October 22, 2011 - Actor Charles Shaughnessy, best known for his role as Mr. Sheffield from the television show The Nanny, conducted a theatre workshop this Saturday with 19 students at our Lancaster Campus.  “Charlie” has been visiting the campus for four years, is also a member of the agency’s Advisory Council, and we couldn’t be happier to have him work with the students this past weekend.

He opened up the session with a Q&A period where the kids asked numerous questions from “how did you get started in the acting business?” to “how do you remember all your lines?”  He then led them through some improvisation and emotion exercises, engaging them in some script readings, and ended by posing for photos with them.

One student in particular was very interested in writing and shared her goal of writing a play.  He encouraged all the “like minded” students interested in the literary and performing arts to meet weekly and write together, with the goal to direct and perform their scenes which could be turned into play form.

One of the young men, when asked what the workshop meant to him responded by saying “I enjoyed the workshop today because it helped me express feelings in different ways by showing how reading plays can make you use different emotions”.

Charlie encouraged the students to “always lean forward” in life; to be prepared to think outside the box, and accept challenges that come your way with an open mind and an optimistic approach -  to always be learning and share what you learn to help others.

At the very end, one eager student interested in becoming an actor asked Charlie if he would be able to connect him with his agent, to which Charlie encouraged him to first gain some experience, perhaps a Lancaster play is on the way…stay tuned.