A Slice of Ham

I recently received the following e-mail from a student of mine. Collin Sanderson is a talented “triple threat” and a senior at Orange County High School for the Arts.  I’ve been working with him via Skype in preparation for his unified auditions this past weekend in Los Angeles.  I thought it might...

Here’s an inspirational message from Director, Producer and Acting Teacher, Risa Bramon.  Risa was an important collaborator early in my acting career in New York.  She directed a play at Ensemble Studio Theatre, one of my first breaks in the business, from which important relationships were establi...

I discovered something this morning in my yoga practice about breath, and it occurred to me how imprtant it could be not only for my practice on the mat, but to my life onstage and as a teacher. I’m one of those controlling types. My morning yoga practice is more often than not a reflection [....

Ben Cameron is a self-professed “Cultural Omnivore.” He was the visionary firebrand at TCG ( Theatre Communications Group) for ten years. He now heads the funding program at the Doris Duke Foundation. His recent TED talk is one of the most inspirational I have seen with respect to the co...

It’s extraordinary when you think of it.  Sir Peter Shaffer, author of the Tony award-winning play Equus, is watching a rehearsal for the upcoming revival of his play at the John Drew Theater in East Hampton… and he’s taking notes.  He’s listening to the words he wrote over 35 years ago as if he wer...

Word of the Fed’s civil suit against Goldman Sachs came down just a few hours before the final dress rehearsal began.  There may have been a few of us, student performers, faculty and designers last Friday night backstage at the Avram Theater that made the connection. The cause and disastrous effect...

Sometimes, a night at the theatre is painful, for all the wrong reasons.  Other times, an evening of theatre can be shocking and cruel and still make you want to go again and again. For me, the American Premiere production of Blasted by Sarah Kane at the Soho Rep was the latter. About 6 months [...]