Explore the benefits of laughter through movement & playful improvisation.
Friday July 18, 2025
Laughing Club with Christopher Bayes
Fundraiser for Summer Camp Scholarships
Time
Friday July 18, 5:00-6:00pm
Location
Virtual on Zoom
Christopher Bayes
Internationally renowned teacher of clown and commedia, Head of Physical Acting at Yale School of Drama, author of Discovering the Clown, or The Funny Book of Good Acting
Reservations
Tickets: Laughing Club
This workshop is for adults ages 18 and older.
Minimum Suggested Donation
$30 per Person
Laughing Club is wellness practice for performers, non-performers and anyone with a desire to explore the health benefits of laughter. Laughing Club was featured on NY1/New Yorker of the Week.
Studio Playgroud is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible.
Classes for Actors & Performers in Boston
Laughing Club with Christopher Bayes
July 18, 2025
Friday, 5:00-6:00pm
Online Fundraiser on Zoom
Instructed by Christopher Bayes
Monologues & Physical Acting
October 25-26, 2025
Saturday & Sunday, 1:00-6:00pm
Weekend Workshop at Boston Center for the Arts
Instructed by Matthew Bretschneider
Physical Theater Intensive
Dates Will Be Announced Soon
Weekend Workshop at Boston Center for the Arts
Instructed by Matthew Bretschneider
Individual Coaching
Boston, Providence, and NYC
Virtual sessions available on Zoom
Sessions support individual growth for actors, performers, and others seeking to hone skills for audition preparation, public speaking, and performance.
For rates and availability, email: info@studioplayground.org
More Info: Acting Coaching
Laughing Club with Christopher Bayes
Friday July 18, 5:00-6:00pm
Minimum Suggested Donation: $30 per person
Online Fundraiser for Studio Playground
Event for Ages 18 and Older
Instructed by Christopher Bayes,
Monologues & Physical Acting
October 25-26, 2025
Saturday & Sunday, 1pm-6pm
Class Fee: $95 per person
Location: Boston Center for the Arts
Address: 527 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116 (Calderwood Pavilion)
Iinstructed by Matthew Bretschneider
Laughing Club with Christopher Bayes
Instructed by Christopher Bayes
July 18, 2025
Friday, 5:00pm-6:00pm
Laughing Club is a wellness practice created by Christopher Bayes, renowned teacher and Head of Physical Acting for the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. The workshop is for actors, performers, and anyone with a desire to explore the health benefits of laughter. Christopher Bayes is Professor in the Practice of Acting and Head of Physical Acting at David Geffen School of Drama, Director of the Pandemonium Studio, and Artistic Advisor for Studio Playground. Laughing Club was featured on NY1/New Yorker of the Week.
Tickets support the scholarship fund for our theater camp in Lincoln Woods State Park. Studio Playground fosters individual growth for children in our community by using the performing arts. We believe all children deserve opportunities for creative enrichment. It is imperative that children access programs which build confidence and social awareness. Laughter and performing arts entail benefits which transcend socioeconomic status and cultural differences. Studio Playground inspires audiences to engage in meaningful discourse by enacting our core values: inclusivity, empowerment & social change.
Movement
Instructed by Alexander Crespo-Rosario
Dates Will Be Announced Soon
Transform pedestrian movement into dance through observation, playful improvisation, and physical exercises. Not an experienced dancer? No worries! This class focuses on guiding participants to create movement phrases which enhance expression and narrative storytelling. Students will explore elements of choreography, clown, and ensemble dance.
Theater Education for Young Audiences
Instructed by Matthew Bretschneider
Dates Will Be Announced Soon
This class introduces foundational concepts for theater education and their applications in a variety of settings for youth audiences. Students participate in games based in movement, physical theater, playful improvisation, and theatrical clown. Students deepen their understanding of concepts related to social-emotional learning, cultural representation, and the benefits of performing arts for young audiences with class discussions on a variety of topics, including verbal and nonverbal storytelling, multimodal learning, theater therapy, theater for social justice, and integrating goals in classroom settings which are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound (SMART).
Physical Theater Intensive
Instructed by Matthew Bretschneider
New Dates Will Be Announced Soon
Welcome to our Physical Acting Weekend Workshop! This workshop is intended for actors and performers at all stages of training. Over 2 days, students participate in games and performance projects designed to elicit vocal and physical freedom. The weekend workshop includes elements of Viewpoints, Commedia dell’arte, Clown, and techniques to promote relaxation and self-discovery. Clown is a form of physical acting that invites you to come as you are, shake off your social mask, and explore the health benefits of laughter through movement, performance, and playful improvisation.
Each class begins with a vocal and movement warm-up and includes class discussion with applications for audition techniques, devising original theater, and ensemble development. Throughout the weekend, students participate in exercises to support solo performance as well as working creatively in small groups. There will be a 30-minute break each day for lunch and short breaks as needed. Studio Playground classes are for everyone: actors, movers, anyone with a desire to connect through laughter and playful improvisation.
Individual Coaching Sessions
Available in Boston, Providence, & NYC
Virtual Sessions Available on Zoom
The benefits of movement and physical acting include range, flexibility, emotional intelligence, and the ability to connect to an audience. Our teachers are industry professionals with extensive experience in theater, film, and television. Sessions are designed to support the individual growth of actors and performers for audition preparation and performance skills. Studio Playground classes and individual coaching sessions are intended for actors, performers, and other professionals to enhance their ability to connect to a group and engage in public speaking, In-person sessions are available in Boston, Providence, and New York City. Virtual sessions are available on Zoom. More Info: Acting Coaching.
Boston Center for the Arts
Classes for Actors & Performers
Studio Playground teaches classes for actors and performers based in movement and physical acting. The benefits of physical theater include range, flexibility, emotional intelligence, and the ability to connect to an audience. Our weekend workshops at Boston Center for the Arts invite actors & performers to explore physical theater & playful improvisation.
Studio Playground classes are for everyone: actors, performers, anyone with a desire to connect through laughter and playful improvisation. Whether this is your first acting class, or you are an experienced professional, come play! Reach out with questions to info@studioplayground.org.
Matthew Bretschneider, MSW (he/him) is the Artistic Director of Studio Playground. He is an Adjunct Professor at Boston University and has performed with the Huntington Theatre Company, The Flea Theater, Theatre Row, The New Ohio, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Kitchen Theatre Company, and Boston Playwrights’ Theatre. Television Credits include Law & Order: SVU and The Path. Matthew received his MSW from Rhode Island College School of Social Work and has extensive experience teaching theater in clinical spaces, focusing on self-care, empowerment, and ensemble development. Matthew received a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with additional training from The Pandemonium Studio, Movement Theater Studio, and The Clown School. He has trained extensively with Christopher Bayes and has studied physical acting with Norman Taylor, Mary Overlie, Orlando Pabotoy, David Bridel, Gabriel Levey and many more. Matthew has taught physical theater for Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Trinity Repertory Company, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Rhode Island College, University of Rhode Island, Dean College. Salve Regina University, and Suffolk University.
Education: MSW, Rhode Island College School of Social Work; BFA, Tisch School for the Arts, New York University
“Matthew Bretschneider was clearly cast for his physical acting and his ability to slip easily for one distinct character into another”.
-Theater Mirror, 2022, Common Ground Revisited at the Huntington Theatre Company
“Matthew gently encouraged us to expand into the full range of emotions. There is a surprising feeling of comfort in exploring those edges and allowing them to breathe.”
-Student Testimonial
“Thank you for creating a space where fun, fear, and freedom of expression could be genuinely explored.”
-Student Testimonial
Matthew's class is a safe space! I loved how everyone in the class supported each other. If you are curious about clowning, take Matthew's class!
-Student Testimonial
Mathew was a super articulate and insightful instructor. The exercises in class encouraged a relinquishing of control and we were all guided along in a non-judgemental supportive way.
-Student Testimonial
Alexander Crespo-Rosario (he/him) is a Native Taino, born in Puerto Rico. He is a graduate of Rhode Island College, with a background in modern dance, physical acting, and musical theatre. Crespo started his career as a B-boy representing the All City Rockers crew. He then studied and worked with Alexandra Beller, Billy Siegenfeld, Rennie Harris, and Marta Renzi, among others. He most recently worked in Burbage Theatre Company’s productions of Our Dear Dead Drug Lord as Pablo, JUNK as Raul Rivera, and Rhode Island Latino Arts/Trinity Reps production of La Mancha as Filiberto, Andres, and ensemble. Crespo is one of the first recipients of the Miranda Scholarship, an award given by Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Miranda Family for artists of color who have shown, “exceptional passion, drive, and unique points of view in various artistic mediums.” As an active artist, his work focuses on connection and emotional range through theatre and dance. Crespo is an Artistic Associate for Studio Playground and member of Metamorphosis Dance Company.
Education: BA, Rhode Island College, Musical Theatre & Dance
Safety Policy - Classes for Adults
Please note this policy is subject to change.
All participants must be 18 years or older to attend.
Wearing masks is optional.
Class size is limited to 20 students.
Any student experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 or the flu, including fever, cough, and congestion, is advised to contact us and please not attend class.