Month: September 2021

New Outschool Course: Macbeth

| astronut1

Just in time for October, I’m offering an online class for kids ages 13-18 about Shakespeare’s most spooky and cursed play:

If you follow this blog you know I’ve written a lot about this play before. Though this class will be more like a game where I teach the class using multimedia, games, and a digital escape room!

Me in my Shakespeare gatb

I’ll start by speaking to the students in character as Shakespeare, and tell them the story of Macbeth using a multimedia presentation.

I will then test the students’ knowledge with a fun quiz that was inspired by the popular mobile game Among Us. As you know, the game is similar to a scene from the play, so I thought it would be an appropriate way to test the kids’ knowledge.

Screenshot from the Gimkit game “Trust No One.” Like Among Us, players need to figure out who the Imposter is, but they greatly increase the chances of surviving if they answer the quiz questions correctly.

The final part of the class is a digital escape room I’ve created. I don’t want to give too much away, and you can’t play it unless you sign up for the class, but let’s just say it’s fun, spooky, educational, and challenging!

Screenshot from my Macbeth Escape Room.

If you want to sign up now, the course is available every weekend in October, and then by request after that. Register now at Outschool.com. if you take the course, please leave me a good review.

Hope to see you soon!

Actor Sir Antony Sher diagnosed with terminal illness – BBC News

| astronut1

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-58517401

I am deeply saddened to report that one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of our day, Sir Antony Sher has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Sir Antony has been responsible for generation-defining portrayals of Richard III, Falstaff, and others. I myself got to see him onstage in a production of Jean Paul Sartre’s Kean, where he played another legendary actor, Edmund Kean. My thoughts and prayers are with Sir Antony and his husband, Royal Shakespeare Company Artistic Director Greg Doran.

Sir Antony Sher as Richar III, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1984.

If you want a little insight into this wonderful actor and his process behind one of his greatest theatrical triumphs, read his book Year Of The King, where he chronicles in detail his work in creating Richard III in the picture above.

New Acting Course for Young Actors Starting September 12th, 2021.

| astronut1
Trailer for my 2021 Acting course via Outschool.com

I’ve been working on a remote learning class for Outschool.com where I take some of the audition advice I wrote in Creating A Character: Macbeth, and some of the other acting posts I’ve published over the years. This will be a weekly virtual acting course for kids ages 13-18, starting September 12th at 10AM EST.

This class will outline the tools and techniques of Shakespearean acting such as projection, articulation, and imagination. Each We’ll also go over Shakespeare’s own advice on acting in his play “Hamlet: Prince of Denmark.” The course will culminate with the students choosing their own Shakespearean monologues and scenes, which they can use going forward in auditions, school plays, and classes.

The best thing about the course is that each week builds on the previous week’s experience, but you don’t need to go to all of them. I’ll be flexible and work with the student’s schedule so everyone gets as much out of the class as possible.

If you’re interested in signing up, go to Outschool.com. If you have any questions, email me by clicking here:

Hope to see you online soon!