Freehold Theatre Lab Studio

I took Acting 1 at Freehold with Sarah Harlett.
I came to this class looking to try something different (I’ve never acted or done any type of performance art like dance) and to learn to be more compelling.
What was great and the biggest thing I learned is that acting is not manufacturing emotions. You’d never tell a good actor to «act sad». Acting is creating circumstances (your cat just died) and needs (you need to tell your wife the cat died) and the emotions will flow naturally.
I didn’t take away too much into my real life, as far as becoming better conversing with people, being more expressive in conversation, or becoming a better listener. But it was fun to try something new, and if you’re at all curious about acting, this is a good taste for what it’s like. I have a much greater appreciation for theater.
We spent a LOT of time warming up, usually 45 minutes to an hour. I think warm-​up is important, but I wish we would jump into the material sooner. I also think less discussion after the scene between the actors on stage and the class members in the audience would be preferable.
We played lots of fun games in class, one that comes to mind was an improv-​style warm-​up involving a simple 9-​line script we had to memorize and deliver while exaggerating the circumstances, for example, we’re in the Wild West or on a children’s TV show.
Basically the class will teach you to be really observant (we did an exercise peeling an orange very, very slowly). It will also teach you to create circumstances and needs. In the fourth class we memorized a set of lines and were given circumstances to deliver the scene. By the seventh and eight class, we had to come up with our own circumstances and needs.
In summary, the class is taught slowly and deliberately. Sarah is a great actress and teacher. When you’re around her you are inspired to engage with your work. She’s focused, empathetic, and a fantastic listener.
I wish Freehold would video record clips from their classes and put these on their website. It would be helpful to give prospective students a chance to see what happens in class.
It’s a big time commitment (4 hours on one night), but those 4 hours go by quickly. Just make sure you can commit to those four hours each week, many in our class had to drop out mid-​session.

Freehold is my acting home in Seattle. An acting studio is only as good as their instructors and I can’t say enough about the faculty at Freehold! They, genuinely, care about their student’s time, growth, and education. I think it’s invaluable that their instructors use different teaching styles so it’s easy to find the method of teaching that’s the best fit for you. (My, absolute, favorite instructors are John Jacobsen and Christine Marie Brown.) They have a variety of classes that range from Acting for Film to Voice-​Over Training and from Personal Clown to Shakespeare. Their class availability changes from semester to semester so keep an eye on their website if you’re interested in finding a class. Now, for a few random tips. There’s, basically, only street parking so come early to sniff a spot out if you choose to visit. The Freehold entrance is narrow and easy to miss so if you’re driving by you might miss it (I did the first time through.) Lastly, if you want to take a class but are low on cash (you have to be able to prove it) check with the office to see if they have any internships available for the class you’re interested in.
I love Freehold and recommend it whether acting is your life’s calling or if you’re just interested in trying something new. So glad I found this place!

I’ve taken many classes at Freehold and was so impressed with the organization, that I now volunteer on its board. This is a great place to study with some of Seattle’s top directors and actors. Acting lessons are rooted in Meisner Technique (
), which helps the performer live truthfully in imaginary circumstances. In addition, Freehold offers classes for those interested in playwriting, voiceover, clowning, physical theatre and camera work. Besides its training programs, Freehold brings theater to disadvantaged groups including prison inmates and at-​risk youth — helping them explore their own feelings and often igniting a sense of community.

I took a poetry writing and performance class here taught by Daemond Arrindell. I have to say that this place is pretty awesome.

I took the Meisner progression with Robin Lynn Smith in 2005. I took the Playwrighting Lab in 2006 (which spawned my play being produced elsewhere) and some other classes as well. The work they do there is life changing and will bring your art to a new level.