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Acting & Performance

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

The Latest

On Devising in the Classroom
Podcast
On Devising in the Classroom
by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, Andy Paris, Emily K. Harrison
16 April 2024
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
poster for heartland by Gabriel Jason Dean at the Vortex in Austin, Texas
Livestreaming a Performance of Heartland at the VORTEX in Austin, Texas
The VORTEX
NNPN
National New Play Network
Video

Livestreaming a Performance of Heartland at the VORTEX in Austin, Texas

Thursday 31 January 2019
Austin, Texas

The VORTEX in Austin, Texas, in partnership with The National New Play Network, presents Heartland livestreaming on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 31 January 2018 at 6 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 8 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 9 p.m. EST (New York) / Friday 1 February at 02:00 GMT/UTC+0 (London).

Actor covering another actor's mouth from behind
Who is Being Triggered? 
Essay

Who is Being Triggered? 

Consent, Power, and Trauma in the Acting Classroom

30 January 2019

Scott Harman reflects on acting students’ increased sensitivity to traumatic material, how that plays out in classrooms, and what teachers can do to create safe spaces where their students can thrive.

Performer with microphone, raising their hand up
A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights
Essay

A Lover’s Guide to American Playwrights

Daniel Alexander Jones

16 January 2019

Todd London celebrates the work of playwright and performer Daniel Alexander Jones.

performer with arm extended
Black Acting Methods with Sharrell D. Luckett
Segal_Centre_Logo
Segal
Center
Video

Black Acting Methods with Sharrell D. Luckett

Monday 29 October 2018
New York City

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented Black Acting Methods with Sharrell D. Luckett livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 29 October at 3:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 5:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 6:30 p.m. EDT (New York).

Illustration of a woman in a brightly colored dress
Learning About Mary Ann Yates with Dr. Elaine McGirr
Podcast

Learning About Mary Ann Yates with Dr. Elaine McGirr

Theatre History Podcast #68

8 October 2018

Why is Mary Ann Yates the greatest actress you've never heard of? Dr. Elaine McGirr introduces us to this eighteenth-century star and recounts her fascinating career.

promotional poster
A performance of Mawlana
The VORTEX
Video

A performance of Mawlana

The VORTEX in Austin, Texas

Saturday 6 October 2018
Austin, TX, United States

Canopy Theatre, in partnership with La Scéne Theatre from Aix-en-Provence, France, and The VORTEX in Austin, Texas, presents Mawlana livestreaming on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 6 October at 6 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 8 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 9 p.m. EDT (New York) / 20:10 GMT+1 (London).

a person and a puppet on stage
This Sentence
Essay

This Sentence

How Do We Comprehend the Effects of Climate Change?

17 September 2018

Kendra Fanconi explains why it might take us eighty-eight minutes to digest one simple sentence about climate change.

two actors
A Non-Binary Awakening in Philadelphia
Essay

A Non-Binary Awakening in Philadelphia

12 September 2018

Pax Ressler looks at both the successes and challenges for non-binary theatre artists in Philadelphia.

When the Invisible Illness Becomes Visible
Essay

When the Invisible Illness Becomes Visible

30 August 2018

Dramaturg Sara Brookner interviews actor/director Megan Simcox about equitable casting, and why they founded ACTive Roles Theatre Company.

a group of people
On Neo-Futurism
Essay

On Neo-Futurism

15 August 2018

Writer and performer Rob Onorato explores what makes the Chicago Neo-Futurists so special.

two actors onstage
Twenty-five Meditations on SITI Company’s Theater Piece No. 1
Essay

Twenty-five Meditations on SITI Company’s Theater Piece No. 1

29 July 2018

David Dudley explores the story behind John Cage’s Theater Piece No. 1 and discuses SITI Company’s recent production of it, which was conceived and directed by Anne Bogart.

Representation and Ability On Stage in Dallas, Texas
Essay

Representation and Ability On Stage in Dallas, Texas

28 June 2018

Shelby-Allison Hibbs interviews director Marianne T. Galloway and theatre administrator and actor Sherry Jo Ward about representation in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and what it’s like to create theatre with their unique physical challenges.

The Canadian Association for Theatre Research 2018 Conference
CATR
Video

The Canadian Association for Theatre Research 2018 Conference

Queen's University

Tuesday 29 May and Wednesday 30 May 2018
Kingston, Canada

The Canadian Association for Theatre Research 2018 Conference presented keynotes, presentations, and conversations livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Tuesday 29 May and Wednesday 30 May 2018. Follow @CATR_ACRT and @howlround in Twitter, and use hashtag #CATR2018

Contemporary Theatre + Performance in Puerto Rico post María
Segal_Centre_Logo
Segal
Center
Video

Contemporary Theatre + Performance in Puerto Rico post María

Thursday 24 May 2018
New York City, NY, United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented Contemporary Theatre + Performance in Puerto Rico post María livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 24 May at 6:30 p.m. EDT (New York) / 5:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 3:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco). Follow @HowlRound on Twitter for updates, and use #howlround.

Body-Shaming
Essay

Body-Shaming

The Epidemic Plaguing Collegiate Theatre Programs

7 May 2018

Rachel Bykowski speaks up about body-shaming in the theatre industry, and its effect on students in collegiate programs.

A Guide to Constructing Empathy
Essay

A Guide to Constructing Empathy

19 April 2018

James Wyrwicz reflects on how two shows, Say Something Bunny! and Margarete, use found audio and video recordings as the basis for storytelling.

The Role Theatre Can Play in the Emergence of “Places of Listening”
Essay

The Role Theatre Can Play in the Emergence of “Places of Listening”

12 April 2018

Ana Dinger explores theatre as a “place of listening” through the work of Mónica Calle and Rui Catalão.

Representation Matters
Essay

Representation Matters

The Monologue Project

8 April 2018

Gab Cody reflects on the birth of The Monologue Project, an initiative that started in Pittsburgh, USA and Dallas, USA to increase the canon of audition-length monologues for women of African Descent.

Five Grounding Techniques to Cultivate Resilient Ensembles
Essay

Five Grounding Techniques to Cultivate Resilient Ensembles

28 March 2018

US director and health and wellness educator Molly Schenck describes five useful rehearsal techniques for ensembles to adapt when creating work around difficult topics.

Try Acting for a Change
Essay

Try Acting for a Change

4 March 2018

Educator and actor Gary Sloan on teaching theatrical techniques to incarcerated adults and young men to provoke and inspire change.

Feast of Crispian
Essay

Feast of Crispian

Shakespeare with Veterans

15 February 2018

An interview with Nancy Smith-Watson of Feast of Crispian and Tim Schleis, an army veteran and one of FOC’s actors.

Grassroots Theatre Training in the Eastern Kentucky Coalfields
Essay

Grassroots Theatre Training in the Eastern Kentucky Coalfields

4 February 2018

Bob Martin talks about Hurricane Gap Community Theater Institute and how they're supporting an Appalachian grassroots theatre movement. 

A performance of YA-KU-ZA
The VORTEX
Video

A performance of YA-KU-ZA

Friday 2 February 2019
Austin, TX, United States

The VORTEX and Generic Ensemble Company in Austin, Texas presented 893 | YA-KU-ZA—a new play written by Daria Miyeko Marinelli, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Friday 2 February at 9 p.m. EST (New York) / 8 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 6 p.m. PST (Los Angeles).

Autistic Actors, “Autistic Archetypes,” and Acting, in General
Essay

Autistic Actors, “Autistic Archetypes,” and Acting, in General

23 January 2018

Sam Ethan Rubin writes about being an actor on the autism spectrum.

Rob Nash’s Holy Cross Sucks!
The VORTEX
Video

Rob Nash’s Holy Cross Sucks!

Friday 15 December 2017
Austin, TX, 2019

The VORTEX in Austin, Texas presented a performance of Rob Nash’s Holy Cross Sucks!, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Friday 15 December at 9 p.m. EST (New York) / 8 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 6 p.m. PST (Los Angeles).