Acting Class
Česká verze
in general
The Prague Playhouse acting classes are for adults who want to work seriously on their acting craft. For Prague residents, both Czechs and English-speaking foreigners, there aren’t very many options to work in a cosistant and productive way. Aside from the odd play and the thirty second commercial auditions, there isn’t a place for working actors to come and sharpen the tools that they have. The Prague Playhouse School works from the teachings of Sanford Meisner, a member of the Group Theater and one of the most innovative and influential acting teachers of our time, as taught by the Playhouse West School in Los Angeles.
the details
- Classes are held at Milady Horakove 39, near Kamenicka Tram stop
- The space is hard to get find, so please call before auditing (getting to the space graphic)
- The first class is an audit only.
- Classes are paid for by quarter (which is 9 - 12 weeks)
- The class price depends on student’s attendance.
- For new students and students who do not attend 75% of the classes, the price is based on 200 Kc per week.
- For continuing students with better than 75% attendance, the price is based on 100 Kc per week.
- Monday and Wednesday at 18:30 (class schedule)
- Rehearsals outside of class are required!
- To register or for more info, call 608 577 012
the teachers
Brian Caspe grew up in California and studied music at the University of California, San Diego. While at the University, he worked in many plays with the theater department and also attended acting classes. After graduation, Brian moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. In LA, Brian studied acting at Playhouse West where he learned Meisner technique.
In the spring of 2001, Brian left LA and moved to Prague, where he has been acting in movies (Hellboy, Illusionist, Revelations, Young Hannibal among others IMDB) and commercials (Oskar, Pepto Bismal, Bass Ale, Stella Artois, Bacardi…more than 30 in all). He started teaching Meisner technique in April of 2003 simply because he wanted people to work with. Commercial auditions don’t really count as working on your acting! Since then, the acting class has grown in size and mission and Brian has high hopes for the future.
Ben Steel is an Australian actor and director who has worked in many areas of the film & television industry. Including as an actor, director, film technician, and personal assistant.
He started taking acting lessons when he was eleven. This later led to studies at Sydney’s Australian Theatre for Young People and The Actor’s Centre. It was in the year 2000 at The Actor’s Pulse in Sydney that he discovered the Meisner Technique for the first time. Ben continued his studies with the Meisner technique overseas at The Impulse Company in London, and Playhouse West in Los Angeles.
His acting credits in film & TV include Crime Time, The Bitten Tongue, Unfashionable Tramps, Breakers, Water Rats, Phoenix, and Home & Away. On stage Ben has performed in Debbie Does Dallas: the musical, This is Soap, The Vegemite Tales, and Serial Killers.
He has worked behind the camera of the following projects: Dark City with Alex Proyas, Oscar and Lucinda with Gillian Armstrong, IMAX: The Story of a City with Bruce Beresford, Babe: Pig in the City with Dr. George Miller, The Matrix with the Wachowski brothers, Moulin Rouge with Baz Luhrmann, and Where the Wild Things Are with Spike Jonze.
Ben has directed over 20 short films, music videos, and commercials, and is currently developing several feature film projects as well as teaching at the Prague Playhouse.
12 Comments Add your own
1. Prague Playhouse » &hellip | April 13th, 2007 at 14:07
[...] – Acting Classes. As you may know, the Prague Playhouse provides classes in the Meisner technique (http://pragueplayhouse.com/classes/acting-classes/meisner-acting-class/). The classes took a major turn for the better with the addition of a new teacher, Ben Steel. Ben is an Australian born actor and director and is very serious about the craft and teaching. With his help, the class has swelled to 13 regularly attending students and there is clearly visible progress. As the Playhouse starts producing more plays, we hope to be able to cast mostly from this dedicated pool of trained actors. The class is open to new registration and is currently free. We do, however, require a high level of dedication and will not tolerate students who are not willing to work in the class. [...]
2. frederic franzil | August 15th, 2007 at 21:26
dear ben
my name is fred and I used to study the Meisner tecnic with billy at the actor pulse and I try to find a way to finish my study ,
I’m french and I’m not that far from prague
could you tell if that’s possible to study in your class
all the best
fred
3. April | February 3rd, 2008 at 22:12
Hi!
I will be moving to Hradec Kralove sometime next fall as a teacher, and am very interested in studying the classes with you. Of course there would be a bit of traveling as I’d live in Hradec Kralove and not Prague, but is it still possible for me to attend the classes? I am very passionate about the craft and would travel as much as needed to attend all the classes with no problem.
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
April
4. brian | February 3rd, 2008 at 23:09
Hi April,
Hradec Kralove is fairly far but if you’re down with making the trip to class, you’re welcome to come. The main concern I would have is that we require students to rehearse outside of class and as most of the students live in Prague, that would be an added burden for you. I’d say that you should come, check out the class when you get here and see how it will fit into your life.
Let me know when you get closer to coming.
Brian
5. Otavio | April 22nd, 2008 at 22:02
Hello! I have no acting background, but I would like so much to attend to the acting classes..never thought I would find such a place in Prague when I read meisner’s book! I’m 21 and I’m staying for six months, coming from brazil. If the class is too advanced for me, please indicate me if there are any other acting classes in Prague.. preferably in english…
6. Ivana | April 23rd, 2008 at 14:12
hi!
i do IB theatre arts at school, but am now graduating, so am looking for a place to act. I wanted to ask if auditions are required in order to take classes at prague playhouse and when these take place, or if there are seasons when the classes start or i can join at any stage. I will be free from june so would like to know if i can start then.
Thanks!
Ivana
7. brian | April 23rd, 2008 at 21:46
Ivana
Thanks for leaving the comment. You would be welcome to come to the class. There are no auditions necessary and students may join any time. We require students to audit one class before they start. We will have a break from mid-June until the beginning of August, so it would probably be better for you to start at the start of the August quarter, but you’re welcome to come to any class.
brian
8. brian | April 23rd, 2008 at 21:47
Hello Octavio,
I’m responding to your comment about the acting class. You’re more than welcome to join. No previous experience is necessary. The class runs in an open manner, which means that new students can join at any time. The first class is an audit and after that if you want to come you will need to pay for the remainder of the semester. Please give me a call before you come to a class to audit.
Looking forward to meeting you!
Brian
Prague Playhouse
9. brian | April 27th, 2008 at 13:16
test
10. Jovana | May 6th, 2008 at 15:45
how and where can i apply for acting classes?
are these classes on english?
i read your respond on Ivana`s comment, but just to be sure, if i want to come to do act i should start in august ?
thank you and sorry if im questining too much
11. brian | May 6th, 2008 at 23:35
There is no application for the acting classes. They are open to anyone who is interested in working on their acting craft. The classes are in English mostly, but I can teach in Czech if the student requires it. We have 3 or 4 Czech speakers in class (there are other languages that students speak, but I only speak English and Czech).
It makes more sense to start the class in August as we will have a big break in June and July.
12. Jana | September 25th, 2008 at 02:15
This is interesting! I am looking for some acting course. Here Im little bitt intimidated by other attendants, they look that they have lots of acting expirience and I dont have much more than some high school plays and miniseries which came out on DVD with one Czech magazine. I am also little bitt worried about my spoken English… (Im Czech native).
Anyway, are you in the middle of the semester now?
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