Some British drama for Theatre Arts students

It was a true "Midsummer Night's Dream" in July for the five students from the Theatre Arts Department who took part in the British American Drama Academy.

Students Celine Massuger, Kenny Toll, Will Hand, Dara Yazdani and Deanna Weiss attended the program after auditioning for SF State faculty member Jo Tomalin, who teaches acting and is originally from England. Several SF State students attend each summer.

Yazdani said the program provided him with intensive, top-notch training and invaluable networking opportunities. More than ever, he envisions acting as his future career.

"The conservatory style training of the program was very valuable because it stretched me to my limits, artistically, physically, psychologically and emotionally," Yazdani said. "I was most challenged by how much much we had to memorize and how fast. We could easily have two or three monologues to memorize in a matter of days. That no longer daunts me."

The four-week Midsummer in Oxford program is designed for serious acting students and concentrates on classical acting, especially Shakespeare. The program provides a unique opportunity to work and live with the finest actors and directors backed by the foremost teachers of voice and movement, making up a faculty drawn primarily from Britain. Former students in the program include A-list actors such as David Schwimmer, Oliver Platt, Paul Giamatti and Melissa Errico.

Photo: courtesy of Jo Tomalin