Some feedback from the Classical Scene Study I taught this summer:

"I like the scenes you assigned and the freedom we got choosing monologues.  I like the games we played and your supportive and positive attitude.  I enjoyed this class thoroughly."

"I love how you are always smiling and not negative."

"You sure know your stuff which is very inspiring.  You are serious about what you do - which I love."

"You have helped me grow so much as an actor.  My love for classical work has increased so much thanks to you and Kyle!"

"I really appreciate all the energy you put in with every student.  Your encouragement and challenges helped me grow this summer, thank you."

"I always looked forward to your class; your incredible patience and genuine kindness never cease to amaze me.  I never once heard you say anything negative or get angry with the students, and you inspire me not only to be a better intern, but a better person in general!  I sincerely hope to work with you in the future!"

Last night was the banquet for the Academy at Springer.  Every Academy student in the Main Program (9ish and up) is invited to dress up, eat a catered dinner, and attend an awards presentation.  Awards are given to each class group for Most Enthusiastic, Most Focused, Most Improved, Best Team Player, and Most Outstanding.  There was also a Scholarship Award given to the graduated seniors, an award for Most Outstanding Intern and Most Outstanding Student of the summer.

The Most Outstanding Student of the summer - he is extraordinary.  Once his name was announced, he ran onstage, speechless and nervous, received his plaque, and then took the microphone with shaky hands.  He told us about a dream he had in which he was doing Salutations onstage by himself and the Springer was floating away from him, piece by piece.  And he woke up crying.  Inspired and saddened by that dream, he vowed to stay in the moment - to enjoy every bit of time he had at the Springer and elsewhere.

I'm taking up that challenge this month as everything in my life starts to swirl again.  I'm traveling for three weeks before landing in Chicago to find work and an apartment and audition.  (!!!)  My tendency is to worry and fret and over-plan for things that I can't really plan at all.

So, instead, I'm going to rehearse staying present as often as possible.  It'll be an AWESOME month.

I have a week of Classical Scene Study under my belt at Springer Theatre Academy.  Teaching here is an epic undertaking (at least compared to the other theatre classes/camps I've taught) - we have six groups of students who take six different classes with 50-minute class periods - Contemporary Scene Study, Classical Scene Study, Voice and Movement, Improv, Musical Theatre, and a creative expression class called BANG.

This past week, we (I say we, as in my team teacher, Kyle, and I) started talking about action.  Acting is doing, not being.  That's why we are called actors, not be-ers (which, now that I see it written out, looks like beer.  Yep.  Actors aren't called beer.  I am wise).  We started working with tools to use with text - a formula to implement action, looking for a beginning, middle, and end.  We taught blocking terminology and practiced it today with a little bit of text, which was much more successful and captivating that I imagined it would be.

The point is proven to me every day with every age group: action lies at the heart of excellent, captivating acting.  I feel privileged to be teaching action to young actors and even more privileged to see them learn and grow with the concept.