KMS Students Get Acting Inspiration
It has been said that actors often need inspiration so they can be at their best for a performance. For Knickerbacker Middle School students in Mrs. Amodeo’s English classes, inspiration came in the form of professional actor Kevin Craig West, a veteran of a variety of performing venues.
West, who has had appearances in the TV show “Law and Order,” and supporting rules in several movies including “For Love of the Game,” and “Autumn in New York, talked about performing Shakespeare for Mrs. Amodeo’s classes over three days this week.
“The goal was to inspire the students in our unit on Shakespeare,” said Mrs. Amodeo. “Kevin’s work with the students has really inspired them. They have really run with this.”
Mrs. Amodeo’s students have done that, literally running to her classroom on Thursday afternoon to get into costumes and participate in performances of their interpretations of Shakespeare works set to rap music.
“It has gone very well. Kevin’s work here has been very beneficial,” added Mrs. Amodeo. “The students are very excited about this, as you can see.”
West, who often appears in stage productions at the Albany-based Capital Repertory Theatre, was able to spend time at KMS through a grant the school secured through the New York State Arts Alliance in conjunction with Cap Rep.
West also addressed the KMS drama club Thursday afternoon, speaking from the stage of the school’s auditorium.
He spoke to that group of about 60 students about acting in a stage production, stressing the importance of things like projecting one’s lines so they can be heard throughout the venue, adding body movements to performances that convey emotions and carrying out each performer’s role, no matter how small it might seem to be.
West, an Albany native who graduated from The Doane Stuart School, has experience in nearly every aspect of performing. He told the drama club that he has worked in stage productions, in a variety of film roles, has had roles in several TV shows, has appeared in commercials and has done voice-overs. He has also served as a producer and a director in for variety of productions.
For more information contact:
Lansingburgh Central School District
518.233.6850