The first year at ETW introduces students to themselves as performers, and expands their artistic consciousness. Training includes the Linklater approach to voice and speech, physically based acting, scene study, the Meisner acting technique, theater games, improvisation, contact improvisation, Viewpoints, and post-modern dance technique.
The second year at ETW focuses on the development of craft, repeatability, and personal artistic vision. Classes include free vocal improvisation, Roy Hart extended voice work, script analysis, advanced Meisner technique, physically based acting, scene study, Afro-Haitian dance, Viewpoints, choreography, and self-scripting. At the end of the second year, each student creates, designs, and performs an original ten-minute work of theater.
The upper level curriculum at ETW builds on the first two years of training through advanced technique work and exposure to a range of performance styles in theatre, dance, and music. Each student creates her or his own schedule from the various upper level courses offered that semester.
The training options change from year to year, depending on the needs and special interests of the third and fourth year students. Recent class options have included: contemporary scene study; Beckett; Shakespeare; Brechtian theatre; directing; advanced self-scripting; audition techniques for film and stage; clowning and commedia; video art; speech and dialects; singing; contemporary music composition; mask work; Afro-Haitian dance; Aikido; contact improvisation; Capoiera; hip-hop dance; Suzuki; advanced choreography; and Independent Project productions.
The Transfer Track is designed for students already grounded in another established acting technique, who wish to further their training by developing a physical base for acting. Body and mind are integrated through intensive training in acting, improvisation, movement, vocal production, and creating original work. The Transfer Track is open by interview/audition to all Undergraduate Drama students who have successfully completed four eight-point semesters at a primary studio. Students completing the Transfer Track semester will become part of ETW’s upper level tracks.
ETW provides students with a wide variety of performance styles in which to work, including traditional and de-constructed versions of classical and contemporary plays, postmodern dance, new music, musicals, video art, autobiographical solo work, original full length plays, comedy improv, sound installations, staged readings of new plays, visual art installations, and student generated original productions. ETW presents an average of thirty productions a year, including four professionally directed mainstage productions.
Recent guest directors and artists for ETW productions have included: John Jesurun, Brooke O’Harra, Lear deBessonet, Richard Foreman, Moises Kaufman, Kate Whoriskey, David Schwiezer, Anders Cato, Taylor Mac.