Jess Nicole Thigpen

Courses Taught:

Intro to Performance, Fall 2023 & 2024

This course offers second year acting students an introduction to professional practice and rehearsal techniques. Students experience a five week rehearsal process culminating in a week of performances.

• Yellow Light, Fall 2023 focused on the creation of an original devised piece which featured the movement techniques of Pina Bausch.
• Thoreau, Fall 2024 focused on creating an ensemble piece that adapted the play ‘The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail’ by Lawrence/Lee.

Acting III: Shakespeare

This course enables third year acting students to develop a process for understanding/interpreting classical text, while also developing a deeper understanding of the individual’s acting process. Students develop skills that can be applied to both classical and contemporary text.

Courses Taught:

Audition Seminar, THTR 377

The objective of this course is to provide senior acting students practical industry knowledge of how to audition for theatre and film projects. Additionally, this course aims to help students develop the professional portfolio materials they will need to begin their artistic careers. Students are given networking opportunities with a range of industry professionals and the experience of mock auditions for theatre, film, and commercial projects.

• This course culminates in a digital showcase and the course professor serves as the project manager and acting director for that industry showcase.

Dialects for Actors, THTR 344

The objective of this course is to provide instruction in the dialects most frequently used by the American actor for stage performance work. Preparation techniques are tailored to individual needs and skill level. The student is taught a systematic approach to dialect acquisition which will serve the student in further independent dialect study.

• The course focuses on providing each student with the skills needed to effectively analyze a script in order to make informed vocal choices while also providing a practical system with which the student can make those vocal choices a reality.

Movement for Actors, THTR 331

This course offers the advanced acting student an intensive conservatory workshop-style introduction to a variety of theatrical movement techniques. Course exercises are a composite inspired by the work of Jacques Lecoq, Anne Bogart, Tina Landau, and Stella Adler. The class focuses on self-exploration based on a physically rigorous and athletic approach to acting, utilizing elements of Viewpoints, Lecoq, Grotowski, Suzuki, and Stanislavski. Ensemble exercises are inspired by the ensembles of Complicite and Communicado.

• This course culminates in a devised ensemble performance project.

Theatre Practicum, THTR 321

The objective of this class to provide theatre majors an opportunity to experience the theatrical process from audition through rehearsals and a full performance run on the Newhart Theatre at Loyola University.

• Co-Director, Movement & Dialects Coach, and Intimacy Coordinator for Orlando, directed by Mark Lococo (Fall 2022)
• Movement, Vocal Coach and Intimacy Coordinator for Pride and Prejudice, directed by Jonathan Wilson (Winter 2023)
• Faculty mentor for an original play, First Date, written by a senior theatre major and given a limited run in the underground theatre (Spring 2026)

Acting I Theories and Techniques, THTR 261

This course offers the beginning acting student (majors and non-majors alike) an overview of acting techniques and professional practice. Course exercises are a composite inspired by the work of Nadine George, Uta Hagen, Nikki Flacks, Konstantin Stanislavski and Sanford Meisner. Students are lead in conservatory-style classroom exercises and performance opportunities through scene work.

Intro to Theatre, THTR 100

Curriculum includes a condensed theatre historical seminar summarizing the development of theatre globally, introduction to the fundamental components of the theatrical experience and the various theatrical disciplines. Course work includes opportunities for students to experience script writing, acting, directing, stage management, costume and set design, as well as writing theatrical critique.

• Students are required to complete an independent project exploring the discipline of their choice allowing for an in-depth exploration of the artistic experience.

Workshops Taught:

The Voice of Shakespeare

The objective of this workshop is teaching fundamental techniques for vocal technique by analyzing the language of Shakespeare. Students are given tools to successfully produce cold read presentations of Shakespeare’s verse.

Improv and Shakespeare

The humor of Shakespeare is explored through improvisational exercises inspired by the rehearsal techniques utilized in Shakespeare’s time.

Staging Shakespeare

Students are led through ensemble movement exercises that teach various techniques for developing physical character choices. The specific elements of Shakespeare’s staging conditions are explored, and students are provided tools to utilize the original staging conditions to further explore character development.

Classes Taught:

Viewpoints Scene Study

The objective of this course developed by Chicago director Scott Olson is to combine the movement technique of Viewpoints directly to scene work. Students are shown how to directly use Viewpoint exploration to bring the text of scene to life and inspire the physical life of the characters within that scene. A class equally useful to actors and directors.

Voice for the Working Actor

An introduction to the fundamental concepts of utilizing vocal techniques for character development. Students participate in vocal/physical warm-ups, Linklater vocal exercises, monologue and scene work.

Acting I: Beginning Acting

An introduction to the fundamental concepts of text analysis and character development. Students participate in vocal/physical warm-ups, content-less scenes, improvisation, monologue and scene work.