Two Headed Monster: Writing and Performing for the Stage

This is an open-admission program for all interested students, regardless of their level of experience. Instructors will work with your child at their level. Students will improve and learn new skills, whether they are a beginner or have been acting and performing for years. They do, however, need to be willing to project their voices and act onstage.

Before arrival, students will receive a request to submit a short video of themselves answering a few questions about their areas of interest and experience.

Please note that this video will not impact your child’s admission to the program; this is an open-admission program for students of all skill levels. Rather, the video will be utilized to determine your child’s skill level and to help with casting decisions for the production that students will put on during the intensive.

Please also note that although this is an open admission program (no formal audition is required upon entry), students will have casting auditions at camp after working with faculty.

• Water bottle (very important to stay hydrated)
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• A backpack or bag to carry your script and personal items to and from rehearsals
• Closed-toed shoes/tennis shoes to rehearse in (no flip flops, sandals, or crocs)
• Black/dark dress or skirt, or black/dark leggings, pants and/or jeans
• Black dress, character, or jazz shoes, closed-toe dress shoes, or black sneakers
• Black socks
• Comfortable clothes you can move in
• Hair ties or clips for long hair
• White tank tops/undershirts/tee shirts

This is an anticipated list of items needed for this workshop. You may be required to bring additional items pertaining to the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs prior to the program.

In week one, Two-Headed Monster: Writing and Performing for the Stage is focused primarily on the students writing an original play. The day will begin with games and warm-ups aimed at building trust in the group, and strengthening vocal and physical performance skills. In the first week more exercises to generate ideas will follow, along with whole-group, breakout group and feedback discussions. There is time for individual writing, small group writing and editing. We will set aside time for some afternoon workshops in stage makeup/design/costuming as needed. Week one days are typically 9am to 4pm.

In week two we will be focusing on rehearsals in the morning, afternoon and in the evenings after dinner until we are ready for the performance of our original script! Week two will require evening rehearsals as we work toward our culmination before a live audience. Days are typically, but not limited to, 9am to 4pm AND 7pm to 9pm. These are long and thrilling days that have always been well worth the effort.

Abbie Bosworth is a writer, performer, director, and teacher. Abbie has a BA in Combined Honors Spanish and Theatre from the University of Birmingham in the UK (1990). She has an MFA in Creative Writing for the Performing Arts from UC Riverside (2008). Abbie began her career teaching English and Theatre in Manchester UK as well as being involved as a director and performer in the Manchester Arts Festival.

Abbie continued to work in educational and devised theatre when she moved to Southern California in 2000, collaboratin with such diverse communities as inmates at Patton State Hospital, students through the Riverside and San Bernardino Arts Councils, and at Montessori in Redlands. Abbie devised curriculum and managed the Montessori of Redlands Middle School program between 2003 and 2005.

Abbie’s short story, Glass Eye, was published in the 2006 Monsters and Villains edition of CRATE and her play Left Luggage was performed at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in February 2007. Her play, So Many Good Ways to be Bad was commissioned for, and performed by The San Bernardino Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance in collaboration with Cal State San Bernardino in January 2010. She had one of her plays, Greta in the Forest read at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica, where she is a member of a New Play Development program.

Abbie was previously the chair of the InterArts Department at Idyllwild Arts and taught Theatre and Playwriting since 2006. She coordinated a yearly collaboration between the Creative Writing and Theatre departments.

Rendon Ramsey served as Theatre Faculty at IA from 2006-2021. He co-created THM in the summer of 2016 and ran it for several seasons. In 2021 Rendon moved to Seattle with his family and is currently the Head of Acting and Director of Theatre at The Northwest School. In addition Rendon works as a private acting coach through rendonramsey.com, a freelance Director, and has recently worked as a teaching artist with the Seattle Shakespeare Co., the Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Coyote Central. Rendon holds an MFA in Acting (Cal Arts), a BA in Speech (UW), and an AA in Acting (AADA).

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