Classes

For adults (ages 18 and up)

Hello and welcome! Whether you’re a business professional looking to elevate your presentation skills or a theater artist wanting to expand your toolkit, we offer something for everyone through two sections of classes:

Exploratory Classes are ideal for all experience levels and designed to support personal and professional growth through theater-inspired offerings focused on communication skills, playwriting, dance, voiceover and more.
Our Performance Pathway offers multiple levels of actor training in a variety of theater disciplines from musical theater to stage combat. Build a foundation in voice, physicality and process in our Introductory classes, and then expand your craft through our Intermediate and Advanced classes and workshops.

Payment plans and scholarships are available. View our adult classes FAQs here.

SLAY! WITH BRIAN BOSE
Feel sexy, fierce and powerful while learning fun choreography, grooving to music and dancing your way to empowerment. This class creates an open environment to explore your body, challenge yourself and reconnect with your inner child. Strip away fears and perfectionism, and learn to get out of your own way so you have no choice but to slay. No prerequisite or dance experience necessary. Capacity: 30 participants.

Insider Tip: Registration is ongoing, so join at any time! Class is held in Rehearsal Room 1 on Level One.

Dates: Mondays, Feb 3 – April 20 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. (no class Feb 24 or March 30)
Class Fee: $150 (all classes); $75 (four-class package); $20 (single drop-in class)
Instructor: Brian Bose

VOICE AND SPEECH FOR THE NON-ACTOR — Extended to six weeks!
Improve your pronunciation, articulation and intonation skills in American English whether it’s your first, second or third language. You’ll focus on improving the skills that affect your ability to be understood — such as pronunciation of vowels and consonants, pitch, tempo and stress patterns — all while receiving peer feedback and engaging in conversational practice. All experience levels welcome. No prerequisite. Capacity: 12 participants.

Insider Tip: This class is great for business professionals.

Dates: Sundays, March 1 – April 5 | 3–5 p.m.
Class Fee: $200
Instructor: Mira Kehoe

OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT AND NERVES WITH IMPROV
Whether you are a business professional working on public speaking for your job or an actor who experiences stage fright before auditions, this improv-based class will provide practical tools to help you manage those nerves. Through improvisational exercises, you’ll be empowered to embrace uncertainty and take control of your performance. All experience levels welcome. No prerequisite. Capacity: 12 participants.

Insider Tip: This class is great for business professionals.

Dates: Tuesdays, March 10–31 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Class Fee: $185
Instructor: Jim Robinson

CRAFTING THE STORY: PLAYWRITING FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
The tools that playwrights use to captivate and engage a theatrical audience can be directly applied to the professional workplace. Whether you’re building a brand, communicating with clients, pitching an idea or motivating your team, storytelling is an essential business skill. Through a series of writing exercises, you’ll explore how playwriting tools can be used to communicate ideas that connect with your audience and help you stand out in a crowded field. All experience levels welcome. No prerequisite. Capacity: 12 participants.

Insider Tip: This class is great for business professionals.

Dates: Wednesdays, March 25 – April 15 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Class Fee: $125
Instructor: Josh Tobiessen

VOICEOVER I
Have you ever been curious about the world of radio and broadcasting? Discover your vocal range and explore the necessary skills required to deliver the copy, impress the client and sell the product. Learn the basics of choosing the right piece, reading commercial copy and more. All experience levels welcome. No prerequisite. Capacity: 12 participants.

Insider Tip: We also offer Voiceover II and III so you can build on your skills.

Dates: Tuesdays, March 3–24 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Class Fee: $225
Instructor: Jim Cada

VOICEOVER II
Serious about pursuing voiceover work? Learn about audition etiquette, copy analysis, handling anxiety and self-promotion from leading players in the industry. This class culminates with the opportunity to rehearse and record in the Guthrie’s recording studio. Previous guest speakers have included Mike Stalcar, engineer, Audio Ruckus Recording Studio; Holly Collison, vocal coach; and Kate Lawrence, voiceover talent agent, Moore Creative. All experience levels welcome. No prerequisite. Capacity: 12 participants.

Insider Tip: New to voiceover? Start with our Voiceover I class.

Dates: TBA | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Class Fee: $305
Instructor: Jim Cada

Registration link coming soon!

Check back for dates on these classes: Presentation and Communication Skills (great for business professionals) and Playwriting I. Email classes@guthrietheater.org for more information.

No prerequisites are required and classes may be taken in any order. Many introductory classes are required to take intermediate and advanced classes. To ask questions or discuss relevant experience, contact the Education Team at 612.225.6172.

VOICE AND SPEECH FOR THE ACTOR
Learn the basic principles of voice and speech, including breath, resonance, range, articulation, projection, phrasing, expression and release of excessive tension. Through assigned readings, experiential exercises, class discussions and practical application of skills, you’ll build a strong foundation of vocal practice. No prerequisite. Capacity: 12 participants. This class is a prerequisite for several Intermediate classes.

Dates: Sundays, March 1–22 | 6:30–9 p.m.
Class Fee: $185
Instructor: Mira Kehoe

THEATER BASICS
Through a variety of theater exercises, you’ll explore the fundamentals of acting and create a foundation for continued training in improvising, building a theater vocabulary, performing in front of an audience and approaching text. All experience levels welcome. No prerequisite. Capacity: 14 participants.

Insider Tip: Our Creating a Character class is a great follow-up to Theater Basics. We also recommend building your vocal foundation with Voice and Speech for the Actor, which will meet the prerequisite for many of our Intermediate classes.

Dates: Sundays, March 8–29 | 3:30–6 p.m.
Class Fee: $185
Instructor: Suzanne Warmanen

MUSICAL THEATER: SINGING I
Designed for beginner-level singers, this class will help you develop a solid foundation in vocal technique. Learn to sing both up-tempo songs and ballads that are suitable for auditions while discovering techniques for breath support, song interpretation and performance. No prerequisite. Capacity: 10 participants.

Insider Tip: After this class, try Musical Theater: Singing II to focus on solo pieces or take our two-day Acting Through Song: Musical Theater Audition Prep workshop to help connect character motivation to voice.

Dates: Mondays, March 16 – April 20 | 6:30–8 p.m.
Class Fee: $125
Instructor: Betsy Benjamin

STAGE COMBAT
Learn the tools and techniques to craft safe and believable acts of violence onstage. From refining your uppercut to falling safely, this class focuses on the intricate choreography of stage combat and how to ensure crucial moments in a play are executed realistically and safely. Over the course of six weeks, you’ll learn basic techniques as well as what goes into creating a moment of violence onstage and how it differs from film. Enjoy knock-down-drag-out fun all while keeping yourself and your partner safe. All experience levels welcome. No prerequisite. Capacity: 12 participants.

Dates: Tuesdays, April 14 – May 19 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Class Fee: $225
Instructor: Aaron Preusse

Check back for dates on these classes: Dance Techniques I and Physical Approaches for the Actor. Email classes@guthrietheater.org for more information.

Develop your skills in this multi-level actor training program which includes workshops, introductory, intermediate, and advanced-level classes.

THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE FOR THE ACTOR
Developed over 120 years ago, the Alexander Technique is a powerful tool for actors to integrate voice, speech and movement. At its heart is the conviction that we are perfectly designed to express an impulse with honesty. A psychophysical tool for body, breath and imagination, the technique teaches actors how to release habitual tension and bring freedom, poise and presence to their performance. In this experiential class, you’ll learn the principles of the technique and the art of self-direction through warmups, monologues and partnering work so you can be comfortable in your own skin and create onstage intensity without tension. Prerequisite: Physical Approaches for the Actor or equivalent experience. Capacity: 14 participants.

Dates: Wednesdays, February 26 – March 18 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Class Fee: $155
Instructor: Eli Sibley

DANCE TECHNIQUES II: AUDITION TECHNIQUES
Sharpen your dance vocabulary by sampling a variety of dance styles in a studio format. From tap to jazz to ballet, you’ll focus on connecting your acting motivation to your movement for musical theater performance. This is the perfect class to work on your moves, prepare for auditions, get a workout or just have some fun. Prerequisite: Dance Techniques I or equivalent experience. Capacity: 18 participants.

Dates: Mondays, March 2 – April 6 | 6:30–8 p.m.
Class Fee: $145
Instructor: Shinah Brashears

CREATING A CHARACTER
Strengthen your imagination, focus your concentration and hone your listening skills by delving into the creation of original and scripted characters. Building on the skills and concepts introduced in Theater Basics, this class will explore a variety of approaches for character development and empower actors to find their unique approach to character work. Prerequisite: Intro to Acting Classes, Theater Basics or equivalent experience. Capacity: 12 participants.

Insider Tip: This class is a great follow-up to Theater Basics. Continue adding to your actor’s toolkit with our Scene Study: Analyzing the Text class, which dives further into character development through script analysis. We also have a two-day Monologue Prep workshop and Auditioning and the Business of Acting class if you are getting serious about being cast.

Dates: Sundays, March 15 – April 26 | 6:30–9 p.m. (no class April 12)
Class Fee: $260
Instructor: Laura Esping

PHYSICAL APPROACHES II
Want to expand your artistic potential onstage? Explore how a fuller use of the body, a greater understanding of theatrical space and the precise use of a gesture can create a more unique, engaging and unexpected performance. You’ll learn a proactive approach to physical theater making through devising, improvisation and storytelling techniques, all with an emphasis on physicality and visuals as opposed to purely verbal storytelling. Prerequisite: Physical Approaches for the Actor or equivalent experience. Capacity: 12 participants.

Dates: Sundays, March 15 – April 26 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. (no class April 12)
Class Fee: $225
Instructor: Alex Barreto Hathaway

MUSICAL THEATER: SINGING II
Designed for singers with performance experience, this class will focus on strengthening your vocal technique while preparing three pieces of music, including two songs provided by the instructor and a ballad of your choice. You’ll perform regularly in class and receive one-on-one coaching sessions with the instructor and peer feedback to help improve your vocal performance skills. Prerequisite: Musical Theater: Singing I or equivalent experience. Capacity: 10 participants.

Dates: Tuesdays, March 24 – April 28 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Class Fee: $225
Instructor: Betsy Benjamin

PHYSICAL COMEDY AND CLOWNING
Get serious about being funny by exploring the elements of theatrical clowning, including slapstick comedy, comedic conflict and timing. Designed to heighten your natural sense of play and “find the game,” this class will help you turn off your inner critic in order to connect more deeply and honestly with the audience. Prerequisite: Physical Approaches for the Actor or equivalent experience. Capacity: 16 participants.

Dates: Sundays, April 5 – May 3 | 4–6 p.m. (no class April 12)
Class Fee: $155
Instructor: Alison Witham

SCENE STUDY: ANALYZING THE TEXT
Dive into the creative, complex and amazing world of the script — the starting place to prepare for roles in both contemporary and classic plays. Following a scene study format, you’ll work in pairs or small groups and use the text as a starting place to develop characters and better understand the story being staged. You’ll also learn how to identify and activate textual clues to enhance storytelling, spark actions, build characters, define relationships and engage audiences. Prerequisite: Theater Basics, Physical Approaches for the Actor, Voice and Speech for the Actor or equivalent experience. Capacity: 12 participants.

Dates: Mondays, April 6 – May 11 | 6:30–9 p.m.
Class Fee: $260
Instructor: H. Adam Harris

AUDITIONING AND THE BUSINESS OF ACTING
Explore the skills and insight necessary to pursue a career in acting by working on a monologue audition piece based on your individual strengths, interests and passions. In addition to covering audition basics, you’ll explore your motivation and drive as an artist and gain tools to better prepare a resume, investigate headshot photographers and explore talent agencies for possible representation. If you are ready to take your practice from the classroom to the stage and begin navigating your career as an artist, this is the class for you. Prerequisite: Theater Basics, Physical Approaches for the Actor, Voice and Speech for the Actor or equivalent experience. Capacity: 12 participants.

Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, April 13–29 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. (meets twice a week)
Class Fee: $225
Instructor: Shirley Venard

DIALECTS
Discover the difference between dialects and accents, how to research and apply them to text and when and why to sing in dialect. You’ll explore standard British and Cockney and learn how to apply them to spoken text and song. Participants are required to bring a copy of The Dialect Handbook by Ginny Kopf to class. Prerequisite: Theater Basics, Physical Approaches for the Actor, Voice and Speech for the Actor or equivalent experience. Capacity: 12 participants.

Dates: Sundays, April 19 – May 10 | 6:30–9 p.m.
Class Fee: $185
Instructor: Mira Kehoe

TAP DANCE
If you've mastered the shuffle ball change and are ready to learn the shim sham, join us for this intermediate-level tap class to build skills for your next dance call. It's fun — and a great workout, too! Prerequisite: Knowledge of basic tap steps is required for this class. Tap shoes required. Capacity: 18 participants.

Dates: Sundays, April 19 – May 10 | 5–6:30 p.m.
Class Fee: $125
Instructor: Rush Benson

MONOLOGUE PREP (two day workshop)
Join Twin Cities actor Suzanne Warmanen as she guides you through the practice of breaking down a text and presenting a more fully developed performance in the audition room. This is a two-day, on-your-feet, pen-to-paper workshop with time to work individually and in groups. Participants will work in-depth on a monologue of their choice and leave with tools and techniques to support future monologue prep. Prerequisite: Theater Basics, Physical Approaches for the Actor or equivalent experience. Capacity: 12 participants.

Insider Tip: This workshop is a great complement to Auditioning and the Business of Acting.

What to prepare: Participants must bring one 60-second monologue from a script they have read completely. The monologue should be memorized by the first day of the workshop, but it does not need to be staged. Email the monologue to classes@guthrietheater.org in advance, and we will provide formatted copies on the first day.

Dates: Sundays, April 19 and 26 | 3–6 p.m.
Workshop Fee: $105
Instructor: Suzanne Warmanen

Check back for dates on these classes: Acting Through Song: Musical Theater Audition Prep (two day workshop). Email classes@guthrietheater.org for more information.

PERFORMING IN EPIC SPACES: A WORKSHOP ON THE THRUST (one day workshop)
Creating nuance and intimacy in large spaces — whether an auditorium, the outdoors or a 500-seat theater — requires an acute awareness of your body and an intricate understanding of how your voice travels through space. In this one-day workshop led by renowned choreographer Maija García and legendary vocalist JD Steele, you will work on the Guthrie’s Wurtele Thrust Stage to investigate the mechanics of body and voice and how they can be used in congress to perform nuanced emotive characters in epic spaces. Prerequisite: This workshop is for working actors with previous training and experience.

Date: Monday, April 20 | 6–9 p.m.
Workshop Fee: $85
Instructors: Maija García and JD Steele

About the Instructors
Maija García is a Cuban American director and choreographer whose signature work was featured in the Guthrie Theater’s production of West Side Story, directed by Joseph Haj, and Spike Lee’s Netflix series “She’s Gotta Have It” and Amazon film Chi-Raq. Directing credits include Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha in Havana, Cuba; Heather Henson’s Crane; and The Legend of Yauna with Marie Daulne (Zap Mama). Choreography credits include Cuba Libre with director Dámaso Rodríguez (Artists Repertory Theatre), Another Word for Beauty with Steve Cosson (Goodman Theatre), Fats Waller Dance Party with Jason Moran and Meshell Ndegeocello (Harlem Stage), The Kennedy Center and various international jazz festivals. She also worked alongside Bill T. Jones to choreograph the Tony Award-winning musical FELA! A graduate of California Institute of Integral Studies with a B.A. in Sustainable Development, García founded Organic Magnetics to create folklore for the future, producing Ghosts of Manhattan: 1512–2012, an interactive history in Fort Tryon Park and I Am New York: Juan Rodriguez at El Museo del Barrio.

JD Steele is a singer, composer and choral director who performs and records with his internationally known company, The Steeles. He has recorded and performed with Prince, Donald Fagen, Mavis Staples, Morgan Freeman and many other artists. Steele’s publishing company and music catalog is administered by Rondor Music/Universal Music Group in Los Angeles, California. His music catalog, Just Divine Music, is registered with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Steele is also a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association.

THE ACTORS WORKOUT
Acting is a muscle. And an actor needs to work that muscle by exercising and pushing it to places uncomfortable and unknown in order to grow. Founded in 2011 by celebrated actor Raye Birk, The Actors Workout gives experienced local actors a place to work on a regular basis while supporting them to become more creative, open and courageous artists.

Each block of classes focuses on a different skill area that guides the in-class teaching and scene work. The Actors Workout exists to serve the community of artists in attendance, so participants are encouraged to help determine the focus of the class. They are also expected to propose scenes, provide peer feedback and rehearse outside of class hours. While the primary focus is scene work, time will also be spent on auditioning, career administration and professional ethics.

Class schedule: Every Monday beginning January 13 | 1–4 p.m.

Prerequisite: The Actors Workout is not for beginner actors; participants must have actor training and/or experience and a developed creative process. An interview and audition is required to join.

Registration and cost: The Actors Workout occurs over four or eight weeks, and participants may select the number of classes and dates that work best for their schedule.

Four-class block: $140 ($35 per class)
Eight-class block: $228 ($28.50 per class)

Scholarships and payment plans available. Unused class blocks expire six months after the purchase date.

How to register: Email your resume and a short artist statement (one to two paragraphs) telling us why you’re interested to classes@guthrietheater.org.

About the instructor: Nathan Keepers is producing artistic director of The Moving Company in Minneapolis, which has been creating original work since 2009, most recently including Speechless, The Four Seasons and Refugia (with the Guthrie Theater). He spent 11 seasons as a company member of the Tony Award-winning Theatre de la Jeune Lune and has performed locally at the Guthrie Theater, Jungle Theater, Ten Thousand Things Theater, Sod House Theater, Augsburg University Theater and Children’s Theatre Company. Nationally, Keepers works as an actor and director with Actors Theatre of Louisville and has traveled to Berkeley Repertory Theatre, American Repertory Theater, Alley Theatre, South Coast Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre Company and Folger Theatre. He studied at the Burlesk Center with Pierre Byland and at École Philippe Gaulier.

For youth (grades 6–12)

Our classes and workshops for youth are designed to empower theater-loving kids and teens to be artists and lifelong learners while exposing them to the professional practices and community of the Guthrie. Unlike our summer camps and intensives, this programming occurs only on weekends and provides learning opportunities for youth throughout the year. Classes are introductory and have no prerequisite unless otherwise indicated. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Let us know at classes@guthrietheater.org.

Payment plans and scholarships are available. View our adult classes FAQs here.

STAGE COMBAT (one day workshop)
Learn the tools and techniques to craft safe and believable acts of violence onstage. From refining an uppercut to falling safely, this one-day workshop focuses on the intricate choreography of stage combat and how to ensure crucial moments in a play are executed realistically and safely. Students will enjoy knock-down-drag-out fun while keeping themselves and their partners safe.

Date: Sunday, March 8 | Noon – 3 p.m.
Workshop Fee: $60
Instructor: Annie Enneking

ACTING: IMPROV
In this class designed for both new and seasoned young actors, students will learn how to create scenes and characters at the drop of hat through fun games and an environment of trust. From comedic timing to being comfortable onstage to coming up with a story in seconds, students will learn the art of saying “Yes” while honing their improv acting skills.

Dates: Sundays, April 19 – May 10 | Noon – 2 p.m.
Class Fee: $145
Instructor: Alex Barreto Hathaway

Check back for dates on these classes: Acting 1: Taking the Stage, Musical Theater: Singing 101, Musical Theater: Dance Styles. Email classes@guthrietheater.org for more information.

AUDITION READY: PREPARING A MONOLOGUE (two day workshop)
Become audition-ready with this two-day monologue workshop. Students will bring a two-minute monologue of their choice (dramatic, comedic, classic or contemporary) and explore a variety of tools and strategies to bring the monologue to life and create an engaging and fun performance they’ll want to repeat again and again.

Dates: Saturday and Sunday, March 7– 8 | 3–5:30 p.m.
Workshop Fee: $100
Instructor: Aimee Bryant

HIGH SCHOOL DIRECTING
Work with a professional theater director to develop an artistic voice and learn the craft of directing. Through group and individual exercises, students will learn techniques to create creative concepts around plays and develop skills to navigate the stages of the rehearsal process.

Dates: Sundays, March 15 – April 5 | Noon – 2 p.m.
Class Fee: $145
Instructor: Suzy Messerole

HIGH SCHOOL ACTING II: CREATING THE CHARACTER
Strengthen the imagination and develop listening skills by delving into the creation of original and scripted characters. Students will explore a variety of approaches for character development and feel empowered to find their personal, unique approach to character work. Prerequisite: High School Acting I: The Actor’s Toolkit or equivalent experience.

Dates: Sundays, March 29 – May 10 | 10 a.m. – noon (no class April 12)
Class Fee: $215
Instructor: H. Adam Harris

MUSICAL THEATER AUDITION
In this four-week class, students will learn how to navigate a musical theater audition. They’ll learn techniques to connect their acting motivation to their voice, perform solos, receive peer and instructor feedback and work with a choreographer on how to nail a dance call. The final class is a mock audition. Prerequisites: Students should have a basic foundation in acting, singing and dancing, but no formal prerequisite is required. Highly motivated students in grades 7–8 may request to audition for this class.

What to prepare: Students must practice and prepare a contemporary musical theater cut of their choice (16–32 bars) that shares a story and highlights their voice. An accompanist and sound system will be provided.

Insider tip: Join us for Musical Theater: Singing 101 to find an audition piece that works for you.

Dates: Sundays, March 29 – April 26 | 2–4 p.m.
Class Fee: $165
Instructor: Stephen DiMenna and Guests

HIGH SCHOOL Acting I: THE ACTORS TOOLKIT
Working with a professional theater artist, students will develop their foundational skills as young actors by focusing on voice, movement and scene study while being exposed to a variety of professional theater practices at the Guthrie.

Dates: Sundays, May 3–31 | 2–4 p.m. (no class May 24)
Class Fee: $145
Instructor: TBA

Check back for dates on these classes: Musical Theater: Singing 101 and Musical Theater: Dance Styles. Email classes@guthrietheater.org for more information.

For Native artists

As part of the Guthrie's ongoing work with the Native community, we are offering free eight-week classes in acting and playwriting for Native community members who wish to grow their theater and storytelling skills. Participants must be high school age and older.

ACTING FOR INDIGENOUS PERFORMERS, SECTION 1
Supported by Arts Access funding from the Minnesota State Arts Board, we welcome Native performers of all backgrounds and levels of experience to join actor/producer/educator Ernest Briggs (White Earth Band of Chippewa) for a free eight-week exploration of acting from a Native perspective. Depending on the interests of the group, you’ll dig into scene work, monologues, warm-ups and community-building, all in an environment created by, for and with Native voices. All experience levels welcome. No prerequisite. Age range: High school or older. Capacity: 12 participants.

Dates: Sundays, February 23 – April 12, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cost: Free
Instructor: Ernest Briggs (White Earth Band of Chippewa)

PLAYWRITING FOR NATIVE WRITERS, SECTION 1
Supported by Arts Access funding from the Minnesota State Arts Board, we welcome young Native writers of all backgrounds and experience to join playwright/producer/educator/dramaturg Morgan Holmes for a free eight-week exploration of writing for the stage. Taking into account the interests of the group, we’ll create our own framework to answer, “Why theater? What makes plays a compelling form for storytelling?” We will read excerpts from classic and new plays by POCI playwrights, and work on writing exercises to practice the form, all in an environment designed to foster Native voices. All experience levels welcome. No prerequisite. Age range: 14–19. Capacity: 12 participants.

Dates: Mondays, April 13 – June 1 | 7–9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Instructor: Morgan Holmes

Explore more

*The Bacchae*

Feb 29 – April 5
A spellbinding Greek tragedy

Learn more about *The Bacchae*

*Emma*

April 11 – May 31
A playful world premiere

Learn more about *Emma*

*Cabaret*

June 20 – August 23
A musical masterpiece

Learn more about *Cabaret*