Students Participate In Theater Workshop

Area students took time out of school Friday to learn some of the basics of acting.

Former Theater Director Dr. David Montee, who is on sabbatical from the Interlochen Center for the Arts, is teaching a two-day class to middle and high school students on acting style and technique.

He said having a good foundation is necessary in any vocation, including theater.

"It’s less honing the acting skills, than giving them foundation for acting skills. The Idea of defining for them, or having them define what the process in the art of acting really is, which is living truthfully in imaginary circumstances," said Montee.

The students participated in different exercises, including a game of "fixed charades," in which some teams were given answers in advance.

7th grader Emerson Haven said these games are allowing her to learn some of the basics.

"We do things like, "Pass the Energy." You have to make up a sound and a noise, and you pass it around a circle. Then when it gets to the next person; when its gone around the circle once, you change it, and you have to try to do that without pausing at all," said Haven.

The seminar continues through Saturday at the Muskingum County Welcome Center.