Art, Music, Dance and Film
These courses are offered by the Quest Lifelong Learning Community. For more information on Quest, click here and also see more details at the bottom of this page.
ACTING WORKSHOP: ADVANCED
Coordinators: Marilyn Rosen, Panny King
This class is open to previous members of the Advanced Acting Workshop or to people who have had substantial acting training outside of Quest. We will enhance our acting skills through the use of advanced acting exercises, improvisations, and the use of scenes. Focus will be on building a character, relationships, and having fun.
ARTISTS & THEIR WORK
Coordinators: Linda Downs, Lynnel Garabedian, Bob Reiss, Ellen Shapiro
We will focus on modern and contemporary artists who concentrated on the mysterious and awe-inspiring aspects of life through the use of a variety of media from traditional oil paint to earthworks.
CLASSIC ROCK ALBUMS
Coordinators: Steve Koenig, Wayne Cotter
Each session will focus on one album by a band or solo artist and be enriched by related tracks from the band’s career or works by others that shed light on the album. Our definition of “rock” will be inclusive, containing branches of reggae, soul, folk, and country. Some artists we might present include The Smiths, Funkadelic, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Neil Young, Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, The Au Pairs, Tracy Chapman, Voodoo Weekend, Lennon, McCartney, and Creedence Clearwater.
CONTEMPORARY OPERA
Coordinators: Steve Koenig, Victor Brener, Frieda Lipp
Each session offers a different opera and a lively discussion of its text, staging, medium, and historic and cultural background. This semester may include Harry Somers’ Louis Riel, Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos, Ernst Krenek’s Karl V, Samuel Barber’s Vanessa and Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd.
FILM DIRECTORS THEN & NOW
Coordinators: Sol Makon, Arlynn Greenbaum, Bob Reiss
Through movie clips and discussion, film lovers will have the opportunity to explore a broad range of noteworthy directors from the silent era to today. We will learn about their techniques, motivations and originality. What makes their films resonate and pass the test of time?
FILM TODAY
Coordinators: Howard Salik, Marian Friedmann, Bobbie Gold, Brenda Zussman
here are two critical parts of a Film Today class: 1) We identify four new outstanding movie releases. Members then volunteer to present a five to eight-minute critique of each film at our next class meeting to be followed by audience comments. A follow-up summary is sent to those on our mailing list. 2) Award winning live short films are highlighted in a 20-minute special.
JAZZ: THE SOUL AND THE SOUND
Coordinators: Vivian Oliver, Stewart Parker, Deborah Yaffe
When Adolph Sax invented the saxophone in 1841, he couldn’t possibly have imagined how popular the instrument would one day become. Since the 1920s the saxophone has become a major jazz instrument, and today it’s regarded by many as being the backbone of jazz. We will present some of the earliest jazz saxophonists and those who followed through the 20th century and up to today. We will focus on their lives, influences, style evolution, and legacy, using extensive video and audio material.
LIFE DRAWING
Coordinators: Carole Abrahams, Paul Adler, Gary Friedland, Marilyn Weiss
Discover the artist living in your head. This is a hands-on drawing class with professional live models. Bring drawing materials—pencils, charcoal, pastels, Conte crayons, pens—and a drawing pad. All supplies may be stored in room 27. Not sure this is for you? We will provide your first day’s equipment. Release your hidden talents—beginners and dabblers are welcome. Everyone works at their own level. Just enjoy being creative!
MOZART’S WOMEN
Coordinators: Larry Shapiro, Liesje ten Houten
We think of Mozart’s father as the dominant influence in his life, but there’s more to the story. Inspired by Jane Glover’s book of the same title, Mozart’s Women will look beyond the stereotype of a child genius dominated by his father to show how Mozart’s life and music were shaped by his relationships with women, from the first efforts of a child composer to the great “dark comedy” operas, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi Fan Tutte. The course will blend biography, history and music.
SILENT IS GOLDEN
Coordinators: Ellen Shapiro, Wayne Cotter
Silent film was a new art, the first art to be an international communicator of stories. Emotions were portrayed wordlessly. Time was its tool. Space was portrayed in novel ways. It was an entirely different medium from the sound films that followed: it was as painting to photography. And more than half those who worked on it were women!