ANN ARBOR—The Brass Tacks Ensemble is taking applications for its 2018 Theater Exploration Troupe, a series of classes to introduce people to the organized chaos that is theater.

Following the success of the 2017 Acting and Directing Troupe, The Brass Tacks Ensemble is opening their 2018 Theater Exploration Troupe to people from all areas of theater and beyond – actors, directors, playwrights, designers, stage managers, lawyers, doctors, ministers, anybody and everybody.

The focus of the 2018 classes will be on the basics of play production, storytelling, and exploration of the “live” element of theater. Those who have experience (professional or amateur) in theater will benefit from the fundamentals that we introduce in the classes and so will those who have never set foot on a stage.

The 2017 troupe of actors and assistant directors met once a week to participate in workshops on basic acting techniques, voice and movement exercises, status exercises, Shakespearean language, and the BTE theater philosophy. The ensemble’s work culminated in three productions over the course of the year – Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, and Measure for Measure.

Starting the week of February 12, 2018 the Theater Exploration Troupe will begin meeting once per week. This introductory course – “Level One” – will meet for sixteen weeks, followed by Level Two classes later in the year.

Because the group wants to emphasize the practical nature of the classes, it requests that Troupe members be involved in at least two Production Practicals, taking roles as actors, as assistant directors, as stage managers, as production designers, or in some other production/administrative capacity.

The spring show is April 20-22 and April 27-29; the summer show is August 2-4, and the fall show is November 2-4 and November 9-11. Anyone interested in being a part of the Theater Exploration Troupe can fill out an application available at www.btensemble.org.

Applications are due via email by January 6, 2018. Applications can be sent to thebrasstacksensemble@gmail.com.
Individual interviews will be held the week of January 7-13. Applicants will be notified via email about time and place. Group interviews will be held January 14-20.  Admission notification will be sent out January 26.