PREVIOUS WORKSHOP:
What is it?
Two days. One room. Rigorous scene study.
This two-day advanced scene study intensive is designed for professional actors who want to deepen their process and expand their craft through open scene work, dramatic improvisation, scripting, and advanced contemporary scene study.
The weekend is structured around rehearsal, exploration, and intense on-your-feet scene work. Actors will work on physicalizing circumstances, sustaining presence, and building behavior that gives language its necessity.
Participants should expect an active, demanding, playful rehearsal room and be ready to work, learn and grow.
Date: August 15-16, 2026
Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: ASK - The Arts Society of Kingston
97 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401
Early Bird Pricing: $250
Regular Pricing: $300
Workshop Description
This two-day advanced scene study intensive is designed for professional actors who want to deepen their process and expand their craft through open scene work, dramatic improvisation, scripting, and advanced contemporary scene study.
The weekend is structured around rehearsal, exploration, and intense on-your-feet scene work. Actors will work on physicalizing circumstances, sustaining presence, and building behavior that gives language its necessity.
Participants should expect an active, demanding, playful rehearsal room and be ready to work, learn and grow.
About Dexter Bullard
Dexter Bullard is an award-winning director and teacher whose work spans Broadway, Steppenwolf, and leading Chicago and New York stages. He directed Tracy Letts’ Linda Vista on Broadway and has developed new work with some of the country’s most respected theaters and artists.
A Full Professor of Acting and former head of Graduate Acting at The Theatre School at DePaul University, Dexter has spent decades training actors at every level. His teaching centers on rigorous investigation, physical embodiment, and cultivating the instincts that allow actors to create truthful, dynamic work.
After a home run debut workshop with The Actor’s Atelier, he is returning to teach with for the second time.
Date: August 15-16, 2026
Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: The Arts Society of Kingston
97 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401
Price: $250
Who is it?
The Expert — Dexter Bullard
Dexter has directed throughout Chicago since 1990 at theaters such as Steppenwolf, Goodman, Northlight, Victory Gardens, HOUSE, A Red Orchid, American Blues, Next, Famous Door, and American Theater Co. He returned to American Blues in September 2025 with Things with Friends, a world premiere play by Kristoffer Diaz. He directed the Steppenwolf production of Tracy Letts’ Linda Vista on Broadway with Second Stage at the Hayes Theater in fall 2019, which received two 2020 Tony nominations: Ian Barford for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play and Cora Vander Broek for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. Also in New York, he directed Grace on Broadway and Bug, Lady, and Mistakes Were Made off-Broadway.
Dexter is an alumni director for Second City, developing original, improvisational devised revues for Detroit and ETC, as well as ongoing projects for Second City Theatricals. In 1995, Dexter founded Plasticene, "a pioneer physical theater company" (Chicago Reader). With the ensemble, he developed more than fourteen critically acclaimed experimental works that appeared at many venues, including the Edinburgh Fringe, Soho Theater NYC, Viaduct Theater, Links Hall, the MCA and the Storefront Theater. The Chicago Tribune called Dexter "Chicago's small theater genius" for his work with Plasticene, A Red Orchid Theater, and at Barrow Street in NYC. He has received a Jeff Citation, a Lucille Lortel Award, Jeff Award Nominations, and a Drama Desk Nomination, and was named "Best of Chicago" by Chicago Magazine in 2011.
Dexter studied acting at Northwestern and received his MFA in Performance from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Dexter is a Full Professor of Acting at The Theatre School at DePaul University, where he has served as a lead teacher for the acting program. He has taught hundreds of workshops and classes at all levels with Plasticene and at University of Illinois Chicago, Columbia College, Roosevelt University, The Actors Studio, The Actors Center, and Second City Training Center.
I have wanted to experience real teaching for years. I tried everything offered within a two hour driving distance. None of it approaches what Arriella and Mr. Bullard delivered. Mr. Bullard was superb - knowledgeable, prepared, attentive, and upbeat. He treated each person in the workshop with respect and affection. I came away with new thoughts, new insights, and a completely refreshed sense of inspiration. Many, many thanks.