Point Loma Playhouse is a nonprofit training center for the performing arts offering novices and veterans alike an opportunity to learn and polish their skills.
“My greatest satisfaction is seeing people come into a class or a play, and six- or eight weeks later, after being on stage: it changes their lives,” said David Sein, director of ActLiveNow. “It’s really amazing. I’ve had people walk in with their heads down and never said a word. And after eight weeks – you couldn’t shut them up.”
Added Sein: “That’s my pleasure, seeing people grow once they are on stage, whether they’re younger or older. We have people who are up in age, yet they’re still able to get up on stage and perform, and it becomes a big part of their lives.”
Sein said learning to manage stage fright is an unavoidable part of being an actor and performing. “I’ve done a few things on stage and it is always a panic before,” he said. “But once you do it you go, ‘Wow.’ Acting is one of those crazy things. You can be a plumber or a stockbroker, but an actor is a whole different genre. It’s amazing what you can see up there, and the pleasure you can get from it.”
The Point Loma Playhouse offers creative and performance workshops year-round. Workshops are unique in that all levels are invited, from beginners to veterans. They get on stage, and learn through educational staff, then the workshops culminate with a performance in front of a live audience.
Structured workshops at PLP vary from two days to eight weeks and support a positive, constructive, safe environment for actors. Intensive workshops develop acting skills uncovering new tools needed for actors to be interesting and feel confident on stage. Talented directors are utilized to form an acting troupe from students enrolled in the class that brings everyone to their next performance level. The workshops culminate with a performance in front of a live audience.
“Wherever I’ve lived I’ve always started a playhouse or workshop,” confided Sein. “We started in Point Loma in 2006 and we started growing and growing and more people came. Then we decided, in 2008, to become a nonprofit where we were able to have donors. We had our 10th anniversary in 2018, and we’re still going.”
How the historic Point Loma Assembly building became the playhouse is an interesting tale that Sein related. “I was riding my bike by there one day and I said, ‘What is this place?’ So I knocked on the door. We (ended up) working out a plan with them where we can use the theater there, and it’s been working out fine.”
For more information, visit pointlomaplayhouse.com or actlivenow.com.
POINT LOMA PLAYHOUSE
Point Loma Playhouse was founded in 2006 as Point Loma Actors Theatre in the historic building of the Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St. This ‘Beginner Actor Workshop’ was directed by David Sein while founding education director, Patty Hume, showcased a variety of comedic short scenes and monologues. Over time, the organization has developed a plethora of workshops, classes, and full-scale productions. In 2015, PLP received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and changed its name to Point Loma Playhouse. Most performances occur in the historic Point Loma Assembly Building.
MISSION
The purpose of the PLP is to present quality theatre to the public, provide educational opportunities to actors, directors, writers, and designers to develop their creative skills, and offer collaborative opportunities for community members to be involved in the production of theatre. PLP is committed as an organization to serving and uplifting communities of color in San Diego. The playhouse is constantly striving to fill acting roles with racial equitable policies that make productions satisfying to all races, colors, and creeds.
WORKSHOPS
Improvisation: Teaching the core components of improv, listening skills and your ability to be “in the moment” is strongly emphasized.
Musical Theatre: Learn basic fundamentals and mechanics of vocal technique while expanding vocal range, power, and confidence. Learn new repertoire both as a soloist and in a duet.
Playwriting 101: A six-week course designed for beginning to intermediate playwrights. Teaches the foundation of dramatic writing. You will write extensively, working with such concepts as character objectives and tactics, conflict, dramatic language, and style in order to focus your dramatic vision and shape it into a completed short play.
Screenwriting: This course takes the three acts of a screenplay and demystifies these terms and keeps it simple: nearly all narrative fiction (movies, TV, novels) can fit into the template of these three acts.
Shakespeare: Summer “Shakes” is a workshop for actors who want to explore Shakespeare in a fun, collaborative environment culminating in a performance before a live audience.
Stand-Up Comedy: This hilarious workshop gives you the tools you need to put together a bang-up comedy routine while improving your public speaking, being a better MC, honing your comedic writing skills, and improving your performance techniques.
