Winter Workshop 2008

After a pause of several years, I've decided to begin teaching again. Many of you know that I taught a series of workshops for actors and directors with Joseph Chaikin from 1997 until his death in 2003. Since then, I haven't had the motivation to be back in a classroom setting. I wasn't sure how, or with whom, I could possibly teach with after Joe. But it feels like the right time now, and I've found a new teaching partner. I am delighted to announce that I will join together with my colleague Eva Burgess in offering a new class for experienced actors: The Winter Workshop 2008.

I actually met Eva at the final Joseph Chaikin Workshop. Eva is an extraordinarily talented director and teacher. When I began working on a solo performance piece earlier this year, Eva was the only person I would consider asking to be my director. She is bright, funny, and sensitive. Moreover, she has also developed her own techniques for finding your impulses as an actor, and expands these methods into a fascinating approach to creating ensemble work. She directed Largo Desolato for the Vaclav Havel Festival last season. It was one of the best pieces of theater I've ever seen. Teaching with Eva seems to be the next logical progression in the work I began with Joe Chaikin. He would be proud to know we continue on in his honor.

Here are the details on the class. I do hope you'll join us, and pass the information along to your colleagues.

The Winter Workshop 2008

Get out of your Head

Get into the Text

Get into your Body

Break Habits

Be Present

Each session includes:

- Warm up for mind, body and voice

- Collaborative & Ensemble work (including creating original pieces)

- Scene study of existing text from selected playwrights

When: Wednesdays 7-10 PM. January 9^th through March 12^th

How Much: $325* for 10 classes

Class size is limited. Please call 347-886-2157 for more information or email to evaburgess@earthlink.net

* Discount available for Joseph Chaikin Alumni and Tyna Collective Member

Eva Burgess is a theatre director, teacher and acting coach. Her directorial work has been seen in New York, Moscow, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Los Angeles.

In New York, Eva has been an Artist in Residence at HERE Arts Center, a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and a participant in the late Joseph Chaikin's Workshop. She directed Vaclav Havel’s Largo Desolato at the Ohio Theatre, and Timothy Braun’s Angelina at Culturemart – HERE Arts Center. Eva has also collaborated extensively with Russian playwright Ksenia Dragunskaya. Eva directed Dragunskaya’s The Flood, a Russian-language piece, at DOC Theatre, Moscow; and developed an English-language production of A Feeling of a Beard at The American Living Room, HERE Arts Center, New York. Before moving to New York she spent 2 ½ years in Bosnia-Hercegovina, where she taught and founded a theatre company that created two original, Bosnian-language productions that were seen in Bosnia, toured Ireland, and were also performed at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

In her work as a teacher and director, Eva has synthesized her own method of working with actors by integrating her prior study, and the influences of a range of theatre artists, with her diverse experiences.

"I am interested in creating work for the stage that is visually, linguistically, and physically awake." Eva Burgess

Wayne Maugans taught with Joseph Chaikin from 1997 – 2002. As an actor he has worked at theaters such as Manhattan Theatre Club, Signature Theatre Company, Primary Stages, Joseph Papp Public Theater, Yale Rep. Atlantic Theater Company, Actor's Theater of Louisville, Cleveland Playhouse, Two River Theater, and LaMaMa ETC. Directing credits include two New York premieres:Trailerville and Uncle (both at Blue Heron Theatre). Wayne has also worked extensively in film and television. He is a featured performer in the BBC/PBS documentary Sam Shepard: Stalking Himself and is featured in the soon to be released short film Wake by Andrew Lawton.

"No matter which personal and hidden motives have led you to the theater, once you are within, you must find a meaning which, stretching beyond your own person, confronts you socially with others." Eugenio Barba