Updated: 2011-11-07 16:18:07
In her new book, "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?," "The Office's" Mindy Kaling shares some advice for aspiring actors. "If I can give one bit of advice to any drama major, high school theater kid, or inmate who is reading this in a prison library with dreams of being cast in the prison play, it's this: write your own part. It is the only way I've gotten anywhere. It is much harder work, but sometimes you have to take destiny into your own hands. It forces you to think about what your strengths really are, and once you find...
Updated: 2011-11-07 05:12:57
Conversations Event: Screening of The Help and Q&A with with Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Sissy Spacek & Director/Writer Tate Taylor. Date: Tuesday, November 8th 2011 Time: 7:00PM (Check-in starts at 6:15 PM) Location: NYIT Auditorium on Broadway 1871 Broadway (Between 61st & 62nd St) New York City www.nyit.edu/aob Details: Based on the best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett, THE HELP stars SAG Award®, Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominee Viola Davis (DOUBT) as Aibileen and Golden Globe® nominee Emma Stone (EASY A) as Skeeter, two very different, extraordinary women who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks...
Updated: 2011-11-03 22:33:54
Psychologists have plenty to tell us about deep-seated implications of recurring dreams. But one recurring “Dream” remains refreshingly uncomplicated, and a delight to experience anew. The return of Roger Bean’s multi-award-winning 2009 jukebox musical “Life Could Be a Dream” recycles a particular bundle of joy that originated at Hollywood’s Hudson Theatre, now moving it southward to enchant audiences on the cusp of Orange County, at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The remount of the long-running hit, continuing through November 20, reunites the original cast and design team, though the smash-hit show has been upsized considerably for a larger...
Updated: 2011-11-01 22:27:24
The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans. Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below. Thu. Nov. 3 • 'Lost in Yonkers' • 'The Sunshine Boys' • 'Chicago', B'way, Dancers Fri. Nov. 4 • 'CQ/CX' • 'Amahl and the Night Visitors' • 'The Aluminum Show' • NJ, 'Footloose' Sat. Nov. 5 • Click here to search for auditions. Sun. Nov. 6 • Click here...
Updated: 2011-11-01 22:25:58
The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans. Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below. Thu. Nov. 3 • CA, ISF Season, ID • Old Globe Season • Free Hosting Workshop Fri. Nov. 4 • Old Globe Season Sat. Nov. 5 • Untitled Sci Fi Feature • NBC at Actorfest • Telemundo & Mun 2 at Actorfest • 'Nightmares' • 'Doritos Stops the Bully!'...
Updated: 2011-11-01 22:25:19
The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans. Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below. Thu. Nov. 3 • NC, North Carolina Thr.... • Vancouver, Carnival Cruise... Fri. Nov. 4 • HI, 'Spirit of Aloha', FL • UT & OH, Stiletto Entertainment Sat. Nov. 5 • Click here to search for auditions. Sun. Nov. 6 • TX, Casa Manana Theatre • TX, 'New Jerusalem...'...
Updated: 2011-11-01 17:47:42
For the Taxi Drivers of Glasgow, who must now know more about acting than taxi drivers anywhere. I’m endlessly surprised by the level of sophistication with which complete outsiders to our business discuss acting. The trouble, as John Harrop once … Continue reading →
Updated: 2011-10-31 17:00:00
Join us for a moderated two-hour,career- focused Conversations event with Michael Shannon. Conversations Event: Q&A with Michael Shannon Date: Friday, November 4th, 2011 Time: 7:00PM (Check-in starts at 6:15 PM) Location: NYIT Auditorium on Broadway 1871 Broadway (Between 61st & 62nd St) New York City www.nyit.edu/aob Details: Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon is making his mark working with many of the industry's most honored talent and treading the boards in the world's most respected theatres. Shannon can currently be seen in Sony Pictures Classics' Take Shelter, in which he re-teams with Jeff Nichols and stars opposite Jessica Chastain and Shea...
Updated: 2011-10-29 00:07:33
It was very sad to receive the recent news that one of L.A.'s most durable and distinguished theater companies, the 30-year-old West Coast Ensemble, has phased out its structure as a membership group. Thankfully, the critically acclaimed, award-winning organization, launched by Les Hanson in 1981, isn't completely ceasing operation. WCE's plan is to seek out co-productions with other theater groups in the future. Having lost the Hollywood performing space on La Brea Avenue that had housed the group for many years, the company has spent the past several seasons on the move, renting various facilities around town. This has taken...
Updated: 2011-10-27 22:09:11
20 years before becoming America's sweetheart and winning an Academy Award for her performance in The Blind Side, Sandra Bullock was another struggling young actress who actually had to audition for roles. In this never-before-seen footage from 1991, Bullock (then 27 years old) adopts a Jersey accent and big hair to audition for an unknown film: Watch another clip from Bullock's lost audition: According to Yahoo!, Bullock didn't get the part. But just a few years later, she became a movie star thanks to her performance in Speed opposite Keanu Reeves, followed by memorable roles in While You Were Sleeping,...
Updated: 2011-10-27 18:15:50
Mary-Louise Parker has written a letter to Nancy Botwin, the character she plays on the Showtime series Weeds, for the Fall 2011 issue of Bullett. The piece offers insight into what the prolific actress finds most compelling about the role (mainly, Nancy's questionable morality), and also suggests the ways an actor can get inside the mind of a character without fully losing their own sense of identity off screen. Beginning "Dear Nancy," Parker questions her character about the inventory of a certain duffle bag. Then the actress says to the character she created: "I have grown to love you. We...
Updated: 2011-10-27 17:34:50
After 62 years, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting is making its Off-Broadway debut. The studio's artistic director Tom Oppenheim, Adler's grandson, took over the school 15 years ago with a mission to bring vibrant, professional-level theater to the studio. With the creation of the Harold Clurman Laboratory Theater in 2001, the studio began producing professional shows internally. One of 2010's works, Israel Horovitz's "Lebensraum," received funding from an independent donor, and now the studio is bringing the Holocaust-themed show Off-Broadway. Oppenheim spoke with "Back Stage" about what producing theater Off-Broadway means for the studio and Adler's legacy. Back Stage:...
Updated: 2011-10-27 10:00:30
Once a week (sometimes more), almost every week, I get a very polite email asking for help with an essay, dissertation or thesis. I love getting emails, I like to help, I welcome it but… Some of you may know … Continue reading →
Updated: 2011-10-26 18:30:59
Often people who already have actor training or teach acting and have read Mamet’s True and False, are curious about how our approach differs to the more traditional Stanislavski approach. Mamet’s ideas on acting are linked in lineage to the … Continue reading →
Updated: 2011-10-24 10:02:58
Today is the 500th Blog. Wow. How did we get here? I’m amazed. Pleased, but amazed. So what do I have to say for myself after 500 blogs, I have to say that in the words of my old friend … Continue reading →
Updated: 2011-10-20 15:03:31
I always used to get excited whenever there was an episode of the show on TV. James Lipton’s smug little face asking the tough questions, it was great. On the surface it’s brilliant, a wonderful way to gain a perspective … Continue reading →
Updated: 2011-10-17 17:07:10
I was once told by a world-famous theatre director that Improvisation is really good for making you a better actor. I was fascinated by the advice and asked how that worked and was staggered by the response: Because when things … Continue reading →
