My first audiobook review, from the leading industry magazine…
“[Edoardo Ballerini] carefully crafts identities… an eclectic mix of characters… all come to life… a creative narration.”
My next title, “Un Amico Italiano” for Penguin, is due out in May.
(Guest blogging for ActorsAndCrew…)
I watched an actor give a mediocre performance recently. He knew it and we knew it. But when he stepped forth for his curtain call, there was no doubt in his mind: he had been fantastic.
This was the first week of rehearsals on the play “Honey Brown Eyes.” More info can be found here:
The meaning of Thanksgiving is often lost, buried beneath a pile of potatoes, drowned out by a chorus of football cheers on television, and, of course, family squabbles at the dining table. This is my favorite holiday. It is secular, involves no gift giving, and asks us only to be grateful for the bounty on our plates and in our lives. Indeed, we have much to be thankful for.
In a meditative vein, take a moment to pause on Thanksgiving and consider what you’re grateful for, and how you can be generous to others.
An interesting point was raised by Ron Van Lieu in class yesterday at The Actors Center. After offering some notes on a scene from “A Doll House,” the work started up again. After the second go around, Ron noted that the actress had taken his notes and veered straight into “character,” nearly forsaking the content of the “scene.” What she did was certainly entertaining, but it neglected something fundamental. Read more…
My latest Visions and Revisions blog post for IDP, “Gertrude Stein and Jay Z Votan Aqui,” is now online. Enjoy!
About this time last year I began my descent into a massive burnout. I had been energized by all the changes in my life – moving back to NYC, getting my career back on track, trying to make up for years in the matter of months – but in the process I overwhelmed myself, and by spring I was a weakened, babbling fool. Even now, when I think back at that period, though I’m stunned by everything that took place, it seems like madness to have attempted so much. Read more…
I’m not as talented as I used to be.
Before anybody think that I say this in search of compliments and pats on the back, let me add this: I’m happy to know this.
I came home after a challenging class at The Actors Center one day and was forced to concede that I couldn’t do exercises I once was able to. But rather that get down about it, I was elated that I was back at work on the craft, ready to challenge myself anew. For years I spent my time doing exactly that which I was already capable of doing. In the process I made a few bucks and padded my credits, but in truth I was growing smaller and smaller as an artist, as a creative, and as a man. And it all became clear to me during a five minute exercise in front of my peers. Read more…
I am thrilled to announce that I’ve been invited for membership in The Actors Center in New York. It is made up of a stunningly accomplished and talented group of people, and is a remarkable place to study and work. The current Artistic Director is J. Michael Miller, but the reins are being handed over to Ron Van Lieu, the current Chair of the Department of Drama at Yale University.
Many thanks to my friend John Rothman for nominating me, and to the Membership Committee for their consideration.
Onward to the further exploration of the craft!
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be guest blogging for The Interdependence Project on a bi-weekly basis. My first post, “Lessons in Timber,” under the my blog heading of “Visions and Revisions” went up yesterday.
I encourage everyone to check out the wonderful work Ethan Nichtern is doing over there.
And thank you to my friend and fellow blogger Jon Rubinstein for making the introduction.
Until then, here’s a thought for the day, from Oliver Wendell Holmes:
Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.
