ActorSpa- love the art in yourself.
Magis' uniqe ActorSpa training is in person once again.
Our training is regularly scheduled on the final Tuesday
of every month. Join us at at our training space.
We were happy to be able to offer ActorSpa online as
our free gift to the theatre community during the
lockdown periods of the pandemic.
It feels great to be back in our big space again.
We look forward to training with you
TUESDAY March 26 7-8PM
327 W. 13th Street
New York, NY
scroll down for more information about our training and to see our FAQs.
your donation of $20 helps us do more ... but you are welcome to pay what you can.
OUR COMPANY WEEKLY TRAINING
Any instrument needs tuning. The actor works with several: body, voice, imagination… all of which need care and ongoing preparation for the demands of the stage. Magis offers a regular, comprehensive, integrated and affordable training program so that all of these components of the actors unique instrument remain in harmony. Many other methods separate these aspects of the actor's work and the result is a disjointed or conflicted technique. Magis training works with the commonalities and uses a specific vocabulary that actors and teachers have found to be a clear, engaging way of joining these varied aspects actor's work and producing immediate results.
Magis Training is a resource for professionals who are looking for a regularly scheduled and complete technical work out. "Our specific approach, connecting physical and vocal training to a highly developed imagination, synthesizes many different training methods and empowers actors to find their own methodology for making their own personal connections.
Weekly Training: Our training space includes a wood floor spanning more that 700 square feet of unobstructed free space. This allow us to engage in rigorous physical training in a safe environment. Each week we engage in three hours of training that includes Pilates & Alexander, Vocal Action, Plastiques & Biomechanics, and exercises for working with Heightened Text/ Heightened Energy.
We are now happy to offer our training on the final Tuesday of each month. We meet for a one-hour total technique workout. Suggested donation is $20. Just click the "Special Workshops" pulldown to find out more about what's comping up!
We open our training to others once a month, in-person training in our company space at Notre Dame School 327 W. 13th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS AND INTENSIVES
Magis ActorSpa®
The actor's craft makes demands on the instrument: body, voice, soul. Magis ActorSpa® is a specially designed one-our "spa treatment" for the actor. Join us on the final Tuesday evening of each month from 7-8 pm. Suggested donation- $10.
Add your name to our mailing list to get updates by visiting the "contact us" page.
Guest Training
We are proud to offer unique training opportunities each month. Our guest training series is an invitation to theatre professionals, students, and teachers, actors, dancers, and directors to come train with the Magis company. Join us as we guide you through our specially crafted training and invite a unique master teacher to lead a 2-hour workshop in their technique.
Guest artists in the past have included Elizabeth Swados, Robert Taylor Tayman, Ragnar Freidank, Elena McGhee, Gregor Paslawsky and others.
More with Magis
Magis actors also have presented workshops at theatre conferences and events both here and abroad, and continue to offer our training to schools, theatre companies, arts organizations and other groups who can benefit from a closer look at the creative process.
To find out about these open intensives or to organize a workshop for your school, company or organization, CONTACT US
Magis Theatre Director's Lab
Applications are closed until our next cycle
Magis Theatre Company has just completed the first cycle of its Director’s Lab. The Lab is an opportunity for directors to explore new material with a company of actors who train together regularly, to learn process for collaborating with actors, and to devise pieces that hold particular interest for both the director and the Company.
Praised for its artistic skill and daring by the New York Times, Magis Theatre has worked both Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway, and has partnered with arts institutions across the country and internationally.
Our directors have completed an initial period of six months, meeting weekly to participate in Magis training and process exercises, receiving mentoring on individual projects, and become part of a network of directors who work on future fully-realized productions with the Company.
Thanks to generous support, this project is being subsidized and will be of no cost to the director.
Contact us about the Lab and about dates for our next cycle of applications.
Frequently Asked Questions about working with Magis
Why does Magis place an emphasis on training?
Our company started from a desire to continue the kind of training we received in our advanced studies in theatre and from a desire to place this work in dialogue with other forms of training. What has evolved for us is a year-round plan that has three modes of training: fundamental skills, exploration of new work, and readiness for performance. We have found that these three components challenge us to stay fresh in our technique, provide a means to prepare others to become Magis trainers, and put us in contact with innovative approaches that deepen the integration of each actor’s personal craft.
What should I wear to training?
Comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely and rigorously. Some of our training requires gym shoes.
What do you mean by heightened language?
Any text that is bigger than our every day speech. Classical texts, poetic texts, some absurdist texts or non-linear texts… any of these show us that you can embody language that is just a little bit above and beyond our everyday way of speaking. We want to see you engage the imagination, and yet at the same time present the text fully and truthfully.
I don’t have a Shakespeare piece, should I memorize a new piece for the audition?
We would rather see you show something that you are already comfortable with. If you have different monologues that you regularly show, pick the one that you think makes the greatest demands in engaging your imagination and showing your range.
How is Magis training different than other forms of training?
Magis takes a holistic/ integrated approach to training. While some techniques focus on aspects of performance in isolation from each other, Magis training has developed a single vocabulary that unites seemingly opposed theatrical techniques. By using the same vocabulary for our work with voice, body and imagination, it provides ready channels to unite different approaches, some of which were previously thought of as inconsistent. Check the training page on our website to read about how our training has grown and how we have presented our training at national and international conferences and for theatre professionals and educators.
Is Magis a Union Company?
Currently all the actors of the Magis Theatre Company are members of Actors’ Equity. We operate closely with the union and have produced shows under Showcase, Mini, and LOA contracts.
Does Magis operate year round?
Yes. While we do only one production per year, and our typical run is 3 weeks, the company trains every week together. This is one of the goals of our company and we make a commitment to providing training through out the year. We take a six week break in the summer. Our school outreach program operates for six months of the year as well, and we provide ten free offerings (workshops/readings) to our audiences per year.
Am I auditioning for the show? or for the Company?
Membership in Magis is more than being in a production. We meet weekly to exercise our craft as artists, we provide opportunities for developing new work, we train future teachers, we work on our own adaptations. We engage in theatre research and develop habits of examining our craft in ourselves. If you are auditioning for the company, it is our understanding that all of these are important to you and that you will be dedicated to each aspect of our work. If you want just to be in a production, you probably won't be happy here. If you want to be an active part of an artistic community, we welcome you heartily.
Does Magis pay its actors?
Yes, we pay our actors on Equity contract when we are in production . When we are not in production, compensation takes the form of providing training free of charge. You can consider our training like a yearly membership to a gym or a studio. While other companies charge for workshops and training, we offer this freely to members of our company. We also regularly invite special guest instructors to lead workshops for our actors. All this is part of the way we give back to our actors who make a commitment to the company. Magis Company members who are administrators as well do not receive salaries for administrative roles in the company, they donate their work to the company.
If I am selected for the company will I have to pay for workshops or training?
No. These are offered free of charge to members of our company.
If I am selected for the company, when can I expect to start performing?
We ask that members show proficiency in technique before taking part in a performance. Because we have one contracted production per year, typically actors are cast in a production after completing between 6-12 months of training with the company. However we have monthly readings and workshops so you are able to perform in these immediately.
I am interested in teaching , can I be a part of the Magis Theatre school outreach program?
We welcome Magis actors to work with the students at the school where our company is in residence. We provide materials and mentoring for Magis actors who are interested in teaching.
What kind of commitment am I expected to make to the company?
We expect our actors to be at training each week. We understand that there are exceptional circumstances that sometimes prevent full attendance, but we expect that the company training time be respected. We also expect that our actors will bring themselves to our work by maintaining our work environment, sharing in what ever capacity is possible to facilitate training, and participating in projects that we provide for the school which hosts us. Each year we hold two workshop days for our students and we expect all company members to be in attendance to work with the students at these two workshops. Because we are a self-producing organization, company members all help out in realizing our productions.
If I am cast in a show outside the company will that affect my status as a company member in Magis?
Our actors are all working actors. When working outside Magis, we ask that people make it to training when they are not called for shows. At your audition for an outside show, we expect that you will include Tuesday nights on your conflict sheet. If there is flexibility in those rehearsals, we expect you will maintain a commitment to being at Magis training on Tuesdays.
