BRATTLEBORO-In a sunny second-floor studio, actor, director, filmmaker, writer, producer, and musician Robert "Bob" Marcus offers weekly acting workshops - free and open to all, from curious newcomers to seasoned pros.
In this ongoing series Marcus launched in December, the focus is on developing, workshopping, and showcasing works-in-progress through community feedback and small live performances as participants "build confidence, skill, experience, and expertise," says Marcus on his website.
Marcus, a native of New York City, has "officially" been in the area for two years, with his studio at 431 West River Rd., and his home in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Marcus lived "in the good old neighborhoods [of New York City], and the tenements, you know, with my grandparents and my [single] mom," he says.
When he was 5, Marcus's mother, an amateur actress, "threw me on stage," he says, and thus began his life in the lively arts. Majoring in English and theater at City University of New York, he also studied electronic music at Manhattan School of Music.
Having married and started a family, Marcus worked in technology, "because I had a technology background in music," he says, and eventually relocated to the Minneapolis area to live and work, spending 20 years there.
"It is a very progressive, very satisfying place," he says. "They have music and theater and opera [and] everything you can imagine in this little compact space."
There, Marcus was called back to the theater. He immersed in acting classes, learning various methods and finding those that worked for him, especially that of actor and acting coach Eric Morris.
He dug into ensemble theater work and new script development and eventually founded and directed Minnesota's Theater NOW, a professional theater focused on multigenerational themes.
Later, he would lead Platinum Theater, devoted to senior improvisation and on-stage performance with special emphasis on helping seniors through performing arts.
And, he adds, "I started this thing called Living Out Loud. Somebody saw one of our productions from the Alzheimer's Association in Minnesota and asked if we would do a class. And I said, 'Yeah, but if they're Alzheimer's people, people with early-stage dementia, why don't we do improv?'"
So they did.
With his family launched, Marcus moved back to NYC to start Dreamland Theater, the work of which "is based on converging generational themes of past, present, and future."
For several years, Marcus was in a midtown space where "there were always things going on, always auditions and rehearsals. It was always bustling. And it just energized me to really stay involved."
The work was rich and compelling, but the challenges of funding, space, and logistics were wearing.
Covid compelled Marcus north. During that time, he travelled the U.S., camping, exploring, and visiting old friends, one of whom had bought property in White River Junction.
Encouraged to "check it out," Marcus, a member of the Actors' Equity Association, was drawn to that village's Northern Stage. In fact, he recently did a general audition there.
"I stayed with them, and they brought me to Brattleboro. And I said 'Wow, like, what a great little town!' All these artists and music going on, and I'm saying, 'This is where I want to be,'" Marcus says.
Needing a space for his music as well as for his acting workshops, he landed a couple of conjoining rooms in the Brattleboro Professional Center on Route 30.
"It turned out to be just a miracle," he says.
Working together toward something
Preferring to call his offerings "workshops" instead of "classes," Marcus says there are many acting techniques and methods.
"I'm not married to one," he says. "I've done many of them."
"At the end of the day, you know, you've got to create reality," he says. "And the way you do that is by working with small ensembles."
The benefits, he adds, come not from the method but from the community aspecting of acting: "When you get four or five people together, you can cast something, you can work together towards something," he says.
The focus at this stage with his current group is on exploring character - through monologues and scenes, and even poetry - by "asking questions such as, 'Who are you talking to?,' 'What conversation are you having?,' 'Where do you come from?' Really, I'm a facilitator."
But, he adds, he urges workshop participants to consider "certain things that all techniques ask: What's the objective here? You have time and place, you have thematic objectives, you have goals that you have to reach - what is the emotional objective? Let's figure out what this character is about. Make it real."
Marcus adds with a sense of mission: "This is a collaboration, and this is how we build this camaraderie. We support each other."
Ranging in age from 20s to 70s, and from as far as 1½ hours away, Marcus's current workshop welcomes new members. No prior experience is required. If numbers warrant, he will offer another weekly session - free.
As it is, this just makes Marcus happy.
"I mean, honestly," he says, "I'm retired, right? I don't need the money. If I needed the money, I would charge."
Marcus's workshops are ongoing. To sign up or inquire for details, email [email protected]. More information about Marcus is available on Facebook and at dreamlandtheater.org.
This Arts item by Annie Landenberger was written for The Commons.