2025
II. Creating Character: Build Your Acting Muscle
Level: commmitted actors who have completed Core Technique
location: Schöneberger Ufer 59, Berlin-TIERGARTEN
FEE: €350
winter session:
tuesdays 19:30 - 22:00, January 7 - march 4 (no class on Feb. 4)
This course builds on the foundation of Core Technique, introducing you to the craft of creating believable human characters and rooting them in the universe of the play. You will sharpen your ability to find clues in a script that help you understand character and objective, identify obstacles, and play actions that bring dramatic conflict to life. At the same time, you will begin to explore the possibilities of characterization, including how internal obstacles inform your physical and vocal choices.
“Adam’s classes are full of creative and positive energy. Working on these great American plays and writing has been very inspiring for me and has helped me grow as an actress.”
Working on scenes from modern and contemporary American theater, you will hone your analytical and interpretive skills while exploring possibilities of tone and style, tackling challenges like comedy and heightened language. Intensive collaboration and feedback will reinforce your ability to intuitively navigate a dramatic text while making grounded yet adventurous acting choices. Exploration of vocal production, physical characterization, and spacial awareness will build your capacity to fully embody your intellectual and imaginative discoveries. You will be encouraged to explore and expand your emotional availability and inventiveness.
This course prepares actors to share their work in a rehearsal-like setting and respond to directorial feedback. You will learn how to break down and explore scenes with a detailed, moment-to-moment approach. By the final class, you will be able to perform your scenes in full and to incorporate adjustments as needed.
“Having felt so inspired and reconnected by the Core course, I went on to the Character course, where the scene and character study was even more intensive and focused, bringing out powerful performances from each of us. One of my favorite things about these courses is that they are kept to small groups at a time so that each of us received time and attention to work on developing our characters and thoroughly examining the plays our scenes were drawn from. ”
Specific exercises and activities will include:
-Advanced voice, speech, and movement technique.
-Rigorous and personalized warmup routine.
-Intensive exercises to deepen physical and vocal characterization.
-Spacial exploration to establish and deepen the physical universe of the play.
-Paired work on scripted scenes from modern and contemporary American plays.
-Rigorous application of script analysis to break down and understand scenes.
-Individualized feedback to strengthen performance skills in a friendly, supportive environment.
To enable all participants to work intensively during each class, enrollment is limited to a maximum of twelve students. Students should expect to work at least two hours per week outside of class on readings and assigned scenes.
Instructors: Adam Ludwig, Brian Bell, Stephanie LeBolt
The course will be conducted in English. Students are encouraged to contribute ideas or ask questions in German or French. Copies of readings, assigned scenes, and plays will be provided.