Acting
Essentials
This class is for anyone looking to sharpen their audition skills. In ‘Acting Essentials’, you will hone your cold reading abilities and be presented with a monologue to prepare with Ms. Draeger and Ms. Otto’s professional expertise and guidance. Additional focus will be spent on body movement, taking direction, audition expectations, and preparedness culminating in a mock audition during the final session. By the end of this course, you will be better equipped to audition for a community theatre, academic, and professional production. Lessons for All!
Group acting classes are currently on hold. Reach out today for individual acting lessons.
Meet The Team
Kaysee Otto
Having studied Comprehensive Theatre at UWEC, Kaysee Otto has made a lasting imprint in all arenas of theatre in the Chippewa Valley. A founding member, director and actor of the academic organization, The Players, Kaysee helped originate the 24-Hour Festival at UWEC. After her duration at UWEC, Kaysee assumed the role of Technical Assistant for the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild and The State Theatre. Between Whiskey Neat Productions and Barebones Theatre Company, among others, Kaysee has acted, staged directed, costume designed, lighting and sound designed, set produced, and directed peers and professionals. Additionally, Kaysee has worked in front of the camera for independent film and commercial work. As an educator, Kaysee has taught classes in acting, technical theatre, and costume design. Acting in both Fringe Festival originals and at the former Fanny Hill Dinner Theatre, her most recent stage credits are Inga in ‘Young Frankenstein’, ‘The Producers’, 'The Foreigner', ‘Out of Order’, and ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged’. Kaysee’s is proudest that her sons are growing up in a strong arts community, having already earned their first stage credits while in her belly.
Susie Draeger
Susie Draeger holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from UW Stevens Point and has performed in professional productions of Into the Woods, 1776, and Twelfth Night among others. She is also extremely proud of the time she spent at Fanny Hill Dinner Theatre here in Eau Claire and originating the role of Marcia in Don Hodgins’ You Better Watch Out. In the early 2000s, Susie spent time developing and performing in original productions in the Minneapolis Fringe Festival. After moving back to the Chippewa Valley and upon finishing up raising her family, Susie has been seen recently as Allison in Fun Home, Rosie in Mamma Mia, and in the chorus of Tommy. She is also a member of the Improvisational Theatre group Quantum State of Minds and directed Regis Community Theatre’s production of Taming of the Shrew. Susie’s philosophy about creating yourself as an actor: “There is no one true path to becoming the best actor you can be other than putting into practice what you have learned and always coming back to the premise of communicating clearly with and impacting the audience.”