Dobama Emerging Actors Program

DEAP returns summer 2024!

Dobama Theatre continues its commitment to education programming as the successful Dobama Emerging Actors Program, our summer intensive theatre program for high school and college students will for its 13th season in summer 2024.

Program Dates: July 1-28, 2024

Application deadline *EXTENDED!*: April 30, 2024

2024 DEAP APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED STARTING 2/15

For more information email: deap@dobama.org

OVERVIEW

Acting is an art form.  This fact is at the curricular center of the Dobama Emerging Artists Program.  In all art forms, technique work is essential to give an artist the greatest ability to communicate.  The dancer builds strength and flexibility, the singer works on vocal support and resonance, and the painter perfects brush techniques and the creation of shape or color.  But in today’s culture, the vast majority of theatre experiences for the young actor place product over process; emphasize parts in plays over coursework in technique and training. DEAP is different. DEAP is a process-centered and technique-based program for serious young actors.

FACULTY

DEAP students work with faculty with both degrees from respected performing arts programs and extensive professional experience.  These instructors specialize in the coursework they teach and have the singular focus of broadening each student’s understanding of the art of acting. In recent years we’ve had faculty from Case Western Reserve University, Baldwin Wallace, Kent State University, Oberlin College, and Cleveland Play House MFA program.

PRODUCTIONS

Productions are performed in blackbox style, so that by stripping away elaborate sets and costumes, students and audience members are left to focus on the actors on the stage.
Combined with the work done in class, and the discoveries made through exercises in their coursework, these performances contain exciting moments of theatre and promote artistic growth for each actor.

Productions are centered on ensemble building, character development, storytelling and communication, as well as deeper understanding of text.  Each piece is done in the beautiful and intimate Dobama Theatre.

DEAP’s production is always based on heightened text and/ or classical repertoire. We do cycle through a repertoire of a Greek Drama, Modern Heightened Text, and occasionally Shakespeare.

“DEAP gave me the tools I needed to trust myself as an actor. It has given me a solid base of technique and the ability to work successfully in an ensemble.
DEAP is the only program of this caliber in the Cleveland area. It is complete with a group of established faculty who have a strong awareness of the young actors psyche. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to hone my craft.”
— Katie W., former DEAP student

HISTORY

In July 2010, Dobama initiated DEAP, the Dobama Emerging Actors Program, an auditioned, month-long intensive acting program for high school and college students featuring technique-based courses culminating in a full-length production. The education model is that of a college conservatory curriculum.  Guest artists and master teachers teach high-level courses, then students apply those skills in afternoon rehearsals for a heightened text production.  
DEAP began in order to give students in the Northeast Ohio area an opportunity to get serious, technique-based training to support a process-centered approach to acting.  This instruction will help prepare young actors for collegiate acting programs, give students a broader perspective of what theatre is, and enrich their performance experiences by changing their approach to creating a character and building their own technique.

CURRICULUM

  • Intro to Michael Chekhov technique

  • Intro to Meisner technique

  • Laban technique for the Actor

  • Viewpoints

  • Advanced Acting (Stanislavsky based)

  • Movement for the Actor

  • 4 part Vocal Technique

  • Script Analysis

  • International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

  • Alexander Technique

  • Audition Technique/College Audition Workshop

  • Improvisation

  • Buisness of the Business

HOW TO APPLY

  • Submit a completed application with a headshot and resume (due: May 1, 2024)
    *the summer 2024 application will be available soon

  • Prepare a 1-2 minute monologue (this is done by video submission)

  • There may be a short conversation via phone, zoom, or in person where we’ll get to know each actor better and you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions about the program.

COST

Dobama is committed to removing financial barriers to all our programs. Full tuition for the program is $1,200, but no student accepted to the program will be turned away based on inability to pay. Need-based financial aid is available, and we are happy to work out details with each student or their family individually. Please contact deap@dobama.org to start this conversation.

OTHER DETAILS

  • The 2024 Dobama Emerging Actors Program will be held at Dobama Theatre.

  • Students are required to provide their own lunch. Students are also able to purchase their lunch at nearby restaurants and grocery stores.

  • Students are asked to wear “blacks” for classes and rehearsal. This is a black shirt and black pants that allow for ease of movement. Students with long hair are asked to tie it back.

  • The 2024 production is TBD.