We are so excited to host a fall series of adult classes with three exceptionally talented artists: Chris Harder, Val Landrum, and Andrea Stolowitz, all of whom have worked with Shaking the Tree on theatrical projects!

All classes with be held in person at Shaking the Tree's Office/rehearsal space
2136 SE 8th Avenue
If you have any other questions or would like to request any accommodations, please reach out to our Education Director, Dani Baldwin.

Presence & Play: An Acting Workshop

$90.00

Instructor: Chris Harder

Mondays, September 28 & October 5 – 6-9pm

Discover how presence and play can strengthen connections and reduce stress. Through acting exercises and ensemble activities, learn to show up more fully while on stage as well as in everyday life. This supportive workshop introduces foundational techniques to build presence, spark creativity, and foster meaningful engagement. Whether you want to improve performance, deepen relationships, or rediscover the joy of play, you’ll have space to explore in a low-pressure environment. All levels are welcome; no acting experience is required.

Chris Harder is a professional actor, director, and certified health and life coach with 25+ years of experience in theatre, film, and television. He has performed in 60+ professional productions. More importantly, Chris is passionate about using acting tools to help people discover presence, build meaningful connection, and access their own creativity. He has led workshops for creative teams, organizations, and communities throughout the PNW, helping participants rediscover the joy of play. His teaching is warm, engaging, and grounded in the belief that everyone, regardless of experience, can benefit from learning to be more present and playful.

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The Authentic Character

$135.00

​Instructor: Val Landrum

Mondays, October 12, 19, 26 – 6-9pm

Creating an authentic character involves tapping into all human superpowers. Learn to use your five senses, physicality, and vocal apparatus to build a character that feels grounded, real, and engaging. This class will also include dialect work, Viewpoints techniques, and several elements of the Uta Hagen system. A comprehensive class for both film and theatrical storytelling.

Val Landrum began her teaching career in Chicago with Steppenwolf Theatre and Second City. Having moved to Portland 25 years ago, she has taught a variety of different acting techniques for Portland Actors Conservatory, Oregon Children's Theatre, NWCT, Portland Center Stage and Artists Repertory Theatre. She has been a dialect coach for several regional and local theatres including PCS, ART, NWCT and OCT. A professional actor since she was 4 yrs old, she received most of her early training at the Piven Workshop, Steppenwolf Theatre and SITI Company. Val has worked regionally and internationally and was a Resident Artist with ART for over a decade where she was in over 20 productions. She has also worked locally for PCS, Portland Playhouse, Third Rail, Profile, and Shaking the Tree as the Fig in Forbidden Fruit. 

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Playwriting Workshop

$135.00

Instructor: Andrea Stolowitz

Mondays, November 2, 9, 16 – 6-9pm

Playwright Andrea Stolowitz leads writers through a fast-moving, hands-on exploration of how plays begin and how we follow them into unexpected territory. Through writing exercises, reading, discussion, and sharing work aloud, participants will generate material; and discover ways to move from an initial impulse toward a scene or short play. Experiment with strategies for getting unstuck, creating vivid theatrical worlds, and letting characters make active choices that propel a story forward. Writers at all levels are welcome. Come ready to experiment, take risks, and play.

Andrea Stolowitz is an internationally produced playwright and award-winning educator whose work spans theater, opera, and devised performance. A recent graduate of New Dramatists, the renowned seven-year residency for playwrights in New York City, she has taught at NYU Tisch, Willamette University, University of Portland, Portland State University, NUI Galway, Duke University, and UC San Diego, and has been twice recognized for excellence in teaching. Her plays have been produced and developed across the United States and internationally and have received numerous awards, commissions, and fellowships, including three Oregon Book Awards. Andrea brings extensive professional experience in new-play development and production into the classroom. andreastolowitz.com

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