In the second year students hone abilities and develop partnering techniques as actors, and collaborative skills as directors and designers.

Individual schedules arranged according to specialization: Acting, Acting/Directing, Acting/Design, Directing, Directing/Design, C.O.W. or Playwriting.

In scene study, the student explores the text fully, using tools of the craft. Collaborating with the playwright by finding elements in the script, the student develops a way to create the imaginary circumstances. Classes involve monologue and scene assignments designed to strengthen skills associated with scoring texts, understanding dramatic action, relating with partners, listening, and freeing of impulses. An open scene study workshop is presented at the end of the second semester.  Strong emphasis is placed on attendance, homework, rehearsal, and commitment to others in the class.

Required for all second year students.

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Focuses on an intensive training in Theater Mitu's methodology of Whole Theater. This is defined as a theatrical experience that is rigorously visual, aural, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. By Transliterating primary theater and ritual traditions from India, Japan, Bali, Iran, China, Thailand and Mexico, Theater Mitu has developed a methodology and training (The Major and Minor Steps) that is designed to push artists in new and unexpected directions. The laboratory focuses on exploring intense physicality, full-bodied vocalization, aural & textual response, theories of artistic discipline and dynamic improvisational tools. We have found that this training allows artists to create vibrant and vital theater. Actors gain effective physical and vocal exercises and ideas to increase their range as theater makers and theater performers. They also gain improvisational and emotional tools to develop a greater range and variety in their character choices. All actors walk away with a greater understanding of World Theater and its historical effect on contemporary forms.

Required for all Acting Students.

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This course is designed to give the student further instruction in Drafting and Model making. In the Fall Semester the course focuses on making a white/sketch model and furniture. In addition the students work on fundamentals of drafting--Line weights, Layout, and Lettering. The students also learn basic principles of using Photoshop in making models and supporting the design and drafting process.   In the Spring the students draft a complete design package for their portfolio. This includes a Plan, Section, Show Deck/Show Portal, Elevations, and Details. The drafting package is done in the style that meets current Broadway Standards.

Elective available to PHTS students through the Technical Production Track.

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This class explores the essence of the artistic collaborative process.  Designed around each student, the class uses various texts and styles of texts to explore the nature of artistic collaboration and communication. Beginning with the artist, the class pushes students to question who they are in the room as artist and as collaborators. Both as individuals and in groups, the students encounter the challenge of artistic obstructions that demand a successful collaboration. One that is in a constant state of development and growth.  Special emphasis is placed on the unique role each collaborator plays at each step of the process.  By semester’s end, each student is prepared to participate as director or designer for Third Year projects. 

Spring semester only. Required for all Directing, Acting/ Directing, and Directing/Design students.

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Through a variety of paper projects, students learn to analyze plays and to communicate their ideas about them both graphically and verbally. The projects run the gamut of plays, operas and musicals and seek to give the students as broad an experience as possible. The professional aspect of the costume design business is discussed at length, and guest lecturers share their expertise in areas which have included: assisting in film and theatre, men's tailoring and how to draw it, the world of ballet and circus costume, fabric painting and dyeing, photography and documenting work, as well as how to set up a portfolio and write a resume. On occasion the students are invited to faculty designed events which have included regional musicals and plays, the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, and New York City Opera, as well as Off and Off-Off Broadway events and industrial shows.

Elective available to PHTS students through the Technical Production Track.

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In this class, students work on an original piece ten minutes in length that can involve any medium or combination of media appropriate to the idea (text, movement, sound, photography, etc.). The workshop atmosphere of the class allows for work to be shown and discussed as the structure of the piece evolves. Emphasis is placed on allowing the work to develop and move from the unknown to the known. The idea that a student starts with can and does lead him/her in many different directions as the work opens up. The ability to respond in the moment of rehearsal to the work underhand, to listen to and use constructive criticism, and to be willing to risk not knowing in order to discover something are some of the benefits derived from this type of exploration. The unique range of work makes the class a true ground upon which students are able to share ideas that are meaningful to them.

Required for COW Track.

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This course employs the project-driven structure of C.O.W. I & II.   Each student asked asked to develop an individual solo work 5 to 7 minutes in length, to be performed in an open showing at the end of each semester.   Because the course is designed specifically for actors, who may not have experience with the compositional elements of staging, an additional component draws on the vocabulary introduced in Form & Content.   Fundamental ideas of rhythm, shape, texture, weight, and space are introduced as a possible entry point for both character development and staging.   In-class exercises in tandem with the individual project work serve as vehicles for this exploration.   In this way, the actors work simultaneously to access a wider range of physical and emotional expression, while exploring the process of creating their own work.

Elective for Acting students

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A two-semester course designed to introduce second year acting students to the principles of dance technique. Students learn primary dance vocabulary and terminology used in Ballet, Modern and Social Ballroom. In addition to exploring these dance forms, an emphasis is placed on rigorous physical conditioning utilizing yoga, Pilates and calisthenics. The goal of this class is to prepare the actor to accelerate through any dance/movement audition. Proper movement attire and dance class etiquette is required.

Required for all Acting Students.

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Mandatory for the actor who wishes to move well! Students study technique, placement, and alignment while building strength and flexibility. They are exposed to helpful audition terminology and proper dance etiquette.  Two or three contrasting styles are explored each semester emphasizing individual character and self-expression. This class meets once a week and is a highly physical, throw down dance experience!

Elective for all.

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This class builds on Design I and introduces text into the design process. With script analysis as the foundation for the design process, class projects and discussions translate the ideas that are discovered. In addition, verbal and graphic communication skills are stressed as invaluable tools for the designer.  This class also introduces the very basics of drafting and model building.

Fall semester only. Required for all Directing, Acting/ Directing, and Directing/Design students.

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This class focuses on the rehearsal process, and examines the various tools and techniques that directors and actors use in their collaborative work in bringing a text to life.  Using contemporary plays from world literature in the first semester, and Shakespeare's plays in the second semester, the rehearsal process is taken apart and examined step by step, from immersion in the world of the play, through experimenting with basic physicality, to moment-to-moment work, and final shaping of a scene.

Required for all second year directing and C.O.W. students

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Introduction to drafting is one of the first year graphics courses in Tech Track. The fall semester begins with fundamental mechanical drawing techniques and builds to drafting floor plans and sectional views of architecture. The spring semester develops specific theatre related drawings including a typical Broadway stage in plan and section, a dance dressed stage and a detailed elevation and plan of a building facade.   The final five weeks of the year are spent with an introduction to AutoCAD. Throughout the semester emphasis is placed upon clarity of information, "aesthetically pleasing" layout and a solid understanding the language of graphics.

Elective available to PHTS students through the Technical Production Track.

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A weekly seminar designed to give students who are serving as dramaturgs on 3rd Year Directing Projects an opportunity to exchange ideas, discoveries, challenges, and to provide a network of support and feedback in response to individual experiences.

Fall Semester. Required for Directing, Acting/Directing, and Directing/Design students.

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Exploring the role of a dramaturg is a core component of director training at PHTS.   This one-semester course is designed to help students understand and hone dramaturgical skills, to develop the ability to explore plays from a number of perspectives, and to give students practical experience as a dramaturg working on third-year directing projects, with class support.   Emphasis in class discussions is on the theatrical issues that a director/dramaturg might confront in a script rather than on traditional textual analysis. Dramaturgical work is done outside class; discussions about plays and dramaturgical issues are conducted in class.   Dramaturgs also report on their work to the class as their rehearsals progress.

Spring semester. Required for Directing, Acting/Directing, and Directing/Design students.

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The goal of the Figure Drawing class is primarily to get the student over the fear of painting and drawing the human figure from life and of rendering costume. Using a variety of media as well as short and long poses the student has ample opportunity to work out problems of proportion and scale. Costumed models give the students a sense of how clothing really fits the body. The homework focuses on rendering costume from research so that students get a chance to try out a variety of techniques and materials that they can ultimately apply to their design projects.

Elective available to PHTS students through the Technical Production Track.

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This two-semester course explores basic design principles from a choreographic point of view. Fundamental concepts of rhythm, shape, texture, weight, and space are presented as tools that give directors the skills needed to articulate a wider range of non-verbal expression. In the first semester, movement-based problems are assigned that emphasize the fundamental use of each tool. Text-based problems and project work are introduced in the second semester as vehicles through which directors can integrate their design work (form) with creating a narrative (content). Although aimed primarily at directors, this class is also open to actors.

Required for Directing, Acting/Directing, Directing/Design, and C.O.W. students.

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Lighting I focuses on how the lighting designer makes design choices in relation to specific texts. Students investigate the process of lighting design from the beginning steps of reading the playscript, through developing initial images, to the formulation and documentation of the design. The students create images to help define their individual interpretations of each play. Through an ongoing discussion of equipment and technology, as well as experimentation with color and composition, the class investigates various techniques for realizing the students' images on the stage. Emphasis on communication skills is central, as lighting designers must clearly express themselves to directors, other designers, stage managers and technicians. These skills will include learning the conventions of drafting for lighting, sketching, visual research, and written and verbal presentation of design ideas. Lighting II broadens the investigation to include the relationship of music and light. A significant portion of the semester is devoted to light lab projects, experimenting with the movement of light through cueing. The course culminates in fully-drafted design projects for a musical performance event and either an opera or a musical.

Elective available to PHTS students through the Technical Production Track.

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An overview of topics on and about entertainment management as well as discussions of current goings on in NYC Theatre circles. The course begins with stage management and production management then moves through general management, marketing/press and, development. Genres include theatre, dance, opera, music, events and industrials. Guest lecturers come from the NYC entertainment community.

Elective available to PHTS students through the Technical Production Track.

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The integration of text, music and interpretation are essential elements of the actor's musical vocabulary. This course introduces the foundations necessary to achieve a successful performance stressing three basic fundamentals: Singing, Music Theory, and Musical Theatre Performance.   Students gain a working vocabulary and ability in vocal technique and production including breathing, range, flexibility and style. They also achieve a working knowledge of basic music theory - pitch, rhythm, reading music, sight-singing, terminology, etc. Through historical content and the exploration of composers and performing artists, students develop a personal philosophy and ability that demonstrates excellence in performance.   The class includes lecture, demonstration, guest performances, student research and performance utilizing musical theatre repertoire from the 20th and 21st century.

Required for Acting students.

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Music Performance students sign up for 20-minute individual tutoring sessions. For students who desire extra help with vocal technique and song interpretation, while working with a live accompanist.

Elective.

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A two-semester course utilizing in-class exercises and class discussion to introduce the student to the basic elements of playwriting: dialogue, dramatic structure, development of characters and experimentation with a variety of styles. Students have an opportunity to address practical obstacles and opportunities such as: overcoming writer's block, successful re-writing strategies and working in collaboration with actors, directors and other artists. Particular attention is paid to both giving and receiving feedback. Students are expected to turn in at least one ten-minute play (or section of a play) by the end of each semester.

Required for Playwriting Track students. Elective for all.

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This course explores the practical application of technical theater.   Students learn the processes necessary to take a design from the conceptual stage to the physical production. Areas of study include but are not limited to drafting, set construction, scenic painting, rigging, lighting & sound board operation, circuiting & patching, make-up application, costume draping and swatching.  

Required for all Directing/Design, Acting/Design and Upper Level C.O.W. students.

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This year-long course is an introduction to scenic design from first reading to production. Initial concepts grow out of the text and eclectic research is stressed. Practical skills such as sketching, drafting, creating paint elevations, and building scale models are applied to a variety of projects, ranging from one-acts and dance pieces to multi-set musicals.  

Elective available to PHTS students through the Technical Production Track.

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Designed for the second year director, this course focuses on 5 entry-points (or perspectives) from which one can analyze a text: 1) the play-world, 2) the story, 3) character, 4) language, and 5) personalization. By semester's end, each student has a command of the basic tools of text-analysis, and is able to use these tools to communicate production ideas to both collaborators and people in a position to hire them.

Fall semester. Required for Directing, Acting/Directing, and Directing/Designing students.

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A weekly combination of lecture and visuals (period clothing, books, paintings, objects, photographs) enables each student to create an ongoing personal notebook of cultural history, of value to directors, designers, and COW creators.  Enjoyment of the past and of research, enjoyment of objects and art as evidence of past lives, and finding the human in what has been created are goals for the semester. It is hoped that this work may inspire students in conceptualizing future productions, using history to think about their present and future more specifically. 

Fall semester. Required for Directing/Design & Acting/Design students.  Elective for all.

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A weekly seminar designed to give those stage managing 3rd/4th Year Directing Projects and COW Projects an opportunity to exchange ideas, discoveries, challenges, and provide a network of feedback and support in response to individual experiences.

Required for Directing, Acting/Directing, and Directing/Design students.

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Voice and Speech II is a year-long course that continues the development of the actor's Voice and Speech skills begun in the first year. A review of the voice and speech work done in the first year re-establishes physical skills and principles, and leads into Catherine Fitzmaurice's Destructuring/Restructuring Voice work technique, as an additional approach to breath release, voice, speech, imagery and text.  Equal emphasis is placed on the integration and application of these skills into acting through working with heightened poetic language, using both contemporary poetry and Shakespeare monologues.   Finally, the year culminates in an approach to learning dialects.

Required for Acting, Acting/Directing, Acting/Design, and C.O.W students.

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