Theater school goes way beyond daycare

By Eva Trieger

Eva Trieger
Eva Trieger

SOLANA BEACH, California —  Siobhan Sullivan, director of the Theater School at North Coast Rep Theater, kept a keen eye on two clusters of teens, as they ran lines, rehearsing for Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs. The set for our interview was an outdoor courtyard across the parking lot from the theater.  Though it was a fine place to observe actors at their craft, it bespoke of the thrum of activity at North Coast Rep these days.  Every rehearsal space and practice area was being utilized, so what’s an actor to do?  Improvise!

At North Coast Rep, Theater School is no longer a euphemism for daycare, and these students have left Charades or miming The Box, far behind.  This program is preparing students for a potential life in theater by giving them foundational skills, delivered by professional actors.  The Teen Conservatory is an integral outgrowth of Sullivan’s plan.  Six discrete modules provide training in Voice and Movement, Classics, Audition Techniques, Scene Study, Script Analysis, and Improvisation.  By the end of this intensive experience the students will have developed mastery and will be prepared for the pursuit of acting as a career.

Sullivan shared that “of course you can teach kids aged 4-8 basic skills in acting. However, I believe if you set the bar high enough, they’re going to jump over it and fly.”  This is Sullivan’s second year at North Coast Rep and she has already made serious inroads in the caliber of shows that the youth theater has produced and the cadre of students who’ve enrolled.  The Conservatory has been so successful with the 13-19 year old set that plans are in the making for a Junior Conservatory that will audition younger students who are desirous of the rigorous training.

Brighton Beach Memoirs is unique in that Sullivan created two casts.  The students are a mixture of Conservatory attendees and actors who auditioned outside of that body.  Having two separate casts enabled Sullivan and her Assistant Stage Manager, Brittany Barry, to observe the dynamics and synergy of the actors, and assign roles accordingly.   The coming of age tale of a young New York Jewish boy, who lives with his extended family will resonate with anyone who has ever grown up or ever lived with a family.

I first had the honor of speaking with Ari Zelkind (Stanley), whom SDJW readers may recall for his powerful reading in The History of Invulnerability.  This multifaceted actor demonstrated an unusual flare for his convincing collection of Eastern European accents.  A feather in his thespian cap, Zelkind was asked by the director to participate in that powerful Holocaust memorial reading. At age 12 Zelkind took on Romeo and Juliet, then All’s Well that Ends Well, Miracle Worker and Aladdin.  Currently a student at Carmel Valley Middle School, this engaging fellow fills his “free time” with trombone and singing.  Ari’s sister is also an actress, and her performance in The Diary of Anne Frank, made a lasting impression on this young man.  I asked Ari how the first night of the run feels as compared to the closing night.  “The first night is genuinely terrifying, and the last night is fun, showing off after weeks of rehearsals.”

Chris Payne (Eugene) plays the lead role and narrator of this Simon dramedy.  Chris, too, is no stranger to North Coast Rep’s stage.  One that he really connected with was The Diary of Anne Frank especially doing the outreach at area schools. This made the play personal for him, engulfing the fear and hardship of the Franks and their companions in hiding from the Nazis.  When I queried if his family was supportive, Payne told me they “pushed me into it!” A student at the Grauer School, Payne was grateful to teachers for working with him as he squeezed in rehearsal time.  I wanted to know what Payne learned from this Simon show, and he told me “the importance of family.  We really created a family in this show.”  Payne admitted that Sunday’s final performance will be bittersweet for him as he bids goodbye to his stage family.

Alex Barwin (Eugene) has been on a number of local stages and has landed roles in Seussical, Les Miz and a few JCompany shows.  This is one of his first dramatic roles and he found it “more intense and intricate.  No filler!”  Barwin, a freshman at Canyon Crest Academy, doesn’t take a break in the summers.  This will be his third year attending an intensive three week camp in the Catskills where he’ll engage in a cabaret, meet with a voice coach, and work at honing his craft.  When asked if he thought that his future would find him on stage, Barwin told me, “I’m a bit of a realist, so maybe just as a hobby.”  He would love to be in Spring Awakening and enjoys the glamour of Broadway a tad more than community theaters.

Stanley and Eugene’s Aunt Blanche is portrayed by Jenna Viana.  This is her first “straight” play, meaning not a musical comedy.  It is her fifth show and she loves being able to delve deeply into the character.  Viana reported that she found the Conservatory modules highly educational and particularly connected with Scene Study, taught by local phenom, Rachel Van Wormer.  In addition to acting, Viana also has been taking voice lessons and competes in Irish dance.  She loved being in Thoroughly Modern Millie because in her own words, she was a “triple threat”.  While Viana, freshman at Cathedral Catholic, plans to continue with her acting, she also enjoys math and isn’t ruling out any career choices.  Viana is very grateful to Siobhan Sullivan and says the Theater School Director is just amazing!  Judging from my observation and discussions, I’d have to agree!

Brighton Beach Memoirs runs May 21-May 24th, matinees and evenings.  Tickets are available at northcoastrep.org or by phone 858.481.1055

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Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in the cultural arts. You may comment to her at eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com, or post your comment on this website provided that the rules below are observed.