WEEK 1: JUNE 30–JULY 3
Clown & Improv
w. Leo Lion & Zoe Senese-Grossberg

WEEK 2: JULY 7-10
Shakespeare Studio (Midsummer)
w. Leo Lion & Zoe Senese-Grossberg

WEEK 3: JULY 14-17
Devising From Myth & Folklore
w. Leo Lion & Izzy Pflanz

WEEK 4: JULY 21-24
Movement Ensemble
w. Leo Lion & Izzy Pflanz

WEEK 5: JULY 28-31
Shakespeare Studio (Macbeth)
w. Izzy Pflanz & Benny Rendell

WEEK 6: AUG 4-7
Clown & Physical Theatre
w. Izzy Pflanz & Benny Rendell

WEEK 7: AUG 11-14
Actor's Toolbox
w. Zoe Senese-Grossberg & Benny Rendell

WEEK 8: AUG 18-21
Shakespeare Studio (Romeo and Juliet)
w. Zoe Senese-Grossberg & Benny Rendell

WEEK 9: AUG 25-28
Acting For the Camera
w. Zoe Senese-Grossberg & Benny Rendell

Zoe Senese-Grossberg is a director, playwright and teaching artist who has been directing with Firebird since 2017, and serves as our Associate Artistic Director. She is a National Jewish Playwrights finalist, a National Playwrights Conference semi-finalist, and she’s worked at renowned theater companies such as Rattlestick and the Workshop Theater. Zoe has a great passion for encouraging students to find their voice through text exploration and collaborative storytelling. Zoe has been a teaching artist and associate director of seven Firebird youth productions, and leads the playwriting branch of our education programs.

Leo Lion is a director, teaching artist, and improv/RPG storyteller, and the founding Artistic Director of The Firebird Project. With a background in adapting classics and myths for the stage, Leo brings a narrative-focused approach to teaching, encouraging students to find their own creative voice by exploring well-known stories in experimental ways. Leo has directed twelve youth productions with Firebird Youth Theater, and leads the improv branch of our education programs. Leo also works as a performing arts teacher at the International School of Brooklyn in their Middle School division, directing their Spring Musical and leading advanced improv training for 8th grade.

Isabelle Pflanz is an actor, somatic dancer, and teaching artist, and a resident artist of the Firebird Players ensemble (Our Town, Rossum’s Universal Robots) who grew up in the youth ensemble (eXpresso, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Our Town). She specializes in physical theatre and devised storytelling, and has a background in classical acting and contact improv. With a love for telling stories through physical play, Isabelle helps students confidently engage their bodies and become supportive, collaborative ensemble members.

Benny Rendell is an actor, filmmaker and teaching artist, who performs in Firebird’s resident company (Frankenstein, Boy My Greatness, Rossum’s Universal Robots). Trained in classical acting and Shakespeare, he’s performed many lead roles including Hamlet, Brutus, and Benedick, and he won a National Youth Arts "Outstanding Lead Actor" award for his performance as Romeo in Firebird's production of Romeo + Juliet. He recently directed an all-teen production of Romeo and Juliet with New Genesis Productions.  As a filmmaker, Benny’s short films and music videos have been selected for various film festivals. Benny loves to share his passion for storytelling, whether on stage or behind the camera, inspiring students to develop their artistic voice.

"Since working with Firebird my confidence on and offstage has improved greatly.”

"I made so many friends, and I was able to do so much that I had never thought that I was able to do. It's what taught me how to act!”

“It really changed my life for the better -- it taught me to write how I wanted to, to perform how I wanted to, and really shaped how my art is now. I hope other kids can experience this as well - it's something I feel everyone deserves to have."

“At Firebird, my voice mattered!”

“This is a place where teens can grow not only their acting and scriptwriting ability, but their relationship to the world around them, their confidence, and find wonderful mentors.”

Firebird Summer Conservatory 2024 was made possible by support from the New York State Council on the Arts. We are deeply grateful for their support.