THE LONDON ACADEMY OF THEATER, LLC

The Program

The London Academy of Theater, LLC gives serious theater students the opportunity to study professional theater with London's top theater artists. During the semester, students will receive rigorous professional training and the opportunity to experience London's great cultural offerings. The course is designed for college sophomores, juniors, seniors, and post graduate students. The fourteen week semester, accredited by Rutgers University, will consist of conservatory classes in acting, movement, speech, singing, stage combat; and electives in theater criticism and theater history. Students will attend the theater regularly and will have weekly tours of London's great museums and historic sights.

Curriculum

The entire program will earn 15 credits.

Acting

Course will focus on British Plays of the Twentieth Century and the Plays of Shakespeare and his comtemporaries. One afternoon per week will be devoted to audition work. Student work will be presented throughout the semester in workshop fashion and then the Company will have a final performance of one of the plays in the curriculum repertoire. This performance will incorporate the work of each individual conservatory class, i.e. stage combat, historical dance, singing, etc.

Alexander Technique

Considered by many to be integral in actor training. This course introduces students to immerse self awareness of both body and movement by helping to change movement, balance and coordination. (3 hours per week)

Movement

A class which combines Laban, modern dance and improvisation. Students will examine basic elements of choreography and be expected to devise a performance piece for presentation. (2 1/2 hours per week)

Historical Dance

A performance class which explores period movement, court dance, folk dance and social dancing. (3 hours per week)

Voice and Speech

A practical class which helps the actor to discover and develop their vocal potential and to overcome specific difficulties. There will also be special classes for dialect work. (3 hours per week)

Singing

Group and individual singing lessons. Students will work on audition pieces as well. (3 hours per week)

State Combat

Training in weaponry, stage fighting and stunt work, concentrating on fencing as well as the "tricks of the trade."

Theater Criticism

Students will develop their critical writing skills using London's theaters, concert halls and opera houses as their laboratories. Guest lecturers will include prominent British theater critics. (2 hours per week)

Theater History

An introductory study of the history of British theater from the Elizabethans to the establishment of the National Theater in 1963. (2 hours per week)

The Faculty

The program will be headed by Richard Digby Day, one of the great British directors and teachers. Richard was Director of the National Theater Institute from 1991-1998. American students who have worked with Richard call him: dynamic and demanding and they of ten speak of his training as the spark which ignited their acting careers. Richard gave Hugh Grant, Janet McTeer and Ralph Fiennes their first professional work in the theater. He will lead a faculty derived from London's outstanding conservatories and theaters. They will include:

Acting

Richard Digby Day, Richard Digby Day: Has been director of five regional theaters in Great Britain, was Artistic Director of Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, he has had a distinguished teaching career which includes, LAMDA, The National Theater Institute, The Drama League of New York, Columbia University and Connecticut College. He is Vice President of the Shaw Society and is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts.

Michael Cadman,
National Youth Theatre of Britain, RADA, Royal Shakespeare Company, extensive BBC television work.

Michael Winter,
Artistic Director, Perth Theatre, Scotland, has taught acting at The National Theatre Institute, The Academy for Live and Recorded Arts.

Dilys Hamlett,
Distinguished British actress from the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Old Vic School and The Royal Exchange, Manchester.

Delena Kidd,
Trained at Central School of Speech and Drama, founder of London Shakespeare Company and currently starring in a major British television series.

Nicolette Lee,
Actor, director and teacher. Has worked for the BBC, fringe theatre and Argyle Theatre for Youth, has created three theatre companies. Taught acting at Guildford School of Acting and the Opera School of Music as will as RADA.

Guest Artists

Master classes with Dame Judi Dench, Geraldine McEwan, Dulcie Gray, Edward Hardwicke and Felicity Kendal. Dame Judi Dench and her husband, Michael Williams, are patrons of the London Academy of Theatre.

Movement

Jonathon Waller,
Stage Combat, master teacher at LAMDA. Stephanie Carter,
Modern Dance, a major West End Theatre choreographer. Angela Hardcastle,
Historical Dance, Guildford School of Acting, former Ballet Mistress of English National Opera.

Voice & Speech

Stewart Pearce,
Speech, principal voice teacher at Webber Douglas School and the Dirctor of Speech at the Globe Theatre.

Dialect Work

Miriam Karlin, One of Great British's most famous actresses, she is also an expert in teaching dialect.

Singing

William Heatherington, Singing, principal singing instructor at LAMDA.

Theater Criticism

Students will work with several of London's theater critics, they will also meet stage designers, playwrights and dramaturgs.

Theater History

Anthony Bromham, author and formerly principal lecturer at the University of Middlesex.

Cultural Life

London's endless cultural offerings are ideal for theater students. During the semester students will have guided tours of The National Gallery, National Portrait Galley. The Museum of London, The Wallace Collection, Kenwood House and, of course, the centerpiece of their neighborhood, the British Museum. There will be regular theater visits to The National Theater, The Globe, and the Barbican Theater. Students will have the opportunity to see their teachers perform. The cultural program will also include opera, ballet, and concerts. Special celebrity guest performances will augment acting classes. There will be a two day trip to Stratford-Upon Avon which will include a Royal Shakespeare Company performance.

Classes

Will be held five days a week at the Drill Hall, 16 Chenies Street, Drill Hall has a two rehearsal and performance spaces. It has its own cafe for snacks and lunch.

Housing

Students will live in apartments which have full kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and excellent security and maintenance. In the past, we have used "flats" which are located on Great Russell Street, one block from the British Museum and in the heart of Bloomsbury. Utilities, laundry facilities and weekly cleaning are provided. However, students will be expected to pay for any telephone charges.

Costs

Tuition for the London Academy of Theater Semester will be $14,000 or $11,000 for New Jersey residents. It includes all classes, and housing. Typically, a round trip student fare for London is $500. See Rutgers schedule for in state and out of state costs.

Semester Dates

Semester Dates: January 20, 1999. April 20, 1999. There will be a week long vacation from March 18-25, 19999. Fall dates to be announced.

Admission

Is competitive and applicants are encouraged to apply early.

The deadline for the Spring 1999 Semester is November 15, 1998. Deadline for the Fall semester is May 15, 1999.

Admission Requirements

  1. A completed application form and $20 application fee.

  2. Official college transcript

  3. Letter of recommendation from current faculty member of professional director

  4. Personal interview which will arranged through the Rutgers Study Abroad Office

Your application form and fee, recommendation and transcript should be mailed to:

Rutgers Study Abroad
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
102 College Ave.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8543

Remember: The Deadline for the Spring 1999 Semester is November 15, 1998.

For Further Information:

Rutgers Study Abroad
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
102 College Ave.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8543
Phone: 1-732-932-7787
Fax: 1-732-932-8659
E-mail: ru_abroad@email.rutgers.edu

It is the policy of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey to make the benefits and services of its educational programs available to students without discrimination on the basis of race, religion and color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, or veteran status. The University complies with Title VI of the Civil Right Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, section 504 fo the Rehabilitation Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Questions about these laws, or allegations of students rights violation, should be directed to Brian T. Rose, Director of Compliance and Student Policy Concerns and Designated Employee or Student Rights Policy compliance.

Student Rights Compliance, Rutgers
3 Bartlett Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
1-732-932-7312

Jane H. Percy, Director
12 New Shore Road
Waterford, CT 06385
jhper@conncoll.edu