Adult Classes
Fall classes now on sale
Classes offer adults the opportunity to work alongside professional theater artists to explore and develop their skills as artists and creative thinkers. Offerings include our most popular classes plus training pathways for theater artists looking to pursue a career onstage.
Browse our exiting lineup below, and we hope you’ll join us!
Current offerings
THE EMBODIED ACTOR: FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICAL THEATER with Nathan Keepers
Unlock your creativity through movement, physicality and play. Be ready to dive into practical exercises, improvisation and the integration of text and movement in storytelling.
LEVEL: Beginner
Mondays: November 6, 13, 20, 27 and December 4, 11 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Classrooms 1 and 2
Price: $295
Capacity: Up to 16
Nathan Keepers is Producing Artistic Director of The Moving Company in Minneapolis. Since 2009, MoCo has been creating original works, most recently Immortal Beethoven (with the Minnesota Orchestra) and Anamnesis. Others include What If, Speechless, Liberty Falls 54321, Werther & Lotte, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Refugia (with the Guthrie Theater). Nathan spent 11 seasons as a company member of Theatre de la Jeune Lune. Elsewhere in the Twin Cities: Jungle Theater, Guthrie Theater, Ten Thousand Things, Sod House Theater, Yellow Tree Theatre, Six Points Theater, Augsburg Varsity Theater, Playwrights’ Center and Children’s Theatre Company. Nationally: Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Repertory Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Berkeley Rep, Alley Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, South Coast Repertory and Folger Theatre. Nathan has also collaborated with choreographer Berit Ahlgren, directed for Merrimack Repertory Theatre and Actors Theatre of Louisville and been an artist in residence at The University of Iowa, University of Minnesota, Stanford University, NYU, UT Austin and Gustavus Adolphus College. Nathan has studied with Pierre Byland in Switzerland and Philippe Gaulier in London.
AUDITION TECHNIQUE with Michelle O’Neill
Designed for actors who want to hone their technique and confidence in the audition process. Whether it is a Shakespeare monologue or a scene, you’ll uncover the text, character and instincts to help create grounded and dynamic choices. All experience levels are welcome!
LEVEL: Intermediate
Mondays: November 6, 13, 20, 27 and December 4, 11 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Classroom 3
Price: $295
Capacity: Up to 10
Michelle O’Neill started her career in New York City after graduating from The Juilliard School of Drama. She spent her time working on Broadway in New York while traveling regionally to perform in plays. After moving to the Twin Cities, she worked with the Guthrie Theater and performed in over 25 productions. Some of her favorites are Macbeth, Twelfth Night, The Plough and the Stars and Hermione in The Winter’s Tale. Michelle is passionate about working with young actors and enjoys teaching and directing with the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Acting Program. She recently directed Troilus and Cressida in the Dowling Studio.
THE ART AND SCIENCE OF VOICE ACTING II with Mike DelGaudio
This intermediate course picks up where The Art and Science of Voice ActingI left off, expanding on initial skills and techniques. You’ll deepen your knowledge of voice acting genres and styles with a focus on creating believable narratives and broadening the range of voice acting genres. On the technical side, you’ll explore deeper aspects of home studio setups, advanced recording and post-production techniques, and studio-to-studio connections for global collaboration. Each week, you’ll engage in an analysis of your own and your peers' recordings, encouraging constructive critique and fostering a deep understanding of voice acting techniques.
LEVEL: Beginner
November 6, 13, 20, 27 and December 4, 11 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Rehearsal Room 3 and Recording Studio
Price: $295
Capacity: Up to 20
Discount: 25% off for Guthrie staff, B.F.A. students/alumni and extras from previous and current seasons
Mike DelGaudio, better known online as the “Booth Junkie,” is a voiceover pro who's all about making things simple. On his YouTube channel, Mike takes the mystery out of mics, explaining technical details in a way that anyone can understand. He's got a knack for sharing practical tips that help voice actors do their best work. With a friendly demeanor and a treasure trove of practical advice, Mike bridges the gap between novices and experts, making the world of voice acting accessible to all.
PLAYWRITING: REAL STORIES FOR THE STAGE with Ron Peluso
Discover the joys and challenges of developing a play using real stories. Over the course of six weeks, you’llwrite a short play based on an event from history, a story from a family member/friend or your own life experience. Each play will be guided through a nonjudgmental workshop process where your fellow classmates will serve as readers and provide feedback in a safe space. It's all about “the process.”You’ll also hear from a professional playwright about their experience writing real stories for the stage. All experience levels are welcome!
LEVEL: Introductory
Tuesdays: November 7, 14, 21, 28 and December 5, 12 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Classroom 4
Price: $295
Capacity: 12
Ron Peluso was Artistic Director of the History Theatre from 1995 to 2022, resulting in 90 world premiere plays and musicals centering cultural icons of Minnesota, including labor activists Mary Pat Laffey (Stewardess!, 2019), Nellie Stone Johnson (Nellie, 2012) and peace activists the McDonald sisters (Sisters of Peace, 2019), politicians such as Hubert Humphrey (Favorite Son, 1995) and Paul Wellstone (Wellstone!, 2007), pioneers such as Susan Kimberly (Superman Becomes Lois Lane, 2020), and artists such as Gordon Parks (PARKS, 2022), Bobby Vee (Teen Idol: The Bobby Vee Story, 2016) and Tyrone Guthrie (Tyrone & Ralph, 2008). Ron commissioned work that captures and shares personal and unique stories of Minnesotans, such as the first Chinese woman to immigrate to Minnesota (100 Men’s Wife, 2006), a young Somali man’s journey to find himself in America (A Crack in the Sky, 2017), or that of a young woman’s life negotiating between her Indian Muslim heritage and her American Christian surroundings (American as Curry Pie, 2011). He produced stories of events that changed the course of a community, such as the destruction of Rondo by the construction of I-94 (The Highwaymen, 2017), a legacy of redlining (Not for Sale, 2022) and the raging fire of 1894 that devastated the town of Hinckley (FireBall, 2005) and from the historic Faribault State Hospital (Let Heaven and Nature Sing, the 1996 collaboration with Interact Theatre). The musical hit Glensheen- the Murders at the Mansion in Duluth and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story - and Christmas of Swing - Stories from WW 2, and Watermelon Hill - the Catholic Infant Home story, Dirty Business and Sweet Land among original musicals. Ron holds an MFA in Directing from the University of Minnesota.
MUSICAL THEATER II with Stephen DiMenna
Continue exploring acting, song and movement in musical theater!Over the course of six weeks, you will further develop skills to use your body and voice to express an emotional journey and gather insight on what you need for a successful musical audition. Previous musical theater experience suggested.
LEVEL: Intermediate
Accompanist: Bradley Beahen
Wednesdays: November 8, 15, 22, 29 and December 6, 13 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Classrooms 1 and 2
Price: $295
Capacity: Up to 25
Stephen DiMenna is an Off-Broadway and regional theater director and educator. In New York, he directed at Manhattan Theatre Club, Ensemble Studio Theatre, MCC Theater, Rattlestick Theatre, The Mint Theatre, Encores at City Center, The Lab Theatre, The Daryl Roth Theatre, HB Playwrights Theatre and the Young Playwright’s Festival. In Minneapolis, he is a company member at Pillsbury House Theatre where he has directed six productions and was Associate Artistic Director at the History Theatre from 1991 to 995. He has also directed at The Westport Playhouse, Guthrie Theater and Eye of the Storm Theatre. He taught directing, musical theater and acting at NYU for 15 years and will be teaching acting for musical theater in the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Acting Program this year. He is the Artistic Director of the International Theatre Project.
SCENIC DESIGN with Sadie Ward
Can you imagine what Noises Off would be like without all the doors, Phantom of the Opera without a chandelier or Wicked without the green Emerald City? Scenic design plays a vital role in creating atmosphere and telling a visual story in theatrical productions. Learn the basics of script analysis, scenic breakdown, model-making, and storytelling through scenic design. By the end of the class, you will create your own theoretical design for a select script.
LEVEL: Beginner
Wednesdays: November 8, 15, 22, 29 and December 6, 13 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Classroom 4
Price: $295
Capacity: Up to 12
Sadie Ward is a local set designer and you may have seen some of her scenic and prop design work at Park Square, Theatre in the Round, Theatre Unbound, Theatre Pro Rata, The Phipps, Stages Theatre Company, Lyric Arts and Minnesota Opera. In our disposable modern world, she tries to incorporate recycled and upcycled elements into her theatre designs and artwork. Sadie has received a BRA in Arts Administration, a BA in Theatre Studies from Viterbo University and a degree in Architectural Technology from Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
SLAY with Brian Bose
Feel sexy, fierce and powerful while learning fun choreography, grooving to music and dancing your way to empowerment. This class provides an open environment where you will move your body, get your cardio up and challenge yourself. Strip away fears and release perfectionism while discovering the joy of movement, poetry and music. Then get out of your own way so you have no choice but to slay! No dance experience necessary.
LEVEL: Beginner
Mondays: November 6, 13, 20, 27 and December 4, 11 | 7–8:30 p.m.
Rehearsal Room 2
Drop In: $30
Full Series Price: $150
Capacity: Up to 30