Paula Russell News

August and September

paularussell — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:23:01 +0000

Annual Unified Auditions will be held on Sat. Sept. 10th. The deadline to register is Sept. 2nd.
Paula is teaching an audition prep class August 30th and September 6th for actors and singers who plan to audition.
Contact State Theatre School 512-692-0517 to reserve.
ONLY 3 SPACES REMAIN.

SATURDAY Morning Actor/Director/Writer Workshop begins August 27th. Contact Paula to reserve a space.

Next gig for PAULA RUSSEL BAND at Hyde Park Bar and Grille coming soon. stay tuned.

July and August Workshops

paularussell — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:00:15 +0000

MONDAY workshop is full! Next opening is August 22nd. Due to demand for this workshop Paula will start a Saturday morning workshop with the same format. (see full description/fees in previous post) The Sat workshop will start Aug 27tth or as soon as 4 students have committed to six CONSECUTIVE sessions. Paula’s ACTING FOR FILM at State Theatre beginning Aug 10th is also full. Private acting and vocal coaching is ongoing. Meanwhile, you can see/hear Paula’s band next at Hyde Park Bar and Grill Westgate on Sunday, August 7th. Check out Facebook to see videos.

Paula’s Monday Night Workshop

paularussell — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:18:03 +0000

Actors Workshop with Paula Russell
Mondays 7~11PM
South Austin Studio on S. Lamar

Find that still and magic place within that lights up a screen or stage!

Learn a complete craft for actors, directors, writers, teachers and others.
Exercise muscles needed to develop and/or maintain your skills in Ready-Working condition. Whether you are a professional or a novice, artistic muscles work best when kept fine-tuned and adaptable. Tap into playfulness and risk-taking in a positive environment where personal privacy is never invaded.

Paula Russell is a professional actor, singer and director with 30 years of teaching experience. She is a member of SAG, Actors Equity and AFTRA; TXMPA, The Alliance, Reel Women, The Austin Film Society and is a founding member of Austin Creative Alliance.

In Los Angeles, she interned by invitation as director-in-training on Taxi, Cheers, WKRP and Newhart under James Brooks, James Burroughs, Will McKenzie; and directed at the famed Ensemble Studio Theatre, Cast Theatre, Actors Playhouse .

In Austin, Paula directed two plays at the Long Center Rollins Theatre. Among others, she recently coached the lead actor in Austin High that premiered at 2011 SXSW, and coached two of the lead actors for Lovers of Hate that was accepted at Sundance, SXSW and IMC. Under Actors Equity, Ms. Russell both performed the lead role and directed the musical, Always, Patsy Cline. She coaches privately and is on staff at the State Theatre School of Acting.

Paula taught in LA for 15 years in association with Emmy and Directors Guild award winning director/actor Joan Darling who writes of Ms. Russell. “Paula is one of the few people who really understands the technique of acting and the artistic center of it. I can’t recommend her highly enough.”

Because acting is like an athletic event requiring discipline, focus and skill, the first hour will be warming up, relaxation for actors, and working together in group improv exercises specifically designed to raise all of your work to a higher level.

Class is ongoing as openings arise. You may register in advance, for any 4 to 10 consecutive sessions. These are 4-hour sessions! There will be a short break after the June 27 class as Paula attends her son’s wedding.

$30 per any 4 consecutive sessions paid in advance: $120.
$25 per six consecutive sessions paid in advance: $150
$22 per eight consecutive sessions paid in advance: $176.
$20 per 10 sessions paid in advance: $200.

e-mail to reserve space or to schedule a private session.
russells@rockisland.com

paularussell — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:11:47 +0000

Sunday, July 18, 4PM – 6PM.
Paula Russell is one of 8 guest panelists for The Austin Actors Conservatory’s first Acting Teacher/Coach panel discussion.

The Conservatory believes it’s “important for the acting community to meet all of you and discover more about your services. An actor‚s work is never done. Keeping the instrument honed and ready for the next opportunity is vital to the success of an actor‚s career. Meet some of the leading area acting teachers and coaches to find a good match for your success.”
Open to all. Free to Conservatory members. ‘Fans” $20.
Location. Reel Women – Picture Box Studio
701 Tillery, Suite A-7
Austin, TX 78702
RSVP to Trish Avery at (800) 724-0767, option 7
or email: austinactorsconservatory@gmail.com

paularussell — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:11:29 +0000

Due to family emergency, the date for Paula’s Actors Workshop have changed.

The start date is now May 24th. Space is still available. THANK YOU for your patience.

Actors Workshop
Monday evenings. Begins May 24. 6:30 to 10:30
South Austin Studio on S. Lamar

Find that still and magic place within that lights up a screen. Customized to individual actors. Work on what you most want/need. Work on interview and audition techniques, in depth scene study, acting for film, commercials, monologs, workshop original material, musical performance, or use the session for in-depth acting exercises in preparation for a specific role, creative project or public speaking presentation. And learn to tell a good joke!

Because acting is like an athletic event requiring discipline, focus and skill, the first hour will always be warming up, relaxation for actors, and working together in group improv exercises specifically designed to raise all of your work to a higher level.

Paula Russell taught acting in LA in association with Emmy award winning director Joan Darling for 15 years. She has been a professional coach for 30 years. See paula-russell.com for workshop details, testimonials and philosophy.

Class will run from May 24 to July 26. That is 10 sessions. You can sign on for 4 or more. You may opt to take to pay for any 4 sessions at once or for all 10 in advance. These are 4-hour sessions! No fewer than 4 nor more than 10 in a class.

$30 per any 4 consecutive sessions paid in advance: $120.

$25 per six consecutive sessions paid in advance: $150.

$22 per eight consecutive sessions paid in advance: $176.

$20 per 10 sessions paid in advance: $200.

e-mail to reserve space or to schedule a private session.

This workshop is for adults. Contact Paula if you wish to spear-head a class for teenagers with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 students.

Paula is out of town for 8 weeks in August and September. In October she will be auditioning actors for the State Theatre Showcase. So stay in your classes and prepare for that!

Paula’s latest news.

paularussell — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:12:58 +0000

We just finished up two great classes at The State Theatre: advanced acting workshop and acting for film class.

Next up! Wednesday night Monologue class at State Theatre starts May 5th. Ongoing Monday workshops at Lamar studio start May 10th.

The State Theatre Showcase auditions will be in October. Paula will be teaching and directing that event. So stay in classes or get in class and start preparing.

Some of you already know, Paula has been taking care of her mother since November. Mother turns 88 on April 27th. She is doing better. So Paula is back to singing with the fabulous Russel Bros. at Artz, the Senior Center, jams at First Down, and a gig coming up at Hyde Park Southgate in May.

And the ongoing Monday workshop resumes! Yea! if you want more info on that, just email Paula at russells@rockisland.com.

paularussell — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:35:51 +0000

Congratulations to a deserving Bryan Poyser. His film Lovers of Hate has been accepted at Sundance! Paula Russell received screen thanks after she coached Chris Doubek and Heather Kafka, two of the films three lead actors. They were a joy to work with.

paularussell — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:22:36 +0000

On Weds. Jan 13, Paula and Babs, Gabe and MJ will be guest speakers at the Austin Network Mixer.
WHAT: The Network Austin Mixer
WHEN: Wednesday January 13- 7 PM — Network Till Late
WHERE: Mother Egan’s Irish Pub – 715 West 6th St. Austin, TX
WHO: Everyone involved in film, theatre and entertainment media… and YOU!
SPEAKERS: The Teaching staff of State Theatre School.

You wonderful Showcase Actors will be introduced, and we encourage you all to come with questions and any wisdom you may have to offer to the mix.
SHOWCASE UPDATE:
The scenes were so terrific, that, with Gabe’s help, we filmed them so that actors can send them out or agents can view them.

paularussell — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:48:19 +0000

Paula will be coaching/directing the State Theatre Industry Showcase. The auditions for the showcase had a huge turn out of excellent candidates.
Ten wonderful actors were chosen and will begin work on Sunday, October 25th for the Dec 2nd showcase. Paula’s Wednesday evening class at the State Theatre is also already full. Therefore, Paula will re-institute her Monday night ongoing workshop at her home studio. If you want to be on the list for that class or want more information, e-mail Paula at russells@rockisland.com. If you wish to observe her classes at State Theatre, contact Paula for details.
Reel Women of Austin, Texas will present Speed Mentoring with industry professionals including Casting Directors, Agents, Film editors, Directors, Producers, Coaches and much more. Paula will be mentoring as a coach. see reelwomen.com for details. And remember that men are welcome.

Summer Weekend Intensive and Fall State Theatre Industry Showcase

paularussell — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:21:06 +0000

Three-Day Weekend Intensive
for Actors, Directors, Teachers, Writers, Seekers & Others

Schedule for Three-Day Intensive Workshop: Limited to 10 students
6:30 P.M. – 10:30 P.M. Thursday, September 17, 2009
10 A.M.- 6 P.M. Saturday, September 19
10 A.M.- 6 P.M. Sunday, September 20
Summer low rate: $175!!
South Austin location, easy free parking.

Embrace mistakes, plan accidents; surprise yourself, fellow actors and your audience. Workshops are often a mix of highly trained professional actors and teachers with beginners. This is a healthy mix from which everyone benefits. Using wildly creative yet reliable classic acting techniques, within the specific disciplines of relaxation, character study and text breakdown, learn to stay spontaneous, true and unpredictable from cold reading to call-back to final performance in a safe and positive professional environment. Find that ‘still and magic place within that lights up a screen.’

Work is based on individual needs with one-on-one attention in the following:

* Relaxation: releases tension and behavior controls, heightens awareness
* Character Study through Improvisation: sensory / body work
* Character Study through Text: given circumstances, active objectives
* Personalizations through Theatre Games
* Staying in the Here and Now & Listening
* Full Use of the Self: tantrums, telling jokes, sensory work, back-story, etc.
* Working through Activities with Props and Food
* Using Surprises and Planned Accidents
* Breaking the “4th Wall”: a sense of place and play
* Eccentric Choices: Taking Chances, Embracing Mistakes
* Cold Reading & Audition Skills: First Reading to Final Callback
* Optional: monologs: 2 1/2 minutes max, scenes: 5 minutes max (with a partner)

Please dress in comfortable rehearsal clothes [no shorts; protect knees] in which you can move freely.

The weekend is a great way to start the work and then continue when you are available in the Monday drop-in to prep for interviews of any kind, hone auditions, performance or speaking engagement, practice commercial reading and monologues, and work out to keep that instrument tuned!

Paula will teach the SHOWCASE class for State Theatre. One must audition for this class on Oct. 11th. The class is 6 weeks. The Showcase for Casting Directors, Agents and Producers is Dec 2nd. See State Theatre website for details.

Paula will teach the 6 Week Beginning Acting Class at State Theatre starting October 14.