N e w s  R e l e a s e
December 20, 2000

Arts Council Offers Workshops

Creative juices flowed as 19 enthusiastic individuals learned the art – and science – of directing a play at a Directing Workshop conducted by Joan McGillis. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Monroe Council of the Arts and Marathon Community Theatre, and held at the theatre in Marathon.

McGillis began by getting to know the participants and asking what they hoped to glean from the session. This was followed by a discussion of the director’s role and responsibility. "Just like that saying, the buck stops here," McGillis said. "You can’t blame anyone else."

Blocking scenes was discussed in detail as attendees worked out various ways to stage a scene from "Hamlet."

Following lunch attendees were given a series of assignments, which included interpreting a scene, casting it from those present, blocking the scene and then presenting it on the theatre’s stage for critique. Furrowed brows and animated discussions were the order of the day as everyone hurried to complete the assignments in the allotted time.

The Monroe Council of the Arts is offering several other workshops during the coming months. On January 25, Milton Esterow, award-winning editor of ARTnews magazine, will conduct a workshop for members only on "Buying and Collecting Art." This will be held at San Carlos Institute, Key West, at 7 p.m.

On February 6 a "Writing Workshop" with Robert Fisher, executive editor of Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel Online, will be offered at Marina Del Mar Resort in Key Largo from 6 – 10 p.m.   Registrants may submit writing samples before or after the session, but not both, for Fisher to critique. Cost of this workshop is $65, with a $15 discount for Arts Council members who register by January 1.

Another workshop geared to writers is "Intellectual Property Rights for Writers" conducted by Susan Chaires. This is a free workshop to be held at the Key West Library from 10 a.m. – noon on February 24.

Plans are also in the works for a photography workshop, tentatively scheduled for April 14 and 28.

Information on these workshops is available by calling the Monroe Council of the Arts at 294-4406; 743-0079, Ext. 4369; or 852-1469, Ext. 4369, or e-mailing info@KeysArts.com.