Hi all,

I live about 1 1/2 hrs from manhattan, and Im looking for suggestions on acting classes that dont require a lot of meetings with other actors. I took a recent scene study class and my scene partner wanted to meet 4 times a week (I couldnt get into the city that much).

Any suggestions that dont require this much partner time?

thanks,
Tom

Four times a week? That's excessive, isn't it? I mean, any class is what you put into it, but how does ANYONE have that kind of time? Maybe you just had a freak scene partner.

Four times a week is excessive... I think it was a freak scene partner. I wouldn't want to rehearse a scene that much because it would get stale.

And in my experience, before and after class is a great time to rehearse, which wouldn’t require an extra trip.

That's not "excessive" for professional level classes, even for "beginners" if you're talking about scene study. If you're work is getting "stale" after only four rehearsals, you probably need to find a teacher that can help you deepen your work.

A scene study CLASS four times a week may be fine, but REHERSING with a scene partner four times a week is excessive I think.

Meeting with "a teacher that can help you deepen your work" four times a week may be fine, but if it takes me four rehearsals to find out what the hell the scene is about and what the hell I'm doing in a ten minute scene, then I had better find another career because that would means I don't know how to do my homework for a scene.

And in the case of beginner class, I seriously doubt that they are going to go any deeper with multiple rehearsals, without the aid of "a teacher that can help you deepen your work", I was a beginner once, and usually they just run the scene over and over again in the same way. Granted, this is not the way to rehearsal, but this doesn’t change the fact that this IS the way most beginners rehearse.

And one final note, it's a bad habit to be so presumptuous as to to think that because it might take you four rehearsals to "deepen your work" that everyone needs this. Do you think Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks or Russell Crowe have four rehearsals before every scene they do?

Wow. Have you ever taken a pro level scene study class Iceman? Where? Who takes your money and doesn't promote real acting work? We all need to avoid it.

You put up a scene with less than 3-4 rehearsals and truly get something out of it? You must be an acting genius.

Most people aren't. Most pro-level teachers require close to that, and most students *want* that. Scene study class is just that--study. What that has to do with how certain actors prepare for film scenes is beyond me. I personally have no idea how many rehearsals the actors you mentioned get--I'm guessing 0. But I bet if they bothered to enroll in a scene study class, each of them would be rehearsing their butts off. 3-4 times a week. For several weeks.

Every scene study class I've had, weather it be good or bad (I have had both), has encouraged both rehearsal, and doing your individual work on a scene, however much it takes of both to "put up" a good product. I guess finding the right balance and quantities for you is an individual challenge.

I suspect you are right that the actors I mentioned get zero rehearsals. Not that I am at that level, but my point was that it's dangerous to make generalizations. Perhaps my phrasing with the word "excessive" was a generalization, and I should have said "excessive for me". Every actor is different, that's why there are so many techniques.

As to the rest, we differ on points to be sure, but such is life, and I'm not looking for any blood feuds.

I was thinking it was excessive. My partner was very obsessive/compulsive it seemed. I spoke to others in the class and they only rehearsed 1-2 times a week; a much more normal amount.

I guess it does depend on your scene partner. I agree with CSilvera about at least 3-4 rehearsals before putting up a scene, but not in one week (maybe in college, but with full times jobs? Who's got the time!) It usually takes 2-3 weeks before the scene is ready. I dont know who could have the time to do 3-4 rehearsals in one week (my partner did, and she wasnt happy when I told her I didnt!)

thanks for the input. I may consider a monologue or acting technique class that may not require as much partnering outside of class.

thanks again all, for the help!
Tom

Before ripping further into each other's work ethic, we should probably take into consideration the type of classes we've taken/ are taking. I presume that in a conservatory or summer intensive-type setting, it's perfectly normal/expected to rehearse everyday. But in a class like mine that meets twice a week for a couple of hours, whose students have day jobs/auditions/bookings/other classes/lives, it's difficult to find time to rehearse outside of class. I'm lucky to find time to rehearse with my scene partner once a week.

tom33, I'd rather have an overzealous scene partner than one who doesn't call back.

I definitely agree it depends on the class. This was a class at HB Studios and it was a great class. Unfortunately, my overzealous scene partner wasnt very accommodating to my schedule. As long as there is toleration with each others' schedules, overzealous and motivated partners are a really great thing. I think picking an appropriate scene partner is just as important as picking an appropriate scene!
Thanks again for the great input!
Tom

Hi Tom, I feel your pain. I commute 2 hours each way into NYC every day and have been taking classes and voice lessons in the evenings. I have a share in NYC so I can stay over on class nights or when I have rehearsals/performances but it's a drain. One thing I usually ask before a class is what the outside requirements are and most have been once or twice a week with a partner. I loathe coming to NYC on weekends when I don't have to, so finding the right rehearsal partner is key. So far, I have been able to pick my own, so I try to find someone who doesn't require weekends. If a class required four meetings a week outside of it, I'd probably have to take a pass.

I used to study at Strasberg and I couldn't agree more that meeting 4 times a week is ABSOLUTELY NOT BEING EXCESSIVE..it's being a professional. How often do you think Tiger Woods practices a week, or any prodigy at Carnegie Hall. Or a prima ballerina or dancer on Broadway. Twice a week. Your acting is your craft and you are cheating yourself by not rehearsing excessively.

I think everyone is different. I dont think it is a necessity to rehearse for a scene class 4 times a week. Some people will benefit from it and others wouldnt. Everyone is different. What isnt acceptable is one scene partner giving the other difficulty if they arent as available to rehearse. This is where picking the proper scene partner is key. For me, 1-2 times a week will get me just as prepared as 4 times a week, and for me, too much rehearsal can make the scene stale. Others may prefer more or less rehearsal time.

Just my 2 pennies
Tom

All right, first I'll answer the question you asked which is: take a camera class. Most of the scene study classes that train you for camera work prefer that you don't meet AT ALL with your scene partner. The reality of most TV and film work (except soaps) is that you rehearse little or not at all with other actors and do all your character work on your own. Working on your own is a valuable tool to have and might be something to learn while your location and schedule are less accomodating to a lot of travel. NOT to say that rehearsing with a partner is not extremely important and a vital thing for a working actor to know. Also, a class on technique (HB offers classes strictly on Uta Hagen's acting exercises which are individual activities) are great to learn.
That does not mean that you don't need to rehearse many times a week and contribute a "professional" amount of time to your work/studies. It would just be solo time where you didn't have to come into the city several times a week.
For the record, four times a week WITH a scene partner for a non-conservatory/college class seems a bit freakish and over-zealous to me. However, working once or twice a week with a partner and ALSO contributing several hours on your own to create the character's life, understand the play, the setting, period etc. is not out of line if you are interested in seriously pursuing good work.
Good luck!