Academy of Performing Arts

Kids Acting Class Winter Spring 2025

Mondays 4-5

Taught by Denise Page & Ryan Van Buskirk

The Villain & The Victim – Becoming Good at Being Bad

This kids acting class is going to focus on the dynamics of portraying the Villain. There’s

almost always one in every story and most of us love to hate the villain! But, what makes a good

villain? It’s not just WHAT they do, but HOW they do it. Two of APA’s favorite villains, Denise

and Ryan (not them personally but them on stage: Miss Andrew, Miss Hannigan & Stanley

Kowalski, Bill Sikes… to name a few) are back to help mold the young actors who want to

explore the various things that go into creating a unique “bad guy” or “bad gal.” We will also go

over how important it is to understand the other side, the villain’s victim. What does the villain

want? That key often lies with their victim (who sometimes becomes the hero but not always),

and in the dynamic of the two positions lies the key to really mastering the dark side needed to

portray a great Villain. Specifically we will cover diction and projection; creating a large and big

presence, even when you sometimes aren’t big; the loud and obvious villain versus the quiet

and more subdued baddie, how comedy plays into some villain character work; being confident

on AND OFF stage, and we’ll have at least two classes with audition prep as well as throwing in

some improv work. Phew! Lots to do and we can’t wait to get started!