Chuck Hudson

Master Classes

There is much talk at the Met these days about the importance of recruiting “singing actors” instead of “park and bark” performers. Vivien Schweitzer, New York Times: September 24, 2009

I am presenting my Acting & Movement Curriculum as well as coaching Audition Arias at the following Professional Artist Training Programs:

MAY 2010:
-Dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, NYC
-Guest Speaker: Opera America’s MAKING CONNECTIONS Professional Development Series, NYC
This event streams live on the internet.

JUNE:
-S.I.V.A.M., Mexico City
-San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, San Francisco
Including the Chuck Hudson Public Master Class on June 30

JULY:
-San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, San Francisco
-CoOPERAtive Program, Princeton
-La Lingua della Lirica, Italy

AUGUST:
-La Lingua della Lirica, Italy
-TSP (Japanese Professional Artist Training Program), Italy

Due to the success of the MARRYING VOCAL & ACTING TECHNIQUES Master Class I presented with Mikhail Hallak in April, we will offer another in the series this fall.

Check back this summer for the Fall 2010 Master Class Schedule.

Master Classes Topics Include

• Nailing the Audition: Private Audition Coaching
• Acting and Movement Techniques for Singers and Actors
• Arias and Action: A 3 Dimensional Technique for Auditioning and Solo Performance
• Successful Creativity: Keeping Performances Fresh
• Text Analysis and the Creative Process
• Creating a Role: Advanced Acting Techniques
• Comedy and Comic Timing
• Act Bigger : Presentational Techniques to play in larger houses
• Trouser Roles and Cross Gender Performance
• Monologues for Singers
• Marrying Vocal & Acting Techniques
• Baroque Period Style Movement and playing Molière Texts
• Elizabethan Movement Techniques and playing Shakespearean Texts
• Period Style Movement from Baroque to Victorian
• Italian commedia dell’arte and opera buffa
• Mime Techniques: Marcel Marceau and Etienne Decroux
• Virtuosity: The Dramatic Corporeal Techniques of Etienne Decroux
• Generating Original Works: Movement Theatre, Plays, Opera
• One Man Shows: Techniques for creating Solo Performances
• Master Classes for Stage Directors

General Course Objectives

To create and sustain a dimensional and truthful performance in whatever style may be presented. To explore and utilize the complete Psycho-physical energy of the performer; i.e., both physical and mental energies, which allows a greater control of expressiveness by linking specific movement and acting techniques with the generation and truthful expression of emotions and the presentation of dimensional characters in action.

In contrast to the majority of Movement Training courses designed for performers available in the United States, which present exercises that prepare the performer for the stage or that are generally therapeutic, these techniques allow the performer dramatic control over the entire body in order to go “beyond the music” and to “go beyond the words” in the development of character, sub textual conflicts, dramatic intentions, and active choices while performing on stage.

In contrast to the majority of Acting Classes available, these classes are antithetical to the schools dedicated only to Contemporary American Realism which generally distance the performer of style productions from creating truth in their given contexts.

A specific difficulty for chorus and supernumeraries is maintaining action and dimension while “just standing there” or “just sitting there,” and while performing in large groups and oratorio.

For more information about these master class presentations, or to bring a program to your organization, please contact Chuck