Actor’s Intensive

The Arts Club’s Actor’s Intensive, established in 2010, is a multi-week course that takes a back-to-basics approach to tune up the professional actor’s instrument with voice, movement, and acting training. This course culminates in a showcase of participants for an invited audience including directors from the community.

The class structure mirrors conservatory programs and provides practice that is frequent and focused. Participants will work three days a week (15 hours per week), for 75 hours of instruction over five weeks—enough time to polish off any rust and get galvanized for lasting change.

This is both a process and a product class. The acting training will incorporate voice and body work and examine the decision-making process that goes into crafting a performance. Participants will also integrate the process back into the product as you work on scenes and monologues, both classic and contemporary, to be presented at a final showcase.

Listen to instructors Scott Bellis and Manami Hara share more about Actor's Intensive in this video!

Please contact the Director of Education, Kevan Ellis at kellis@artsclub.com or 604.687.5315, ext. 244.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum age: 25
Significant training and/or experience in acting and performing (preferably both), recent or not
Equity and Non-Equity actors are encouraged to apply

Class Schedule
September 24–October 28, 2024

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30 – 10:30 PM
Sundays, 2–10 PM
Showcase and Rehearsal – Monday, October 28, 12–10 PM
Location: BMO Theatre Centre

Cost (includes GST)
Equity members: $700
Non-Equity members: $875

ACCESSIBILITY

At the Arts Club we prioritize accessibility in our program offerings. This is what the ACAI program offers:

Accessible and gender-neutral washrooms
Sighted guide assistance
A PSW is most welcome in the space, but please let us know in advance
Any Zoom events would offer screen reader access, and auto-generated captions
Any materials needed to access the program will be provided in an accessible format

The Arts Club is committed to the inclusive participation of all who join our programs and to that end wish to provide a safe place for everyone to share, learn and grow. Our Accessibility Coordinator, Amy Amantea, would be happy to get in touch if you would like to have a more detailed discussion about access needs. Email her at aamantea@artsclub.com.

OTHER DETAILS

Students are expected to attend all classes
Class size is limited to 12 students
Total number of instruction hours: 75
Students will showcase material for an audience
We encourage artists who identify as IBPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+ and or PWD to apply
Subsidy spots are available on a case-by-case basis. For more information, contact Kevan Ellis, Director of Education, at kellis@artsclub.com.

The Actor’s Intensive supports each actor in a different way, including:

As a bootcamp. These actors want a place to work out for the duration of the program and get into prime acting shape.
As a systems re-boot. These actors want to diversify their learning, add to their skill toolbox and get re-inspired by filling in some gaps in their training.
Becoming part of an acting community. You will find theatre friends, future collaborators, and project ideas here by reintroducing yourself and enhancing your presence in the acting community.

All of our classes are taught by working professionals, award-winning actors and veterans of the Arts Club Theatre Company. Past faculty includes Alison Matthews, Jo Leslie, Wendy Gorling, Veena Sood, Manami Hara, and many others.

INSTRUCTORS

Scott Bellis/ Program Director & Instructor

Scott is best known as a founding company member at Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, where he has acted in over 50 productions since 1990.

He has performed across the country, and with most theatre companies in B.C., including the Arts Club, Ruby Slippers Productions, Touchstone Theatre, the Electric Company, Western Canada Theatre, and elsewhere, Vertigo Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Citadel Theatre, and Canadian Stage Company. Scott has been the recipient of 5 Jessie Richardson Theatre awards, and currently serves as Council President for Canadian Actors' Equity Association.

His directing credits include projects for Carousel Theatre, Solo Collective, Persephone Theatre, Studio 58 and, more recently, Bard on the Beach and the Arts Club Theatre.

Scott has also taught acting for the Banff/Citadel Academy and Studio 58, Langara College, and currently at the VanArts Institute. He is excited at the prospect of another great series of classes here at the Arts Club and looks forward to sharing his personal knowledge and experience with those who have a passion for live performance.

This year’s faculty is Scott Bellis, Dean Paul Gibson, Jillian Fargey, David C Jones, Alana Hawley-Purvis, Raugi Yu, Ming Hudson, Lisa Goebel, and Mike Kovac.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

CLASS DATES

WEEK #1
Tue, Sep 24, 6:30–10:30 PM
Thu, Sep 26, 6:30–10:30 PM
Sun, Sep 29, 2–10 PM

WEEK #2
Tue, Oct 1, 6:30–10:30 PM
Thu, Oct 3, 6:30–10:30 PM
Sun, Oct 6, 2–10 PM

WEEK #3
Tue, Oct 8, 6:30–10:30 PM
Thu, Oct 10, 6:30–10:30 PM
Sun, Oct 13, 2–10 PM

WEEK #4
Tue, Oct 15, 6:30–10:30 PM
Thu, Oct 17, 6:30–10:30 PM
Sun, Oct 20, 2–10 PM

WEEK #5
Tue, Oct 22, 6:30–10:30 PM
Thu, Oct 24, 6:30–10:30 PM

FINAL SHOWCASE: Mon, Oct 28, 12–10 PM

To apply:
Submit the following materials by email to kellis@artsclub.com:

A one-page cover letter with your contact information that clearly states why you think you would be a good candidate for the class. You may also choose to provide a short video expressing your reasons for applying to the program, along with your audition (see below).
A one-page résumé summarizing your performing experience and training
Headshot (recommended but not required)
Indicate whether or not you are an Equity member

Selected applicants will be invited to submit a video audition. The audition should include a monologue of no more than two minutes, or two shorter monologues of no longer than one minute each. Monologues should be from established plays, from either the classical or contemporary canon, with at least one professional production to their credit. The submission deadline for a video audition is September 2, 2024. Successful candidates will be notified by September 9, 2024.

Here’s what some of our fabulous alumni are up to!

Steffanie Davis, ’22
We Will Rock You (Theatre Under the Stars)

Shannon Hanbury, ’19
Mainstage performer at Disney Cruise Line

Synthia Yusuf, ’19
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mirvish), Maria in The Sound of Music (Arts Club)

Praneet Akilla, ’18
The Orchard, Cipher (Arts Club); Coriolanus (Bard on the Beach); Mahabharata (Shaw Festival); October Faction (Netflix)

Emily Dallas, ’18
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Bard on the Beach)

Cecilly Day, ’18
The Sound of Music (Arts Club), The Cake (Pacific Theatre), Virgin River (Netflix)

Stefania Indelicato, ’18
Producer and actor, A Kid Like Jake by Daniel Pearle

Melissa Oei, ’16
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Bard on the Beach), The Twelve Dates of Christmas (Arts Club), Long Division (Pi Theatre), The Audience (Arts Club)

Sean Harris Oliver, ’15
Co-Artistic Director of Hardline Productions. Co-writer and director of Redpatch (Hardline/Arts Club/Citadel Theatre). Winner of three Jesse Awards. Future projects: The Soldier’s Wife and Our Neighbourhood (Hardline Productions)

Sharon Crandall, ’14
Matilda (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre/Citadel Theatre/Arts Club), The Enemy (Firehall Arts Centre)

Kaitlin Williams, ’13
Artistic Director of Pacific Theatre. Director of Kim’s Convenience (Pacific Theatre, Arts Club). Performed in The Winter’s Tale (Bard on the Beach). Designed costumes for The Cake (Pacific Theatre)

Corey Payette, ’11
Director, playwright, composer, and performer. Wrote and directed the musicals Children of God, Les Filles du Roi, and Sedna. Artistic Director of Urban Ink

Ashley O’Connell, ’10
Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter’s Tale (Bard on the Beach); The Graduate, Blood Brothers (Arts Club); The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Ensemble Theatre Company)

Sally Stubbs, ’10
Award-winning playwright. Among her plays: And Bella Sang With Us, Centurions, Herr Beckmann’s People

Actor’s Intensive

Support Us