Make your own work · stories from the Circle
Join the one-day StoryTelling Circle workshop for $199.
“I had reached a point in my career where I knew I wanted more.
I was tired of doing theater.
Acting felt like it was turning into a hobby, as if I was being taken advantage of.
I had not taken a class with April, but something about her drew me to her. I reached out to her because I thought if there was someone who has a lot of experience, it would be April.
I told her how I felt and what was sort of bubbling inside of me, which was wanting to tell my story; it was that simple, and I needed guidance.
She had her solo play, Liberty City at New York Theatre Workshop that I had seen and thought was pretty damn solid.
So I just said, she's the person to go to and I wanted a career like hers.
I wanted to do what she wanted to do: Film & TV.
I hadn't allowed myself to have that desire for a long time.
Because when you work in theater or you're in acting, you do it for the art... the starving artist. I had reached a point where I thought that was bullshit, and it didn’t need to be that way.
So up to that point, I didn't consistently work, and my discipline was non-existent. But after studying at Maggie's for two years, my bar was high, and I wanted to keep it there.
I knew April was the perfect person to help me do that.
I introduced myself and shared how I was looking into writing a solo play for the first time.
People had recommended that I do it, but I shied away from it for a lot of reasons, probably because I was fucking scared.
That's really what it was, and I knew April because of her energy; I knew that she would keep me in line.
I signed up.
It was definitely one of the best experiences I've ever had…cleansing.
It was just phenomenal.
I had a version of what were journals, but I didn't have any real stories, just thoughts or whatnot.
I took a writing class with her, and I just felt so supported.
I think for a lot of artists, it's about wanting to be heard…wanting to express yourself.
April deeply understood that, and she guided you through that.
I didn't think I was a writer.
I wanted to be a writer,
but I thought I wasn’t.
But we're naturally storytellers, and the StoryTelling Circle is a perfect, easy, simple way to get the story out.
Before we know it, you have a few stories. Those stories helped me develop the heart of Empanada for a Dream. It was a huge success.
I did it in 2012 in New York City and got great reviews.
I did it in Chicago, and I got a whole production out of it. It was part of a festival at first, and I got asked for a full run at Sixteenth Street Theater.
Then I got an extension, and then another extension, and made best-of lists in Chicago and the Jeff Award.
Then a whole run in Los Angeles, and I made best-of lists there.
I credit April's class because I got to tell my family stories.
I got to own it, and it was something that I'd never done.
I think I was too afraid, and April gave me the courage to tell it.
April, she helped me connect ALL the parts of my artistic soul.
Before April's class, I had no TV or film credits.
After April's class, I had five episodic credits, guest, and film roles.
It didn't really happen until I made a commitment to myself, my dreams, and my desires. I started to find this with April, and things started to change.
Things started to happen.
Three years later and I was just accepted into an MFA TV screenwriting program in LA at the heart of the industry.
I'm at that place that I never thought was possible, but with April’s help, I finally got there.
So make that commitment, sign up, and give yourself that opportunity.
Seize it, and you will see changes in your career and in your life.”
Juan Francisco Villa, actor/writer/director (Madame Secretary, Chicago PD, Empanada for a Dream, Don Chipotle)
You’ve finally figured out that the starving-artist rubbish is some nonsense designed to make someone else rich from your free labor. Agents, managers, acting teachers, casting directors and Uncle Sam are getting the lion’s share of your check while you toil for an industry paying you less and less each year, or simply hiring AI doubles.
Here’s the secret no one tells you in acting school: you deserve to be paid for your ability to tell story. It is not a matter of luck or discovery. It is a business.
Actors who work and make a living learn how to tell their stories: Mark Duplass, Billy Bob Thornton, Brit Marling. Repeat after me: Quinta Brunson, Michaela Coel, Issa Rae did not wait for “luck” to write, star in and produce their Emmy-winning shows. They made themselves irreplaceable by telling their stories with tiny budgets and fun, hard AF work. Full stop.
Quick, organic writing exercises that source your memories to tell and record your stories easily.
Access your natural storyteller’s voice to create strong story structure.
Generate, edit and present your first story in a few hours instead of days of anxiety.
Learn how to market your story and begin monetizing it.
3 hours on Zoom · 4–8 writers · no writing experience required
Learn how to generate raw story quickly and prolifically, then learn basic story structure. Great for newbies, blocked writers, the curious, or anyone who wants a new way into the writing process. Lots of 1:1 attention, tons of exercises and notes after each one.
10 hours · 2nd weekends in August & January
The full StoryTelling Circle experience, ending with a final presentation on Sunday and a notes session. Or pay in 2 × $340.
April’s strong, quiet, supportive presence was more vital to me exploring MY story than I would have thought. The safe environment she creates gave me freedom to be fully honest with myself in ways that surprised myself. In any interviews I give nationally about my solo play “Empanada For A Dream” (nominated for a Jeff Award for Best Solo Show), I make sure to mention April Yvette Thompson’s name because the most complete stories in my award winning play were from her workshops. She has inspired me to help others tell their stories. She taught me that the same commitment I give to others, I should give to myself. I haven’t looked back.
My solo show sold out last month and I produced and directed 2 one acts in May. In the past month I’ve had callbacks for Gotham and Limitless, 3 print ad look sees, 2 commercial auditions. Oh, and great head shots and a cool website and an enhanced wardrobe, etc. This is just the beginning of the new ME, so excited for more of your coaching and mentoring… 10 years as an actor and this has been the best year in my career… SO FAR!!
More stories from April’s clients are coming soon.
Book a pay-what-you-can Discovery Session and find out which story to tell first.