Category Archives: Workshops

We bring back one of last summer’s most popular workshops on Theatre Skills:  Healthy Singing for Musical Theatre, presented by Lori L’Italien.  Thursday 23 July 2015, starting at 7:30 PM.

This workshop will also cover the subject of How to Prepare for a Singing Audition.

How many times have we heard the dreaded words, “belting is unhealthy for your voice” or “if you belt, you will lose your voice”?  But, here’s a secret not all classical teachers want you to know… Belting CAN be done healthfully.  After studying with teachers in Boston, New York and across New England, in Classical/Operatic and Musical Theatre/Pop, Lori has a unique understanding of both classical and musical theatre technique and how two can not only assist but strengthen each other. This workshop will be an overview of posture, breathing and vocal technique that can be used in musical theatre or classical singing. Students will learn warm-ups and exercises they can do on their own to grow their technique.

Lori L’Italien holds a Bachelors of Music Education 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 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 Adelaide in Reagle Music Theatre’s Guys and Dolls and in their fall production of A Grand Night for Singing, 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, 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.”  See:  LoriLItalien.com for more studio and performance news.

There is a $5 fee for the workshop, payable at the door with cash or check.

Our second Workshop on Theatre Skills for the summer of 2015 is on Sunday 12 July, starting at 7:30 PM.  The subject is Public Speaking, and the presenter is Sherri Raftery, M.Ed.  The title of the presentation is “Helping You Take Center Stage!” Would you like to learn simple tips and tricks that will help you feel comfortable while speaking in front of an audience, a large or small group. or even one on one in the board room or at the dinner table?  This is the workshop for you. Sherri hosts and produces “Helping YOU Take Center Stage” – Public Speaking and Leadership Tips at Revere TV, and is the Drama Club Coordinater at Northeast Regional Metro Technical High School. Sherri Raftery earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Theatre & Communications from Emerson College, and a Master’s in Education in Arts & Learning from Endicott College.  Some of her clients include corporations, international organizations, high schools, colleges, universities, nonprofits organizations and community groups. Sherri is the Theatre Company of Saugus Recording Secretary.  She has been a member of Toastmasters International since 2005, and was the District 31 Governor serving Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island where she earned several leadership and public speaking awards. Sherri was honored by the Home for Little Wanderers in 2008 and speaks out as a live testimonial raising funds and awareness and is currently writing a children’s book called Almost Adopted. All the Theatre Skills workshops meet at the TCS home at the East Saugus United Methodist Church / 85 Chestnut Street / Saugus, Massachusetts 01906.  See our Directions page. The workshop is open to everyone.  There is a fee of $5 per person.

We continue our successful series of Workshops on Theatre Skills from last summer.  We have some returning presenters and some great new ones.

Plan to put most of the month of July 2015 on your calendar.  Specific dates for each workshop subject are shown below.  We have recently changed this schedule, so look at it carefully!   There are also more complete descriptions of each workshop on other posts on this website.  Here is the current schedule:

• Improvisation, with Britt Mitchell.  Tuesday 7 July.
• Public Speaking, with Sherri Raftery, M.Ed.  Sunday 12 July.
• How to Prepare for a Musical Theatre Audition, Acting with Adam Schuler and Dancing with Kathleen Tringale.  Tuesday 14 July.
• Tap Dance for Beginners, with Kathleen Tringale.  Thursday 16 July.
• Tap Dance Continued, with Kathleen Tringale.  Sunday 19 July.  This will start at 3:00 PM.  Depending on the progress at the beginning tap dance workshop on July 16, this may either be a continuation of that, or for Intermediate tap dancers, or on other Dancing Styles, or be cancelled.  Please watch this space for further developments.
• Dialects, with Adam Schuler, in preparation for Drood.  Tuesday 21 July.
• Healthy Singing for Musical Theatre, with Lori L’Italien.  Also How to Prepare for a Singing Audition.  Thursday 23 July.

Sessions will start at 7:30 PM, unless noted otherwise.  There is a $5 fee per person for each session, with a maximum fee of $25 for an individual that attends more than five workshops.  Payable with cash or check at the door.

All sessions are at the TCS home at East Saugus United Methodist Church / 85 Chestnut Street / Saugus, Massachusetts  01906.  See the Directions page.

Britt Mitchell, Sherri Raftery, and Lori L’Italien return with enhanced versions of the workshops they presented last summer on Improv, Public Speaking, and Singing for Musical Theatre.

Adam Schuler is the director of our fall show, Drood, and his workshops on Acting Auditions and Dialects will prepare you for it.  As will the Improv workshop.

Kathleen Tringale is our Choreographer for the upcoming season, so her workshops on Dance Auditions and Tap will prepare you for it.

The Theatre Company of Saugus presents its fifth annual summer Youth Theatre Workshop 2015.  A place where imaginations can learn and grow!  Back by popular demand.

The show we will present this summer is Once on This Island Jr.

The dates of the workshop are July 13-17 and 20-24, 2015.  Sessions run from 9 AM until 4 PM Monday through Thursday, and 12 Noon until 4 PM on Friday.

The workshop ends with three performances of the junior version of the popular musical Once on This Island.  The performances are on Friday, July 24 at 7 PM, and on Saturday, July 25 at 2 PM and 7 PM.

The location of both weeks and of the performances will be at Cliftondale Congregational Church (CCC).  At 50 Essex Street, in Saugus, Massachusetts.  Please see our Directions page.

Our teachers are all returning from last year and are ready to lead you through our awesome show-making process:  Musical/Vocal coach:  Shawn Gelzleichter.  Dance coach:  Amanda Allen.  Acting coach:  Britt Mitchell.  Technical Theater coach:  Jen Gelzleichter.

The fee is $400 per youth.   (Ask about the multiple-child discount.)

If you register by July 1, 2015 you can pay only $350.

For more info on fees or the curriculum, email us at TCSaugus@gmail.com or call us at 781-816-7019.

If you want to find out more and have us send you a registration packet, click here for the Request form.

Click here for the flyer.

If you are ready to sign up, click here for the Registration form.

All kids planning to attend the Youth Theatre Workshop should come with their parents to an advance session on Thursday 9 July at 6:30 PM.

This will be an Audition to help us determine how to assign the roles in Once On This Island Jr.  Be prepared to sing 16-32 bars from any song, and bring the sheet music if you have it.  Dress so that you can move for the Dance audition.

This session will also be an opportunity for parents to Meet and Greet our teaching staff.

The Audition and Meet and Greet on July 9 will be held at the East Saugus United Methodist Church / 75 Chestnut Street.  This is not the same location as the two-week workshop and performances July 13-25, which is at the Cliftondale Congregation Church / 50 Essex Street.  To see where both of the locations are, see the map on the Directions page.

Theatre Company of Saugus (TCS) is pleased to present our third 2014 workshop on Theatre Skills.  Sherri Raftery will present Helping You Take Center Stage, on Thursday 11 September, starting at 7:00 PM.  The location is the TCS home at 85 Chestnut Street  /  Saugus, Massachusetts (please see our Directions page).

Would you like to learn simple tips and tricks that will help you feel comfortable while speaking in front of an audience, a group or even one on one in the board room or at the dinner table?  This is a skill everyone needs all the time, and it is easy to learn.

Sherri has been a member of Toastmasters International since 2005.  This is the service organization whose purpose is to promote the benefits of Public Speaking.  Sherri was the District 31 Governor of Toastmasters, serving Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  She earned several awards including the Area Governor of the Year, Excellence in Marketing, Excellence in Education & Training, Excellence in Leadership and Distinguished District Governor.  Sherri was honored by the Home for Little Wanderers in 2008 and speaks out as a live testimonial raising funds and awareness.

Sherri hosts and produces the program “Helping YOU Take Center Stage” – Public Speaking and Leadership Tips, at Revere TV.

Some of her clients include:  The Home for Little Wanderers, Malden High School, UMass Worcester, Salve Regina University, Stonehill College, Gibbs College, North Shore Community College, East Boston Neighborhood Health, East Boston Kiwanis Club, East Boston-Revere Rotary, Beverly Rotary Club, Malden Rotary Club, Saugus Rotary Club, Swampscott Rotary Club.

And now, also, Theatre Company of Saugus.  Sherri has acted in several productions with TCS over the past ten years or so, most recently in You Can’t Take It With You.

Sherri Raftery, M. Ed., earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Theatre & Communications from Emerson College and a Master’s in Education in Arts & Learning from Endicott College.

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

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.