Whelan Recording Technique and 10-minute play exploration
Do you struggle with memorizing text? You aren't alone, and there is a playful way to become skilled in a short amount of time!
Actor, director, and teacher Jeremy Whelan created a series of explorations allowing performers to record lines and explore compelling prompts while listening back to the recordings.
Whelan Recording Technique (WRT) is an enjoyable, freeing, and powerful technique for exploring artistic impulses in rehearsal, and creating possibilities for performance. This process allows performers to explore their impulses and trust their own generative creation process unburdened by holding scripts or memorizing lines.
Over the course of one weekend, participants will fully explore, rehearse, and perform one 10-minute play together using this Whelan’s methodology.
At the end of this introductory course participants will:
be "off book" with between 75%-95% word for word accuracy without using traditional memorization methods.
learn a process for developing a character, finding their own blocking, understanding a character's motivation and actions all of which emerge from organic collaboration.
embody a series of fun and useful prompts for "getting unstuck" when creativity is not emerging as spontaneously as one might wish.
One weekend exploration
Participants must be available for the entire duration below in order to enroll for the course.
Sat, Sept 26: 10am - 4pm (1-hour lunch)
Sun. Sept 27: 12 - 5:30pm (1-hour lunch)
Note: Ellenwood studios space is located on the second floor in a building with stairs in the Buena Park/Uptown Neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. If you experience mobility concerns, please enroll in the online cohort.
Pricing Tiers
At Ellenwood Studios, we offer tiered pricing. All participants, regardless of price, will receive the same workshop.
This equity pricing structure was created to amplify training access for those who hold marginalized identities and those experiencing significant financial hardship.
If neither of those qualifications apply to you, please consider enrolling at the Supporter or Sustainer Rate, which supports the ability to offer Scholarships and a Community Rate to folks experiencing financial difficulties.
Supporter Rate (covers your enrollment + supports peers) - $255
Sustainer Rate (covers your enrollment) - $175
Community Rate (supported by your peers) $85
If you need more information on how to best select which tier is correct for you, please click here for Alexis J. Cunningfolk’s article and visual aid on The Sliding Scale.