LEMON PUNCH THEATRE LAB provides spaces for study and theatre making. The Lab was located at 14 Cedar Street, in Amesbury, MA, from 2019 until May 2023.
In May, the Lab went “virtual,” offering private coaching, classes & productions at multiple venues and on Zoom.
TEACHING: Leslie Pasternack brings over twenty years of experience in the rehearsal room, on stage, and in the classroom to her teaching. Leslie teaches Scene Study, Physical Comedy, Stage Combat, Clowning, Directing and more. Browse the CLASSES page to view the current offerings. And CONTACT LESLIE with your questions or requests for future classes, or for script or directing consultations!
The Revolutionists, photo: Tim Gurczak Escaped Alone, photo: Justin Lahue directed by Leslie Pasternack
PRIVATE COACHING: Leslie provides private acting lessons, movement coaching, and production consultations. If you want to brush up your audition material, dig more deeply into your physical work, devise a new piece, or get advice on a tricky bit of staging, Leslie can help!
below, Boris chilling at 14 Cedar Street
NEW PLAY DRAMATURGY: Leslie has extensive experience reading scripts and providing constructive criticism on the structure, character development, and overall “stage-ability” of a play. She combines her director’s and actor’s perspectives to ask, how can this character/plot device/staging aspect accomplish more for the playwright? How can the playwright fine-tune the technical aspects of the work without losing their unique voice? In addition to her work with college theatre students and local professional playwrights, Leslie has been mentoring an incarcerated playwright, Keith Sanders, since 2011. With Leslie’s help, Keith has won production in two play competitions and now has a stunning full-length play ready for submission. If you want supportive, thoughtful feedback on your play, and suggestions to increase its attractiveness to potential directors, contact Leslie for a consult.
LEMON PUNCH THEATRE LAB & VIRTUAL STUDIO!
Due to COVID, Lemon Punch Theatre Lab’s classes and performances moved entirely online from March 2020 until June 2021. We were thrilled to have reopened our Amesbury studio for in-person classes, and also continue to use Zoom as a resource in case of illness or extreme inclement weather. And we look forward to future work, both in person and online, as we move from our fixed studio to a “pop up” model of theatre making at the end of May 2023.
At the start of the pandemic, LPTL owner Leslie Pasternack pivoted to Zoom classes in Scene Study, Movement, Physical Comedy and Playwriting. She also produced and directed a series of new play festivals, premiered a new one-act play of her own, and provided hours of one-on-one consultations with actors and playwrights, all on Zoom. Virtual theatre isn’t the same as being in the studio space together, but it’s been a wonderful way to stay connected and keep creating during a time of tremendous stress. Below, please find links to video samples of Lemon Punch’s “virtual” work, and visit the CLASSES page for information about upcoming activities and performances–both online and in person.