Does operatic acting mean you stand in one place while singing? Could it involve overacting because you are singing in a foreign language while struggling to get the text across to the audience? Does it suggest an acting technique that is different from spoken theater?

 

Opera means beautiful singing, by definition, Opera is a play set to music. There should be no difference in the acting technique employed by the spoken actor or by the singing actor. The iconic Constantin Stanislavski believed Opera singers should "combine the art of living a role with its musical form and the technique of singing."

 

The SAS Opera Studio offers a performance-driven workshop designed for the aspiring professional opera singer who aims to become a complete artist. These workshops aim to lay the foundation of the singing actor's craft. It features exercises and techniques to help you prepare to enter the mind and body of a character, develop the character through the historical and musical setting of the work, understand recitative (if applicable), and analyze the text as you prepare roles from the standard operatic repertory.

At the conclusion, you should be able to answer your character's Who, What, Where, When, and Why. Once you learn to answer these questions, you can open your mind to an understanding of the text and how these answers propel your character's actions and reactions  We will study the musical score and text to find the relationship between characters,  to the drama, the time period, and the characters' emotional and/or spiritual motivations. Our focus will be to allow the participants to discover and develop a complete role's character and their part in the dramatic structure of the piece.  Our staff will guide the performers through the  linguistic, dramatic, and musical styles.

Workshop and performance venues will include The National Opera Center NYC and other studios in the New York City area.

 

 IMPORTANT: THERE IS NO TEACHING OF VOCAL TECHNIQUE.

This program includes:

 role preparation, including:

 language and diction

 translation of text

  research the literary and musical styles

  the correct singing of recitatives (if applicable)

  improvisation and acting for singers

  stage deportment

  dramatic role preparation, learning how to live your character.

  Master Classes

 

Faculty includes a collaborative pianist, language coach, and stage director  all who will guide the participants through the linguistic, dramatic, musical style, and vocal demands of each role that they are to prepare. All participants will also receive private coaching. Rehearsal and coaching are an integral part of this program.

 

At the end of the program, participants will perform in a public performance.                                 

 

Enrollment is limited to give each participant the maximum time for study and preparation.

 

Faculty will include Founder, Artistic Director, and Coach Stephen Scovasso who will be offering acting sessions and character development.  Lyric Soprano/ Artists Manager Deborah Surdi will be on the coaching staff. Additional faculty to be announced.           

 

The tuition is free (workshop is underwritten by Newark Arts and the Patrons of SAS Performing Arts Company, Inc.)

 

Age requirement: 18+

 

Video or audio excerpts are required for consideration.

To apply: please send your resume, headshot, an aria (video or youTube ) and what you are interested in working on to studios@sasperformingarts.com.

 

For more information: (646) 858-9918