Staged Stories 1

Staged Stories 1 is open to all students. This is an in-person course offered for adults ages 55+.

Staged Stories 2 (Prerequisite)

Staged Stories 2 is open to students who have completed Staged Stories 1. This is an in-person course offered for adults ages 55+.

Beyond Staged Stories (Prerequisite)

Beyond Staged Stories is open to students who have completed Staged Stories 1& 2. This is an in-person course offered for adults ages 55+.

Scripting 1

SCRIPTING I: IDEA TO OUTLINE
Available to first-time participants only. There is no prerequisite for enrollment. If you are a returning writer, please contact Will Nedved for placement in Scripting II.
This is a remote course offered online for adults ages 55+

Scripting 2

SCRIPTING II: OUTLINE TO DRAFT
Available to returning writers who are developing their outlines.
Prerequisite: Scripting I.
This is a remote course offered online for adults 55+.

Scripting 3

SCRIPTING III: WRITING IS REWRITING

Available to returning writers who have completed at least the first draft of their projects. Prerequisite: Scripting II.
This is a remote course offered online for adults 55+.

Fiction: Creating Story

Part of being human is making up stories. We tell fairy tales to delight children, we read novels to lose ourselves in other lives, we watch movies and television to find friends on the other side of a screen. In this class you’ll explore the art of writing fiction by focusing on a specific element each week: character, plot, setting, point of view, and theme. You’ll have the option of writing a new story each week or using the feedback you receive to polish one story until it shines. The writing prompts change each term, so students can repeat the course and always find something new.

Fiction: Story Craft

Great writers have the power to move and enthrall us, but how do they do it? What are the techniques that help a writer move beyond simply recounting an event? In this course, we’ll investigate technical and rhetorical devices employed in crafting effective sentences, memorable characters, and compelling narratives. Weekly writing prompts and class discussion of required reading assignments will guide you through the topics we’ll explore, which include narrative voice, character transformation, and non-linear story structure.

Prerequisite: Fiction: Creating Story or permission of instructor.

Comprehending Life through the Medium of Poetry

This course will encourage students to consider Poetry as a philosophical and practical tool for life. It is strictly about Poetry appreciation. The more Poetry one reads closely the more one’s understanding of the multifaceted benefits of a personal daily practice are understood. Students will be introduced to a broad scope of poems. Emphasis will be placed on the process, structure, and effect of each selected poem. A sense of instant community will be offered to students through the combination of Poetry and Philosophy.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A CREATIVE WRITING CLASS.

Ballet Brain Circuit

Physical and mental fitness should be connected. It’s one of the smartest things you can do to ensure you are healthy and lucid in your later years. Ballet Brain Circuit is comprised of conditioning and stretch exercises based on ballet training principles. The class is designed to improve cognitive function while increasing muscular endurance, cardiovascular health, balance and coordination. It decreases chronic stress and promotes an uplifting mood. No experience with ballet needed, all are welcome.

Live Storytelling

Have you ever thought about sharing your story onstage at The Moth or one of the many live storytelling spaces in and around LA? Do you want to present your stories with energy & authenticity? In this workshop space, you will learn what compelling live storytelling entails while developing one of your own, on its feet. Connect with yourself and others in this challenging, fun class. Who knows, maybe after this class you’ll want to share your story beyond the stage at The Wallis?

Playmakers Workshop

Returning participants will rehearse a script-in-hand staging of our original play, Condolences. The in-person workshop is open to new participants interested in behind-the-scenes roles.

UnRavelled - An Interactive Creative Masterclass

This course explores UnRavelled, a play by Jake Broder that will be making its Los Angeles debut at The Wallis in October. The play intertwines the lives of Canadian painter Anne Adams and French composer Maurice Ravel, both of whom developed frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The play examines how their conditions influenced their creativity and artistic expression. Participants will engage in discussion, hands on creative activities and reflective exercises to illuminate themes of identity, memory and the intersection of art and neuroscience. The class includes creative exploration in the performance of music, art and theater as well as the opportunity to attend a performance of the play’s debut weekend October 17 - 19. This course will focus on behind-the-scenes insights from the author of this world premiere play from its creation to performance

Act 3 All Levels

An acting class for adults 55+, designed for both beginners and experienced performers. Rooted in Sanford Meisner’s approach, the class explores improvisation, scene work, and exercises that build confidence and creativity while encouraging participants to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances. ACT-3 provides a safe space for creative expression and exploration that fosters authentic connection and camaraderie. Taught by Cindy Rucker Trost, Creative Director of the Meisner Institute, who brings over 35 years of experience as a professional actor and teacher, as well as work as a producer and director, the class reflects her passion for creative expression, combining her work as an actor, teacher, writer, and poet to foster authentic connection through the arts.