Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: it is indeed possible to be a professional actor and turn acting into a career, even in today’s world.  Sure, well-meaning friends and family and the media may scoff at the idea - but they don’t have insider knowledge! When somebody says “I want to be a professional actor”, they don’t always have dreams of becoming a Hollywood or Broadway superstar. The truth is, you are a professional actor no matter where you are being paid to act!  Here ar

How many times have you seen a great movie and thought, "I want to be an actor?" It's easy to be inspired by the silver screen, but becoming an actor is no easy task. It takes years of training and practice to perfect your craft.  However, if you want to get started on your acting journey, there is one simple thing you can do: study your favorite actors. By observing and learning from their techniques, you can start to develop your own acting style.  So, grab some popcorn and get rea

Good monologues are hard to find. They are even harder to find when we are talking about film. Film is a very fast moving medium. We, as an audience, have been trained to expect to see something new every few seconds. Live theatre, however, has enjoyed a long and enriching relationship with the sustained attention of the monologue. Here, we are just going to focus on movie monologues for men, and how they help the actor hone their skills. First, we need to define the thing we are looking

Stars like Meryl Streep and Al Pacino make it look easy, but if you want to become a professional actor, don't expect to rely on talent alone. Even if you're a natural performer who can cry on command and memorize lines, you'll need to learn the following fundamental drama techniques to really master the art of acting. 1. Vocal Dynamics Your lines are just words until you deliver them, but unless your voice is well-trained, they'll still fall flat or sound forced. In order to accurately port

Engaging in the arts can be a fantastic and enriching experience, no matter if you're on stage participating yourself, or watching from the audience. And if you're in the Bay Area, you have an awesome opportunity to teach your kids about arts appreciation by attending plays in San Francisco! From Broadway shows to musicals and improvisational performances, there are tons of awe-inspiring productions you can enjoy with your child. New to the Theater? If your children aren’t the only ones ne

So, you’re ready for your first improv audition. You know enough to give gifts, to not ask questions, and, when all else fails, to say, “Yes and…” (You do know all these things, right?) If you’re reading up on improv auditions and comedy shows in Chicago, you’re already on the right track, even if you know nothing. Auditions for improv groups can differ quite a bit from other kinds. The process can be intimidating but the possible rewards, namely lifelong personal friendships and pro

Every December, productions of The Nutcracker ballet add to the festivities and joy of the holiday season. You are probably already familiar with the story of a young girl who receives a magical nutcracker on Christmas Eve, but there are a few fun facts most people don't know about The Nutcracker. 1. In Germany, there is a folklore tradition based on the idea that nutcrackers protect your family and bring your home good luck. For this reason, nutcrackers were often given to children at Chris

If you’ve ever been in a play or musical you will be familiar with the term ‘stage directions’. For those who don’t know, stage directions are,  “an instruction in the text of a play, especially one indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor.” Stage directions can also be instructions for the director, such as the way the stage should be lit or what kind of sound effect could be used.  Stage directions can also tell an actor how to deliver a line— pace of speech, emot

Long days, hot nights, and summer weddings all add up to one thing: epic dance parties. If you're feeling a bit shy about shaking your groove thing, don't sweat it! I usually think the best dancer at the party is the guy or gal who's having the most fun, regardless of their dancing skills. Here are all the best party dance moves you need to heat things up this summer on the dance floor. 1. Step With the Beat To start out, get comfortable on the dance floor by stepping back and forth

Are you wondering how to remember lines for a play? Wondering what the best techniques are make sure you're off book when the time comes? Memorization can be tricky business.  When it comes to acting, memorizing lines is a necessary evil. Having your lines down quickly and early on in the rehearsal process is helpful not only for you, but also for everyone around you. The sooner your lines are memorized, the sooner the real work can take place.  In order to really connect with the