*Message From The Chair
*Classes & Seminars
*Welcome To Class!
*Headlines, Stories, & Events
*In The Spotlight

Dear Friends,

Where has half of a year gone? It seems like only yesterday that we were all discussing--with amazement I might add--that the New Year was upon us. Now, summer is almost over. January dissolved into February with the speed of sugar in hot coffee. March and April went by in a blur. June and July--well, despite the fast pace of our lives--the summer months have been very productive at the Burt Reynolds Institute.

Just a few short weeks ago, Improv-a-Prompter instructor, Patty Serrano, brought another successful six-week course to a close. Teleprompter is one of the most requested skills in Florida, and Patty’s students have acquired skills which will serve them well on commercial, film, and television productions. I encourage anyone who is pursuing a career in entertainment and those who get nervous making a toast at a wedding to join Patty when her class starts up again in August. If you think walking and talking is easy, think again! Call (561) 743-9955 and reserve your spot now.

Over the last six weeks, lots of happy voices have been heard echoing from the Lake Park Mirror Ballroom. Under the direction of Broadway star Avery Sommers, Cabaret Camp students have been perfecting their vocal performance and acting skills in preparation for their Cabaret Showcase (happening Tuesday, August 26, at 7:30PM). This highly anticipated show features songs and scenes from much loved shows, in which the audience plays an integral part. Tickets are only $10 and can be procured by calling Managing Director Donna Carbone at (561) 743-9955. Don’t wait. Seating is limited!

Fundamentals of Acting instructor Sherman Roberts has spent the last four weeks in England honing his performance skills. When he returns in August, he will share with his students what he has learned, while guiding them in perfecting their craft. If you aren’t already a FoA student, register now. There is always something new to learn and the Burt Reynolds Institute is the perfect place to learn it. FoA meets Sundays at 1PM.

If you agree that laughter is the best medicine, then guarantee a healthy fall and winter by signing up for Todd Vittum’s Improv class (Thursday evenings at 7:30PM). Under Todd’s excellent tutelage, young and old have an opportunity to improve their impromptu speaking and acting skills. Todd has designed innovative scenarios that make the imagination come alive and which are guaranteed to keep a smile on your face.

In addition to Todd’s Thursday evening adult Improv class, he also teaches the ever popular Side by Side, which meets on Saturday mornings at 10AM. Side by Side is a weekly improvisation class in which adults and children tickle each other’s funny bones by saying and doing the unexpected. This unique offering will train adults and youngsters to work together on stage and in life.

Got a story that you’re dying to tell? Creative Writing for the Author in All of Us is a weekly offering taught by Managing Director/Author/Journalist Donna Carbone. The class utilizes a supportive “think tank” structure in which critiques are offered as a means of moving a story from conception to completion. Whether you want to write a novel, a short story, a screenplay, or a stage play, Creative Writing will show you how to do it. Join Donna and her writers Thursday evenings at 6:30PM.

We’ve all heard the expression, “Nothing happens in a vacuum.” Facilities Manager Richard DeRosa might dispute that quote if given a chance. For him, lots of things happen in a vacuum--the Hoover variety. Thanks to Richard’s dedicated efforts, the Mirror Ballroom in Lake Park is always immaculate. He is first on the scene whenever we have a class or event, making sure that all the chairs and tables are in place and the stage is set. He is also the last to leave after making sure that everything is back in its rightful place. Thanks to Richard, the Burt Reynolds Institute functions run like well-oiled machines. I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his dedication and boundless energy. I get tired just watching him.

So, as you can see, the hot weather hasn’t kept teachers, students, and volunteers from pursuing their passions at the Burt Reynolds Institute. We offer something for everyone and everyone is welcomed to join us. See you in class!

By the way, don’t forget to pick up your copy of American Road Magazine with Burt Reynolds on the cover. Our “King of the Road” is the only person to grace this highly respected travel magazine. The six-page interview and photos inside are not to be missed. ARM is available at most high-end bookstores, including Barnes and Noble. However, if you want, you can buy a limited edition/autographed copy ($25/each) from the Burt Reynolds Institute by calling (561) 743-9955 or writing info@burtreynoldsinstitute.org. A must have collectible!

-Douglas Rill
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Burt Reynolds Institute for Film & Theatre

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MASTER ACTING CLASS with BURT REYNOLDS
By invitation only and based on completed application, which can be found on our website. For inquiries, please email info@burtreynoldsinstitute.org or call (561) 743-9955

FUNDAMENTALS of ACTING for ADULTS
Sundays at 1PM
Whether you are a beginner, intermediate performer, or experienced actor, FoA will allow you to hone your craft in a welcoming and nurturing atmosphere. FoA is a scene study class in which students are expected to perform a ten-minute scene on stage each week. Roberts--who is a member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA--has appeared in a variety of roles on stage, in film, and on network television. He teaches student how to choose the right material, how to interpret dialog so that the spoken word is true to what the author has written, character development, and body language. The class meets every Sunday at 1PM. The cost is $25/week. Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

IMPROV
Thursdays at 7:30PM
Todd Vittum brings his expertise to the classroom, teaching his students to "think fast" and increase their self-confidence. For beginning and intermediate students. Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

SIDE by SIDE SUMMER SESSIONS (IMPROV)
Saturdays at 10AM
Side by Side Summer Sessions--a weekly Improv class in which adults and children tickle each other's funny bones by saying and doing the unexpected--is back by popular demand. This unique offering will train adults and youngsters to work together on stage and in life. Taught by master improvisational artist Todd Vittum, budding and experienced comedians ranging in age from eight to 80 will have an opportunity to improve their impromptu speaking and acting skills. Vittum has been teaching Improv for many years and is himself an experienced performer. He has designed innovative scenarios that make the imagination come alive. Under his excellent tutelage, laughter and learning go hand in hand. Adults pay $25/week and kids pay $15/week. Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

TELEPROMPTER: A TOOL for the BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL
Call (561) 743-9955 for date/time/info
Two hour, one-on-one course. Our teleprompter proficiency course provides an opportunity to learn and grow comfortable with one of the most helpful tools used by business professionals. For the corporate executive, knowing how to use a teleprompter can enhance presentation skills and speed the climb up the ladder of success. Even those who have already successfully faced an audience will gain greater confidence from mastering this skill. Taught by Patty Serrano--owner of Little Panther Prompting--who has more than twenty years experience in film and television. Call (561) 743-9955 for date/time/info

CREATIVE WRITING for the AUTHOR in ALL of US
Thursdays at 6:30PM
Creative Writing for the Author in All of Us is a weekly offering for everyone with a story to tell. Whether you are writing a novel, short narrative, screenplay, stage play, or poem, if words are your oxygen, this is the class for you. Under the instruction of author/journalist Donna Carbone, the class utilizes a supportive “think tank” structure. Each week writers present their work, which is read and shared with the class. Critiques--both positive and negative--are offered as a means of moving a story from conception to completion. The class meets Thursday evenings at 6:30PM in the Lake Park Commission Chambers. Cost: $25/week. Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

CABARET CAMP with AVERY SOMMERS
Well-known Broadway star and cabaret singer, Avery Sommers, will teach a six (6) week Cabaret Camp course focusing on vocal and performance training. Cost: $175 (includes piano accompanist for the final Showcase). Space is very limited. Call (561) 743-9955 to RSVP

Please note: prior registration and RSVP are required for all classes, seminars, and workshops--as some have limited enrollment. Class times/locations subject to change. For information and registration, please contact Donna Carbone at (561) 743-9955 or email info@burtreynoldsinstitute.org to RSVP now.

Burt Reynolds Institute classes and seminars are held at Lake Park Town Hall (Mirror Ballroom), 535 Park Avenue, Lake Park, FL 33403. Please note, this is not the mailing address. The mailing address is: PO Box 264, Jupiter, FL 33458

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Congratulations to Mindy Acevedo, the newest member of Mr. Reynold's Master Acting class!

Mindy masterfully portrayed the role of 'Monica' in Joan Casademont's Maids of Honor, opposite scene partner and Master Actor Steve Darren, who played the part of the ex-boyfriend. Welcome to class, Mindy!

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TROPICAL NIGHTS CABARET--AUGUST 26--RSVP NOW!

On August 26 at 7:30PM, well-known Broadway star and cabaret singer Avery Sommers directs the Tropical Nights Cabaret--an evening of scenes and songs from popular and much-loved shows. All of the performers in the Cabaret were trained by Sommers in her six-week Cabaret Camp. Many are new to live performance but--thanks to Sommers’ excellent training--they are now dreaming of “strutting their stuff” on the Great White Way. Tickets are $10, and seating is limited. Call now and spend a hot summer evening cooling off with Avery Sommers and her talented grads.

NEW FALL CLASS: INTERMEDIATE ACTING AND CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Beginning in September, the Burt Reynolds Institute will introduce a new Intermediate Acting and Character Analysis class under the direction of Todd Vittum. The class will allow actors to hone their acting skills while providing an opportunity to study scene structure and character.

Scene Study is the foundation of all performance and is instrumental if actors are to develop an emotional connection to the character they are portraying. Scene Study is also used to teach the vocabulary of acting and how to respond to a director’s instructions.

Character Development helps an actor to understand the role they are playing. To be successful, an actor must replace their personality with that of the character being portrayed. However, it is still necessary for an actor to allow their natural emotional response to a situation to show through at appropriate times. The ability to blend the real and the imagined creates a more stable and dynamic character.

More information about the class and schedule are forthcoming. Watch this space.

ORDER YOUR BURT REYNOLDS SIGNED COPY OF AMERICAN ROAD MAGAZINE!

Limited edition collector's item: signed copy of American Road Magazine with Burt Reynolds on the cover--only 50 copies/$25 each. Don't miss out on owning one of these rare copies. Burt Reynolds is the only "human" to grace the cover of American Road Magazine. The six-page interview is a must read.

To order your copy, call (561) 743-9955. Remember: only 50 copies available!

BURT REYNOLDS INSTITUTE ACTORS NEEDED FOR STAGED READINGS

Creative Writing for the Author in All of Us students have been enjoying the talents of the Burt Reynolds Institute actors during the twice-a-month staged readings. Scripts under development are presented in staged reading format so that writers can hear how their words will sound when delivered on film. This allows for questions and feedback from the actors which benefit the writers during the editing process. Both actors and writers have been enjoying their time together and have gained a new respect for the effort it takes to bring a script from conception to completion. Actors wishing to participate in these readings should contact Donna at info@burtreynoldsinstitute.org or by calling (561) 743-9955.

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Managing Director Donna Carbone’s stageplay, Shell of a Man, will be presented as part of the Spotlight on Playwrights Series at the Clarence Muse Theater in Dallas, Texas in April 2015. Only four plays are chosen for this honor.

Donna was contacted by Curtis King, founder of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), who will produce the event. King holds a Masters Degree from Texas Christian University and counts poet Margaret Walker Alexander as a mentor. He is/was a confidant of many activists in the black community including Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Alvin Ailey, Harry Belafonte, John Oliver Killens and E. Eric Lincoln among others. TBAAL is the only multidisciplinary cultural arts organization housed inside a major urban convention center where it attracts hundreds of thousands of people annually.

In notifying Donna of her selection, King said, “After reading your summary about (main character) Robert L, I was very moved by his story and even more moved that you chose to write about it.”

Shell of a Man is based on a true story. In 2011, Donna published two editorials supporting better healthcare for veterans. A Vietnam vet wrote to thank her. He continued to write, beginning what was to become a much cherished and, often, painful friendship. This is his story. It took two years to complete Shell of a Man and the process changed Donna forever. She believes the story will have an impact on all who see it.

Diane Hulton and Adele Zin recently did an infomercial for the skin care product Dermaclarix.

Mindy Acevedo has a Miami Herald commercial that's been airing for awhile now on NBC. Keep an eye out for her.

Douglas Rill, Gail Van Brock, Todd Vittum, Rhonda Stearns, and Cynthia "The Great Cindini" Morrison each recorded promos for the return of the KVJ show on WRMF. The highly rated show now moves to the number one station in the market. Listen mornings at 97.9 FM and see if you hear them!

Randy C. Earll recently won first place in the Regionals for men over 50 in the Talent Quest Karaoke Singing Competition--the largest of its kind in the world. In September, Randy will be headed to the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, NV for a week to compete in the Nationals. Also, the Pineapple Playhouse Community Theatre in Ft. Pierce will be producing Randy's play, Community The Musical. Auditions will be in January and the show will run March 5-22, 2015. Randy's wife and fellow Master Actor, Leslie Earll, will be directing the show.

Andrea Conte recently appeared as 'Helen' in the popular Lifetime show, Devious Maids (Episode 213). Did you miss it? No worries. Click here to watch: https://www.andreaconte.com/tvfilm-clips/devious-maids/

An encore edition of Pigs Do Fly Productions Fifty Plus–A Celebration of Life… As We Know It! will run from August 14-24 at the Showtime Performing Arts Theatre in Boca Raton.

Fifty Plus–A Celebration of Life… As We Know It! consists of seven short 10-minute plays, all which reflecting Pigs Do Fly Productions’ mission to produce plays that highlight the actor over 50 as a viable, fully involved, full of life character. Our very own Beverly Blanchette will be directing one of the plays. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling (866) 811-4111. All performances will take place at Showtime Performing Arts Theatre, 503 SE Mizner Boulevard, #73, Boca Raton, FL 33432. Hurry! Tickets going fast!

Burt Reynolds Institute alum Vic Stagliano recently booked the show Ray Donovan.

James Davis has been busy! He has recently played the 'Lone Assasin' in Evil Dark, the 'Evil Goon' in Sidekicked, and 'Tom the Co-Worker' in Twenty Ways To Die.

Last month, Avery Sommers performed in the Artists for a Cause "Students & Stars!" Series at the Harriet Himmel Theatre in West Palm Beach.

Tweet: The Series official trailer is out now: https://youtu.be/0tzrULdEJBY. The series, starring Taylor Blackwell, features many Burt Reynolds Institute actors, including Rick Seguso and Avery Sommers.

Sidekicked the movie is nearing completion. The superhero comedy--starring Dave Noel--includes David Ausem, Randy Earll, Steve Mairano, Greg Goldsbury, Jeanne Tidwell, Jason Anderson, Kevin Bradley, Karen Chimato, Adele Zin, and Douglas Rill. Click here to visit the Sidekicked website: www.sidekickedthemovie.com

A World of Pleasure, written by Frederick Stroppel and directed by Guisela Moro, is complete. The comedy stars Tina Pfeiffer, Steven Mairano, and David Ausem.

The Cuartas Brothers film--Twelve Traditions--with Amy Hoerler and Douglas Rill, is currently in post production. The Indie short is close to picture lock, which means the filmmakers are starting sound design and score.

The Trolls--the Improv Troupe of the Burt Reynolds' Under the Bridge Players--took part in the recent "Patriotism in Paradise" event held in Northwood Village's Independence Day Weekend in West Palm Beach. Todd Vittum, Jordan Alfonso, Mark Ralston, Andrew Moss, and Amy Hoerler joined Cynthia "The Great Cindini" Morrison at Northwood Village's Star Spangled Jubilee.

Cindini performed her "Human Firecracker" stunt, while the others performed long-form Improv in character: Todd Vittum as Paul Revere, Jordan Alfonso as young Ben Franklin, Mark Ralston as young Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Moss as Yankee Doodle Dandy, and Amy Hoerler as Betsy Ross.

Over the course of the evening, The Trolls--in long form improvisation--engaged several hundred people (including WPB Mayor Jeri Muoio) and were interviewed by CBS-12.

Managing Director Donna Carbone has been asked to join the Jupiter Courier Newsweekly Citizen Advisory Committee. The committee meets quarterly to discuss issues relevant to the community and is comprised of recognized names in business and the arts.

The long anticipated premiere of The Jazz Holdouts CD Intuition has finally happened. Two years in the making, this Internet collaboration includes some of the world's most recorded session musicians and contains Elegantly Smooth Contemporary Vocal Jazz. Industry vets Alan Palanker and Cooper Getschal team up with their contemporary session greats John JR Robinson, "the worlds most recorded drummer", Michael Thompson, studio guitar legend, Bobby Watson, bassist for Michael Jackson's "Rock With You", Jamie Glaser, fusion guitar giant, along with rising star John Michalak on woodwinds,and legendary percussionist Walfredo Reyes Jr. for the Jazz Holdouts initial release. Click here to order: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jazzholdouts

James Ferrigno wrapped The Lesson of the Moth (a short film for FSU in Tallahassee) and an episode of South Beach Tow in July.

Are you a current or former student of the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film & Theatre or the Burt Reynolds Institute for Theatre Training? If so, we would love to hear from you! Simply write a one to two paragraph blurb and drop us an email at BRIFTmultimedia@gmail.com before the 25th of each month (subject line: "In The Spotlight") and let us know what projects you are working on or have completed. PLEASE, NO EXTRA WORK!

SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE THE 25TH OF EACH MONTH--no exceptions. We look forward to hearing about--and celebrating--your success!

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Top stories you may have missed:

• Summer Cabaret Showcase and acting classes at BRIFT

Douglas Rill ... Chairman of the Board of Directors
Todd Vittum ... Executive Director
Donna Carbone ... Managing Director/Writer
Amy Schulz ... Editor/Multimedia Coordinator

For more information about classes, events, etc, visit our website at https://www.burtreynoldsinstitute.org.

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The Burt Reynolds Institute for Film & Theatre is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to educating and involving the community and artists in all aspects of film, television, theater, live performances, film festivals, and exhibitions, as well as preserving Mr. Reynolds' memorabilia and the history of the film industry.

Burt Reynolds Institute for Film & Theatre
PO Box 264
Jupiter, FL 33458
(561) 743-9955 | info@burtreynoldsinstitute.org