(Part of the Litany against Fear spoken by the character Bene Gesserit in Frank Herbert's DUNE.) For the actor, fear is the killer of the creative impulse and the willingness to take risks. Fear is what manifests the ghosts of judgement, failure, the critic-ego and the need to be "right." Simply put, fear is the greatest obstacle to an actor's development while training. As one develops the skills of an actor, one is acquiring the facility of using the tools of the craft, the

While I miss being in the room with our courageous and disciplined students this quarter, stepping back into a rehearsal process has been...

You may have noticed I’m not teaching this quarter. Huge thanks to Andrew for stepping in to teach our advanced class while I am in...

The actor needs to use time and space as creative tools.

Imagining Yourself Living Truthfully in the World of a Character: The Magic "If" When Konstantin Stanislavski defined his Magic "If," he...

An argument for the lost habit of reading . Photo by Tom Hermans  on Unsplash A mind that is able to think critically, that is to say, a...

Defining units of action: the elements of a scene. Playwrights use acts and scenes as demarcations to frame units of dramatic action in a...

Photo by Callum Skelton  on Unsplash Most people who don't create drama in some form or another as a career equate acting with emotion....

One of the first things I tell actors—especially those new to the craft—is this: If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, no one else...

Photo by Tino Rischawy  on Unsplash Actors often ask if there is a technique or method to making sure one is truly living "in the...

University of Washington As the cherry blossoms bloom across Seattle, The Studio Seattle is also in full bloom. Due to an overwhelming...

Why text analysis is foundational work for the actor. Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash When Hamlet admonished the actors visiting...

The acting process asks us to go to some unpleasant places sometimes. Photo by The Chaffins on Unsplash A phrase that is said by some...

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash There are two aspects of change that are central to acting, being in action and dealing with obstacles...

Acting isn’t about performing for an audience or playing the role perfectly—it’s about showing up. But showing up doesn’t always mean...

Understanding how dramatists use language is the foundation of sound text analysis. Photo by Tamara Menzi on Unsplash Of course,...

Diane, David Lynch died today.   11:30am, January 16, 2025.   Yet I still need to ask:   “What year is it?”   That is because for those...

Is there an authentic self? If we go beyond the circumstances, influences, conditions and environment that make up our adult selves, who...

New Year's Resolution: Join us at The Studio Seattle! As we prepare to step into the new year, there’s a fresh energy in the air—a chance...

The Time to Act Is Now The world has changed, and so have we. The Studio Seattle is not just a place to take classes—it’s a community of...