Overview
This intensive acting course is designed for the dedicated musical theater performer. Actors will work at a rigorous pace to apply script analysis to musical theater pieces and strengthen their acting and storytelling during singing performances and auditions. Students will learn to perform and actualize the song with physical, emotional, and vocal clarity; and how to identify the best choices for their character portrayal.
Our concentrated schedule keeps students working productively each week. This two-week session will guide students to prepare a thorough and well-rounded performance of a musical theater piece and gain the knowledge to apply these skills to future roles. Ideal for the musical theater student seeking to create thoroughly-realized characters for performances and auditions and to gain skills for a competitive high school or college theater environment.
This class is for the intermediate-advanced musical theater performer who is dedicated to in-depth study, willing to take notes and challenge their skills with using physical and vocal expression to apply acting techniques to music. Previous theatre experience is necessary to reap the most benefits from this course.
Enrolled students should bring to the first class:
- Two complete songs within their vocal range. The songs should be contrasting in style, tempo, and mood. (Please bring printed sheet music for the selected songs.)
Program Details
Ages: 14–18
Dates: September 17 and 24, 2026 (two weeks)
6:30–9 p.m.
Tuition: $165
Location: Mason Community Arts Academy Building in Fairfax, Virginia
Program Faculty
Jessie Holder Tourtellotte
Senior Teaching Artist
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Jessie Holder Tourtellotte is a working actor, writer, and producer and a prolific coach and teaching artist. Locally, she works extensively with AFYP/George Mason Community Arts, is a sought after clinician with multiple FCPS theatre and music programs, and many local theatre companies. Jessie holds a BFA from the University of the Arts’ Ira Brind School of Theatre Arts and has also trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Actor’s Movement Studio, and more. She is currently the intimacy choreographer and movement specialist in residence at NOVA Nightsky Theatre.
As a college and graduate study audition coach, she boasts a high matriculation rate annually including acceptances to every major conservatory program as well as to strong professional training programs across the country, in addition to sending students every year to pre college programs and summer intensives at competitive schools.
She is a winner of the Los Angeles International Screenwriting Competition and a past semifinalist for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship, a graduate of the New York Women in Film and Television From Script to Pre Production Lab. She served as the acting coach on the last two consecutive Cappies NCA Best Play Winning productions, has served on the acting faculty at the Identity School of Acting both in Los Angeles and Internationally, and is a faculty member with The Artist’s Initiative.
Her adaptation of Euripides’ The Trojan Women has won awards from its world premiere and is now under contract for licensing by multiple producing organizations for the coming year.
Notes
- Please note that group classes are subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment is not reached.
- Be sure to check our policies and procedures regarding registration, withdrawals, refunds, and more for fall or spring group classes.
- All students will receive a Welcome Letter via email at least one week before the class starts with all necessary details.
- Online registration closes two business days before the first class, however space may still be available. Please contact [email protected] for more information. A $10 late registration fee may apply.
- For additional information, please contact the Academy at [email protected].