Ruhala Performing Arts Center is a training center for theatre craft: Broadway dance, acting, and singing, along with yoga, a pre-school program, and boys-only work. Ruhala Performing Arts Center stands for Gateway to the Arts though Transformational Energy. Stage craft, when approached holistically and organically, is transformational in nature as it changes the individuals who engage the work from their authentic selves. Psychologists have shown us that as children we can create "false selves" through our adaptations to other peoples' considerations. In stage work our false selves interfere with honest expression. At Ruhala Performing Arts Center we assist performers of all ages to discover their inner potential, riches of spirit, intelligence and confidence. The fun is in doing the work we love because then it feels like playing hard. Come interview with the director, meet our staff, and see our facility. See if Ruhala Performing Arts Center is right for you. For in-depth reading about Ruhala Performing Arts Center, please see Mark Ruhala's "The Value and Power of Training for Young People".

Ruhala Center Mission is to work and train in theatre craft with heart-centered business, personal, and professional relationships that facilitate transformation. Ruhala Center borrows its definition of the heart-center from Brugh Joy: compassion, harmony, healing, and unconditional love.

Ruhala Center Vision is that good classes, rehearsals, and performances change those who participate. Performing arts work has the potential for transformation. Ruhala Center’s aim is for students and performers to become more fully who they intrinsically are, from three year olds to adults.

Ruhala Center’s Philosophy begins with the idea that the theatre is a vehicle for personal development. Ruhala Center hopes to assist students and performers in discovering their inner potential. It is our belief that inside each child are mature energies waiting to be introduced. As such, inside each adult are child-like energies hoping to play.

Being fully present, in the moment, with an open heart, allows one the vulnerability necessary to discover the depth of performing arts transformation. Wildly freeing, and invigoratingly rewarding when we perform.

Ruhala Center Methodology integrates traditional performing arts training with yoga, Brain Gym and attachment child development theory. Classes are spontaneous and flow from the moment at hand. Activities and topics of conversation are open to go anywhere.

Ruhala Center’s Private Lessons are an integral part of learning. We recommend students take private lessons in tandem with group classes at varying times. Please inquire with the director about details.

Casting Philosophy

SUBJECTIVITY: Casting for the stage is a subjective choice, just as choosing one’s first string squad and team in sports. Like the coach, a director has many criteria and priorities to sift through while contemplating casting for a show. The coach’s first priority and main goal is to create a winning team (we are only speaking here of real competition, not the arena of youthful sports where winning is not the main goal – interesting that we only create this non-competitive environment of competition for young people, adults would find it most ridiculous). The director’s main goal is also to create a winning performance which includes a winning cast, a cast that can create the winning performance of the director’s vision.

QUALITIES: The qualities we desire in our cast are: strong work ethic, commitment, dedication, cooperation, expressiveness, humbleness, open-heartedness, open-mindedness, spontaneity, teamwork, truthfulness, self motivation, self sustaining maturity, quick study, imaginative thinking, enthusiasm, bold decision making, risk taking, passion, skill sets, and talent.

ENSEMBLE WORK: Ensemble work is team work – where the whole is more important that the individual parts. This requires unselfishness and team ambition over individual ambition. “Stars” are not made in ensembles, yet, anyone can emerge as a star in an ensemble production. The true star of ensemble work is the ensemble. In Ruhala Center Ensemble Training we have months of classes that inform our decisions so that the audition itself is only a small portion of the decision making, say twenty-five percent.

AUDITIONS: In the audition it is impossible to ruin your chance of casting because of a poor audition, as we already know what one is capable of from the earlier work. However, one can certainly gain an edge with a splendid and surprisingly new audition! Remember the goal at an audition is to convince the casting director that you are THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE ROLE!

PRACTICAL CASTING CONSIDERATIONS:

prior attendance - poor attendance of a gifted and talented performer deems this performer useless – we look for one-hundred percent attendance ideally

attitude – no one wants to work with a sour puss or an inconsistent attitude, everyone wants to work with a reliably enthusiastic and open attitude

ability to take notes – very important quality of intelligence, a secure personality, and unselfishness

quickness in assimilating direction – rehearsals are a drudge when a cast member is not getting it and requires repeated instruction, on the other hand a quick study who does the homework makes rehearsals a joy

ability to sing, act, and dance the part – FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION – for without this ability one is not considered for this part

team work – any performer who has difficulty being a part of the team, a role player, will first be cast in a chorus role to develop this prerequisite to ensemble work – nothing is more destructive to ensemble work than a selfish attitude

chemistry – this is a very challenging part of casting – how will these parts work together? Some roles require strong partnerships with other roles and the chemistry on stage is mandatory. This is often like putting together a puzzle.

previous casting and performances: when we have already worked with a performer in an earlier show, we consider what attitude the performer had, the work ethic, attendance, rehearsal etiquette, and how successfully did they perform the role

seniority – those who have been committed to our work and have shown loyalty to the long-term process of training have an advantage

age and maturity – generally (not always) the older actors have an advantage because they have more life experience and performing experience as well

career desires – we have an extra responsibility to those who are career training with us – we must prepare them to be fit for the real world of show business. In so doing, we consider this in casting.

development of the performer – as we are a training center and part of our goal is to assist young performers in developing themselves, we ask what is the best way to help in the development of the performer when we are casting

IMPORTANT CASTING NOTES:

The age old adage “there are no small parts” must be understood for success

Disappointment in casting is natural at times – sitting in the disappointment is destructive. Feeling and expressing the disappointment is important for a day and the next day is time to get back in the ring and fight for what you want. Learning how not to be disappointed is strongly advised and one learns this from experience and understanding the subjective reality of casting.

Asking the director what one can do to better improve chances for casting is constructive. Complaining and righteously questioning the director will not serve your goals. Good actors are made from hard work, no matter how much natural ability one has. Great actors are made from even harder work!

One good casting role does not mean more are coming - every audition is a new process of starting over.

Casting at the Ruhala Center comes from the attitude that every class is an audition – work hard in every class, be prompt, prepared, and in full attendance with open hearted/mindedness and you will secure a definite advantage. Heightening intensity only at audition time is a path toward disappointment – understanding that learning and development is a process, and the beauty and joy are inherently a part of it, is crucial to experiencing free and meaningful stage work.

Scholarships
The Ruhala Performing Arts Center believes its training ought to be available for all persons who desire to study. Therefore the Ruhala Center offers financial aid scholarships for students and families who demonstrate financial hardship for tuition. If the Ruhala Center scholarship committee deems it necessary, other relevant financial information may be requested and required before a decision is made.

The Ruhala Center offers limited scholarship opportunities. Generally two summer scholarships and two school year scholarships are offered. Scholarship students must submit new applications for each new session. The Ruhala Performing Arts Center gratefully accepts donations designated for scholarships.

Please submit the following to the Ruhala Center Staff:

• One page cover letter consisting of one or more paragraphs detailing why aid is needed.
• Previous year tax returns
• Financial aid form