Literary & Performing Arts   

Designed for anyone who wants to “take the stage” – in acting or public speaking! The art of acting is not just about being the next famous actor, but it explores life skills that everyone can utilize in any profession. Explore the elements of acting while freeing your creativity, increasing your confidence, and learning how to work effectively in a group. The tools and techniques of the actor’s craft are introduced through a wide variety of exercises, games, improvisations, short-scripted material, monologues, and scenes. Use these tools and techniques to forward your career and improve your listening and communication skills. No experience necessary.

Take a cinematic journey through the lives and legacies of two unforgettable Hollywood greats: Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. With curated film clips, behind-the-scenes insights, and lively guided discussions, the classes will explore how each of these icons shaped American film and culture through their groundbreaking performances, creative vision, and lasting influence on the industry.

To sign up individually, follow the links below:

• Legends of the Silver Screen: Martin Scorsese, Thursday, 5/21
• Legends of the Silver Screen: Leonardo DiCaprio, Thursday, 6/4

In this class, we will pay tribute to one of the most influential filmmakers in American cinema, Martin Scorsese. Celebrated for his electrifying style, moral complexity, and deep passion for film history, Scorsese has spent decades exploring themes of crime, masculinity, faith, obsession, and redemption. From Taxi Driver and Goodfellas to Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Killers of the Flower Moon, we’ll examine how his dynamic camera work, editing rhythms, and long-standing collaborations have shaped modern filmmaking. Through curated film clips, historical context, and guided discussion, this course will examine why Scorsese remains both a master storyteller and one of cinema’s greatest directors almost sixty years after his directorial debut.

Ready to make music, share a laugh (or several), and strum your way to happiness? This beginner-friendly ukulele class is designed especially for adults looking to try something new, have fun, and perhaps even unleash their inner rock star — or at least a very enthusiastic campfire singer. In this class you’ll learn to strum, play basic chords, keep a steady rhythm, and sing songs that speak to you. The only prerequisites: a fun-loving spirit and a song you can physically sing (yes, that one you belt out in the shower counts). Bring one song idea to class, and we’ll take care of the rest. This class is structured for beginners and will go at a relaxed pace with plenty of musical “aha!” moments and good-natured laughs along the way. Come as you are, leave with a smile, and maybe even a few new friends. Warning: Spontaneous humming and toe-tapping may occur. Ukuleles will be provided for class use.

Take a look at some pictures from Ginger Lai Kokoszka's past classes here. 

This hands-on workshop introduces the essentials of screenwriting in a friendly, supportive environment for students who are beginning their screenwriting journey or looking to build upon the fundamentals. Weekly writing exercises will strengthen your grasp of story structure, compelling character development, authentic dialogue, and writing action and imagery. In class, we’ll share work, exchange constructive feedback, and watch and analyze film clips that highlight key elements of powerful visual storytelling. Whether crafting a feature-length screenplay, TV pilot, or a two-minute short, you’ll explore the core mechanics of strong screenwriting, learn proper script formatting, and begin building your own screenwriting portfolio. This course is ideal for those who are seeking structure, accountability, and community in their screenwriting practice.

In this class, we will examine the evolution of Leonardo DiCaprio from teen heartthrob to one of the most critically acclaimed actors of his generation. Beginning with his early breakout roles and moving through acclaimed performances in films like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Titanic, The Departed, Inception, The Revenant, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and One Battle After Another, we’ll explore how DiCaprio built a career rooted in risk-taking and reinvention. Through curated film clips, historical context, and guided discussion, this course will highlight his intense, often method-influenced screen presence, frequent collaborations with major directors, and commitment to complex, often morally ambiguous characters, thereby solidifying his status as a modern legend of the silver screen.

This lecture traces the meteoric rise and lasting legacy of the "King of Rock and Roll." We explore how Elvis blended diverse musical styles to spark a global cultural revolution, inspiring a generation of legends like John Lennon, David Bowie, and Bruce Springsteen. The journey follows Elvis from his humble beginnings in poverty to his dual stardom in music and film, through the lean years of the British Invasion, and into his triumphant 1968 "Comeback Special." We conclude with his final era as a Las Vegas headliner—a period marked by massive success, personal struggles, and his untimely death at 42—to understand his permanent impact on popular culture.