• Opinions are like…

    Updated: 2012-01-29 22:13:29
    Everyone has an opinion on acting.  Not just actors, directors, producers, critics etc.  Everyone.  And I mean everyone.  We’ve been surrounded by acting all of our lives and we’ve gotten pretty good at deciding what we like and what we don’t like very much.  Sometimes, it can make my job quite tough.  Because attempting to [...]

  • Doing a Shakespeare Monologue for Drama School Audition

    Updated: 2012-01-28 21:47:15
    Today’s blog comes because I’m constantly working with young people on their Shakespeare monologues and I wanted to sum up the lessons they learn working with me, so that those students who cannot get to my studio can benefit from doing a little more prep on Monologue Choice Old Bill isn’t writing anything new these [...]

  • Truth in Action eBook

    Updated: 2012-01-27 19:45:16
    I’m not going to bang on about it so consider this the first and last blog specifically about the launch of my eBook Truth in Action. It’s taken several years to bring together scraps of writing, blogs, class notes, quotes and exercise descriptions. It’s part manifesto for a new kind of acting in a new [...]

  • New Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2012 Issue of Back Stage, with Brad Pitt and Spotlight on L.A. Pilot Season!

    Updated: 2012-01-26 19:41:10
    “It’s all going to the same playbook over and over,” admits Joyful Noise director Todd Graff. “Not only is it people performing, but performing in competitions and benefits and big final numbers.” With a filmography that also includes the musical features Bandslam (2009) and CAMP (2003), it is hard to deny the existence of a pattern on the director's resume. Projects that celebrate diversity among young performers have become Graff’s de facto calling card. It's a seemingly natural extension of the career he launched as a pre-teen actor on The Electric Company, the landmark 1970s TV variety show that famously...

  • Tips to Help You Create Your Own Talent Website

    Updated: 2012-01-26 16:03:13
    As an actor, it’s beneficial to have a personal website.  Websites are very important for any kind of business these days and what better way to promote yourself than to have a website devoted to your number one product- you!  As a casting director, I love when actors have a website.  I can really get [...]

  • what Uranium Madhouse is up to

    Updated: 2012-01-26 08:52:00
    Tweet

  • PRODUCING THEATRE USING THE OPEN BOOK MODEL – AN INTRODUCTION

    Updated: 2012-01-25 11:00:01
    A guest blog by one of my oldest friends… Nick Field: Ok, so I was reading Mark’s useful tips on ‘How to Build a Successful Theatre Company’ and he’s kindly invited me to blog about how my theatre company produces shows. It’s important to talk about the financial side of things. Even if you’re all [...]

  • California Auditions at a Glance – Jan. 26-Feb. 3

    Updated: 2012-01-24 23:31:47
    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. Jan. 26 • 'Zoot Suit', Singers & Dancers Fri. Jan. 27 • 'The Apple Tree', Dancers • 'Zoot Suit', Singers & Dancers • Lady Gaga Tribute Act, Tour Sat. Jan. 28 • 'Once on this Island' • 'Don Quixote' • Norwegian Cruise Line Sun. Jan. 29 • SFV...

  • New York Auditions at a Glance – Jan. 26-Feb. 3

    Updated: 2012-01-24 23:26:08
    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. Jan. 26 • 'I Will, I Can', Adults • 'Kid Power', Northeastern • 'Naked Boys Singing! • Tuacahn Center Season, UT • 'Leap of Faith', B'way • Sacramento Music Circus • NJ, 'The Music Man' Fri. Jan. 27 • 'Court Martial at Fort Devens' • People's Light &...

  • Regional Auditions at a Glance – Jan. 26-Feb. 3

    Updated: 2012-01-24 23:21:37
    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. Jan. 26 • IL, Band-Aid TV Commercial • PA, People's Light & Theatre • FL, Walt Disney World • MO, Stages St. Louis Season Fri. Jan. 27 • MO, Stages St. Louis Season • NV, IL & FL, 'Kung Fu Panda Sat. Jan. 28 • WA, 'As You...

  • RIP Earle Gister 1934-2012

    Updated: 2012-01-24 08:38:31
    I was sorry to hear today of the passing of Earle Gister, Dean of the Acting Program at the Yale School of Drama from 1980 to 1997. He was a brilliant, incisive, generous teacher and a true lover of both the theater and the drama. We will not see his like again. Tweet

  • New Jan. 19-25, 2012 "Sundance Issue" of Back Stage, with Zoe Saldana!

    Updated: 2012-01-19 23:02:11
    Every week Back Stage posts hundreds of casting notices and entertainment-industry opportunities in the BackStage.com Casting/Jobs Database. Check out the following sampling of 47 new notices — performance venues calling for talent, film festivals calling for entries, staff/tech/crew jobs, calls for scripts, casting workshops, competitions, open mikes, and more: 1. The Gallery Players: 'A RAISIN IN THE SUN' 'A RAISIN IN THE SUN' The Gallery Players is seeking staff for A Raisin in the Sun. Brian Michael Flanagan, prod.; Lorraine Hansberry, writer; Reginald D. Douglas, dir. Rehearsals begin Feb. 18 for four weeks (evenings & weekends); r... More 2. Image-Makers...

  • Rachel Bilson's Rap feat. Back Stage, Yo!

    Updated: 2012-01-19 22:46:47
    Call Me Doctor with Rachel Bilson from Rachel Bilson Rachel Bilson, who plays Dr. Zoe Hart on CW's "Hart of Dixie," responds to all her "haters" who say she shouldn't be playing a doctor with this rap video. Check out the cameo of Back Stage's January 5th issue starting at around 1:04! For the record, Rachel, no critics at Back Stage have ever talked s*** about your acting. Peace out.

  • Tips on How to Make Your Own Acting Reel

    Updated: 2012-01-19 18:54:46
    If you’ve been going on auditions with agencies you will be asked about your reel. If you’re new to acting you may not have a reel and probably don’t like being asked that!  You might feel like you don’t have a shot at getting in with any agent if you don’t have one. Unfortunately, this [...]

  • Sense Memory: Why We Can’t Agree

    Updated: 2012-01-19 15:23:05
    I give Method Acting a hard time. As the dominant ideology in Western acting, it deserved to be questioned, critiqued, interrogated and perhaps even ridiculed a wee bit. Any technique whose practitioners feel religiously offended when the technique is criticised shouldn’t need defending in the first place. Because I don’t think much of Method acting [...]

  • Classic Hollywood Bloopers

    Updated: 2012-01-18 22:07:18
    Ever wonder if acting legends like Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Stewart, Bette Davis, or Carole Lombard flubbed their lines? Or cursed? Check out this great collection of candid clips from classic Hollywood films. You'll notice how apologetic the actors are and how upset the directors sometimes get. Remember, this is back in the day before digital, where film was expensive and you could get fired for wasting time!

  • underlying objective, from ancient Indian scripture

    Updated: 2012-01-18 09:45:15
    “You are what your deep driving desire is. – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad #quote Tweet

  • California Auditions at a Glance – Jan. 19-27

    Updated: 2012-01-17 23:53:19
    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. Jan. 19 • 'Miss Saigon' • Tuacahn 2012 Season... • Tuacahn 2012 Season... • PCPA 2012 Season • Daniel Hoff Agency Musical Thr. Fri. Jan. 20 • SMC 2012 Season • Tuacahn 2012 Season... • Tuacahn 2012 Season... • PCPA 2012 Season • 'Kung Fu Panda Live' •...

  • New York Auditions at a Glance – Jan. 19-27

    Updated: 2012-01-17 23:50:39
    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. Jan. 19 • Kids Talent Agency Pilot • 'One Man, Two Guvnors... • 'The City Club' • 'George M!' • 'SuperWhy Live!' Fri. Jan. 20 • 'Days of Wine and Roses' • Hudson Valley Shakespeare • 'Plenty of Time' • 'Annie', B'way • 'The City Club' Sat. Jan....

  • Time for a Little Criticism

    Updated: 2012-01-17 13:00:20
    As always I get a lot of criticism and recently that’s become quite vehement criticism, quite personal, quite targeted by some individuals. Well I guess if you’re confident and forthright in your opinion you may come across in a way that rubs some people up the wrong way. Since there are now 20,000 of you [...]

  • My Top Ten Tips for Actors

    Updated: 2012-01-09 10:48:08
    To You, The Best! Mark Westbrook Senior Acting Coach ACTING COACH SCOTLAND Like What You Read? Want to Read More? Mark's eBook is available here Looking for Acting Classes in Glasgow? Mark Westbrook is a Professional Acting Coach and runs Acting Coach Scotland, a private acting studio offering acting classes in Glasgow, masterclasses, workshops and [...]

  • Writing a Personal Statement for Drama Courses

    Updated: 2012-01-08 13:45:08
    This blog is generally for those of you that have to write a personal statement as part of a drama school or conservatory application.  Quite often I ask my private drama school audition coaching students in Scotland to let me read their Personal Statement before they send it off. Look, let me be honest.  My [...]

Current Feed Items | Previous Months Items

Dec 2011 | Nov 2011 | Oct 2011 | Sep 2011 | Aug 2011 | Jul 2011