CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
The foundation of our classes at Actor’s Craft is The Chubbuck Technique used by
Academy Award Winning Actors. Acting Coach Maureen Cashin Bolog is certified
by Ivana Chubbuck to Teach her Technique.
IN-PERSON CLASSES
If you are looking for “Acting Classes Near Me,” our in-person Classes take place at our warm and welcoming studio, Actor’s Craft, at 4900 7th Avenue, in beautiful Downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin.
We are across from the harbor at the edge of downtown and the Union Park Arts District. Head to Lake Michigan to find us. There is plenty of free street parking. The Metra Line to Chicago is a 10 minute walk. Dress in comfortable clothes.
ONLINE INSTRUCTIONS
WebCam Coaching via ZOOM
I can work with you from anywhere in the world! This can come in handy when you are on-location or have a last minute audition. If distance and time constraints dictate ONLINE coaching is necessary, you can have a private, face-to-face video and audio session with personalized coaching.
Make sure you have Internet access. We can work via Zoom, Facetime, Facebook
Messenger, and other online options.
Below is a step by step approach on how to get started with WebCam coaching through Actor’s Craft.
Schedule a ZOOM or Facetime Lesson with Maureen at 262/705-0194 or email
actorscraft@aol.com.
Make sure we have your email and phone number. At that time we can make arrangements to email scripts necessary for our session.
ONLINE sessions must be paid in advance.
ZOOM and FaceTime are free download services. Install ZOOM and a webcam (if you
don’t already have one set up). Many computers have them built in. OR You can use
your iPhone or iPad, but make sure you can stand it up and be hands-free. Practice
using the platform. If we have technical issues during our initial session, we can
reschedule at no extra charge.
Make sure your computer and camera are set up in a room with good light and room for you to move. Make sure the camera is positioned high enough to take you in if you are standing. Turn off all music, televisions and background distractions. Make sure you are in a room where you feel comfortable speaking in a strong voice and are not worried about people interrupting you.
Connect on ZOOM. I will email you a ZOOM link to our online meeting. At our scheduled time, you can click on the link and be brought to our online waiting room. I will accept you. Most likely, you will have the same LINK for each of our meetings. For Facetime, I will call to video chat at scheduled time.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
PRIVATE COACHING - ADULTS, TEENS AND KIDS ONLINE OR IN PERSON
ACTING
Receive private coaching for auditions and roles, or to train 1:1 if class schedules don’t fit with your schedule.
AUDITION TAPE
Increase your chance of getting a callback with private coaching as we tape your video submission. Bring a thumb drive. If I submit, there is an additional $40 for title pages, simple editing, and digital submission to email addresses.
PUBLIC SPEAKING & EXECUTIVE PRESENCE THE DYNAMIC EXECUTIVE PROGRAM
Online or In-Person at your business or my studio
Required Book: 360 Degrees of Influence by Harrison Monarth
Suggested Reading: The Power of the Actor by Ivana Chubbuck
Connect! Relate! Inspire
The same techniques that help actors find the power to portray confident, effective executives can help real-world executives project themselves with poise and personal power to achieve their objectives. Bolog takes her training and years of work experience in the acting field and creates a model structured on The Chubbuck Technique that will help executives triumph over adversity through emotional connection with the audience, dynamic physical and vocal presence, and relationship driven presentations. Participants will be on their feet, actively engaged in the process.
ADULT 16+ CLASSES IN PERSON AND ONLINE CLASSES
Intro to The Chubbuck Technique
Required Book: The Power of the Actor by Ivana Chubbuck
The foundation of our work at Actor’s Craft is the award-winning Chubbuck Technique which will take anything you have ever learned about acting to the next level!
Developed by world renown Acting Coach, Ivana Chubbuck, these 12 acting tools create a solid foundation that will keep actors present and inspire a raw, profound, dynamic and powerful performance. The Chubbuck Technique builds upon those techniques used in the past and teaches actors how to use their emotions not as an end result, but as a way to empower a goal. It teaches actors how to win.
A solid body of work exemplifies the effectiveness of The Chubbuck Technique. Every year, those who use it are well represented at the Academy Awards, Emmys, Golden Globes, Tonys, and many other international awards. For the 2006 Academy Awards, Ivana’s students were nominated in every acting category: Best Actor, Best Actress,
Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Maureen Cashin Bolog of Actor’s Craft is the only acting coach officially certified to teach The Chubbuck Technique in the Great Lakes area.
Work outside of class includes reading the book, doing script analysis as you learn it
from class, and working with scene partners.
Audition Technique & Self Tapes
Includes learning how to Self-Tape for Auditions
Book Required for ONLINE Classes: How to Get the Part without falling Apart by Margie Haber
Suggested Reading: The Power of the Actor by Ivana Chubbuck
Enjoy the challenge of the audition process and take the fear out of cold readings with the phrase technique developed by Margie Haber. Learn how to handle your script and stay in the moment with authentic, relationship-driven behavior. Identify and hone your unique qualities and learn to bring your self to your acting work to create rich characters with vibrant relationships. Actors will work on-camera each week using a variety of scripted material. Most initial auditions are now done via self-tape.
You will learn the techniques of creating effective self-tapes and are encouraged to create self-tapes at home which you can submit to class each week for critique. Practice will help you to fine-tune your home studio techniques, and you will gain confidence in creating your own self-tapes for last minute auditions.
Dramatic Improvisation
Directors love actors who can improvise! In this ongoing Saturday morning class, we will explore world renown acting techniques including Viola Spolin’s Theater Games and Improvisation, and the exercises of Sanford Meisner and Uta Hagen. These skills can be life changing in our daily life. They all work beautifully with The Chubbuck Technique which will take anything you ever learn about acting to the next level; and the exercises can be tucked under one of Ivana Chubbuck’s 12 step technique.
Learn to let go and live truthfully with all your senses, moment to moment. The focus is on self-discovery, gaining confidence, exploring the inner struggle, and living your truth moment to moment. Live authentically in relation to yourself, the other person in the scene with you, and your environment.
Viola Spolin: “Play touches and stimulates vitality, awakening the whole person – mind, body, intelligence and creativity.”
Sanford Meisner: “To be an interesting actor – hell, to be an interesting human being – you must be authentic and for you to be authentic you must embrace who you really are, warts and all. Do you have any idea how liberating it is to not care what people think about you? Well, that’s what we’re here to do.”
Be a student of your own life and bring yourself to the role!
Great acting stems from truth. Each week you will bring back an exercise geared towards helping you examine your own truthful behavior. You will begin to discern if you are being authentic as you develop roles. You will learn physical and vocal techniques that create a more impactful YOU. Many times actors have told me these exercises have helped them land a role.
“We must overcome the notion that we must be regular . . . It robs you of
the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre.” – Uta Hagen
On-Camera Close-Up
2-person scenes will be shot in close-up, with each actor having a dedicated camera recording as they dialogue and actively listen to their partner. Each camera has a dedicated monitor that shows the class the nuance of communication necessary for close-up on-camera acting. Actors will receive professional coaching that meets them according to their need, whether they are a seasoned actor or someone just starting out. Classmates can see what is working and not working, while watching actors perform both in-person and on their dedicated monitors.
After class, actors can provide a thumb drive to receive a video file of their best take. They can later use the footage to create a clip of their work, add footage to a reel to use to promote themselves on acting sites, or to provide their agent with clips to share with casting directors. Actors can learn from watching their own work, as well as the work of their classmates, and improve upon their technique in the following class.
How can you benefit from this On-Camera Close-Up class?
- You are starting out and need clips and a reel to showcase the various character types you can play. You can put these on your acting profiles when you are starting out, until they can be replaced by footage of you in independent film projects, television roles, and various productions as you build your resume of experience.
- You want footage that showcases you for roles that are currently shooting in your area, and your current clips and reel do not reflect those character types.
- You want your agent to see your improving skill set so they have confidence submitting you for roles.
- You want your agent to see you as a different type from the roles for which you are currently being submitted.
- Your skillset has improved beyond what your current clips and reel are indicating.
What is expected?
Actors should be proactive in choosing material, since this can be used for YOUR promotional material. Be on the lookout for 2-person scenes that can showcase you in close-up. Bring scenes to class to work with scene partners. We will also have various scenes from which to choose.
Actors should be prepared to work outside of class with their scene partner. Rehearsing together via Zoom can work if in person is not an option for you.
Provide your own thumb drive if you want to get files of your footage. You must collect files after each class to guarantee they are available.
Advanced Scene Study
Prerequisite Classes: Intro to the Chubbuck Technique and Audition Technique
You have learned the Chubbuck Technique, now we will explore it more in-depth, applying what you have learned in your other Actor’s Craft classes in this ongoing Scene Study. Gain experience with emotional diaries, inner monologues, and script
analysis. Apply what you have learned in Dramatic Improvisation. This class will challenge you to create richer characters living truthfully moment to moment with dynamic intention by utilizing the 12 Steps of The Chubbuck Technique on a deeper level, harnessing your own life experience. Be exceptional. Each new script is also an opportunity for practicing your self-tapes for Audition Technique!
Tuesday Night Special - Limited to when technique classes are not in session
Current and Returning Students Only
Special Hourly Rate for coaching for Auditions, Roles, Monologues, etc.
Working actors submit auditions and land roles regularly. On a first come, first serve basis, on TUESDAY NIGHT ONLY we offer a special rate for private coaching for our
current students and students who have completed Audition Technique and Intro to the Chubbuck Technique.
You must reserve your spot in advance.
KIDS AGES 6+ AND TEENS AGES12+
IN PERSON AND ONLINE CLASSES
Maureen Cashin Bolog of Actor's Craft is a Children's Long Term Services (CLTS) Approved Provider
ONLINE Teen - Dramatic Improvisation
Directors love actors who can improvise!
We will explore world renown acting techniques including Viola Spolin’s Theater Games and Improvisation, and the exercises of Sanford Meisner and Uta Hagen. These skills can be life changing in our daily life. They all work beautifully with The Chubbuck Technique which will take anything you ever learn about acting to the next level; and the exercises can be tucked under one of Ivana Chubbuck’s 12 step technique.
Teen Acting Technique, Ages 12+
Kids Acting Technique, Ages 6+
During the School Year, Actor’s Craft will have Two Semesters of 12 Weeks each. Young actors will learn a well-rounded professional approach to acting which includes:
• The Chubbuck Technique developed by Ivana Chubbuck
• Audition Technique featuring the phrase technique developed by Margie Haber
• The Physical Actor
• Dramatic Improvisation featuring exercises by Viola Spolin, Sanford Meisner, Utah Hagen
• Scene Study
• On-Camera Close-Up
Each Semester will have a different focus, and students can repeat the class and still learn new information and build upon skills from previous classes. Teens and Children learn the same information as adults in an age-appropriate manner. Great acting skills are the same whether you are an adult or a child. Each semester will promote the growth of your actor as a professional in a competitive industry. AND they will have fun! When your child has an audition or has landed a role, make sure they mention it in class and we may be able to incorporate it as part of the lesson.
Can my child start after the beginning of the semester?
Students who start later in the semester may be required to attend a “catch-up” session or two.
Accessible Acting Technique, Middle School & High School Actor's Craft is a CLTS Approved Provider
Using professional acting techniques, classes will focus on building confidence, active listening, improving conversation skills, eye contact, and presenting oneself with empowered presence.
Actors will learn a well-rounded professional approach to acting. Each semester will have a different focus, and students can repeat the class and still learn new information and build upon skills from previous classes.
Accessible Acting Technique incorporates the same professional acting techniques as our Teen classes and welcomes students that may require extra support. We strive to meet actors according to their need. Plus we have fun!
Teen Audition Technique, Ages 12+
Enjoy the challenge of the audition process and take the fear out of cold readings with the phrase technique developed by Margie Haber. Learn how to handle your script and stay in the moment with authentic, relationship-driven behavior. Identify and hone your unique qualities and learn to bring your self to your acting work to create rich characters with vibrant relationships. Actors will work on-camera each week using a variety of scripted material. Most initial auditions are now done via self-tape. You will learn the techniques of creating effective self-tapes and are encouraged to create self-tapes at home which you can submit to class each week for critique. Practice will help you to fine-tune your home studio techniques, and you will gain confidence in creating your own self-tapes for last minute auditions.
Kids Audition Technique, Ages 6-11
Students will learn how to handle a script for a cold reading using the phrase technique developed by Margie Haber. Actors will work on-camera each week using a variety of scripted material. They will learn to bring their unique self to the roles.
Summer Camps are 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
Professional Acting Intensive - Ages 10 -16
Learn the Academy Award-winning Chubbuck Technique used by A-List actors. This week-long intensive offers a well-rounded approach to on-camera and stage acting that includes physical and vocal techniques, script analysis, the Phrase Technique for auditions developed by Margie Haber, and character development that brings YOU to the role.
Theater Games and Improv - Ages 10-16 or Age 6-11
Directors love actors who can improvise! Whether on camera or on stage, live in the moment. Using Viola Spolin’s theater games and improvisation techniques, actors will learn active listening, focus and spontaneity as they learn to be physically dynamic and project their voices with vocal variety. In the afternoon, we will incorporate scene work using these techniques. It is good to have a variety of acting tools at your disposal.
Lights! Camera! Action! - Ages 10-16
Did you get my good side? As well as learning some acting techniques, actors will get practice on how to adjust their bodies and voices to on-camera acting using monologues and scenes. They will get practice wiht Audition Technique and learn how to act in On-Camera Close-Up.
Bringing Fairy Tales to Life - Ages 6-16
Using stories and music from around the globe, young actors collaborate to create a staged production of a public domain fairy tale!
Focus is on freeing the body and voice while they learn character development and improvisational skills. They will also develop creative thinking, self-confidence, listening skills, and improve their ability to follow directions. We incorporate Transformational Theater so actors get to play several roles and lead roles can be shared by several actors. This camp is a longtime favorite. Each family will get two tickets to the performance on Friday at 11 a.m.
Friday’s production of Bringing Fairy Tales to Life is open to family and friends. $5
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