ETI students in Engaged Theatre production of Merchant of Venice, 2006
Lance McQueen and Luisa de Paula, ETI students, 2011
Kiki Yeung and Tony Leahy, ETI Students in Shakespeare Showcase, 2011
Lance McQueen, Jonathan Nawn in Freeholds Engaged Theatre production of Pericles, 2011
ETI students in Engaged Theatre production of Merchant of Venice, 2006
ETI students in Shakespeare Recital, 2011

Ensemble Training Intensive (ETI)

Note:  ETI is offered every three years as Freehold resources permit.  The information and schedule below apply to the 2010-2011 session of ETI.  We will update this page when we have information regarding our next session.

FREEHOLD’S ENSEMBLE TRAINING INTENSIVE (ETI)
2010-2011
in collaboration with
New Century Theatre Company & Seattle Repertory Theatre

 is designed for emerging artists who are ready to make a vocational commitment to the theatre. 

ETI is a ten-month conservatory course offered every three years that focuses on developing the technical skills necessary to meet the demands of classical text and contemporary material composed in extraordinary form. Our program will enable participants to:

  • Gain a solid grounding in the technical skills necessary to develop a full, articulate expression of their physical and vocal instrument.
  • Work through fundamental technical skills with Shakespeare's text, and integrate those into working on a role. 
  • Develop an organic approach to fulfill the demands of classical and contemporary plays. 
  • Understand and take responsibility for their own artistic contributions in rehearsal and performance.
  • Integrate and apply the skills of all disciplines to the actor's transformation into character.

The Courses
The curriculum includes dramatic action, movement, stage combat, voice and speech, character, verse structure, and special topics.

The program also includes two recitals and one production that will tour to non-traditional theatre venues, which ensures substantial performing opportunities for each student.

We limit the class size to 15 students and offer group and tutorial sessions.

The Instructors
We have witnessed powerful, exponential leaps in actors' work when we team-teach at several junctures. We incorporated this approach in the structure of the ETI. The instructors work as a team to help the students integrate the various disciplines into a cohesive process.

The instructors are New Century Theatre Company Members and Freehold Faculty and are working professionals who have earned their spurs throughout the country in acting, directing, and teaching. Instructors include Robin Lynn Smith, George Lewis, Amy Thone, Hans Altwies, Darragh Kennan, Hal Ryder, MJ Seiber, Paul Morgan Stetler, Marya Sea Kaminski, Kim White, Joel Benjamin, Gin Hammond, and guest artists.

The Participants
The program is designed for artists who are ready to take on the rigor and responsibility of this technical intensive that involves 30 hours a week in class and ensemble rehearsal, as well as individual drill and preparation time.

Tuition and Schedule
Fall Term: September 6 - December 18, 2010
Winter Term: January 18 - April 30, 2011
Spring Performance/Tour: May 9 - July 3, 2011

Class Schedule
The following schedule is for the first twelve weeks of the winter quarter.  The last three weeks of the quarter will be incorporating rehearsals for the Solo Performance Festival with extended Sunday rehearsal times.

Mondays
12:30 pm - 2pm: Stage Combat
2:30pm - 4:30pm: Voice/Speech
5:00pm - 10:00pm: Acting - Shakespeare

Thursdays
7:00 am - 8:30am: Yoga with Joel Benjamin
8:30am - 10:00am: Stage Combat
10:00am - 12:pm: Shakespeare

Fridays
8:00 am - 10:00am: Voice/Speech
10:00am - 1:00pm: Business/Voice Over with GIn Hammond
1:30pm - 5:30pm: Acting for the Camera

Sundays
9:00pm - 12:00pm: Audition - text and singing
12:30pm - 2:00pm: Yoga

Tuition is $8,500 for 10-month program. Following acceptance students will be asked to register and pay-in-full or commit to a payment plan. Students may be eligible for a continuing education loan. Freehold is also accepting applications for our Diversity Scholarship.

Alumni
Students who completed the program have found professional work in New York and Los Angeles, as well as in local theatres such as The Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, ACT Theatre, and in regional theatres beyond Seattle.

"The ETI Program is a great one! Anyone who really does the work will have all one needs to stand above the crowd. Confidence is the only tool the training can't give you, but knowing you have everything else in your acting kit should boost your confidence to high heaven. Out here [in LA] you'll need it. Freehold will give you all the rest. I do feel truly blessed to have been a part of the organization. I can never thank Freehold enough."

ETI 1999

Eugenia Andruchowicz
Linnet Blumenthal
Ginger Culver
Lauren Hendler
Richard Hesik
Jesse Hinds
Sylvester Kamara
Christine Larsen
Stephanie McBain
Maia McCarthy
Niamh Molloy
Kevin Moore
Katherine Pierini
Deb Prince
Shawn Robinson
Clarke Zeman

ETI 2002

Laura Castle
Demone Gore
Nancy Griffin
Simon Hamlin
Sim Heninger
Lee Ann Hittenberger
May Nazareno
Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney
Danielle Reierson
Jonathan Reis
Gregory Singleton
Jack Swaney
Katt Tait
Alyssa Tomoff
Amber Zipperer

ETI 2006

Precious Butiu
Don Carter
Ben Cournoyer
Amber Cutlip
David Friedt
Trina Harris
Shamar Larkin
Michelle Kamberger
Scott Maddock
Kirsten McCory
Lori Stein
Sara Rucker Thiessen
Robert Dale Walker
Derek Kavan

ETI 2010

Monica Chilton
Kevin Dailey
Elizabeth Deutsch
Luisa de Paula Collova
Lori Evans
Anthony Leahy
Parker Matthews
Lance McQueen
Phillip Mitchell
Jonathan Nawn
Riley Neldam
Caleb Slavens
Melissa Topscher
Amy Wason
Kiki Yeung

 ETI is offered every three years as Freehold resources permit.  The above schedule applies only to the 2010-2011 session of ETI.  We will update this page when we have information regarding our next session.