ADVANCED ACTING APPLE SHAKES
About our Advanced Acting Apple Shakes Program: This class is a non-musical class teaching the works of William Shakespeare to middle and high school aged participants (AGES 12 - 18). The class encourages the continuation of young artists' development by teaching advanced acting techniques (emotional authenticity, character connection and analysis, choreographed stage combat and romance, and advanced memorization) through games, skill building exercises, and specialized theatrical workshops. The extended program promotes teamwork and advanced performance quality, putting a strong focus on ensemble building and peer work to enhance overall performance quality. Participants learn the historical context of the play and playwright, advanced text analysis, and the performance practices of Elizabethan actors.
This program culminates in a full production of one of Shakespeare’s plays. All class participants are cast in roles after in-class “audition”, and then begin a traditional rehearsal process over a longer period of time to encourage full textual understanding and performance polish. This is an excellent class for drama-hungry youth who have built their foundational skills and are ready to learn how to put them into action!
new: class admittance is by instructor approval*
2025-2026 Show:
Much Ado About Nothing
About the Show: "Much Ado About Nothing" is a Shakespearean comedy centered around two romantic plots: the budding love between Hero and Claudio, and the witty, adversarial relationship between Beatrice and Benedick. While Hero and Claudio's romance is initially threatened by a malicious plot, and Beatrice and Benedick are tricked into confessing their love for each other, the play ultimately resolves with weddings for both couples, and the exposure of the villain, Don John. The title emphasizes the comedic nature of the play, highlighting how much fuss is made over events that ultimately prove to be inconsequential.
Participation Fee: $800
Participant Age Range: 11-18
Instructors: Emily Hills and Katharine Sonas
Class Days + Time: The first day of class is mandatory for participation.
Tuesday and Thursday Evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm beginning September 9.
Mandatory Stage Reading:
Tuesday, December 16
Extended Rehearsals:
March 31, April 2, 7, 9 6:00-9:00 pm
Mandatory Technical Rehearsals:
April 13, 14, 15, 16 5:00-9:00 pm
6 Mandatory Performances:
Friday, April 17 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 18 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 19 2:00 pm
Friday, April 24 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 25 2:00 pm
Saturday, April 25 7:30 pm
*Instructor Approval
In order to be enrolled in this class, we ask that prospective participants please send a video of yourself performing the monologues below into the camera for a class audition. All videos must be received by Tuesday September 2 for consideration.
Send your videos to katharine@poisonapple.org
PUCK A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Act V, Scene 1
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.
VIOLA Twelfth Night; Act II, Scene 2
I left no ring with her: what means this lady?
Fortune forbid my outside have not charm'd her!
She made good view of me; indeed, so much,
That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue,
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
She loves me, sure; the cunning of her passion
Invites me in this churlish messenger.
None of my lord's ring! why, he sent her none.
I am the man: if it be so, as 'tis,
Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness,
Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.
How easy is it for the proper-false
In women's waxen hearts to set their forms!
Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we!
For such as we are made of, such we be.