In downtown Ann Arbor’s Yellow Barn, Theatre NOVA is expanding its commitment to new work by increasing its investment in artist training. The NOVA Workshop Series, created and managed by Producing Artistic Director & Literary Manager Shelby R. Seeley, offers four-hour, hands-on sessions for adult theatre artists eager to sharpen their craft and deepen their creative practice.
“The NOVA Workshop Series grew out of my own desire to continue learning and evolving as an artist,” Seeley said. “I was craving more opportunities to deepen my craft, expand my skill set and diversify my artistic practice.”
She created the series to foster knowledge-sharing and professional growth in Ann Arbor’s theatre community. “I wanted to continue my own professional development while creating space for others to do the same. The NOVA Workshop Series was born from that impulse: a commitment to ongoing growth, community knowledge-sharing, and building a culture where artists at every stage can take creative risks, try new techniques, and learn from one another right here in Ann Arbor.”
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Seeley emphasizes that the series is not just about individual skill-building, but also about strengthening the community as a whole. The workshops offer opportunities for actors, directors, playwrights and theatre enthusiasts to learn from industry professionals in a supportive, collaborative setting.
“Accessibility is really important to us—we believe theatre should be for everyone. $40 for four hours of hands-on training with working industry professionals is a great deal!”
The 2026 lineup includes:
- Consent-Forward Theatre Leadership, Kat Walsh (March 29, 5–10pm, suggested donation $20)
- Voice Acting & Audiodrama Production, Michael Alan Herman & Josie Eli Herman (April 12, 6–10pm, $40)
- Prompts for Playwrights, Sarah Elisabeth Brown (May 3, 6–10pm, $40)
- Puppetry Basics, Cameron Prevatte (May 31, 6–10pm, $40)
- Intro to Clown, Rose Carver (July 26, 6–10pm, $40)
“So far, we’ve run two—Viewpoints Technique for the Bold Actor and Audition Technique—and both have received fantastic feedback. Artists leave feeling refreshed, motivated and excited to contribute to a stronger, more connected arts community,” Seeley said.
Kat Walsh: Training the bold actor and leading with consent
Director and intimacy director Kat Walsh has already contributed two workshops: Viewpoints Technique for the Bold Actor and Consent-Forward Theatre Leadership.
“The theater is the only artistic discipline that does not encourage or insist upon the ongoing training of its practitioners. The result: rusty or inflexible actors who often feel unsatisfied or uninspired…” according to Anne Bogart from her Viewpoints book.
Walsh’s Viewpoints work encourages ensemble-building, presence and creative exploration. Participants move barefoot through exercises in time, space and movement, developing awareness and imaginative choices in the moment.
“The Viewpoints technique liberates the performer to be fully present to the options in front of them. It creates a shared language and builds ensemble.”
Her approach emphasizes the communal aspect of theatre. By exploring movement, space, and time, actors gain not just technical skill, but also a deeper connection to one another and to their audiences. Participants have responded positively to Walsh’s methods:
“Kat did a really nice job of facilitating a genuine presence and connection in the room. She kept us honest as we tried things. The way that she ramped us up to the final exercise was extremely effective.”
Her upcoming consent workshop addresses intimacy and power dynamics across all aspects of theatre.
“This work has forever shifted how I engage in theatre and think through the needs of the performers and production staff throughout the entire process. I’ve noticed a misunderstanding of the work or an application that isn’t in line with industry standards. Our hope is that by offering it, we can strengthen our industry in SE Michigan.”
Consent-Forward Theatre Leadership introduces directors, producers, stage managers, and artistic leaders to the five pillars of intimacy work: Context, Communication, Consent, Choreography, and Closure. The session emphasizes trust, safety, and artistic courage, not just in intimate scenes, but throughout the entire production process.
Sarah Elisabeth Brown: Playwriting and creative collaboration
Adding a writing-focused dimension to the series, Sarah Elisabeth Brown, House Manager at Theatre NOVA and playwright, leads Prompts for Playwrights, a workshop designed to help participants explore dialogue, character development, and conflict in a collaborative setting.
“Before Covid, I spearheaded the Nova Lab on Sunday evenings for writers of all levels to practice playwriting. We alternated between ‘Prompts for Playwrights’ where we did two twenty-minute free writes, and read them aloud in class on a treasure hunt for the gems and strengths in the piece. Then, the following week, we’d bring in up to ten pages of revised work. Actors from the EMU theatre department would come to read the pages out loud. This was great fun because most of the writers had never had this experience. It was a joyous collaboration between young actors and new playwrights… This culminated in a showcase of ten-minute plays in the Michigan Playwrights Festival 2019.”
Brown’s workshops are carefully structured to encourage experimentation without pressure.
“It will be a mix of concept presentations, free-writes, and activities. No one will be forced to share, but there will be opportunities to have one’s work read aloud. The emphasis will be on opening up participants’ voices.”
She emphasizes that the workshops are accessible to all skill levels and ages.
“From my perspective anyone from 18-90 years of age. All writing backgrounds, from zero to pro, are welcome. We’re doing this out of love for being a center for creative innovation in the community.”
Brown hopes participants leave with a stronger connection to their own creativity.
“I hope people have a profound encounter with their inner creative being. I think it would be wonderful if patrons who love seeing new plays came just to experiment with the artform. I also welcome experienced playwrights who need a little inspiration and community support.”
Building a stronger theatre community
Together, Seeley, Walsh, and Brown represent the broad vision of the NOVA Workshop Series: cultivating talent, fostering collaboration, and ensuring accessibility. By offering workshops in acting, leadership and playwriting, Theatre NOVA provides multiple entry points for artists of all backgrounds to deepen their craft.
“We’re creating space for learning, risk-taking, and experimentation,” Seeley said.
“The workshops aren’t just about skill—they’re about community, connection, and supporting one another as artists.”
For Walsh, the series offers a place for performers to practice, experiment and explore safe, consent-based practices. For Brown, it is a laboratory for emerging and experienced playwrights alike.
“It’s about inspiring creativity and giving people the tools and confidence to bring their ideas to life,” Brown said.
The NOVA Workshop Series, four hours at a time, is helping to shape a stronger, more connected theatre ecosystem in Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan.
Although workshops are relatively inexpensive for their duration, a sliding scale is still available for those in need. For more information: theatrenova.org/novaworkshopseries
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
