Artists' Ensemble Theater announces classes in the month of October. AE Academy offers classes for age 10 and up in performance taught by working professionals in a safe and supportive environment. For more information or to get a registration form, go to our website: www.artistsensemble.org or call our box office (815) 594-5004.

Getting Out of Your Own Way - Adult Acting (ages 18 and up)
Teacher: Stephen F. Vrtol
4 sessions: 10 a.m.–Noon Saturdays: October 3, 17, 24, 31 in Maddox Theatre at Rockford College Find a path to your own process as an actor. Acting should be fun, exhilarating, humbling and surprising. Explore the inner landscape in a safe, supportive environment. No experience needed.
Minimum class size: 6 students - Maximum, 15
Cost: $70

Fighting the Good Fight - Stage Combat (ages 16 and up)
Teacher: Richard Raether
4 sessions: 1:00–2:30 p.m. Saturdays: October 3, 10, 17, 24 in Maddox Theatre at Rockford College Explore the basics of unarmed stage violence, from prat falls to fist fights. Focus will be on the technique, trust, and illusion needed to perform violence safely, night after night, on the stage.
Minimum class size: 6 students, Maximum class size: 16 students
Cost: $70

Ready, Set, Act! - Youth Acting (ages 10–13)
Teacher: Erin Spears
4 sessions: 2:45–4:15 p.m. Saturdays: October 3, 10, 17, 24 in Maddox Theatre at Rockford College Unleash your creative side in this upbeat, active class for young actors, ages 10–13.
Minimum class size: 6 students, Maximum class size: 15 students
Cost: $60

Playing the Action - Teen Acting (ages 14–18)
Teacher: Richard Raether
2 sessions only: 2:45–4:15 p.m. Saturdays: October 17 & 24 in the Dance Studio at Rockford College We’re not talking about the kind of action one sees in a fight (for that, try my stage combat class). The key to acting is finding a character’s action, not their qualities. This is a workshop about making acting active and exciting.
Minimum class size: 6 students, Maximum class size: 15 students
Cost: $30

About Our Teachers
Stephen F. Vrtol III
Stephen spent 15 years at NAT as a staff actor, teacher and director. Since 1994, Stephen has been with the Janet Wattles Center where he directs the “Stars of Light” theater troupe. This partnership has resulted in six radio shows with WNIJ, four art galleries, many videos and a children’s book. Stephen performs professionally with AE.

Richard Raether
Richard is the artistic director of Artists’ Ensemble. He has worked at the Guthrie, Milwaukee Repertory, the Alabama, Colorado & Illinois Shakespeare Festivals, American Players Theater, the Dallas Theater Center, Chicago Shakespeare, and many more. Richard has taught at Carnegie Mellon, Southern Methodist University, University of Wis.-Milwaukee, and Southern Illinois University.

Erin Spears
A Rockford native, Erin has been seen in AE productions of Laughing Stock, The Dining Room, and as the seductive Scarlet O’Shaughnessey in Murder Center Stage. Other credits include The Misanthrope, Triumph of Love, and Lysistrata. Erin has taught class for Christian Youth Theatre, where she was an assistant director on Peter Pan.