Thespians of all ages will learn everything from improvising on the stage to memorizing lines during acting workshops offered by Bradford Little Theatre at Togi’s Playhouse, 18 Welch Ave., in Bradford on Saturdays throughout January.
The classes, taught by seasoned actress and teacher, Rula Backos of Allegany, N.Y., will be offered both to youngsters, age 7 to 14, as well as in a separate class for those ages 14 and older through Bradford Little Theatre.
Chelsea Place, spokesperson for BLT, said Backos will conduct the kids’ workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, and for adults from 1 to 3 p.m. during four Saturday sessions. Participants may choose to attend any of the workshops or all four, Place said. The cost is $15 per workshop or $50 for all four.
Backos, who has taught acting for 25 years and studied under the famous Lee Strasberg in New York City, said she and officials at BLT are testing the waters, so to speak, on the classes offered.
“If it works out, then I can do more (classes) in the spring or summer, depending on my schedule,” Backos said. “January is always a good month for me because I just get done touring at the end of December.”
A native of Detroit, Mich., Backos studied under Strasberg for four years following high school graduation. She and her late husband, Cole Young, moved to Millport in 1974 as they wanted to experience “living off the land.”
Backos said her husband started the art department at St. Bonaventure University during this time. When the young couple moved to Allegany in the early 1980s, Backos earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, and her master of fine arts from Goddard College.
She taught acting in the mid-1990s at the former Humble Pie acting program in Bradford, as well as at the Kids College at Jamestown Community College in Olean, N.Y. Backos also provided acting programs at Bradford Area High School and at JCC.
In addition, she has taught poetry, has worked in women’s studies and performed at the Corning (N.Y.) Glass Museum as well as in St. Petersburg, Russia. Currently, Backos has been the resident actress and playwright for Enchante Cabaret with Todd Wagner in Salamanca, N.Y. The two also travel together seven months out of the year performing and singing in road performances written by Backos.
As for the Bradford workshops, Backos will teach age-appropriate material to both groups.
“The first two weeks will involve improvisation,” she said. “We’re going to be loosening up and also doing story circles and theater games. I want to help the students be spontaneous, think on their feet and be in the moment.”
During the second two Saturdays, Backos will have students work with scripts.
“Each person will pair up with a partner, or they can do monologues,” she explained. “Everyone will be working on scene work, such as how to tear a script apart. They’ll learn how to memorize, how to do the lines and how to make them yours.”
She said at the very end of the classes on Jan. 27, the students will do performances on stage.
“Anyone can come and watch,” she said of the skits.
Place said the January workshops are new for BLT, but hoped to be a regular program in the future.
“Rula is willing to do this more often for us if there is interest in it,” Place remarked. “We’re hoping it is something we can offer more than this one time. It’s all going to depend on participation.”
Place said BLT currently provides a Kids’ Camp in the summer, and is hopeful of offering even more activities at the theater workshop.
“We have to pay our utilities regardless of whether we’re there or not (at the workshop) so we try to keep things going on in the building,” Place added. “Our patron drive starts in August, but it goes all year, and we accept donations all year. We’re always looking for support. Anyway people can lend a hand, either monetary or volunteering their time, helps.”
For more information, call Place at (814) 598-9956 or visit the BLT website atwww.bradfordlittletheatre.org. Registration forms for the workshop can also be found at the website or Bradford Little Theatre’s Facebook page.
