New York Neo-Classical Ensemble

AYLI - From Zach Webber (Oliver) in AYLI May ‘10 Workshop

Leaving the Classical Studio at Tisch and going straight to a Big Kids Classical Workshop was threatening even as an idea, at least previous to my starting rehearsal (and even throughout the whole workshop perhaps). It was a little like going into Junior High, because everyone else isn’t THAT much older than you, but they’re just old enough to have clearly leapt  certain walls that you haven’t. Back then it was blowjobs and marijuana, now it’s… well I cannot quite say. But there is something going on with everyone at Neo-Classical that distinguishes them from any other Classical actors I’ve ever seen.

This is weird, but sit tight while I try to explain this.

I have heard (and therefore implemented into essays and any possible class discussion that will raise my grade or at least my teacher’s opinion about me) that there are greater biological differences between some African tribes than there are between one of those African tribes and say, Englishmen. Or Americans. Or anyone that you would never think would have “biological similarities.” But don’t start assuming that “biological similarities” are based on your own notions of how alike people are, because then you just might start to appear, or even be, racist. Anyway, when this fact was discovered it of course this provoked a lot of discussion amongst people who were trying to figure out whether or not they should enslave all Africans ever (???) due to the fact that it now appeared as if (GASSSSSSPPPPP!!!!) we were all kind of made to be equal and shit.

Here’s where I get to the point. You old kids and I originate from the same place (except Dom. Sorry Dom. You’re the white man in this metaphor) but we may be more different than we are alike. And THAT is why I think the Classical studio is very similar to whatever created the universe (stay with me PLEASE). Louis Scheeder has made it so that our DNA can transform into literally anything. Perhaps unbeknownst to him (but most likely benownst to him at this point), he has made it so that any actor that passes through the Classical Studio is given the right, and perhaps the secret steroidal injection, that allows them to become precisely different than the people who did exactly what they did the year before. The trick is repetition of the same 10-15 things over and over and over and over again. We change by doing the same things repeatedly.

All I can really say is (and just ignore everything I said before if it was complete nonsense in actuality) I can’t wait to see what I’m doing in 3-5 years, when I’m the same age as most of you guys. The reason for that is I think you are all fantastic and aMAZINGly talented. You shine like the sun whenever you want. I admire all your individualities, because they are so clear, and unprocessed, and good. It’s almost a little intimidating to be around. But, unlike Africans, I won’t start enslaving your children and handing them AK-47s to use against you. I cannot wait to work with you again.

Z