THE DRAMA CENTER SERVICES
CASTING
Yes, we do casting! The Drama Center can cast your next workshop, showcase or reading. No, we don’t cast movies or commercial play production; that’s not our thing right now. But we do know the greatest working actors in New York—and we’ve seen their work. What makes us your Casting Director of choice?
- Price – We cost less
- Diversity – We can provide the best people of all ages and ethnicities
- Talent – We know every person we recommend and what they can do
SCRIPT and MANUSCRIPT COACHING
Craft! In a world of writing classes that emphasize personal expression above all else, craft has become a novel idea. Yet it is the very thing writers need most.
Here is a great place to learn how to construct your story. Be it screenplay, play, memoir or fiction, your story—in its leanest, most hard-hitting shape—waits for you in coaching sessions with Diana Amsterdam.
"Diana is a fantastic script doctor guru!"
-Steve Harris, A&E
ADVANCED SCRIPT COACHING
Now, The Drama Center offers the services of Diana’s own script coach, Larry Collins. Larry works in Hollywood as a writer and development guru. Over the past 12 years he has worked on hundreds of screenplays, including produced films “The Cooler” (2003), “Chaos” (2005) and “Flawless” (2007), just to name a few. He graduated from the University of Miami with an MFA in filmmaking.
PLAYWRIGHT CAREER DEVELOPMENT
The Drama Center offers a rare opportunity to work with Lawrence Harbison, former Senior Editor at Samuel French Inc. and currently Senior Editor for Smith & Kraus, and a much heralded champion of playwrights who helped develop the careers of Diana Amsterdam, Don Nigro, Jane Martin, Ken Ludwig, William Mastrosimone, Donald Margulies, Richard Dresser, Frederick Stroppel, Theresa Rebeck, Tina Howe, Judi Ann Mason, Shirley Lauro, Steven Dietz, Jerry Sterner.
ACTING & AUDITION COACHING
Gillien Goll is currently on the faculty of AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy), where she has been teaching since 2001. She taught for three years at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus, as well as at various acting schools throughout the city. As the Artistic Director of The Centaur Stage, she also taught the company’s Master Class. She is a private acting coach, offering on and off camera instruction at every level - from beginning to professional - for theatre, film, television, commercials, stand-up, and cabaret. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College and a Masters’ Degree in Directing from Hunter College, where she studied with Harold Clurman and Lloyd Richards. She teaches a supportive Moment to Moment Technique which was influenced by her studies with legendary acting teacher Darryl Hickman
THE TURNKEY READING
The Drama Center offers a unique service that immeasurably helps your progress. We produce a professionally-acted reading: secure the space, cast the right actors, and send out an invitation to TDC’s database plus your own invited guests. We make the event special with wine and food, and a professional program. You get to see your play or screenplay acted before a live audience—an unforgettable experience that leaps you forward in your writing process. Click here to learn more.
CLASSES
THE SCHOOL OF STORY CONSTRUCTION — PHILOSOPHY
You can stare at an engine for ever and never know how it works until someone comes along and explains the parts. What Diana did was take apart the engine and show you what makes it work.
J. Anthony Roman
Student and Writer Extraordinaire
The Diana Amsterdam method of story construction is unique. It works. I developed my method in a lifetime of studying the universal qualities of great writing; and honed it teaching multiple classes at the Writer’s Voice in Manhattan.
To help you grasp and master the craft of writing, I break down the parts of a story and show you what each does; and how you must apply these building blocks to the construction of your story. I provide exercises that are unique; they make you think in a new way.
Then you take over. Through application, practice and writing, you command what’s on the page with a new sense of savoir faire—you know what you’re doing.
As you master my method, you know how to:
- Lay the foundation
- Construct a solid frame
- Add style and grace
Your creativity flows in a constructive manner. You stop wasting time and money on classes that encourage you to be creative but do not encourage you to be skilled.
Now, you possess the ability to construct a story confidently and with craft. You are a writer who may be called professional.
Sadly, 99% of all writers never publish. It's not that they quit or don't try or don't write their hearts out. They don't make it because they have no guidance or poor guidance. Sadder still, they could publish – if only they learned their craft. Craft is the key; but you can’t learn it on your own.
Jerry Cleaver
TESTIMONIALS from our first SCREENWRITING POUND-OUT
(Fall-Winter 2008)
Got SO MUCH out of class....it has not only improved my writing but my acting as well.
Paul Krasner
This was an awesome endeavor. You're PRICELESS.
Marishka Phillips
Your class has been a good smack over the head and provided wonderful, direct instruction. Thanks.
Greg Truman
Class has been great. I feel like I have learned an exceptional amount in a very short time.
Adam Feingold
You can stare at an engine for ever and never know how it works until someone comes along and explains the parts. What Diana did was take apart the engine of films and show you what makes it work.
J. Anthony Roman
Your class was so evocative, stimulating, arousing, I was pulled further and further into putting pen to paper.
Marshall Tarley
Next Class Date to be announced
Scholarships available for talented students of limited means
Followed by....
THE HOLLYWOOD BREAK-IN!
The most outstanding screenplay will go to Hollywood, where they will be read and critiqued by Hollywood script guru Larry Collins.
