College of the Canyons Summer Theatre Program will be the host.

A select group of budding actors have a rare opportunity to train with professionals during College of the Canyons newly expanded summer theatre program, which will now include master classes taught by some of the top talents in the acting field. In partnership with the SCV Theatre Project, the college will offer two five-week long sessions which will include Master Classes on everything from voice and movement to learning the business of agents, casting and cold reads.

“We are so thrilled with the artists who have agreed to be a part of the series," says Mark Salyer, co-director of the program and one of the Producing Directors for The Theatre Project.

The program will feature internationally known Alexander Technique expert, Jean-Louis Rodrigue, who has worked with the artists of Cirque De Soleil, Broadway's The Syringa Tree, the Mark Taper Forum, Geffen Playhouse, the LA Philharmonic and on such films as  "Bee Season" with Juliette Binoche, "Seabiscuit" with Elizabeth Banks and "The Affair of the Necklace" with Hilary Swank.

Other workshops include Will Kilroy and The Michael Chekov technique, vocal training by voice therapist Joanna Casden, Broadway performer Julia Gregory, Rene Urbanovich and opera singer Carmen Tejada. Acting workshops will be taught by Tony Abatemarco, actor and Broadway director, Kate Steele, Susan Hinshaw, Mark Salyer and Andrea Slominski, among others. Annie Schwartz of Origin Talent, will give a workshop on The Role of The Agent.

"One of the classes I'm most excited about," says Andrea Slominski, co-director, “is an afternoon with Emmy-award winning actress Kathleen Noone, who will be conducting one of her workshops on personal development in the entertainment business."

The class will end in a showcase production in the COC Performing Arts Center's Black Box Theatre.

"This is such a great opportunity for actors to study with amazing teachers and artists as part of COC's Theatre Department," says Salyer. "Most of these workshops would be cost-prohibitive for young actors. "

"The Theatre Project is delighted to be partnering with the College in this endeavor," adds Slominski.

Auditions will be held May 16 at 7 pm and May 20 at 1 pm in the Black Box. College and community members 16 yrs and older are asked to prepare a 60 second monologue and also 32 bars of a song if you would like to be considered for the musical theatre portion of the series. Please bring sheet music in the appropriate key.

If cast in the program, each student will enroll in the Theatre 190 Production course in one of two sessions this summer.

For more information, please call 661.362.5070.