Explore the art of physical theater as part of the acting/improv specialty. With an emphasis on process, you and the other participants in the acting/improv specialty will work together with the artist in residence and other staff members to form an ensemble. We will explore various techniques and traditions of theater and improvisation, from American sketch comedy to commedia dell arte, clowning, slapstick, street theater, Shakespearean theater, modern theater, and more. In studying acting, script analysis, and improvisation in a professional atmosphere, you will be challenged to develop material to be part of a larger interdisciplinary performance for the grand finale at ArtsFest. The program will culminate in a final performance of your band’s work for the other specialty groups and your peers in the JCC Maccabi Games.
2013 Artist in Residence
Acting/Improv with Megan Campisi
Megan is a New York-based performer, playwright and teacher. Her original plays include: Brementown (2005 —Winner of the French Alfa and ADAMI prizes); Floating Brothel (2008); and The Pinks (2012). Her latest play, The Subtle Body, is a historical comedy about the literal and figurative workings of the human heart in eighteenth-century China. Megan is a recipient of Brooklyn Arts Council grants, the Yale Lustman Award for Artistic Achievement, and was shortlisted for the 2013 M-on-the-Bund literary residency. Megan is a co-founder of the Gold No Trade theater company. Megan guest teaches for the Yale University theater department and the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Closer to home, she teaches theater for Lincoln Center Institute, Young Audiences New York, and Marquis Studios.
Megan received her B.A. from Yale University in theater and graduate training from L’Ecole Jacques Lecoq in France. She studied Commedia dell’Arte with Antonio Fava, puppetry with Philippe Genty, and Shakespeare at RADA. In the late 90s, she traveled to South Africa to study the political role of theater in post-apartheid society. Megan speaks French and is learning Mandarin.
Audition Requirements – Acting/Improv 2013
What are we looking for?
- A passion for acting and a strong desire to focus on growth and improvement of acting skills
- A willingness to take positive risks onstage
- An ability to be a trusted member of a company or a team
- Participation in school/community/professional theater training programs is recommended
In addition to answering the questions below, you must submit a video sample of your work. Please record a video of yourself performing a monologue no more than 90 seconds in length, contemporary or classical. The monologue must be from a play, not a film and not self-written. Be sure to state the name of the piece prior to performance. We will look for preparedness and some evidence of character choices.
Once you have recorded the video, please upload it to a site such as YouTube or Vimeo and copy and paste the link into your audition form.
Please answer the following questions in the text boxes provided on the application.
- Tell us briefly about your experiences in acting/improv at school, home, or in workshops/classes.
- Tell us briefly about your passion and desire for acting and your process.
- Why do you want to participate in JCC Maccabi ArtsFest?
- Tell us about the piece you chose and why you chose it.
- Anything else you would like us to know about you and your acting/improv skills?
- Please provide the link to your video audition.
* For basic instructions to upload a video to YouTube, please click here
Sample Schedule
Sunday
Arrival and opening ceremonies
Monday
Morning: Warm-up, Preliminary acting games and exercises, Intensive theater classes
Afternoon: Acting classes with a focus on modern theater
Tuesday
Morning: Intensive theater classes, Acting classes with a focus on Shakespeare, Improv workshops and games
Afternoon: JCC Cares, Discussion of business, “Mock” auditions
Wednesday
Morning: Intensive theater classes, Rehearsal of material for grand finale performance
Afternoon: First run through on stage
Thursday
Morning: Run through with other specialties, Closing discussion
Afternoon: ArtsFest finale and performance
Evening: Closing party
Friday
Delegation departures
Sample schedules are from past ArtsFests.
