acting on camera. She was casted in several major productions within the School of Theater and the Mason Players, such as “The Originals!” “The Imaginary Invalid,” and “ Really, Really.” Her study abroad in England experience brought her a global perspective and she is considering returning to England for a graduate degree next year.

 

 

“The staff and faculty at Mason School of Theater are so gifted and equipped with knowledge to help students with career advice, life choices, and personal education,” said McVeigh as she listed the faculty who guided her in the past four years. “In my sophomore year, I didn’t get cast for the first time after auditions. Having lots of free time made me to think about what I want to do for my future. I met with some faculty, such as Dr. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati, Ken Elston, Mary Lechter, and Edward Gero, for advice, They all told me that the future is open as long as I stay open to embrace the opportunities. That was the best advice I have been giving, and I still hold that belief with me today.”

“Madison McVeigh is a natural collaborator. She loves to play in rehearsal and welcomes ideas without judging them,” said Dr. Johnsen-Neshati, associate professor at Mason. “Freedom and generosity define her creative process. Empathy guides her work with others. It’s been a great pleasure to work with Madison McVeigh here at the School of Theater. She’s a brilliant artist with a bright future ahead!”

 

 

A member of Mason’s Class of 2020, McVeigh joined other 10,000 students who celebrated their milestone on Friday, May 22, through a virtual commencement ceremony. Although her post-graduate plans have been interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McVeigh is staying active in the theater world. She has been filming self-tapes and auditions and is virtually collaborating with filmmakers virtually as she bravely steps into this new stage of life.

The Musical Theater programs kick off Summer Arts at Mason Online in the week of June 15-19. Young actors and vocalists, ages 7-18 will join us for a week of interactive, engaging programming online from their homes.

“While we wish we could see our students in person, we’re very excited about the opportunity to bring these new versions of our traditional summer programs, and to try out new ones, in the online environment,” said Mary Lechter, associate director of the Academy and director of Acting for Young People.

 

 

For young actors, ages 7-11, the Summer Musical Theater Showcase will take place in the morning from 9 a.m. to noon. The program will include vocal training, choreography practice, and acting techniques, all packed in three hours each day. Students will learn new songs and movement and develop their stage presence with teaching artists and coaches.

 

 

The Summer Musical Theater Intensive is designed for more experienced actors and vocalists in ages 12-18. The program will take place in the afternoon from 1-4 p.m. A traditionally performance-focused program, this Intensive will expand its course offerings to include sessions on auditions and business to bring a well-rounded knowledge of all aspects of the musical theater profession to the program’s young artists.

“Students will receive a mix of live-streamed interactive classes, individualized and group learning, and enriching video resources, all taught by the same experienced, professional faculty,” said Ms. Lechter.

 

Both camps are taught by esteemed teaching artists: Ahmad Matty, choreographer, and Jackie Salvador, vocal coach. Each day, the instructors will lead the group focusing on theatrical technique development for choreography, voice, and acting.

 

Mr. Maaty is a professional actor, dancer, choreographer, singer, and Mason School of Theater faculty. He has appeared in several theater productions in the Washington, D.C. area. He is AFYP’s musical theater director and choreographer for summer acting camps and all showcase programs. Mr. Maaty is the receipt of the BroadwayWorld’s Regional 2019 Award for Best Actor in Community Theater Production.

 

Ms. Salvador is a Mason School of Music alumna, who made her Off-Broadway debut with Atlantic Theatre in their production of “James and the Giant Peach.” Her stage performance including an assortment of musical theater characters. She is expected to provide the voice of “Dorothy Hess” in the upcoming fictional podcast “The 8th Light.”

 

Both programs are open for registration. For program details, including sample daily schedule and technology requirements, visit Musical Theater Showcase (Ages 7-11) or Musical Theater Intensive (Ages 12-18).