What is Encompass Retreat?

A five-day actor affinity space intensive program for BIPOC (Global Majority) peoples.

The ensemble will participate in graduate school-level actor training, including movement, voice, scene study, and self-tape. The beautiful woods at Celebration Barn provide a secluded retreat for emerging actors interested in developing their skills for embodying character and story for stage and screen.

Encompass Collective is a community of Global Majority actors trained at the top graduate school programs in the United States who are committed to training the next generation of artists to sustain a professional career in acting.

The retreat includes: roundtrip transportation between Manhattan, NY to Celebration Barn in South Paris, Maine, a shared cabin on the Celebration Barn grounds, and training.

  • To register for the workshop, go to the Celebration Barn Workshop page and click “Register”.

    Registration includes paying the $100 deposit. If you register by April 1, put down your deposit, and, after receiving an offer of scholarship funding,  you determine that you are not able to go, the Barn will refund your deposit.

  • Yes! Each year, the Barn and Encompass Collective raise funds to provide scholarships to students. Historically, most students have received partial scholarships between $200 and $500.

    In order to be considered for scholarship funding you must do the below requirements by April 1. Apply for a scholarship here.

    This application requires you to

    • Upload a resume

    • Answer the question: How will this workshop advance your artistic or professional practice?

    • Upload a video or submit a link to a video of yourself performing a monologue (maximum of two minutes). For the monologue, there are no restrictions on play or style. We encourage you to perform a monologue that showcases your abilities.

    After April 1, we will award scholarships to students who register and submit applications on a case-by-case basis. 

  • "Global majority" is a term that refers to people of African, Asian, indigenous, Latinx, mixed-heritage, and MENASA backgrounds, who constitute the majority of the global population, and is used as an alternative to terms like "ethnic minority", “BIPOC” or "person of color”.

  • An affinity space is a designated area, physical or virtual, where people with shared identities, experiences, or interests can gather to connect, share, and support each other in a safe and affirming environment

  • Celebration Barn creates opportunities for physical theater artists to hone their craft and share their work. They celebrate artists who channel the physical eloquence of the mime, the unruly energy of the clown, and the transformative power of the actor. By bringing art-making and community-building together, we serve those who are committed to reimagining the theater and the world beyond. Located in Maine.

DONATE

DONATE

Each year, the Barn and Encompass Collective raise funds to provide scholarships to students. Historically, most students have received partial scholarships between $200 and $500. This is thanks to our INCREDIBLE community of donors!

Want to be the reason a Global Majority actor has access to this incredible week of training and community? Donate here!

Your donation could be the reason a student gets free transportation, cover their cabin costs, or cover their entire experience. Any amount helps. If you are already a donor, thank you! We are the strength of the collective.