Author Archives: lsegel

Theatre Company of Saugus presents its second summer 2014 workshop on Theatre Skills.  This workshop is called Where the Points Don’t Matter: The Ins and Outs of Improv Comedy, and it is led by Britt Mitchell.  The workshop will be held on Thursday 7 August 2014, starting at 7:00 PM.  The location is the East Saugus Methodist Church at 85 Chestnut Street / Saugus, Massachusetts 01906  (see our Directions page).

When it comes to improvisation, people generally think that you have to be funny in order to do it.  In fact, almost anyone can do improv!  Improv is in your blood and you don’t even know it yet… yeah, I’m talking to you!  Improvisational comedy is all made up at the top of your head, as seen in the famous TV show Whose Line is it Anyway.  In this workshop, you will be fully immersed in the basics of improv. You will learn improv warm ups, short-form games, and the basics of successful scene work.  Be prepared to learn a whole new side of yourself and realize that improv isn’t about jokes and plaid shirts.  Improvisation is a big skill to have in theatre, business, and in life in general.  You will leave the workshop laughing and with a whole new perspective on live theatre.

The instructor of the workshop is Britt Mitchell.  Britt has over a decade of improv and comedy experience under her belt.  She has been performing improv since she was in high school.  She is an alumnus of Saugus High School’s troop Needs Improvment and Salem State University’s troop Grandma’s Third Leg. Britt has been a player in ImprovBoston’s (IB) house troop The Family Show for over two years.  She has also been in many IB showcase shows such as The Babysitters Club Super Special Show, An Improvised People’s History, and IB Stein’s Goosebumps. Britt has performed in the annual Del Close Marathon in New York City, Improv on the Bricks/The Griffin Theatre in Salem, and at Stage 773 in Chicago.  Britt was also seen in the 2012 Women in Comedy Festival performing stand up.  Britt teaches after school drama in Everett, and directed with Beyond The 4th Wall Expression Theatre in Cambridge.

For Theatre Company of Saugus, Britt organized TCS’ own improv troupe Back to Square One, and she has been the director and acting coach of our Youth Workshop for the past three years, including the recent production of Into the Woods Jr.

The fee to attend the workshop is only $5, payable with cash or check at the door.  Five workshops are planned.  If you attend all five workshops, you will only be charged for four, a total of $20.

Theatre Company of Saugus will host a series of Workshops on Theatre Skills during the summer of 2014.  Our first planned workshop is a masterclass on Healthy Singing in Musical Theatre. On Tuesday 29 July 2014 starting at 7:30 PM.  The location is the East Saugus United Methodist Church / 85 Chestnut Street / Saugus, Massachusetts.  (See our Directions page.)  This workshop is presented by Lori L’Italien.

The masterclass will focus on the most important aspects of singing in musical theatre, including breath, posture, placement and head-voice, all of which are the necessary tools to develop a healthy, strong belt.  Participants will work through several physical and breath exercises, exploring the concept of abdominal breathing verses clavicular.  All participants will discuss and explore vocal exercises that will encourage a well-placed head voice that demonstrates the unification of the vowels.  Using these elements participants will explore healthy belting by using and practicing “the call”.  Participants will receive a packet of warm-ups and vocal exercises geared toward developing and maintaining a healthy belt.

Lori L’Italien holds a Bachelors of Music Education in Voice and Master of Music in Opera  Performance. She is on staff at Lasell College where she teaches voice, music fundamentals, and musical theatre classes, in addition to serving as Director of Choirs and both stage and music director of Lasell’s musicals.  Lori owns and operates a busy private voice studio in both West Newton and Somerville.  She also serves as Boston Program Administrator for The Metropolitan Opera Guild’s Urban Voices Program, a program that brings vocal and choral instruction to students in disadvantaged neighborhoods in and around Boston.

L’Italien is, in her own right, a versatile, sought-after performer of musical theater, opera, and oratorio throughout Boston and northern New England.  Most recently, she appeared as Betty White in White Christmas with Weston Friendly Society, Fantine in Les Miserables with Woodland Theatre Company, and created the role of Catherine Eddowes in the World Premeire of Jack the Ripper: the Whitechapel Musical.  Other favorite roles include the Homeless Lady in A New Brain with Moonbox Productions, Adelaide in Guys & Dolls, Sally Bowles in Cabaret with Theatre Company of Saugus, and Lucille Frank in Fudge Theatre Company’s production of Parade, for which she earned a nomination as Best Actress in a Musical from the IRNE (Independent Reviewers of New England.)  My Entertainment World raved that she was,”The true star in this performance; she is breathtaking in every moment…she has everything of a star performer.  L’Italien’s singing is simply stunning, and, late in the first act, I started counting my goose-bumps…Take note: L’Italien is more than worth the price of admission.”  Lori can currently been seen as Gabby/Bobbi in City of Angles with FUDGE Theatre Company playing at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown playing July 11–19, 2014.  See LoriLItalien.com for more studio and performance news.

The fee to attend the workshop is $5, payable with cash or check at the door.  Four additional workshops are planned.  If you attend all five workshops, you will only be charged for four, a total of $20.