Acting Class: It’s Not as Scary as You Think

Jane Terry

This summer, Jane Terry tried something new: She took her first acting class. We asked Jane, who is the president and chief operating officer of Ajax Boiler Inc., to tell us what it was like to be a first-timer in one of SCR’s classes. Here’s what she had to say:

As a manufacturing executive—and one who has never set foot on a theatrical stage—I found the adult acting class to be a welcome relief and distraction from my daily operations at the factory.

I am an early riser, and so the class hours (Mondays, 7-10 p.m.) almost dissuaded me from signing up. But the teachers were generous with us, cutting slack as needed. My classmates were from all walks of life—attorneys, civil servants, business people, students, and retired people. Many had enjoyed acting during some part of their life—primarily in childhood—while some of us never acted before. So we had quite a range in age and experience to draw from.

Students rehearse a scene in class.

The first couple of classes just broke the ice for us; after that, we selected monologues to deliver in the fourth class. Next we were assigned partners, and performed skits in front of the class. We spent time working of them, incorporating stage blocking and developing their flow, and most became very nice pieces. Not everyone was able to memorize their lines, but we all enjoyed watching our classmates perform, and helping each other as best we could.

All in all, the work was fun enough that I may continue with this as a hobby. It was refreshing to step away from a world of spreadsheets and manufacturing disciplines to enter a new one comprised of endless possibilities of the imagination.

For more information on any of SCR’s acting and writing classes for adults, teens and kids, click here