Course Detail: PER104 - Improv & Acting 101 - NEW!
Learn how to act and react on the stage!
Students will dive into the foundational principles of improvisation and stage acting, gaining essential tools to build confidence and presence when performing in front of an audience. The class is designed for both beginners and those looking to strengthen their performance skills, blending creativity, spontaneity, and technical acting techniques.
The first portion of the course will focus on high-energy improv games and exercises that encourage quick thinking, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. As the course progresses, students will transition into scripted scene work, learning how to analyze a script, develop compelling characters, and craft a scene's emotional and narrative arc.
Throughout the course, students will explore a variety of characters and scenarios, both scripted and improvised, in a collaborative and supportive environment that fosters creativity and mutual respect. By the end of the class, participants will have gained a well-rounded understanding of both improv and traditional acting techniques, empowering them to approach any stage with confidence and poise.
NOTE: This course is for adults age 18 and over only.
About the InstructorGloria Minnich is passionate about bringing theatre and movement to the students she serves. She brings a great deal of experience, having performed both locally and abroad. She has acted in many productions at Arena Dinner Theatre, Fort Wayne Civic Theater, First Presbyterian Theatre, and IPFW and has appeared in several local commercials and a short film. She has also directed several award-winning productions at Arena Dinner Theatre. She is the recipient of an Anthony Award and many Arena Awards for acting and directing. In addition to Shakespeare, she has studied dance, puppetry, storytelling, Commedia dell'Arte, and sensory theatre. She loves to travel and has trained internationally with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre of England, Gyre and Gimble, Drama Resource, Little Angel Theatre, and Oily Cart, where she created theatre pieces for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities. In 2019, she was awarded the Arts United Margaret Ann Keegan Award for Arts Education. She is very excited to collaborate with her students and provide them with enriching opportunities, exploring theatre in unique ways.
