Literary & Performing Arts   

Have you ever wanted to write a memoir but didn’t know where to start? In this workshop writer and educator, Frank Ingrasciotta will guide you on how to bring your life stories to the page. Storytelling is our most ancient art form and everyone has a story in us that wants to be told. When powerful storytelling resonates, it creates shared experiences of commonality that bonds us as a community. In this four-session memoir writing class, we will examine various aspects of storytelling. Through writing exercises, we will explore the tools of your personal expression that brings writing to life.

Step behind the curtain of one of Hollywood’s most beloved classics in this captivating lecture on The Wizard of Oz (1939). Discover the untold stories that shaped the magic, the on-set accidents and near-disasters, the surprising cast replacements, the unseen footage, and the behind-the-scenes intrigue that brought Dorothy’s journey to life.

Every reel of this Technicolor masterpiece hides astonishing secrets: from toxic makeup and blazing costumes to the mysterious fate of the Tin Man’s first actor. Packed with rare insights and fascinating trivia, this session will make you see The Wizard of Oz as you’ve never seen it before, where movie magic met real-life mayhem on the yellow brick road.

Intended for beginners, this class will guide students through the fundamentals of piano, from reading music to playing engaging melodies and simple chords with proper technique and fingerings. With personalized attention and the encouragement of a small group, students will build confidence while developing essential skills.

Designed for emerging pianists, this class introduces students to the essential foundations of piano playing—from reading music to performing engaging melodies and basic chord progressions with proper technique and confident fingerings. With personalized guidance and the support of a small group setting, students gain skills, confidence, and musical fluency as they progress.

Take a cinematic journey through the lives and legacies of three unforgettable Hollywood greats: Meryl Streep, 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: Meryl Streep, Thursday, 4/23
• 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 explore the extraordinary career of one of the most beloved and respected actors in film history, Meryl Streep. Celebrated for her transformative performances, technical mastery, feminist leadership, and emotional depth, Streep has built a body of work that spans genres, decades, and cultures. From her roles in Kramer vs. Kramer, The Deer Hunter, and Sophie’s Choice to The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia!, and even playing the president in Don’t Look Up, we’ll examine how she balances craft and charisma while continually reinventing herself. Through curated film clips, historical context, and guided discussion, this course will explore Streep as an actor of unmatched range and a cultural force who reshaped expectations of women on screen.

Whether you already keep a journal or are looking to start one, imagine taking your journaling to the next level. In this class, we will take the ritual and art of journaling and create a beautiful treasure of your life’s journey. By using different prompts, objects, and memories, you will create a journal that not only tells your story in words, but in objects also. Give life to your special objects to help bring your story to life. A perfect project to have for years to come.

No experience? No problem! In this workshop, you’ll learn to play the harmonica through fun, simple songs that even total beginners can master. We'll focus on rhythm, musicality, and playing together—no music reading required. With live guitar accompaniment to keep us on beat and add extra energy, you'll be making music in no time. 

This is a welcoming class for adults who want to sing for FUN while discovering what makes a song truly come alive. We’ll touch on practical vocal technique—breath, ease, healthy habits, and building confidence—but the heart of the class is expression: how to sing in a way that communicates joy, longing, heartbreak, excitement, and everything in between.

We’ll explore a variety of genres—pop/rock, jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, and more—and the musical direction will be shaped by the group. Bring songs you love! You’ll have opportunities to sing solo or with others, and we’ll dig into why certain songs move us and how to make those emotions come through in your voice.

If you've taken “It’s a Grand Night for Singing,” this is a wonderful next step to keep your momentum going and continue your singing journey in a supportive, inspiring environment. This class is for all levels. No experience necessary!

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.

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.