QUEER 
STORY       
LAB

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​​ACTING INTRO / REBOOT

Cost:  $395  (NOTE:  For the spring session only, since this is a pilot class, the cost will only be $295)

Number of Spots:  10 

Where:  Harvey Milk Rec Center, Dance Studio (in Duboce Park)

When:  Saturdays 10am-1pm

 

This beginner-friendly class is also ideal for experienced actors seeking a fresh, honest approach. With minimal out-of-class work or memorization, the focus is on moment-to-moment work with scene partners and trusting that where you are now is enough. While some scene study is included, this course largely emphasizes presence, authenticity, and a growth mindset. You'll explore various techniques—including sense memory, substitution, Meisner Technique, and Hagen exercises—to discover what resonates when instinct isn't enough. The goal? Practice being honest, present, and playful without the inner critic interfering. Will you pretend to be an inanimate object? Not here. Perform a self-written scene as yourself? Maybe! Use a favorite song as a nonmusical monologue? You'll have to find out! Just bring sensible shoes and an open mind.

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SCENE STUDY WITH QUEER TEXTS

 

Cost:  $395  (NOTE:  For the spring session only, since this is a pilot class, the cost will only be $295)

Number of Spots:  10 

Where:  Harvey Milk Rec Center, Dance Studio (in Duboce Park)

When: 2-5pm

 

This is a traditional scene study class in the sense that we will focus on learning to break a scene into "beats" based on your character’s objectives and personalize them for a more authentic connection. But here’s the twist: you choose your scene from a selection of contemporary queer plays and films, and your character choice isn’t bound by gender. You decide what resonates with your growth and self-exploration. Building on Level 1, this class deepens moment-to-moment work with higher stakes and dialogue from the greats. We'll also supplement the work with vocal exercises, explorations of physicalization, and sensory work. You will be working on three scenes total with each ideally being more out of your comfort zone emotionally. Although the Intro/Reboot class is not a prerequisite, it's recommended if you're brand new to acting.

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If you want to register for either class, please fill out this online application and we'll get back to you soon.

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If you want to meet the instructor first, you can schedule an online chat here. ​

 

If you are an instructor interested in teaching in one of the planned Future Offerings below—or whatever your area of expertise—please fill out this Teacher Interest Form.

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If you are a prospective student interested in taking one of the planned Future Offerings below—or another class you may want—please fill out this Student Interest Form.

 

 

​​CLASS WISHLIST FOR QUEER STORY LAB:​​

 

1. Acting & Performance Classes

• Queer Acting for Stage & Screen – Acting techniques with a focus on queer narratives and identity.

• Character Development for Queer Performers – Deep-dive into crafting authentic and nuanced characters.

• Scene Study with Queer Texts – Performing scenes from queer plays, films, and TV scripts.

• Improvisation & Queer Comedy – Improv skills with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ storytelling and humor.

• Monologue Workshop – Crafting and performing compelling monologues, with a focus on personal and queer experiences.

• Audition Prep for LGBTQ+ Actors – Training for auditions, from classical to contemporary roles.

• Movement & Embodiment for Queer Performers – Exploring physicality in performance, with an emphasis on gender expression.

• Voice & Speech for Queer Actors – Developing vocal power, articulation, and confidence, with attention to gender and identity.

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2. Writing & Storytelling Classes

• Queer Screenwriting – Writing for film and TV with a focus on authentic queer narratives.

• Playwriting for a New Queer Canon – Developing original plays with LGBTQ+ themes.

• Writing the Queer Memoir – Crafting personal essays and memoir pieces that reflect identity and experience.

• Short Fiction with a Queer Lens – Writing short stories that explore diverse queer perspectives.

• Queer Poetry – Explore poetry as self-expression and resistance, crafting work that embraces queer identity, desire, and joy.

• Live Storytelling – Crafting your best queer stories in real time for a live audience.

• Writing the Monologue – Developing compelling solo pieces for performance.

• Writing and Acting for Solo Performance – Creating dynamic, live-performed written work.

• Queer Adaptations – Reimagining classic stories, myths, and historical narratives through a queer lens.

• Worldbuilding & Speculative Queer Fiction – Crafting new worlds and alternate realities centered on LGBTQ+ experiences.

• The Queer Comedian – Figuring out what your unique brand is as a queer stand-up and sketch comedian.

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3. Production & Industry-Focused Classes

• DIY Queer Filmmaking – Writing, directing, and producing short films on a budget.

• Directing for Queer Storytellers – Fundamentals of directing stage and screen performances.

• Producing Queer Stories – Navigating the business side of creating LGBTQ+ content.

• Acting & Writing for Web Series & Digital Media – Creating content for YouTube, TikTok, and web-based platforms.

• Navigating Hollywood as a Queer Artist – Industry insights, networking, and pitching LGBTQ+ stories.

• Queer Youth Theater-Making & Devised Performance – Collaborative creation of new performance pieces for queer teens.

• The Queer Actors Reel – Creating a reel from scenes and monologues you write for yourself – and your classmates.

• Queer Story Lab Repertory Company – A new experiment in repertory writing and performance for queer artists. 

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4. Special Topics & Experimental Classes

• Drag as Performance Art – Exploring the art of drag as storytelling, character creation, and political expression.

• Deconstructing Dating – Approaching the do's and don'ts of modern dating through writing, scene study, and improv. 

• Queer Cabaret & Variety Show Performance – Creating and performing queer cabaret acts.

• Writing & Performing Queer Erotica – Exploring sexuality, intimacy, and desire in writing and performance.

• LGBTQ+ History Through Theater & Film – A deep dive into queer storytelling in media over time.

• The Art of Criticism – Looking at the history and value of reading and writing art criticism from a queer perspective.

• Life in Death – A multi-media queer take on grief and how to work through it artistically.

• Gender & Performance – Exploring gender fluidity, masculinity, and femininity through acting and movement.

• Queer Horror & Camp Storytelling – Writing and performing in the genres of horror, camp, and the absurd.

• Queering the Classics – Reinterpreting classical theater and literature through an LGBTQ+ perspective.

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