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Acting & Performance

This section contains content on the craft of acting, created by performers of all types.

The Latest

Resisting “Yes, And” Culture and Learning to Say No
Essay
Resisting “Yes, And” Culture and Learning to Say No
by Sara Božin
8 January 2024
Evolving Our World Through the Power of an Actor’s Empathy
Essay
Evolving Our World Through the Power of an Actor’s Empathy
by Yura Sapi
2 November 2023
A Cypher Among Theatremakers from the Laotian Diaspora
Essay
A Cypher Among Theatremakers from the Laotian Diaspora
by Saymoukda Vongsay, Ova Saopeng, Samson Syharath, Kaysone Syonesa, Lidet Viravong
7 September 2023
Interviewees, Actors, and Audiences
Essay

Interviewees, Actors, and Audiences

the Theatrical Balancing Act of Documentary Playmaking

9 March 2016

Melissa Bergstrom and Kate Marple share their process of creating the documentary theatre piece Big Work.

One Story, Two Mediums
Essay

One Story, Two Mediums

A Writer’s Journey from Film to Stage

5 March 2016

Rikki Elizabeth Stinnette shares her experience of writing The Screenwriters for both film and the stage.

My Life as a Plus-Size Actress
Essay

My Life as a Plus-Size Actress

1 March 2016

Actress Bethany Hanna reflects on past casting experiences and shares her current outlook on body image.

To BA or not to BA? That is the Question
Essay

To BA or not to BA? That is the Question

29 February 2016

Magenta Howard discusses her experience pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at a public university in the US. 

“Theatre Is a Great Equalizer”
Essay

“Theatre Is a Great Equalizer”

Alzheimer’s, Humor, and Actors Who Stutter

28 February 2016

Henrik Eger looks at a musical about Alzheimer’s in Philadelphia with actors with speech impediments.

The Afrolatin@ Theatre Series
Essay

The Afrolatin@ Theatre Series

Actress, Writer, and Theatre Mogul Florinda Bryant

25 February 2016

In this first installment, Jelisa Jay Robinson profiles Florinda Bryant of Salvage Vanguard Theater.

The Immersive Actor
Essay

The Immersive Actor

14 February 2016

In this last installment, Producing Artistic Director Tami Dixon reflects on the role of the actor’s relationship with audience members in immersive theatre. 

Monologue as Performance
Essay

Monologue as Performance

10 February 2016

Award-winning actor and monologuist Eric Bogosian discusses how a monologue is created: from conceptualization, to free-form vocal improv, to writing, and performance.

The Gainesville - Chicago Improv Connection
Essay

The Gainesville - Chicago Improv Connection

6 February 2016

Andrew Bailes describes the unlikely link between the Gainesville, Florida and Chicago, Illinois improv communities.

Theatre in a Fly-over State
Essay

Theatre in a Fly-over State

Louisville Championship Arm Wrestling

6 February 2016

In this installment, Eli Keel discusses Louisville Championship Arm Wrestling and its non-traditional approach to live theatre.

Terminus by Gabriel Jason Dean
Video

Terminus by Gabriel Jason Dean

Friday 29 January 2016
Austin, TX, United States

The VORTEX in Austin, Texas presented Terminus by Gabriel Jason Dean—livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on at Friday 29 January at 6 p.m. PST (Vancouver) / 8 p.m. CST (Austin) / 9 p.m. EST (New York). Use Twitter hashtag #howlround and direct comments @VORTEXonManor.

Stars of David
Essay

Stars of David

Story to Song Twinterview

30 January 2016

Lauren Alexander interviews twins Shirley and Aaron Sertosky about their experience working together in Theater J’s production of Stars of David: Story to Song.

Living the Dream Podcast #15
Podcast

Living the Dream Podcast #15

Rachel Keller

22 January 2016

In this episode, Matthew Gray discusses the lack of diversity during awards season, and interviews Rachel Keller, co-star of Holidaysburg and Fargo: Season Two, about her journey.

Living the Dream Podcast # 14
Podcast

Living the Dream Podcast # 14

What Actors Mean to Us

14 January 2016

In this episode, Matt Gray reflects on what actors mean to us and whether the awards season is the best way to honor them.

Why It's Important to Have Black and Brown Bodies Onstage Outside of Stereotypical Black and Brown Roles
Essay

Why It's Important to Have Black and Brown Bodies Onstage Outside of Stereotypical Black and Brown Roles

8 January 2016

Actor Isabel Dieppa writes about her experiences as an actor of color being cast in a variety of roles.

What’s Hecuba To Him?
Essay

What’s Hecuba To Him?

21 December 2015

In this second installment, Matthew Minnicino discusses legendary women characters in ancient Greek theatre. 

Living the Dream Podcast # 13
Podcast

Living the Dream Podcast # 13

PigPen Theatre Co., Part 2 of 2

17 December 2015

In the second part of Matt's interview with Pig Pen Theatre Co., he speaks with Matt, Curtis, and Ben. They discuss how to avoid cynicism for the business, speaking a common language with your collaborators, and Jerome Bettis.

Living the Dream Podcast # 12
Podcast

Living the Dream Podcast # 12

Ali Stroker

11 December 2015

Ali Stroker is currently starring in Deaf West’s acclaimed Broadway production of Spring Awakening. She is the first leading actor in a wheelchair on Broadway. She’s part-trailblazer, part-advocate, part-instigator and all artist.

Proximity and Distance—Avoiding the Grey Zone
Essay

Proximity and Distance—Avoiding the Grey Zone

8 December 2015

In this fourth installment, Director Damon Krometis discusses the implications of spatial relationships between performers and audiences.

Where’s My Influence? Affecting Gender Parity as a Freelance Artist
Essay

Where’s My Influence? Affecting Gender Parity as a Freelance Artist

4 December 2015

Actor and teaching artist Valerie Weak discusses her experience freelancing and shares her strategies for promoting women theatre artists.

group of musicians posing with their instruments
Living the Dream Podcast # 11
Podcast

Living the Dream Podcast # 11

PigPen Theatre Co., Part 1 of 2

3 December 2015

Today is the first part of a two part interview with three members of the PigPen Theatre Co. (Ryan Melia, Arya Shahi and Dan Weschler). We discuss actual Rat Kings, the ‘tiering’ of Drama Schools and finding your own identity in the actor training process.

Failure
Essay

Failure

Why Taking Risks is Still Essential

2 December 2015

Eli Keel discusses his experience performing in Phillip Dawkins’ play Failure: A Love Story and shares the timely lesson he learned.

Living the Dream Podcast # 10
Podcast

Living the Dream Podcast # 10

Kristolyn Lloyd

19 November 2015

Matthew Gray interviews performer Kristolyn Lloyd about choosing ethics and principles over panic when building your career, the importance of shaping your own education, and developing new work.

O Be Careful, Little Eyes, What You See
Essay

O Be Careful, Little Eyes, What You See

Combatting Censorship as a Christian Theatre Artist

9 November 2015

Playwright Joseph D’Ambrosi advocates the need for Christian theatre artists to reevaluate censoring plays for the sake of faith-based themes.

All Eyes on Me (whether I like it or not)
Essay

All Eyes on Me (whether I like it or not)

Tourette Syndrome in the Theatre

8 November 2015

Actor Gardiner Comfort discusses his experiences as a performer and audience member with Tourette Syndrome, and how it has inspired aspects of his solo show The Elephant in Every Room I Enter.