When: Sunday, March 24th, 2024 from 2PM - 4PM

Where: Xenia Miller Conference Room, at the Commons (300 Washington St. Columbus, IN 47201)

What: Intro to Playwriting - the seventh in a series of master classes presented by Mill Race Theatre Company for high school aged (incoming freshman - graduating seniors) students in Columbus!

Cost: $12 - You must register in advance in order to attend this class. Please see the FAQs section below for details about financial aid options.

What to expect: Join local playwright, Nicole Cunningham, in an exploration of the world of playwriting! Throughout this class you will learn the basics of playwriting and various literary functions, as well as put those to use! The best way to learn is by doing! We hope to see you at this exciting class offering with the author of MRTC's upcoming production, "In Praise of Sparrows".

Clinician leading the workshop: Local Playwright, Nicole Cunningham

Clinician’s Bio: Nicole Cunningham is a writer who likes to conquer every format. She started her writing life as a news journalist, writing for television, newspapers, and magazines. Nicole published a nonfiction history book in 2006 which made the Sports Illustrated Bestseller List. Nicole has taught various writing formats at different institutions of higher learning: Butler University, Ivy Tech, and IU Columbus. She has acted and volunteered in several Mill Race Theatre Company productions, and plays multiple musical instruments. Nicole considers herself the family historian and has written extensively about the journeys of her ancestors. Some of the immigrant stories in Nicole’s family history inspired her first original play, “In Praise of Sparrows,” which premiers with MRTC in spring 2024.

When: Sunday, January 28th, 2024 from 2PM - 4PM

Where: Xenia Miller Room at the Commons on the second floor (300 Washington St. Columbus, IN 47201)

What: Intro to Stage Management - the sixth in a series of master classes presented by Mill Race Theatre Company for high school aged (incoming freshman - graduating seniors) students in Columbus!

Cost: $12 - You must register in advance in order to attend this class. Please see the FAQs section below for questions about financial aid options.

Clinician leading the workshop: Laura Pierson

What to expect: The “Intro to Stage Management” Masterclass will give you a working understanding of the foundations of stage management and tips on how to continue developing your skills as a young theatre professional! We will discuss the production process from start to finish, what roles and relationships a stage manager takes on in each space, and what to keep your eye on throughout the show. There will be a massive amount of resources available to take home to help you get started on your next show as well as hands-on practice with blocking actors’ movements, paperwork creation, and cue calling.

When: Sunday, October 15th from 2PM - 4PM

Where: Sonya’s Dance Zone (3136 N National Rd, Columbus, IN 47201)

What: Mastering Monologues - the fifth in a series of master classes presented by Mill Race Theatre Company for high school aged (incoming freshman - graduating seniors) students in Columbus!

Cost: $12 - You must register in advance in order to attend this class. Please see the FAQs section below for questions about financial aid options.

Clinician leading the workshop: Sharon Sung Andrews & Brittany Davis

What to expect: Monologues can be one of the most intimidating topics to work on in theater. But they also can be one of the most FUN. Working on monologues gives you the opportunity to be your own director and dramaturg. Your two clinicians love working on monologues because they love delving into the script and the text, and what's even better is each of us approach that deep dive in a different way! In this class, you'll learn what tools are available for monologue analysis and performance, as well as which ones work most effectively for you! In this class you will have three monologues to choose from, so pick the one that speaks to you and come prepared to perform and play with the material! 

When: Sunday, September 17th from 2:30PM - 4:30PM

Where: Dancers Studio (2158 Cottage Avenue Columbus, IN 47201)

What: Lighting Design - the fourth in a series of master classes presented by Mill Race Theatre Company for high school aged (incoming freshman - graduating seniors) students in Columbus!

Cost: $12 - You must register in advance in order to attend this class. Please see the FAQs section below for questions about financial aid options.

Clinician leading the workshop: Kaylin Hogan

What to expect: In this class, you’ll learn the basics of lighting design, from analyzing the script to designing the show. Be prepared to discover a new avenue of storytelling, and explore a usually unseen side of theatre through lighting design!

When: Monday, August 28th, 2023 from 7PM - 9PM

Where: North High School Studio Room

What: Improv: Level 1 - the third in a series of master classes presented by Mill Race Theatre Company for high school aged (incoming freshman - graduating seniors) students in Columbus!

Cost: $12 - You must register in advance in order to attend this class. Please see the FAQs section for questions about financial aid or cash payments.

Clinician leading the workshop: Josh Hogan

What to expect: “Improv Level 1” will cover 4 of the 10 basic concepts of improvisational performance. Improvisation is a skill to think critically and create new moments with no script or practice beforehand. Everything is off the top of your head! Students of Improv Level 1 will learn the basic rules, how to utilize their techniques, and participate in improv games for live practice! No improv, acting, or theatre experience is required.

FAQs

• What should I bring? Wear comfortable clothes; otherwise, the great thing about improv is that you don’t need anything but your imagination!

• I’m not familiar with North, how do I get to the Studio Room? Park in the bus lot (near the corner of 25th Street and Home Avenue) and enter through door #12 to the right of the Erne Auditorium entrances. You’ll see a check in booth inside and the studio room is the first door on your left.

• What happens if I register and can’t attend a class? Please notify our Program Manager, Brittany Davis, at masterclass@millracetheatre.org and let her know you will be unable to attend. While we do not offer refunds, you will receive a credit to your account that you can use for a future MRTC Master Class within the season (Fall 2023-Summer 2024). If it is not used, the credit will be used to fund our grant program for the following year.

• I want to attend this class, but I can’t pay for it at this time. Are there financial aid options? Yes, Mill Race Theatre Company’s Board of Directors believes in creating accessibility to arts education. Thanks to generous donors, grants are available for MRTC’s Master Classes. To apply for one of the grants, fill out this form (it will open in a separate tab). Once your application is reviewed, you will receive an email confirmation with next steps (typically within 24 hours). This grant is a one time grant for this class. If you’d like to attend other MRTC Master Classes and need financial assistance, you will need to apply again each time. Receiving a grant for one class does not exclude you from receiving future grants.

• I’d like to pay for the class some other way instead of using a credit/debit card. How do I register? Please contact our Program Manager, Brittany Davis at masterclass@millracetheatre.org explaining how you’d like to pay for the class and she will provide you with next steps.

• I have other questions not answered here, how do I get them answered? Reach out to our Program Manager, Brittany Davis, at masterclass@millracetheatre.org with any additional questions.

When: Sunday, June 4th, 2-4 pm at CEHS

What: Theatre Makeup Techniques - the second in a series of master classes presented by Mill Race Theatre Company for high school aged (incoming freshman - graduating seniors) students in Columbus!

Cost: Free to attend, however registration is encouraged. Register Here!

Masters leading the workshop: Bryssa Budd & Kaley Gatten

What to expect: You’ll learn the ins and outs for stage makeup, from your basics to being ready for the spotlight! We’ll be going over stage makeup kits, product selections, caring for your supplies & your canvas, how to create the perfect base look, and how to take that base and transform it into the perfect stage look. This class will cover beginner-level stage makeup for ALL. All you need to bring is what you’ve currently got in your kit (if you’ve got one) or any makeup you’ve used for the stage in the past and your eagerness to learn!

FAQs

• What if I don’t have any makeup right now?
  That’s totally okay! This class will also discuss how to create and build your kit, product selection, and recommendations for all budgets. No need to buy anything before you show up!

• What would you recommend be in our starter kits if we’ve got one to bring?
  Whether you’re a product junkie or only have a few things in your makeup bag, here’s what we’d recommend bringing: foundation primer, concealer, foundation, eye liner, mascara, neutral eye shadows, blush, your favorite lipstick/gloss, brushes/applicators, makeup remover, lipbalm. Not everyone will need all of these, but it will cover all your bases!

• What can I expect?
  We’ll be going over building your kit, product and skin hygiene for smooth application, applying and creating a base look, transforming it into a bolder stage look, removing the makeup to keep skin healthy, and maintaining your kits cleanliness. All the while remembering that makeup is truly meant to be fun—it’s an art form!!

MRTC Masters: Audition Techniques!

Monday, April 17th, 6:00pm-8:00pm in the CNHS Choir Room.

What: A master class series presented by Mill Race Theatre Company for high school aged (incoming freshman - graduating seniors) students in Columbus! If you’ve ever thought about trying out theater or being a part of Mill Race Theatre Company, this is a great time to try it out!

Masters leading the workshop: Brittany Davis, Sharon Andrews, Allie Kunkler, and Seussical director, Mikki Maurey

What to prepare: Please prepare a 16-32 bar cut in the style of your choosing. If you wish, you may gear your audition choice towards Seussical. You may sing a capella or please bring a track to be played for your cut. Please be prepared to do a cold reading with other actors.

All participants will do a mock audition in the first half of the evening - then in the second half of the night we will work with one or two actors in a studio class style setting, allowing peers to watch and learn along with everyone! Please come excited to learn and try new things!

Cost is FREE! But you must register online at this link.