Students are series leads on Sense8, Marco Polo, Gangland Undercover, Bomb Girls, Being Erica
Multiple award-winning actor/writer/director and acting teacher Ben Ratner is returning to Toronto to teach another one of his always sold-out workshops October 23rd to 25th at The Underground Dance Centre.
Known for bringing out the best in Canada’s top performers, Ben has directed some of Canada’s most distinguished actors in his own films, including Helen Shaver (in Down River) and John Neville (in Moving Malcolm). He continues to work with a great many of the new generation of Canadian stars including Damon Runyan (Gangland Undercover, Prisoner X), Ali Liebert (Bomb Girls, Lost Girl), Nicholas Lea (Continuum, The X Files), Gabrielle Miller (Good Witch, Corner Gas), Brian J. Smith (Sense8, The Good Wife) and Olivia Cheng (Marco Polo, Arrow) both in scene study classes and as a private coach.
When Canada’s top working actors are seeking a challenge or in need of inspiration, they study with Ben Ratner at Haven Studio, both in Vancouver and Toronto. In addition to series regulars, film leads and top stage actors, up and coming actors will also find Haven to be a challenging and rewarding studio to develop and define their craft on an ongoing basis.
No false promises. No gimmicks. No shortcuts, just hard work, high standards, and uncompromising passion for the craft of acting. Utilizing scenes from the great contemporary playwrights, this is a unique opportunity to push the boundaries of actors’ creativity and commitment with one of Canada’s most highly respected and influential acting teachers. Obstacles will be identified, addressed and overcome in a highly challenging, but always respectful and collaborative atmosphere.
To quote one of Ratner’s favorite playwrights, John Patrick Shanley, “Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done.” For ambitious new actors wanting to raise the bar, or for veterans in need of some new inspiration, Haven Studio will provide just that place.
Ben Ratner’s Scene Study Intensive Toronto Workshop:
Date: October 23rd, 24th and 25th, 2015
Location: The Underground Dance Centre, Toronto
For more information or to sign up, contact Angela Besharah at: angelabesharah@gmail.com
The testimonials speak for themselves:
“Ben is a treasure – a rare combination of instinct, intelligence and compassion…”
~Brian J. Smith (series lead Sense8, The Good Wife, The Glass Menagerie on Broadway, Outer Critics Circle Award winner, Tony Award & Drama Desk Award-nominated actor)
“The combination of the demanding material, the commitment and talent of my classmates and Ben’s forceful, passionate direction and guidance made me into the actor I am today – a confident and working one!”
~Ali Liebert (Strange Empire, Lost Girl, series lead Bomb Girls, Canadian Screen Award & Leo Award-winning actor)
“I credit many of my ‘breakthroughs’ to Ben’s insight, support, and trust, and highly recommend him to any actors seeking to go deeper into the work…”
~Erin Karpluk (Rookie Blue, Saving Hope, series lead Being Erica, Gemini Award & Leo Award-winning actor)
“Ben Ratner is an amazing teacher and mentor…and an inspiring talent.”
~Ryan Robbins (Ascension, Falling Skies, Continuum, multiple Leo Award-winning actor)
“After too many years of lazy television acting, Ben reminded me what my tools are, provided an environment where I felt safe to take risks and gave me permission to jump!”
~Sonja Bennett (Mistresses, Motive, star/writer of Preggoland, Gemini Award & Genie Award & Leo Award-nominated actor)
“Working with Ben is an incredibly deep experience for me as an actor. I feel challenged to ground my work and find truth.”
~Gabrielle Miller (Good Witch, Call Me Fitz, series lead Corner Gas, Gemini Award & multiple Leo Award winner, Genie Award-nominated actor)
“Ben’s class is an artistic sanctuary. He cultivates an atmosphere based on kindness, professionalism, and integrity where actors feel inspired to offer their craft the focused discipline that will bring out their best.”
~Leah Gibson (The Returned, iZombie, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce)
“I can draw a straight line between Ben’s class and the next few jobs that I was cast in…I’m having a ball, I feel more empowered in my work and that journey was kick-started at Haven.”
~Nicholas Lea (Continuum, The X Files, The Arts Club’s international tour of Helen Lawrence to Edinburgh/Munich/Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver, Gemini Award & UBCP Award-nominated actor)
“I cannot say enough about how much I have benefited from working with Ben Ratner…He’s invested in your success and I’ve learned how to work smarter and harder to reach my goals.”
~Olivia Cheng (series lead Marco Polo, The Flash, Arrow)
“Ben Ratner has guided me through years of training, he’s enabled me to break through many barriers and enabled me to fly with confidence and vulnerability.”
~Damon Runyan (series lead Gangland Undercover, Prisoner X, Amber Alert)
Ben Ratner’s Bio:
A professional actor for 25 years, Ratner started teaching in 1994 as a protégé of internationally acclaimed acting teacher and author Ivana Chubbuck. He opened his own “Haven Studio” in 2002 and rapidly earned a reputation for his highly demanding and thoroughly rewarding scene study classes. Today, he is sought after as a coach, teacher and mentor to many of Canada’s busiest actors, a great number of who are working internationally.
While teaching in both Vancouver and Toronto, Ratner’s own acting, writing and directing career continues to flourish. With over 100 film and TV credits and numerous awards and nominations under his belt, he most recently received the 2013 “John Juliani Award of Excellence” from UBCP/ACTRA. A Jesse Award nominee for his portrayal of “Bobby” in American Buffalo, Ratner returned to the stage in 2012 to co-star in Dinner with Friends, and in 2014 he directed the Canadian Premiere of Tommy Smith’s White Hot, both of which opened to rave reviews.
Ratner wrote, directed and co-starred in the feature film Moving Malcolm that won him a “Best First Feature Award” at the 2003 Montreal Film Festival. He directed an episode of CTV’s Robson Arms in 2005, and wrote and directed the short film Power Lunch in 2008. Most recently, he wrote and directed the feature film Down River, which has won 8 awards to date, including “Best World Showcase” at the 2014 Soho International Film Festival in New York. He is currently developing his next feature film Original 6, a TV series called Rachel, and is also producing Big Feelings, a documentary about a group of his acting students sharing true stories from their lives, and how this process transforms their experiences into creative empowerment.
Social Media Handles
Twitter: @Haven_Studio, @HavenStudioTO
Facebook: facebook.com/BenRatnerSceneStudy, facebook.com/HavenStudioToronto
Website: benratner.com
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