QUICK-RAISE PRACTICON
A three-day intensive for artistic and education leaders of STA member organizations
Monday January 5 - Wednesday January 7, 2026
Monday January 5 - Wednesday January 7, 2026
"'Twere Well It Were Done Quickly"
Shakespeare's actors raised their productions in only two-to-three days. How did they do this?
The ‘Quick Raise’ is a process devised by Ben Crystal, of making professional grade live theatre with minimal rehearsal time. It is an ensemble language inspired by the process used in Elizabethan theatre by Shakespeare and his players, fused with modern techniques.
Over the course of the three days, participants will be guided to working only with their cue-script (which we’ll give out at close of Day 1), and folx will be wafted away from the easy trap of traditional rehearsal practice.
It is exciting, challenging, thoroughly invigorating and surprisingly effective.
In this intensive experience participants will learn the tools to create an ensemble and raise a show of scenes - without a director - in just two-and-a-half days.
Together we will gently hold a focussed, informal, safe, honest, music-filled, play-fuelled space, with a mix of focused physical movement, careful text work, and time held to digest, discuss, and apply techniques.
Participants will be invited to work barefoot, and in movement clothes. Please bring water, something warm to wear while we work on text, and something to write with.
Participants are very welcome to use languages other than English.
Note: there will be a therapy assistance dog present in the workshop space.
Led by Ben Crystal with Andrew Codispoti of The Shakespeare Ensemble (Global), assisted by Incite Shakespeare's Edward Daranyi, and targeted carousel coaching from Elm Shakespeare's Rebecca Goodheart (New Haven, Connecticut, USA), Incite Shakespeare’s Ariana Karp (Sante Fe, New Mexico, US), and Gamut Theatre’s Clark Nicholson (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, US), over this three-day intensive experience participants will learn the tools to create an ensemble and raise a show of scenes - without a director - in just two-and-a-half days.
Registration:
Cost (in USD):
The ‘Quick Raise’ is a process devised by Ben Crystal, of making professional grade live theatre with minimal rehearsal time. It is an ensemble language inspired by the process used in Elizabethan theatre by Shakespeare and his players, fused with modern techniques.
Over the course of the three days, participants will be guided to working only with their cue-script (which we’ll give out at close of Day 1), and folx will be wafted away from the easy trap of traditional rehearsal practice.
It is exciting, challenging, thoroughly invigorating and surprisingly effective.
In this intensive experience participants will learn the tools to create an ensemble and raise a show of scenes - without a director - in just two-and-a-half days.
Together we will gently hold a focussed, informal, safe, honest, music-filled, play-fuelled space, with a mix of focused physical movement, careful text work, and time held to digest, discuss, and apply techniques.
Participants will be invited to work barefoot, and in movement clothes. Please bring water, something warm to wear while we work on text, and something to write with.
Participants are very welcome to use languages other than English.
Note: there will be a therapy assistance dog present in the workshop space.
Led by Ben Crystal with Andrew Codispoti of The Shakespeare Ensemble (Global), assisted by Incite Shakespeare's Edward Daranyi, and targeted carousel coaching from Elm Shakespeare's Rebecca Goodheart (New Haven, Connecticut, USA), Incite Shakespeare’s Ariana Karp (Sante Fe, New Mexico, US), and Gamut Theatre’s Clark Nicholson (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, US), over this three-day intensive experience participants will learn the tools to create an ensemble and raise a show of scenes - without a director - in just two-and-a-half days.
Registration:
- Limited to paid-dues members of STA
- Limited to 50 active participants only, all of whom will be assigned scenes for performance. No observers, sorry.
Cost (in USD):
- Quick Raise Practicon + Main Conference - $700 Early Bird until November 12 / $800 Regular
Includes lunch every day (Mon-Sat), Wednesday reception & final banquet + 1 performance ticket to each show in the International Performance Festival (ticket costs are covered but must be reserved separately via the venue's ticketing system to ensure availability - details will be forwarded to registrants.)
- Quick-Raise Practicon Stand Alone - $300 Early Bird until November 12 / $400 Regular
Includes lunch every day (Mon-Wed) + 1 performance ticket to the shows playing Mon-Wed in the International Performance Festival (ticket costs are covered but must be reserved separately via the venue's ticketing system to ensure availability - details will be forwarded to registrants.)