Our School

About

The Alsedek Theatre School is a training program dedicated to developing students' skills, knowledge, and appreciation of the process of acting and the making of theatre.

Our School

It's a process.

Open Stage Studio/School, now The Alsedek Theatre School, was founded in 1985, one year before the theatre began producing plays. Embracing the philosophical mission of the theatre, and the belief that acting is a skill learned through study and practice, The Alsedek Theatre School places the process and method of acting over product.

It's a skill.

We are about creating better actors (and people) through our classes and workshops. Our programs are academic and rigorous, and we continue to offer and expand our year-round classes for adults and students from grades K-12. Our curriculum is tied to national and Pennsylvania standards in arts education, and our staff are certified teachers and theatre professionals.

More than classes.

In addition to classes, The Alsedek Theatre School offers outreach programs, student matinees for daytime school field trips, and post-performance talkbacks. We are proud of our school and would love to show you in person. To visit us, please contact Brianna Dow by email or 717-232-6736. We look forward to meeting you.

Anne L. Alsedek

Our History

Founded by Education Director Emeritus Anne L. Alsedek in 1985 as the Open Stage Studio/School, The Alsedek Theatre School is dedicated to bringing the best of theatre education to the capital city.

Our Mission

The Alsedek Theatre School is a training program dedicated to developing students' skills, knowledge, and appreciation of the process of acting and the making of theatre.

Our Teachers

Anne L. Alsedek

(Education Director Emeritus & Founder, she/her) founded the Open Stage of Harrisburg Studio/School in 1985 and its Education Department in 1999. She is responsible for developing and managing the theatre's educational programming and activities, including the school, post-performance interactives, study guides, school day matinees, school tours and residencies, and its children's theatre company, OSHKids. Anne has an extensive acting background with Open Stage of Harrisburg, and appeared in its first production, A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN, in 1983. OPEN STAGE OF HARRISBURG: THE OLD FRIENDS (Gertrude), DRIVING MISS DAISY (Daisy), A CHRISTMAS MEMORY (Sook), A LIE OF THE MIND (Lorraine), AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (Violet), DOUBT (Sister Aloysius), RABBIT HOLE (Nat), WELL (Ann Kron), COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA (Lola), THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES (various roles), THE THREEPENNY OPERA (Mrs. Peachum), THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN (Eileen), TRUE WEST (Mom), THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (Mrs. Van Daan), ASSASSINS (Sara Jane Moore). Other Open Stage appearances include roles in DEATH OF A SALESMAN, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, ANGELS IN AMERICA, and THE CHERRY ORCHARD. A founder of Open Stage of Harrisburg, Anne teaches Acting Technique, Scene Study, Studio Workshop, 180PREP, and Music Theatre Workshop at the Studio/School.

Stuart Landon

(Producing Artistic Director & Instructor, he/him) hails from Texas and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma A. Max Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre. OPEN STAGE: PETER, HOOK, & THE DARLINGS (Director), THE SANTALAND DIARIES (Crumpet), CLYBOURNE PARK (Karl/Steve), A CHRISTMAS MEMORY (Adult Buddy), FROST/NIXON (David Frost), A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES (Dylan Thomas), A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Fred), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Seymour), WELL, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Hedwig), DOUBT (Father Flynn), [title of show] (Hunter), THE HOBBIT (Director), L. Frank Baum’s OZ (Director), and THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (Director). Stuart produces COURT STREET CABARET and lead the OSHKids Performance Company at Open Stage Studio/School from 2011-2017. He has also worked at Allenberry Playhouse, Millbrook Playhouse, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma City, Findlay Summer Stock and Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars.

Benny Benamati

(Education Associate and Instructor, they/them) a Maryland native, studied at Dickinson College where they received degrees in Theatre and Music. They have worked in a variety of theatrical fields over the years including acting, directing and design. Prior to moving to Harrisburg, they worked at Pendragon Theatre (Saranac Lake, NY) as the assistant to the Executive Artistic Director, and at Carlisle Theatre (Carlisle, PA) as their director for the Summer Faire production of Snoopy! Regional Performance Credits: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Cobweb), Seussical (Sour Kangaroo), Carrie the Musical (Freddy), James and the Giant Peach (Earthworm), and The Wolves ( #25).

Rachel Landon

(Instructor, she/her) received her degree from The University of Evansville and has traveled to theatres across the country acting, singing, directing, producing and cleaning toilets. Rachel's recent directing credits at Open Stage include Ragtime, and The Wolves, and was featured in the 2018 production of Carrie the Musical as Margaret White. Favorite regional credits include: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Yitzhak), Silence! The Musical (Clarice), Tell Me On a Sunday (Emma), Next to Normal (Diana), and The Who’s Tommy (Mrs. Walker). She has served as an award-winning director for shows such as Assassins, Peter and the Starcatcher and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Rachel toured the world with the cult hit The Intergalactic Nemesis in which she served as a voice over artist and can also be heard in various English-dubbed animes, such as My Love Story!, Gate, and Food Wars.

Open Stage

About

The Alsedek Theatre School is a training program dedicated to developing students' skills, knowledge, and appreciation of the process of acting and the making of theatre.

Our School

It's a process.

It's a skill.

More than classes.

Anne L. Alsedek

Our History

Our Mission

Our Teachers

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OUR SCHOOL
OUR TEACHERS

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