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Acting

Build confident, skilled performers.

Explore acting exercises, lessons, and tips that help students develop character, presence, and performance skills in any drama classroom.

Audition tips: What can you do with 30 seconds?
Acting

Audition tips: What can you do with 30 seconds?

As part of the Playworks Program at the International Thespian festival, students have the opportunity to audition and rehearse one of the plays being workshopped. The audition day was very...
Finding Different Meanings in a Scene
Acting

Finding Different Meanings in a Scene

Consider this brilliant scene: “A: Do you like my dress? B: Yes, it’s beautiful.” Imagine you’re playing the role of B. And that is your only line in the entire show. The “obvious” choice is that B...
Theatre in the Round – Acting
Acting

Theatre in the Round – Acting

This is a followup of yesterday’s post on Theatre in the Round. Yesterday I talked about staging, today I’m going to take about the unique challenges and benefits to acting in the round. Movement...
On Line Notes
Acting

On Line Notes

“When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not. ~ Mark Twain Line notes are like reminders to floss your teeth – nobody likes hearing them but they keep your mouth...
A Quick Tip for Character Analysis
Acting

A Quick Tip for Character Analysis

The first place to get insight into your character is by reading the play. Before making any decisions or judgments about your character, read the whole play three times. The first readThe first...
On Taking Direction
Acting

On Taking Direction

Suppose you’re auditioning for a play. You choose the most dramatic monologue in your aresnal. Let’s say the character is at her father’s funeral. She never told him she loved him while he was...
Celebrity Gift Bag – Lesson Plan
Acting

Celebrity Gift Bag – Lesson Plan

The Oscars are happening this weekend and celebrities are no-doubt cramming the gifting suites. Here’s a little drama/improv warm-up that makes everybody a celebrity! I call it… The Celebrity Gift...
A Pause for Pauses
Acting

A Pause for Pauses

““Music is the space between the notes” Claude Debussy” Translated for theatre: “ Acting is what you do when you’re not speaking. ” One of the most common issues I see (and easiest things to...
Choosing A Monologue
Acting

Choosing A Monologue

Choosing the right monologue can be an agonizing part of the process. How do you know it’s right? And right for you? And right for the situation? The wrong monologue can ruin everything… Monologues...