2026 Intensive For Actors
August 15 – 23, 2026
Theatre B’s 2026 Intensive for Actors is a professional development opportunity for actors ages 18 and older who are looking to deepen their craft in an intimate, collaborative learning environment.
This intensive is designed with accessibility in mind. Theatre B recognizes that advanced actor training is not equally available to everyone. Many artists are unable to pursue degree or certificate programs or travel to larger communities for professional training. Through this intensive, Theatre B is committed to making high-quality actor training more accessible and affordable for artists in our region. Thanks to funding from the Lake Region Arts Council, we are able to offer significant discounts through a Pay What You Can fee model. More on that below.
The Intensive for Actors consists of three units offered over eight of nine consecutive days. The units are intentionally designed to complement one another, creating a rich and cumulative learning experience when taken as a series. At the same time, each unit stands on its own, allowing participants to register for the workshops that best fit their interests, experience, and schedule.
Whether you choose one unit or all three, you’ll learn alongside fellow artists in a supportive environment that reflects Theatre B’s commitment to curiosity, collaboration, and courageous storytelling.
Ready to join us?
→ Register for the Units
How much does it cost?
→ Use the Pay What You Can discount codes provided in the section below. Have a pen ready to write down these codes. You will enter them at checkout.
PAY WHAT YOU CAN–or REACH OUT
Theatre B believes that access to professional artistic training should not depend solely on financial circumstances. That’s why the 2026 Intensive for Actors uses a Pay What You Can model.
When you register, you’ll choose the price that feels right for your situation. If you’re able to pay the full price, your investment helps Theatre B continue offering accessible training opportunities and flexible pricing for other artists in the future.
If paying the full price would make participation difficult, we invite you to select a discounted price that works for you. We trust our participants to choose the amount they genuinely need, without the requirement of a scholarship application or financial documentation.
Can’t afford even the lowest Pay What You Can option?
Please don’t let cost stop you from reaching out! If the suggested Pay What You Can prices are still beyond your means, contact us at info@theatreb.org. We’d be happy to have a conversation about additional support. Our goal is to make participation possible whenever we can.
FEES and DISCOUNTS:
Single Class Full price: $120/person
Discounts (make sure to have these codes handy during registration)
- PWYC90 – $90/person: use this code at checkout to bring the price of a single unit down to $90
- PWYC60 – $60/person: use this code at checkout to bring the price of a single unit down to $60
Two Classes – make sure to have these codes handy during registration
- 2CLASS – when you enroll in any two units and use this code, the full total price will come down to $200
- PWYC155 – $155/person – use this code at checkout to bring the price of a 2-unit combo down to $155.
- PWYC110 – $110/person – use this code at checkout to bring the price of a 2-unit combo down to $110
Full Package (All Units) – make sure to have these codes handy during registration
- 3CLASS – when you enroll in an all-unit combo and use this code, the full total price will come down to $250
- PWYC200 – use this code at checkout to bring the price of an all-unit combo down to $200
- PWYC150 – use this code at checkout to bring the price of an all-unit combo down to $150
UNIT 1: Viewpoints, Ensemble, Chorus.
Who is this for?
Unit 1 is open to all curious and courageous adult performers. It’s also designed to be worthwhile for seasoned actors and can provide a worthwhile revisit to physical performance in the areas of Viewpoints, Ensemble and Chorus. While not dance training, it will benefit dancers and choreographers.
Curriculum Unit 1 draws from Anne Bogart and Tina Landau’s work with Mary Overlie’s Viewpoints, specifically the physical (as opposed to vocal) Viewpoints. In addition, Unit 1 will draw from techniques taught by Jacques Lecoq and Jerzy Grotowski.
Performers will come away with physical performance technique and practices that can be used in any style of theatre performance, 1) to strengthen physical openness, responsiveness and presence; 2) to broaden and inhabit dynamic physical performance choices; 3) to deepen the ability to perform with a group; 4) to provide a durable set of concepts, practices and vocabulary that can make personal and collaborative physical theatre performance more intentional and easy to communicate.
Sessions
- Session #1 (8/15/26 10am-1pm): Viewpoints. *Lunch is provided on Saturday during a 1-2pm break.
- Session #2 (8/15/26 2-5pm): Viewpoints and Ensemble
- Session #3 (8/16 2-5pm): Ensemble and Chorus
Requirements: Wear clothes in which you can move comfortably.
Tuition: $120 – $60/single unit (scroll up for Fees and Pay What You Can Discount Codes, including bundle codes)
Click to Register for Unit 1 HERE
UNIT 2: Strengthening Acting Choice and Range.
Who is this for?
Unit 2 is open to all adult performers with acting experience and an understanding of getting from script to performance. This unit will be especially useful for those actors who already have a comfort level with acting and want to expand their range in creating characters that are purposefully unique, vibrant, and inhabited/grounded in a way that makes for engaging and believable performance across a variety of styles.
Curriculum Unit 2 draws from a range of movement and voice techniques from practitioners such as Wendell Beavers, Patsy Rodenburg and Commedia dell’arte (as a model for exploring physical character). Key practices from Unit 1 will be re/learned in connection with the goals of Unit 2.
Performers will come away with a deeper understanding of habituated physicality and how personal characteristics can be set aside or modified in order to create a different set of choices, creating character distinct from personal habit. Relatedly, vocal work will focus on identifying unhelpful vocal habits that get in the way of increased power, range and choice-making. Multiple approaches and sources of inspiration will be explored.
Sessions
- Session #4 (**8/17/26): Approaching Physical Neutral
- Session #5 (**8/18/26): Strong Foundation for Voice & Speech
- Session #6 (**8/19/26): Expanding Vocal Performance (Speaking)
- Session #7 (**8/20/26): Building Physical Character (a Toolbox)
- **These sessions run from 6:30-9:30pm
Requirements: Wear clothes in which you can move comfortably.
Tuition: $120 – $60/single unit (scroll up for Fees and Pay What You Can Discount Codes, including bundle codes)
Click to Register for Unit 2 HERE
UNIT 3: Devising Original Physical Performance.
Who Is This For?
Unit 3 is for experienced performers (from theatre, dance, vocal music) who want to explore two specific methods for devising original performance, both of which require playfulness, openness, courage and a dedication of energy and focus. Note: both methodologies rely on an ability to repeat choices.
Curriculum Unit 3 draws from the work of two creator-directors, Julia Fischer and Anne Bogart, both of whom were drawn to create highly physical theatre performance in styles that could include but were not limited to naturalism or realism.
Performers will come away having created two original scenes, created in two distinct approaches. First practiced by Julia Fischer (a former theatremaker who co-founded 15 HEAD – a theatre lab in Minneapolis), The Stations is designed to get creators “out of their heads,” so that instinct, impulse, imagination and intuition take the place of deciding and then doing. The Stations starts with a highly structured, high-energy, and fast-moving series of explorations with widely varied inspiring resources. Composition, on the other hand, is a method of creating new work practiced by Anne Bogart of SITI Company. Like The Stations, though, it is a devising methodology which leads to surprising discoveries for performer and audience alike.
Sessions
- Session #1 (8/22/26 10am-1pm): The Stations I
- *Lunch is provided on Saturday during a 1-2pm break.
- Session #2 (8/22/26 2-5pm): The Stations II (continuation)
- Session #3 (8/23 2-5pm): Company Choreography
Requirements: Wear clothes in which you can move comfortably.
Tuition: $120 – $60/single unit (scroll up for Fees and Pay What You Can Discount Codes, including bundle codes)
Click to Register for UNIT 3 HERE
Jon Micheels Leiseth
Artistic Director; Acting Intensive Instructor
Diving into intensive performance training is one of Jon’s favorite activities, especially if it has to do with physical theatre, devising new work, and expanding the possibilities of performers and performance.
As a theatre artist and performer, Jon has enjoyed training with Anne Bogart and SITI Company; Barbra Berlovitz; Michael Rohd and Sojourn Theatre; Tannis Kowalchuk; Theatre de la Jeune Lune.
As a teaching artist, Jon has worked with thousands of people with a wide range of experience, training, abilities and goals. But he especially lives to dive into performer training with a group of people who are hungry to try new things and try old things in new ways. Is this you?
Jon Micheels Leiseth in 15 HEAD – a theatre lab’s production of Ibsen’s Lady from the Sea.
Jon Micheels Leiseth (Dr. John Seward) in 15 HEAD – a theatre lab’s original Dracula, devised from Stoker’s novel.
