Adult Classes
2024-2025
Our adult class selections at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre are carefully crafted to offer both basic skills for those new to theatre and advanced skills for experienced artists looking to hone their craft. Our instructors have worked professionally and on college campuses both in West Michigan and all over the country.
This highly energetic class is geared towards the basic tenets of improv acting and developing the process of improv, teamwork, and spontaneity. Ideal for people hoping to perform improv, expand their performance abilities, or for those desiring to develop enhanced communication and creativity skills for use in their business and personal lives, all while working in a supportive and extremely fun environment.
Class is closed.
Essential Acting
Thursdays, 7:00-9:00pm | $150 | View in Calendar »
Join a fantastic theater professional for a six-week journey into the essentials of acting. This course is designed to help students fully engage their bodies, voices, and spontaneity on stage. Through various games and exercises, participants will reduce self-consciousness, and unlock their sense of play. Students will also delve into foundational script analysis skills, learning to embody actions, play various tactics, and discover emotional stakes within partnered scene work. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience, this class welcomes individuals at all proficiency levels.
Session A: Full, Please join the waitlist.
NEW! Session B: Wednesdays 7 – 9pm
10 Minute Playwriting
Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00pm | $150 | View in Calendar »
Interested in diving into the theatrical world of writing? Led by the 2022 and 2023 Ten for All competition winner, Eirann Betka-Pope, students learn the formatting of a script, how to write dialogue, and develop meaningful plots and characters in order to create a 10 Minute Play within six weeks! This class may require some homework each week in order to build a fully fledged script by the end of our term. Participants have the option to submit their piece to the Ten for All playwriting festival this winter on Civic Theatre’s Mainstage.
Class is closed.
Intro to Scenic Design
Thursdays, 7:00-9:00pm | $150 | View in Calendar »
Join Civic Theatre’s own Associate Scenic Designer, Kat Blakeslee, to learn the basics of scenic design, including research, exploring spaces, working with production departments, and communicating design ideas! Students will work on their own designs from initial brainstorming through sketches and model stages.
Winter Term
Intro to Music Theory and Sight Singing for Adults
Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00pm | $150 | View in Calendar »
Want to become a FIERCE sight-reader for your next show, audition or callback? This class will teach students to analyze and comprehend Broadway sheet music, build sight-singing skills through a basis of music theory and aural perceptions, and teach you “One Weird Trick” to sight read quickly and accurately!
Essential Acting
Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00pm | $150 | View in Calendar »
Join a fantastic theater professional for a six-week journey into the essentials of acting. This course is designed to help students fully engage their bodies, voices, and spontaneity on stage. Through various games and exercises, participants will reduce self-consciousness, and unlock their sense of play. Students will also delve into foundational script analysis skills, learning to embody actions, play various tactics, and discover emotional stakes within partnered scene work. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience, this class welcomes individuals at all proficiency levels.
Improv Comedy: The Basics
Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00pm | $150 | View in Calendar »
This highly energetic class is geared towards the basic tenets of improv acting and developing the process of improv, teamwork, and spontaneity. Ideal for people hoping to perform improv, expand their performance abilities, or for those desiring to develop enhanced communication and creativity skills for use in their business and personal lives, all while working in a supportive and extremely fun environment.
Sketch Comedy
Thursdays, 7:00-9:00pm | $150 | View in Calendar »
Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell, and Jimmy Fallon all got their start in comedy by learning how to do sketch comedy! Guided by an experienced sketch comedy instructor, students learn about various types of sketches and the process of sketch writing from brainstorming through presentation! Laughter guaranteed!
Advanced Acting: The Meisner Approach
Thursdays, 7:00-9:00pm | $150 | View in Calendar »
Have you taken Essential Acting and want to take the next step? Are you an experienced community theater actor and want to brush up on your skills? Utilizing theatre exercises emphasizing observation and reaction, students will learn the Sanford Meisner approach to acting in this advanced-level class!
Join a fantastic theater professional for a six-week journey into the essentials of acting. This course is designed to help students fully engage their bodies, voices, and spontaneity on stage. Through various games and exercises, participants will reduce self-consciousness, and unlock their sense of play. Students will also delve into foundational script analysis skills, learning to embody actions, play various tactics, and discover emotional stakes within partnered scene work. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience, this class welcomes individuals at all proficiency levels.
2024-25 School Terms:
FALL TERM:
October 5 – November 21
(No class on Halloween)
WINTER TERM:
January 11 – February 20
SPRING TERM:
April 12 – May 22
PERFORMANCE BLOCK:
February 15 - March 23
If you have questions, please call the Education Office at 616-222-6650