Category: Acting

Students To Perform At Arts By George Gala, Sept 29th

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date September 14, 2018

Looking for the perfect Date Night? Mason’s annual Arts By George fundraising gala event, which provides student scholarships and support to the College of Visual and Performing Arts – including its community arts programs – will take place Saturday, September 29th. This year’s activities will include performances by some of the Academy’s very own music and acting students!

WHAT: Arts By George Fundraising Event
WHEN: Saturday, September 29, 2018 – starting at 5 PM
WHERE: de Laski Performing Arts Building at Mason in Fairfax See Map
COST: $275 per person
PARKING: Free parking in Lot K, or paid parking in Mason Pond Parking Deck

Arts By George Activities

If you have never attended an Arts by George event before, there is a reason why they have dubbed it “An Evening Like No Other”. Attendees can stroll through the Performing Arts Building to interact with multiple sets of performances from Mason students (including one special performance from our Academy students!), enjoy fine buffet-style dining, and more – all starting at 5pm and going through to the featured concert performance at 8:30 PM in the Center for the Arts.

Highlights include:

10 open studios and rehearsal halls showcasing more than 100 talented Mason students (plus a special performance by Academy students!)
3 of the region’s finest restaurants with an elegant buffet
60+ exclusive silent and live auction items including theater, sports, cuisine, and travel
1 dazzling performance by Grammy Award winner The Manhattan Transfer featuring Mason’s own American Festival Pops Orchestra and Mason Vocal Jazz Ensemble, followed by an on-stage champagne toast with The Manhattan Transfer (pictured below)!

Manhattan Transfer Photo

Proceeds support Mason student scholarships in Art, Dance, Music, Theater, Arts Management, Computer Game Design, and Film and Video Studies, as well as the Great Performances at Mason season, The Green Machine Ensembles, and Mason Community Arts Academy. (Guests can allocate their support specifically for the Academy!)

Need a reason to bring out that fancy dress? Time to dust off that tux? Be a part of the arts at Arts By George. It’s a date!

LEARN MORE AND BUY TICKETS!

Acting Music

Learn To Sing Like A Pro

Post author By Alaina
Post date September 7, 2018

Whether you are looking to improve your vocal skills to perform on stage, sing for the first time in your life, or as a young child take your first steps into the musical world, we have a Voice Class for you! Children, teens and adults can find their melody and harmony here at the Academy.

Students in every class can expect to be introduced to (or become reacquainted with) music fundamentals such as rhythm and pitch, vocal basics such as breath support and good technique, exposure to a variety of musical styles from around the world, and experience singing solo and in a group.

“For young singers, the element of play is vital for a good learning experience,” explained Jimmy Stevens, who teaches the voice classes for children. “I love to play games, and I love to make up games on the spot to reinforce what we are working on! If you join our class, expect to play!”

While our voice classes are an excellent place for vocalists to learn and grow, they also make wonderful supplements for actors/ theater students who are interested in performing musical theater, and for instrumentalists who are looking to improve their sense of phrasing and tone.

For our teen and adult classes, we welcome Mason Graduate Vocal candidates Sarah Jacob and Kari White, both coming with high recommendation from Mason School of Music Vocal Professor Patricia Miller.

Each 10-week session ends with a lively classroom performance for family and friends, something that Mr. Stevens particularly enjoys.

“Each time the students present something like an a cappella choir piece [no music, only vocal harmony],” said Mr. Stevens, “it always amazes me – and parents – how good it sounds and how much the students can grow in such a short period of time.”

To learn to “sing like a pro” takes years of training and experience, and there’s no better place to start than at the Academy! Our Fall 2018 session starts soon – sign up today!

SEE VOICE CLASS DETAILS

Acting

Creative Writing – Can We Pencil You In?

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date September 7, 2018

A teenager makes a documentary about his mysterious friend with agoraphobia. A rag-tag group of soldiers helps to liberate Poland from the inside out in World War 2. A new, complex relationship is tested and threatened by a mad man. A world appears, made up entirely of memes… or is it? What do these story lines have in common? They were developed, written, and shared by past Creative Writing for Stage & Screen class students!

Creative Writing for the Stage and Screen class is for teens ages 13-18, and for the Fall 2018 semester it will take place on Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:00pm (starting September 19th). The class will be taught by experienced writers Zachary Wilcox and Andrew Reid, both on staff with the Academy’s theater division Acting For Young People.

What story do you want to tell? A fairy tale? An out-of-this-world adventure? A dramatic mystery? Mr. Wilcox and Mr. Reid have heard lots of ideas in the class over the last couple of years. “It’s all about the idea, and going as far as you can with that idea,” said Mr. Wilcox. “Put a pen(cil) on paper or your fingers on a keyboard, and don’t stop until you can’t think of the next word. Then, just shake it out and keep going!”

Creative writing class for teens

Don’t have an idea? Don’t worry about it! “The beginning of this class is all about figuring out what you want to write and how you want to write it,” Mr. Reid explains. “We start with exercises that push the writer to explore his or her creative energy.”

Once you have your idea, the instructors invite you to write as much of the story as you can each week and bring in fresh pages to read together as a class. “Sharing is the most important part of this class,” commented Mr. Wilcox. “We maintain a safe space where writers can work together and bounce ideas off each other.”

So… can we pencil you in?

SEE CREATIVE WRITING CLASS DETAILS

Acting

Young Children Get “Theater Cred”

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date August 24, 2018

Young actors ages 5-6 have a wonderful opportunity to act in The Enchanted Pumpkins, the “Mini Actors’ Showcase” spin-off of this Fall’s theater production of Twinderella. Presented by Acting For Young People, the Academy’s theater division, the weekly class introduces young children to the essential building blocks of acting and theater.

The Enchanted Pumpkins was written and will be directed by Megan Gasztonyi, Madison McVeigh, and Ashley Promisel, who were also involved in the Acting Summer Camps at Mason.

Young children in theater show

“The Mini Actors’ Showcase is the perfect place to learn the building blocks of acting!” exclaimed Ms. Gasztonyi. “There is no better way to start your weekend than with an hour of teamwork and acting.”

Great for new and returning actors, the Saturday class encourages students to use their imaginations in a fun and safe environment, and gain confidence as they learn the process of putting on a play.

Acting class for young children

At the end of the session, the students will take part in a full theater production in George Mason University’s professional TheaterSpace!

Class rehearsals start September 8th. There are still a few spots left – get in on the action!

SEE CLASS DETAILS

Acting Announcements Art Music

Fall 2018 Classes Are Open For Registration!

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date August 3, 2018

We are happy to announce that our Fall 2018 Semester schedule of community arts classes, lessons and programs has been finalized, and registration is now open!

Would you or your family member like to explore a new creative outlet? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to try the piano. Maybe drawing or painting is more your style. Is the theater stage calling your name? Maybe you have dreams of playing in the orchestra one day.

Music Classes at the Academy
SEE MUSIC CLASSES

For those of you who have been with the Academy before, perhaps it’s time to take a continuation class. Maybe you’ve got a taste of artistic self-expression, and you want more. For more experienced music students, now might be the perfect opportunity to join an ensemble.

Visual Art Classes at the Academy
SEE VISUAL ART CLASSES

Whether young or old, beginner or advanced, shy or outspoken – you have a place here at the Academy. With an abundance of Music, Art and Acting classes to choose from, you’re sure to find something that matches your passion and/or curiosity.

Acting and Theater classes at the Academy
SEE ACTING CLASSES

You can register online now. Although most classes will not start until mid-September, due to limited enrollment space, we urge you sign up as soon as possible. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by!

SEE FULL CLASS LIST