What's So Funny? (with EMMA SIMON)

What holds us back from experiencing life through a childlike sense of wonder and  curiosity?

In this class, participants will explore what is uniquely engaging, endearing, and hysterical about themselves. The imagination and physical instrument will be stimulated through ensemble games and activities, and participants will be encouraged to share the fullness of their joy.

No experience necessary! Please wear clothes you feel comfortable to move in.

About the Teacher:

Emma Simon (she/her) is an actor, musician and teaching artist originally from Poughkeepsie, New York. After training as a classical flutist, she went on to study Vocal Performance at The Crane School of Music and acting at The Studio / New York under Jayd McCarty. She has performed regionally and internationally in opera, operetta, musical theater and dramatic works. Emma is passionate about retelling classic stories in new and imaginative ways and devising new works to share the stories that have yet to be told. Specializing in all things silly, stupid and sparkly, she has a soft spot for the world of the clown as explored under Christopher Bayes and Lucas Caleb Rooney. In 2014 she was a founding member of Clown Gym, a weekly actor-driven lab that still continues today in New York City.

An advocate for arts education, Emma has over 10 years of teaching experience in a variety of educational environments.  She has been a guest lecturer at SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Plattsburgh, has taught at New York Stage & Film Powerhouse Theatre Apprentice Program, led workshops at the prestigious Girls’ Leadership Worldwide at the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, founded the clowning program at JPAC in the Hudson Valley, NY. She is currently a member of the Drama faculty at The Brearley School in Manhattan and a teaching artist for Hudson Valley Performing Arts Laboratory.

Emma has undergone advanced pedagogical training for voice and speech with Beth McGuire (Yale School of Drama) and Jane Fujita (NYU Grad Acting) and received her 200 hr Yoga Teacher Certification at Atmananda Yoga Sequence in NYC in 2017. She is currently pursuing her MA in Applied Theatre through the City College of New York and continues to clown with The Funny School of Good Acting, The New York Drama Center and Clown Gym.

In her free time Emma loves to climb big mountains, travel, pet every dog, and dance in her kitchen.

https://www.emmasimon.net/