COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Acting II is an extension of Acting I in that the skills introduced are upgraded and expanded in this second phase of acting training.  The class will continue with theatre games and improvisational exercises as well as a survey of basic acting fundamentals.  The beginning actor has much they can learn because we will always review an actor’s primary skills.  This is training.  Craft is embedded through repetition. 

Alumni Track:  This is their opportunity to keep up and expand the development of their abilities.  They also return to our point of view of discipline, focus, passion, and humor. For the veteran performer we give them special attention and address specific issues in their work.

This is the educational arm of the first and foremost Asian American theatre company in the nation, this course maintains a safe, respectful, and proactive environment to explore the state of acting today.

Scholarships are limited and based on availability. For more information, please email classes@eastwestplayers.org  

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Dom Magwili, award-winning actor, director, producer, and teacher for East West Players since 1974. Trained at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, with Darryl Hickman, and the East West Players.  Dom appeared in the movie, Fifty First Dates.  He also guest starred on such TV shows as Close to Home, How to make it in America, and ER. He received critical acclaim for his work in the East West Players Production of Proof, as well as the South Coast Rep’s production of Search and Destroy, and the Center Theatre Group’s production of Dogeaters.

COVID-19 Policy: 

Students must be fully vaccinated. 

Refunds and Cancellations: 

We understand that not all classes work out and that emergencies happen. If a cancellation were to occur either before or after the class, we will issue a full refund, minus credit card processing fees (3% of the cost). If a cancellation occurs after the second course, 10% of the course cost will be deducted from the total, in addition to the 3% credit card processing fee. 

If an emergency occurs that makes it so that the student is unable to finish the course, EWP and the student will discuss best steps for moving forward

Course Description:

During the course of our workshop, we'll focus on different aspects of the rewriting process, as well as remind ourselves of the fundamental building blocks of successful plays. We will investigate the elements that comprise a script including dialogue, monologue, subtext, character, structure, action, language and imagery in service to imagination, intentionality and expression ultimately meant to be realized in performance.You will also have the opportunity to work intensively on new drafts of your play, integrating both the thorough notes you'll receive in class and the writing exercises that are meant to be a springboard to the imagination. Furthermore, we will witness the development of each playwright’s work and recognize the inevitable commonalities and overlap in everyone's process. Finally, reading and viewing assignments will help supplement our understanding of the form and provide much- needed real-world context, as well as inspire, provoke, and challenge.

Course Objectives

·  To craft one’s play with clear action, developed characters,

intentional dialogue and inspired imaginings

·  To deepen our understanding and appreciation of the playwright’s craft

·  To bestow constructive criticism and thoughtful feedback to self and peers

·  To execute REVISION

·  To cultivate fearlessness in our writing experiments

·  To invest deeply in the content and the form

·  To surprise oneself

·  To relentlessly discover “What can a play do?”

 INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Giovanni Ortega (Instructor) Commissioned plays: Sama Sama: Solidarity in the Fields, Criers for Hire & Allos, The Story of Carlos Bulosan (East West Players), The Butterfly of Chula Vista (San Diego Rep), Simula – A New Beginning, Fall in Winter, Tug of War, Wayne Kalani – A Soldier’s Tale, Jonah, Mutyang Kalayaan – Beloved Freedom, Tao Po: We Are Here, Lost in the Margins, El Pescador y La Lluvia and The Sea. In Singapore, Giovanni devised/directed The Body Series, Evolution, Kabaret Singapura at Haque Centre of Acting and Creativity. Poetry Festival Singapore also commissioned Giovanni to write the plays Benches and Palindromes, followed by films Belonging, Atlas and Nomads.  Giovanni is faculty at Art of Acting Studios, AMDA College of the Performing Arts and Visting Professor at Colorado College.

Course Description: 

A 6-week class intended to activate a writer’s non-linear creativity. This workshop will consist of in-class exercises, lectures, optional homework on artists who work in the intuitive realm as well as workshop. Workshop feedback will be different than in prior classes with Lisa- we will play with new forms of response and conversation that are specifically geared toward opening the writer up to their own work in new and surprising ways.

What does ‘intuitive’ and ‘non-linear’ mean?

Great question! Intuitive/non-linear writing is writing that is led not by ideas about what is ‘good’ or even ‘sensical’ but by the deep well inside that may not know what it is until it emerges on the page. It comes from the ineffable, irrational place that is led by the gut and heart more than the mind.

 Instructor Bio: 

bio:Lisa's play SUMO was originally produced by Ma-Yi Theater Company and La Jolla Playhouse and received its New York premiere with The Public Theater and Ma-Yi. It was nominated for a 2025 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding New Play. Her play Kairos had a Rolling World Premiere with National New Play Network and has received four productions, including one with East West Players as well as a production with Red Theater which was recently nominated for a Jeff Award for New Work. Lisa also co-wrote Kaidan Project: Walls Grow Thin with Chelsea Sutton and Rogue Artists Ensemble, which was co-produced by East West Players. Lisa has worked with Meow Wolf, was a member of The Geffen Writers' Room and was honored as a recipient of the 2020/21 PLAY LA Stage Raw/Humanitas Prize as well as the 2025 Helen Merrill Award. They have been a finalist for the Relentless Award, the O'Neill Playwrights' Conference (3x), the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, and a 3x finalist (one honorable mention) for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival. Lisa's work has also been developed/produced by Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Children's Theatre Center of Minneapolis, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Antaeus, Circle X, Rogue Artists Ensemble, Red Theater, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Theatre NOVA and Skylight Theatre. They have been awarded fellowships at MacDowell (2x), Blue Mountain Center and Yaddo. She was awarded the 2021 Dorothy and Granville Hicks Residency at Yaddo, which honors one promising young writer a year. Lisa received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Interactive Programming for a piece she co-wrote and co-directed with Matt Hill called Welcome to the Blumhouse Live.

Refunds and Cancellations: 

We understand that not all classes work out and that emergencies happen. If a cancellation were to occur either before or after the class, we will issue a full refund, minus credit card processing fees (3% of the cost). If a cancellation occurs after the second course, 10% of the course cost will be deducted from the total, in addition to the 3% credit card processing fee. 

If an emergency occurs that makes it so that the student is unable to finish the course, EWP and the student will discuss best steps for moving forward

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Whether you've been performing on stage for years, looking to apply the lessons from your first Acting classes to "the biz", or are looking for a new approach to auditioning, this class is for you!  With the increased number of self tape auditions in all mediums, this 6 week course is designed to help actors understand how casting looks at materials and how actors can present themselves professionally and concisely in their auditions.  This class will include multiple mock auditions in commercials, television, and film. Topics also include understanding the difference between auditioning for larger roles vs day player roles, formatting resumes, and how to take great headshots. This is an audition technique class that requires some training in breaking down scripts and materials. Actors will be expected to learn materials and sides quickly and come to class prepared to share their rehearsals/performances. Homework will include both written work and self tape auditions, about 1-2 hours per week outside of class.

Instructor Bio: 

Kenzo Lee is a working actor in Los Angeles with over 100 network TV, studio film, and national commercials including recent appearances on NBCs hit show St. Denis. He opened The Actor’s Therapy to help actors deal with the pitfalls of self-tapes and remote auditions in this new auditioning landscape. He specializes in unlocking castable branding and making sure it shines through every audition. His clientele include multiple Series Recurring actors, title characters in feature films, and vertical series stars.