The way some people are captivated by the feats of pro basketball and baseball players, others of us are thrilled by great performances from stage, movie, and TV actors. In both arenas –– sports and acting –– the precise combination of bedrock technique and spontaneous inspiration is the mysterious and fascinating recipe. With its ongoing series of “Acting 101” workshops for adult and teen amateur performers, Stage West (821 W Vickery Blvd, FW) gives fans an introductory taste of theater training from veteran professionals. “Acting 101 with Chuck Huber” (6:30 Tue Apr 8; $20) promises to be especially fun and informative thanks to Huber, an award-winning North Texas stage and film thespian who’s excelled at the lightest of contemporary comedies and the darkest of Shakespearean tragedies. He’ll be focusing on the improv games created and taught by master actor-director Viola Spolin (1906-1994), whose basic exercises in memory, speech, expression, and movement underscore the live theater experience as a direct communication between actor and audience. By the way, Spolin’s improv exercises have been used extensively off the stage to help folks become more aware of how they relate to others in face-to-face situations.
