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FALL 2024 Classes Coming soon!
IAMA FALL CLASSES
atwater village theatre
meISNER sCENE woRK iNTENSIVE
Instructor: James Eckhouse
What: Scene Study Class based on James’ unique Meisner-based approach (Limit 12 students)
When: Tuesdays, 6:30 - 9:30pm (November 7, 14, 28, December 5, 12, 19)
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $350
Now is the time to step into your authentic voice and work at the top of your game! In this 6-Week Scene Work Intensive with James Eckhouse, you will work on individual scenes using James’ unique Meisner-based approach as well as doing detailed scene ‘break-down’ analysis. We will do Meisner based repetition and improvisational character work that will power up your scenes and fire up your confidence. Every student works every week; minimal rehearsal outside of class. Designed for advanced/intermediate actors. Beginning actors interested in the class should reach out to us at education@iamatheatre.com before registering.
About James Eckhouse
Well known to TV audiences as ‘Jim Walsh’ on FOX’s original Beverly Hills 90210, James Eckhouse has guest starred on over seventy television series including Chicago Med, The Rookie, Station 19, The Affair, Code Black, NCIS, Major Crimes, The Good Wife, Southland, Criminal Minds, West Wing, and Once and Again. James has performed in plays ranging from Shakespeare to Shepard on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in most of the nation’s regional theaters. Most recently he starred in the Tony Award winning All The Way with Bryan Cranston. James has directed plays at The Pasadena Playhouse, The Matrix, IAMA Theatre Company, The Odyssey, and The Falcon. On screen he has directed several episodes of Beverly Hills 90210 and ABC’s award winning drama Once and Again starring Sela Ward and Evan Rachel Wood. His documentary Protecting The Possibilities won a Cine Golden Eagle Award. James began his training at Chicago’s Second City and went on to receive a BFA in Drama at the Juilliard School in NYC.
basic improv
Instructor: Melissa Stephens
What: Basic Improvisation Class (Limit 16 students)
When: Saturdays, 10:00am - 1:00pm (November 11, 18, 25, December 2, 9)
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $290
This exciting 5-Week Improv Class with Melissa Stephens will touch on all of the basics of improvisation, and is for seasoned improvisors just as much as beginners. The collaborative and supportive process of this improv class will help push students to their physical and creative boundaries, as they practice being present and flexible, building confidence, and embracing risk in a safe and positive environment - all great skills to develop whether you're a creative or not. So, if you’re looking to have fun and find community, this is the place.
About Melissa Stephens
Melissa Stephens is a comedian, writer, and director from the Peach State, and has dual citizenship in the UK. Melissa wrote on staff of Brett Goldstein & William Bridges’ AMC anthology series Soulmates, now streaming on Amazon Prime (Mel wrote ep 5). She is currently developing a dark comedy series with AMC Studios and UK based Two Brothers Productions, as well as penning a pilot for eOne and Mark Gordon based on her one-hour comedy special Homebrew. Melissa performed her solo show Hot Dogs & Tears at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2022. She is a founding member of IAMA Theatre Company, has been a member of Groundlings’ Sunday Company, and regularly performs stand-up around Los Angeles. Her directorial debut, Peen, was a Vimeo Staff Pick, and the short series she wrote and directed, Finding the Asshole, was chosen to show at Slamdance and is currently in development on multiple TV and Film projects.
WRITING FOR THE SCREEN AND THE SOUL: SCREENWRITING FOUNDATIONS
Instructor: Christian Durso
What: Introduction to Screenwriting Workshop (Limit 30 students)
When: Sunday, December 3rd, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Where: IAMA’s Atwater Village Theatre Space
Cost: $100
A 4-hour Introduction to Screenwriting Workshop with Christian Durso for new writers or writers looking to return to the fundamentals of the medium. Students will develop a toolbox of techniques to regularly get ideas and words on the page, as well as demystify the beat sheet and practice an effective approach to understanding structure by way of character and theme. Be prepared to work in groups and study Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite.
About Christian Durso
Christian Durso is a playwright, screenwriter, and classically trained actor. His plays have been performed in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Prague, and Reno. His work has also enjoyed workshops and readings at The Roundabout Underground, The Flea, The Old Globe and EST/LA. He served as Executive Producer and Writer for the Netflix series The Stranded, the first Thai Original series for Netflix. He also wrote an eight episode mini-series for HBO Asia and has adapted novels for the screen for Sony. Also an actor, Christian has worked regionally at The Old Globe, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Great Lakes Theatre (OH), Idaho Shakespeare Festival as well as Off-Broadway, and has taught Shakespeare and Voice and Speech to high school students at the Old Globe and the La Jolla Playhouse. A proud member of the Los Angeles based IAMA Theatre Company and of the WGAW. BFA, NYU. MFA, USD.