LAKELAND, Fla. (August 17, 2006) — For the third year, Florida Southern College’s Department of Theatre Arts will offer free acting workshops and two free preview performances to high school students in Polk County and surrounding areas this fall. Educators are encouraged to sign their classes up as soon as possible, as workshop dates and tickets for plays are limited.

The goal of FSC’s theatre outreach program is to cultivate the skill base of artistic members in the community through educational experiences in the arts. Workshop sessions will be led by Paul Bawek, assistant professor of theatre arts. Bawek is a professional director, performer and playwright, with a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from the University of California-Davis and a Master of Fine Arts degree in directing from Southern Illinois University. He has taught acting, playwriting and directing at theatres and educational institutions across the country; has performed and directed internationally; and has worked with other celebrated artists on several highly-acclaimed projects. His numerous awards include those for ensemble acting, fight choreography, stage direction, acting and playwriting.

Workshops:
“Introductory Acting Techniques”
Beginning acting techniques are discussed and explored through improvisation and exercises.

“Audition Workshop: Choices – In Search of a ‘Successful’ Audition”
An exploration of the do’s and don’ts for auditions, from choices of materials and proper protocol to the performance itself.

“Monologue, Song, or Scene Work”
Preparation for auditions with one-on-one acting coaching.

“Psycho-Physical Action”
Instruction in how to connect your body to the will, desires and feelings of your character through physical gesture.

“Laban Movement Analysis and Creating Character”
Guidance in how to identify the personal values, circumstances and actions that shape our movement preferences, and how to use this knowledge when creating a new character in motion.

Preview Performances:
“Cemetery Club,” Sept. 7
“Proof,” Nov. 15
Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Buckner Theatre on campus.

For more information or to sign up for workshops and performances, interested educators should call the FSC theatre department at (863) 680-4226.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive, United Methodist college with a liberal arts core. The college maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 38 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student/faculty ratio, provides strong student/faculty mentorship programs, boasts 25 NCAA Division II national championships, and is ranked by U. S. News and World Report as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelors and by the Princeton Review as a “Best Southeastern College.” Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is the home of the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.