BEING PREPARED
Often ‘being prepared’ is attached to knowing, when it really means being ready to play in the unknown.
Enough Stats!
After reviewing yet another study showing the effectiveness of the arts, shared across social media platforms in a desperate attempt to say “We matter!”… I shout, “ENOUGH!”
The Anatomy of Rebelling
We yearn for the adrenaline that comes with high risk and passion. An electrical current that zaps an audience when you blatantly rebel. But, ironically enough, memorable rebellion has a path: Fully embodying the expected standard without judgment or mockery. Going off the rails, either intentionally or accidentally. Questioning whether to go back to …
What Fuels Success Is…
Your success rate is based on need. So, this is a plea to dream, to care, to need!
A Lesson in Dying
Today, I mourn the passing of actor and comedian, Robin Williams, who took his life at the age of 63.
Welcome, Digital Ensemble!
Welcome! Here’s where you can meet potential ensemble members on this journey…
Set Backs – Now What?
How do we get the car back online with a slight correction of the wheel without the fear-filled yank off the road?
Failing Gloriously – Manifesto Sneak Peek
Without the possibility of failure, nothing new can be discovered or accomplished.
Actively Waiting
‘Good things come from waiting in the wings for your space, for your timing to present itself.’ A playground lesson learned decades a go waiting to jump in to double dutch… Read more…
Teaching as an Art Form and a LAB
The classroom, rehearsal hall or lab is where one must try anything and everything for the sake of the exercise or tool to be explored… Read more…
Ensemble – Timing – The sooner, the better
[fblike] There are a lot of sayings that pop into my head with this one: “Timing is everything.” “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” All of these tried and true quotes and yet we still downplay the importance of timing. A prime example, in our work, is when companies and schools …
Independent – Ownership
So… I volunteered to partner with a student for his small sword test. And unfortunately, that is where my ownership of the experience started and stopped. I thought I was being helpful “just being his partner”, letting him lead the rehearsal process and giving him whatever he asked for. Because of this, I was holding back many things: a personal interest in my work, major skills I could utilize (teaching and coaching) and a point of view….
Master Class montage from latest residency
[fblike] Great week in Jacksonville working on physical theatre (contact improv, “As One” collective consciousness, intention and actor/creator skills). We had a blast with a terrific group of risk takers! Watch the video here…
Play Today! – An Energy Game
[fblike] On the blog, we’re starting to spotlight exercises we use in rehearsals and workshops. The key is never the game itself, it’s the use of it. One game can be used in so many different ways, accomplishing many different goals. Keep in mind: What does the group need? Why am I using this exercise …
Ensemble/Community – Stereotype
[fblike] They say we all have a little bit of stereotyping/prejudice in us and I am no exception. Recently, I was at a conference of multicultural schools in Germany. While there, I worked with teachers and students from many different countries and cultures. As our ensembles formed, I noticed a student who fit the Non-Team …
Creativity – Commitment
[fblike] When directing a play or teaching character work, I have many exercises dedicated to giving the actor the opportunity to live inside the world of the play. We start these exercises at the beginning but I’ve noticed it’s difficult for some actors to fully commit early on. They tend to hold back in …
Creativity – Neutrality
Clean slates are important in our work, starting from neutral in order to build a character, a play, a song, etc. Yet most of us tend to cover up our neutral in one of two ways… doing too much or suppressing doing anything… both fight what truly “is”. Sometimes we observe our students doing more …
Ensemble/Community – Partnering
I love it when you find your match. The partner who is in tune with your every move, thought and feeling. It happens when you least expect it, at least it did for me.
Working in the Stage Combat world, as with many other worlds, you are constantly partnered up with people you don’t really want to work with … the issues… safety and talent mainly. It’s great to find that fellow actor that you can succeed and fail with and know they have your back. Recently, I found that partner….
Independent – Play
Somehow and somewhere we have lost our ability to play freely without judgment. I’m amazed at the amount of times I need to remind students, of any age, that they have an open opportunity to play within these exercises. They still feel closed off, shut down and simply not willing to let themselves go….