Kent focuses on concious acting for theater

photo by Amy Babin

Steve Kent, director of the University of La Verne's Institute for Conscious Acting, is a traveling director and teacher. Kent is resident stage director of the Junebug Theater Project and works with a traveling Jewish theater and students.

by Chrissy Zehrbach
Assistant Editor

What is theater when its purpose is not solely entertainment?

When theater expands to inspire a student's thoughts, dreams and ambitions, it is called the Institute for Conscious Acting.

Steven Kent, visiting professor of theater at the University of La Verne, has brought the La Verne community the innovative concept of such an institute.

"There is no (other) institute like this," Kent said.

As a way of teaching the ideals of the Institute, Kent has incorporated them into his classes.

Kent describes the term conscious as "being aware and asking how does one behave."

He asks his students to do research on their characters, or the context of the story to help increase their understanding of what their character would know.

"It's a lot of analyzing your character, not just about going in and reading your lines," senior theater major Veronica Estrada said. "It's about knowing your character and their background, and making conscious decisions on what your character is like.

"I like getting to know my character. You end up loving them," she said

The institute relies heavily on the students. The teachers serve as resources prompting the students to ask themselves questions. Frequently asked questions include, "If you know what you need from a character, how are you going to get it?" and Kent's favorite, "Why are you doing that?"

By relating to the work and gaining a deeper understanding, the literature becomes alive and they experience it, Kent said.

"This process will help the students relate to the works and make them realize why the plays are still relevant today," Kent said.

"It's helping us on a higher level," Kent added.

The idea behind the institute is that the theater is a place where ideas can be exchanged not just for entertainment purposes. It helps future performers expand in their endeavors and enhance their talents.

The goal of the institute is to increase reality, sharin messages with people, and bring about social change, Kent said.

"All art is about raising consciousness," Kent said. "The institute will bring people in."

The kind of theater work the institute teaches is different from most acting classes.

"Most theater classes prepare students for Hollywood. This is for self motivated individuals," Kent said. "I want to make the students aware there's a whole other way of theater."

The institute teaches actors that they can be more than performers. They can work in any medium. The training is therefore geared toward students creating their own work to become not only actors, but playwrights or directors.

Kent believes television "has sapped the theater experience. There's nothing like live theater in a live room."

The institute focuses on teaching "what is worth doing, and what should be done, not just how people can get famous. It teaches students to use their abilities to move others," Kent said.

"If they're to have a voice they have to be given the tools to do it. And we encourage them," Kent said.

One focus of the institute is the community. It asks the questions, what is the nature of theater in community? What is the nature of the community? What constitutes it?

Kent says La Verne is an excellent example. Not a lot of people know the history of ULV. He would like to develop an oral history project of the University.

Kent has been teaching at ULV for three years, and has been working on the idea of the institute ever since. With the help of theater professors David Flaten and Jane Dibbell, the instiute is alive and running at ULV.

"We were so busy doing the work, we didn't educate the next generation," Kent said. "I was extremely fortunate in my theater career to be in certain places at certain times and I want to pass it on."

To assist in the learning process, hands on workshops, open rehearsals for particular techniques and performances will be offered.

Estrada said there is a lot of movement, dance, vocal work, and breathing techniques incorporated with the institute and Kent's classes.

"It's very hands on," Estrada said.

Guests will be brought in for classes to share their experience with the students. This way students can "study people in the field, and get to know them, not just watch their work," Kent said.

Past guests have included Jowele Zollar of "A new dancer for a new society," Michael Keck, John Oneil, Michelle George and Rose Portillo. All hold national reputations and are interested in passing on their training.

One guest was Liz Lurman, who discussed a technique of critical response; talking about art with artists in a non-destructive manner.

Kent has various projects outside of ULV including "Poison Ivy," a show on environmental racism in New Orleans running at the Junebug Theater where he is a resident stage director.

"Crossings" was another production Kent just finished working on.

"It was huge," Kent said about the award nominated show that had a cast of 48, and gave five performances in 16 different languages. Taking a diverse approach, "Crossings" involved Cambodian, African, Arabic, Mexican and multi-diverse communities.

Among other projects, Kent is also the acting coach for the Urban Bushwomen, a group of African American Dancers. He also has one man shows running all over the country, and three shows running in Croatia. However, the institute and its growth is his main focus at the moment.

The institute will continue to be housed at ULV, but in the future Kent is hoping for branches to crop up in other locations.

Anyone who is interested is welcome to take part in the Institute. People from different places with different experiences make up art in the community.

"We want to have all sorts of people involved. It's not just for professionals," Kent said.