Theatricum to offer student drama workshop

The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum will present a drama workshop for high school students, “Improvisation to Writing,” from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 28 to March 18, at 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. The tuition is $260.

In this class, students will use the techniques of spontaneous improvisation to explore issues affecting their lives, from personal issues to global or political events.

Instructors will encourage students to use the tool of improvisation to develop their ideas into poetry, scenes and monologues that are “honest, reflective and without judgment.”

In this manner, the class aims “to develop young artists who are not only skilled performers, but also thoughtful, perceptive and confident young people,” according to the Theatricum’s Rebecca Rasmussen.

In addition, each student in the class will be directed in a personally-selected Shakespeare monologue “to uncover the passion and poetry of our greatest English playwright,” Rasmussen said. The class culminates in a public performance of all original material as well as Shakespeare’s work.

For more information, call Rasmussen at (310) 455-2322, ext. 301.