Alexis Black CV website

18 Pages·2015·0.11 MB·English

Black Curriculum Vitae 2015
Alexis Black
[email protected]
www.alexisblack.net
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
• Over 12 years as a professional actor and singer working in the United
States and Europe, including New York City, London, Germany, Austria,
France, Switzerland, Ohio, Vermont, New Hampshire and Virginia.
• Served as Movement Director and/or Fight Director for over 50
productions in Regional Theaters, New York City and Europe.
• Two years assisting Broadway and Regional Theatre Movement/
choreographer/fight director David Leong.
• Proud member of Actor's Equity Association, Society of American Fight
Directors, Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and Association
for Theatre in Higher Education.
• Currently working towards a Teaching Certification for the Michael
Chekhov Acting Technique.
Black Curriculum Vitae 2015
Education
MASTER of FINE ARTS; Performance Pedagogy
Emphasis in Movement Direction
Virginia Commonwealth University
Expected Graduation – May 2016
BACHELOR of FINE ARTS; Performance
Ohio University
2005
GREAT LAKES MICHAEL CHEKHOV ASSOCIATION
Certified Teacher Candidate of the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique
Kent State University
Expected Graduation-- June 2017
Teaching Areas of Specialization
Movement for the Actor
A Physical Acting class, expanding emotional range of accessibility and
physical range of movement through physical scene work, and exercises in
breath, tempo, rhythm, levels and risk.
Advanced Movement for the Actor
Advanced study of movement for actors emphasizing in strong physical
control, flexibility and specialized physical performance techniques.
Introduction to Acting
An introduction to and exploration of performance skills through theatre
games, role-playing, improvisation and work on basic script units.
Black Curriculum Vitae 2015
Advanced Acting
Advanced study of acting fundamentals, and practicing toward competency
of applying these techniques to monologues and scene study.
Voice and Speech
Basic instruction of Knight Thompson based speech work, Fitzmaurice and
the International Phonetic Alphabet.
Audition Technique
An examination of the professional audition for all theatrical environments
including study of skills needed to gain access to the professional world of
theatre.
Shakespearean Text and Performance
Beginning and continuing skills with Shakespearian scene work, with
scansion and scoring, focusing on breath and specificity in performance.
Viewpoints and Suzuki
Introduction to specialized skills used for the creation of a vibrant physical
performance, combining physical techniques with monologues and scene
work.
Devising Theatre
Introductory to intermediate exploration of devising original theatrical work,
both through text and physical improvisation techniques.
Stage Combat/Violence
Introductory to advanced violence classes for students of acting, directing
and design focusing on the skills needed to create violence onstage with
emphasis in storytelling. Unarmed, rapier, quarterstaff, broadsword, knife,
physical comedy and contemporary violence.
Acting and Fights for Film
Introductory to intermediate techniques to transfer violent storytelling to on-
screen work. Grappling and found weapons.
Black Curriculum Vitae 2015
University Teaching Experience
INTRO TO ACTING
Virginia Commonwealth University
(Fall 2015, Spring 2016) Instructor of an introduction to and exploration of performance
skills; with a focus on theatre games, improvisation, rehearsal techniques and work on
basic script units.
DRAMATIC LITERATURE & APPRECIATION
Virginia Commonwealth University
(Fall 2014) Section Instructor of Introduction to Drama, including facilitation of in-depth
discussion, lectures, and grading. Led students as they discussed literary and theatrical
merit, and developed their abilities to analyze modern theatrical scripts.
MOVEMENT FOR THE ACTOR
Virginia Commonwealth University
(Fall 2014, Spring 2015) Assisted Patti D’Beck with Movement for the Actor for
Sophomores, including leading warm ups, teaching class in the instructor’s absence,
evaluation of student work.
WINNING PRESENTATIONS
Virginia Commonwealth University
(Fall 2015, Spring 2016) Instructed Business Majors on the study and practice of
delivering presentations for small group gatherings and large audiences. The course
focuses on preparation, design, and delivery.
Black Curriculum Vitae 2015
WINNING PRESENTATIONS
Virginia Commonwealth University
(Spring 2015) Assisted Marisa Guida on a presentation class built for business majors.
EFFECTIVE SPEECH
Virginia Commonwealth University
(Spring 2016) Constructing and presenting an engaging public speech, with a focus on
developing extemporaneous presentation skills overcoming the fear of public address.
MOVEMENT FOR GRADUATE ACTORS
Columbia University
(Spring 2010) Assisted Qui Nguyen as a guest instructor in Movement for the Graduate
Actor, focus on Theatrical Violence. We worked with physical conditioning and stage
combat including capoeira techniques, unarmed fighting and rapier.
MOVEMENT FOR THE ACTOR
Long Island University
(Spring 2013) Assisted Alicia Rodis in Movement for the Actor, with a focus on combat
for the stage. Training in unarmed attacks, falls, rolls, sword work and basic techniques of
choreography.
MOVEMENT AND ACTING FOR FILM
New York Film Academy
(Spring 2014) Assisted Ray Rodriguez for Acting/ Movement for Film, with a focus on
stage combat and stunt techniques in on-screen scene work, including unarmed, knife
combat, falls, rolls and grappling.
Black Curriculum Vitae 2015
Related Teaching Experience and Workshops
DEVISED THEATER 2015
iRT Theatre, The Westside Experiment, NYC
Co-Teacher with Qui Nguyen (OBIE award-winning Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company),
with a focus on movement and acting skills through creating an original piece of theater in
collaboration with a working theater company.
IMPROVISATION 2015
Highland Springs High School, Richmond, VA
Taught a workshop on improvisation and storytelling for high school students.
SUMMER ARTS INTENSIVE, 2015
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Stage Combat Instructor – An intensive in basic unarmed, rapier and broadsword stage
combat, martial logic and safety.
STAGE COMBAT 2014
St. Gertrude High School, Richmond, VA
Taught several workshops on the art of stage violence for high school students.
VIEWPOINTS 2014
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Taught Viewpoints Workshop to undergraduate Directing Students. Worked through
methods of Viewpoints focusing on spatial relationships, tempo, rhythm and gesture.
VIEWPOINTS 2015
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Taught Viewpoints Workshop to undergraduate acting students. Worked through
Viewpoints, focused on special relationships, gesture, and Vocal Viewpoints.
Black Curriculum Vitae 2015
OFFICE ENSEMBLE BUILDING 2014
Trust Fall Meets Stage Combat, The Frontier Project, Richmond, VA
Assisted Aaron Anderson for a team-building exercise with The Frontier Project. Applied
sword fighting to building a team in the office atmosphere with over 60 corporate office
workers.
SHAKESPEAREAN TEXT: Analysis and Performance 2009
American Globe Theatre, NY
Led discussion sessions on Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, talking through theme,
costumes, staging, text, stage combat, acting in general with middle school through high
school students.
MOVEMENT 2009
Rabid Vamps Studio, Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, NY
Assisted Qui Nguyen with weekly physical conditioning through comedy and combat
movement techniques. Special focus on eastern weapons and forms of movement
including: Katana, Escrima and Capoeira.
Specialized Training and Certification
MICHAEL CHEKHOV ACTING TECHNIQUE
Certified in Year one of three year Teaching Certification Program from The Great Lakes
Michael Chekhov Consortium.
VIEWPOINTS
4 week Intensive with Anne Bogart, and SITI Company members Barney O’Hanlon,
Akiko Aizawa, J. Ed Araiza, Will Bond, Gian-Murray Gianino, Leon Ingulsrud, Ellen
Lauren, Kelly Maurer
Black Curriculum Vitae 2015
SUZUKI
4 week Intensive led by SITI Company Members Akiko Aizawa, J. Ed Araiza, Will Bond,
Gian-Murray Gianino, Leon Ingulsrud, Ellen Lauren
VIEWPOINTS/ SUZUKI
2 week workshop with Barney O’Hanlon of SITI Company
COMPOSITION/ DEVISED THEATRE
Weekly classes during 4 Week SITI Company Workshop with Anne Bogart. Devised
theatre pieces, worked on composition.
STAGE COMBAT
Advanced Actor/Combatant with Society of American Fight Directors, extensive
experience in choreography and instruction.
Recommended Passes and extensive experience in Unarmed, Rapier/Dagger, Single
Sword, Broadsword and Shield, Quarterstaff, Knife. Experience with Katana, Kali, nun-
chucks, Whip tricks/cracks.
PUPPETRY
Intensive in Bunraku-style puppetry with Tom Lee of Hand Spring Puppetry.
MIME
Graduate level course training from Instructor David Leong.
VOICE AND SPEECH, IPA for the Actor
Linklater and Knight-Thompson Training with with Susan Schuld.
SHAKESPEARE
Scene study and monologue work in London, England with Bridget Panet of RADA.
Black Curriculum Vitae 2015
National/Regional Theatre Conferences
Objective-fying Violence: From Keaton to Conan
Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) annual convention
Tallahassee, TN, 2015
Fighting with the Best Intentions
Virginia Thespian Conference,
Fairfax, VA, 2015
Leadership Retreat Development and Coordination Committee
Roosevelt High School Leadership Retreat,
Kent, OH, 2001
Black Curriculum Vitae 2015
Honors and Awards
New York Innovative Theatre Awards, 2013
Nominee: Outstanding Choreography/Movement of 2013, NYC, NY
Queens Kudos Awards, 2013
Winner: Outstanding Actor/Actress in a Play, The Times Ledger, Queens, NY
Outstanding Performances, 2004
Winner: Best Performance of 2004, Cape Cod Times, Cape Cod, MA
Presidential Scholarship, Ohio University
Academic Scholarship, Full College Tuition, Four Years 2001-2005
Graduate School Scholarship, Virginia Commonwealth University
Scholarship from Program Director recommendation, 2014
Graduate Full Assistantship, Virginia Commonwealth University
Scholarship from Program Director recommendation, 2015- 2016