MVP Theater >> Drama Workshop

DRAMA TRAINING WORKSHOPS

Day or Weekend Custom Training Events
for Your Goop! (er, Group! )

MVP Artistic Director Mark Stoddard, and Assistant Director, Josh Yeatts, offer custom-designed training for your organization, church, or school.

Each workshop session runs between 60 and 90 minutes and incorporates several activities and exercises that bring application to the material presented.

Workshops can be tailored to work with other events, or expanded as a stand alone arts and theater conference. We work with you to develop the number of classes and subjects to best meet your needs. Invite other groups to join the event, and make the most of this resource.

The bottom line is… we are here to serve you and will be extremely flexible in designing the best program for your group’s needs.

Additional Offerings:

1) Performance presentations for audiences or congregations.
Mr. Stoddard and Mr. Yeatts frequently perform together and present a variety of sketches that incorporate comedy, drama, engaging characters, compelling conflicts, biblical principles and spiritual themes. Most sketches are 5-10 minutes in length, and can be presented as a dynamic collection for an hour (or more) performance. Performances or coachings can be utilized with training classes. We can also involve several members of your drama team to perform with Mark & Josh. A training event followed by a performance brings the content of the workshops to life, and creates enthusiasm to put the training into practice!

2) The Arts: Importance & Impact. Mr. Stoddard brings a short presentation for audiences or congregations on how to develop a vision for reaching your community through theater. This review of what works and how to implement a plan combined with personal perspective will fan the flames of artistic vision in your group.

Following is a list of subjects to draw from for workshops:

Acting
the actor's movement; the actor's voice; character exploration & development; improvisation; scene study

Directing
utilizing the stage environment; effective blocking techniques; understanding pace, rhythm, energy, action & reaction; crafting a "moment";
innovative audition styles to discover "hidden" potential; developing a
rehearsal breakdown & schedule; getting the most out of rehearsal; motivating and coaching your actors

Scriptwriting
keys to writing a winning script; understanding and incorporating dramatic structure; tips for writing good dialogue; choosing the content and style;
creative processes to refine your ideas; finding effective scripts

Team Development
why the heart of the artist matters most; techniques to grow your team spiritually and artistically; building a drama ministry; instilling "servanthood" over "stardom," and "excellence" rather than "perfection"

Building Vision
understanding the power of the arts; developing a theater with a "salt & light" mindset; impacting the contemporary culture with the arts; negotiating the church/theater dynamic; why the church needs to embrace the artist and the artist needs to serve the church

PRICING

Travel / Housing / Transportation / Meals:

The host organization is responsible for…

- Travel. If outside of Arizona, airfare to and from Phoenix, AZ for 2 adults. If in Arizona, either vehicle rental – or – mileage for an MVP vehicle.

- Housing. One room with 2 beds at a local hotel is fine - or – staying with a host family for the nights agreed upon.

- Transportation. Either a rental car – or – a host driver.

- Meals. Either a $60 per day per diem (covers both instructors) – or – host meals.

Workshops:

Pricing on workshops is fairly flexible in order to work with your budget. Below are suggested amounts…

- $100 per hour. ($600 max. per day)

- We cap the workshop total at 7 hours in any one day. (this does not include meal and break times) So, you actually get the 7^th hour free! Good deal, huh?

Performances:

- offerings or honorarium (suggested: $500-$750 for a 1 hour performance)

Mark Stoddard is an award winning drama director, Equity actor and scriptwriter and has his Master's Degree in Educational Theater from New York University. As the Drama Director at Phoenix First Assembly, he writes and directs sketch dramas, large holiday productions and Pastor Tommy Barnett’s Illustrated Sermons, seen by over 250,000 guests each year. His original drama scripts are performed in churches and schools throughout the country. With over 20 years of professional theater experience, Mark has directed over 125 main stage musicals, plays and original works for theaters, churches and schools. Mark and his wife, Rachel are living the sit-com “My Three Sons”, with Philip, Stephen and Zachary... and loveable doggy, Shadow.

Josh Yeatts has studied theater and acting at Arizona State Univ and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has worked professionally with Experience Arts School, Word of Grace, Neighborhood Ministries, Crisis Pregnancy Center and Improbable Theater Company. His set designs have been seen on stage with MVP Theater and Scottsdale Christian Academy. As the Assistant Drama Director at Phoenix First Assembly, Josh writes, directs, performs and trains performing artists. He lives in Tempe, AZ with his wife Kim, his daughter Ruby and sin, Rilo.