APSU Faculty Workshop Menu:

(Please note that these workshops are offered free of charge in the middle Tennessee area.)

Acting/Voice/Movement/Musical Theatre

Talon Beeson – beesont@apsu.edu:

- Singing with Purpose (Song as Monologue) –In this workshop we will discuss The world of

Musical Theatre as something that is not separate from the world of Spoken Word Plays. We will

work on the actor’s target, action, and effecting your partner. Bring a song/duet to work on. If you

have a track to work with that is preferred, however if you do not we will work the song as a

monologue.

- Voice-Over - Based on Talon’s bestselling book Starting Your Career in Voice-Overs, this workshop

will focus on the seven and a half commercial VO archetypes necessary to begin building your

stable of commercial reads. Using techniques from Commedia Dell’arte stock character work and

First Folio technique, this workshop allows the actor to develop their VO skills.

- Speaking With Your Body - We often forget that speaking, breathing, and acting is a full body

endeavor. Using the techniques of Feldenkrais, Viewpoints, Rodenburg, Lessac, and a touch of

Suzuki thrown in for spicy spice, this workshop focuses on opening our bodies to the breath,

sound, and impulse required to be fully alive on stage. Please wear clothes you are comfortable

moving in.

- 0 to Brand in 60 Seconds - Using simple exercises, you can do on your own or with a group, Talon

Beeson leads attendees through the process of personal brand creation. Resulting in a tagline/

branding statement for some of those participating, this workshop is a great first step to

understanding how to market yourself in a crowded entertainment marketplace.

- Meisner and Pure Action - Too often, we “prepare to perform” on stage, instead of just honestly

living in the moment. An actor in the mindset of “to perform,” immediately puts themselves in a

stressful and almost unwinnable situation. Using ensemble building exercises from Viewpoints

and impulse driven Meisner repetition, this workshop encourages the actor to surrender to the

whole and react honestly in the moment, leaving the forced “performance” behind. This

workshop is an opportunity for students and teachers to re-examine how they look at

performance and what the goal of a performance should be.

For Faculty Bios visit: https://www.apsu.edu/theatre-dance/

Victoria Matlock Fowler – fowlerv@apsu.edu

• Acting the Song: In this interactive workshop, students will learn how to bring their musical

performances to life by connecting deeply with the lyrics and emotion of their songs. Through

individualized coaching participants will explore how to make authentic, bold acting choices while

singing. Whether preparing for an audition or simply working to improve performance skills, this

workshop will help develop confidence and storytelling techniques to elevate students' musical theatre

repertoire.

• Branding & "What's My Type?" In this engaging workshop, students will explore the concept of personal

branding and discover their unique "type" as performers. Through guided exercises and discussions,

participants will gain insight into how the world perceives them and how they view themselves. We'll

focus on aligning their strengths, personality, and how to choose material that showcases their best self.

This workshop will help students choose songs and roles that are authentic to who they are, helping

then stand out from the crowd.

• DIY Headshots on a Budget In this hands-on workshop, students will learn how to take professional quality

headshots using just the camera they have—whether it's a smartphone or basic digital camera.

They'll explore key techniques in lighting, framing, and posing, as well as tips on what to wear to best

represent their brand. By the end of the session, they'll know how to create headshots that showcase

their unique look and personality without spending a lot of money on a professional photographer.

Perfect for performers looking to update their headshots on a budget!

• Introduction to "One Voice" Vocal Pedagogy Discover a new approach to understanding and training

your voice in this introductory workshop on the "One Voice" method. This revolutionary vocal pedagogy

simplifies vocal training by eliminating the idea of separate "registers" and focusing on a unified, natural

sound. Students will gain practical tools to develop vocal self-sufficiency and a deeper understanding of

how their voices work. Whether you're an experienced singer or just beginning, this workshop will

provide a fresh perspective to help you unlock the full potential of your voice.

Darren Michael – michaeld@apsu.edu:

- Barding: Gearing up for Shakespeare – Professor Michael works with Shakespeare topics from

staging to handling verse.

- Suddenly the Wheels are In Motion - Professor Michael works with directors to think like

designers and how to communicate effectively with your design team.

- Fists Full of Drama - Telling stories safely and effectively through stage combat.

- Instant Playwriting - Techniques to engage and inspire writers.

- Surviving the Meat Market - Auditions, headshots, and resumes for the working professional

actor.

- Theatres and Stoplights - Why investing in the arts is a cornerstone for educational, social and

economic health in a local community (this workshop is designed for civic organizations,

community outreach, and administrators).

- Thrifty Theatre - How to produce theatre with small budgets.

Dance/Somatics

Margaret Rennerfeldt – rennerfedltm@apsu.edu

- Injury Prevention for Actors and Dancers – Best practices for physical self-care for actors and

dancers

- Making Faces – A trail guide to your face and the characters you can create in facial expression

- South Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC) Dance Audition Preparation – Applicable to all

audition experiences.

Zakk Manella - manellaz@apsu.edu

- Intro to Tap - Introductory level tap class with tips and tricks to begin your tap journey.

- Intro to Musical Theatre Dance - Jazz based, introduction to movement in musical theatre canon.

- Musical Theatre Dance Mock Audition - Learn, understand, and execute fine-tuned details of

conquering a musical theatre dance audition. What should you pay attention to? How do you

prepare? What do you focus on in the room in order for personal success.

- Beginning Tap dance – Essential tap steps and vocabulary for the beginner.

- Body Positive – moving with confidence and purpose (using your senses to move from the inside

out).

- Movement Improvisation – Full body improv with and without words.

Rafael Tillery – tilleryr@apsu.edu - Dance

- Contemporary/Modern Dance

- Jazz/Funk Dance

- Dance Composition

Technical Theatre/Theatre Education

Leni Dyer – dyerl@apsu.edu

- The Magic of Makeup Design - Advancements and happenings in the world of makeup – Join

Professor Leni Dyer as she details what’s going on in the ever-evolving world of theatrical

makeup design.

- How Costumes create the character - Professor Leni Dyer discusses the character-building

aspect of Costumes. While it’s true that the “clothes make the person” Leni makes the costumes!

- Theatre Education in China; How to train to be a “Professional” - International theatrical

practices vary from region to region. In many cultures, traditions and styles are passed down

through the generations. Professor Leni Dyer discusses the styles and training of the theatrical

practice in China.

Michael Mason - masonm@apsu.edu

- Model Techniques: Basic scenic model building; Cutting, gluing, texturing

-Rendering Techniques: Scenic, Lighting and Costume rendering techniques using dry

media; pencil, colored pencil, marker...

- Elements and Principles of Design:

Using elements like line, shape and color along with principles like balance rhythm and

unity to convey mood and theme.

- Approaching the Lighting Console - An introduction to basic lighting console usage.

- Elements of Light - An exploration into the controllable properties of light and why they are

important to us as lighting designers.

- Instrumentation - A hands-on exploration of standard lighting instrumentation, including

proper usage and maintenance.

- Approaching the Sound Console – An exploration of the components and usage of a Sound

Mixing Console.

- Sound Design Editing - An exploration of the sound editing software Audacity.

- Wireless Microphones – An introduction to wireless microphones, including different styles,

maintenance and usage.

- Stage Management - A discussion of the role/expectations for a stage manager for a theatrical

production.

Coming Soon

Coming Soon