Acting Skills Blog Posts

Young woman rehearsing her song in an empty auditorium.
Jan 27, 2025

Choosing an Audition Song: Advice for Non-singers

So you can sing, but you’re not a singer. Even if you’re doing non-musical theatre or even film, there are plenty of occasions on which you might need to sing. If you can sing but just generally, you know, don’t,… Read More

Two actors looking in the mirrors at their old and young reflections.
Dec 9, 2024

Age and Acting: How to Age Yourself Up or Down for a Role

Most times, especially in film, you will be cast as characters with an age range close to your own. That said, there are exceptions. For example, some actors look much younger or older than they actually are, and shows set… Read More

Actors rehearsing for a Shakespeare play, one dressed as a king, getting betrayed.
Oct 2, 2024

The Art of Rehearsal and Preparation for Actors

Have you ever seen a person “freeze up” during an acting audition? Or maybe you’ve watched someone on America’s Got Talent who didn’t rehearse. If you’ve ever watched someone flop, it’s often obvious that little to no preparation was done…. Read More

Two students in an acting class rehearsing their lines.
Aug 22, 2023

The Most Important Acting Skills You Need to Keep Improving

The realm of acting is where dreams take center stage and emotions come to life. If you’re an aspiring or early-career actor, you know that the alluring spotlight of the entertainment industry is fiercely competitive, with countless skilled performers searching… Read More

An actor in old time clothes delivering a monologue onstage during a play.
Jun 27, 2023

Tips for Performing Your Best Monologue

At an open house event hosted by Spotlight, our sister site, Joe Richardson of the Guildford School of Acting led a wonderful session on auditioning for drama school. Here’s a recap of Joe’s sound advice on how to get your… Read More

An actor on a blue stage giving a performance in front of a packed house.
Jun 12, 2023

Acting Coach Caryn West on the Importance of Knowing Your Character’s Function

What is your character’s function in the role and the scene? According to Caryn West, the answer to this question makes all the difference in giving a great performance. West is an acclaimed acting coach and teacher who is known… Read More

A vocal coach training one of her students.
May 30, 2023

Teachings of Master Vocal Coach Patsy Rodenburg

Patsy Rodenburg is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading voice coaches with over 40 years of experience of bringing people “into the center of their voice and presence.” She served as the Head of Voice at the Guildhall… Read More

An acting teacher coaches a class on how to act natural.
May 1, 2023

How to Seem Natural When You’re Acting

When you find yourself completely absorbed in an actor’s performance, you’ve witnessed natural acting. It feels so real, you forget you’re watching a person who is acting a part. That’s the goal for actors—to “become” the character, seemingly without effort,… Read More

A group of acting students learning from their bearded teacher.
Apr 25, 2023

Master Acting Teachers on Authenticity

Actors often hear how important it is to be authentic and to give authentic performances. As we’re always busy going about the world seemingly being ourselves, how is it that we need a lesson on authenticity? With the daily bombardment… Read More

An actress at home trying an Eric Morris vulnerability exercise with a friend.
Mar 27, 2023

Acting Coach Eric Morris’ Vulnerability Exercises

“If you’re an actor, you sell emotions for money, and your emotions should be the entire spectrum of human emotions,” asserts Los-Angeles based acting instructor Eric Morris. “You should be able to access every single human emotion known to mankind…. Read More

An actor making a powerful entrance to the stage. He learned many tips in order to perfect his performance.
Mar 20, 2023

Tips to Enter a Scene Powerfully

Whether performing onstage or on-set, auditioning or creating self tapes, never underestimate the importance of the first few seconds of a performance. That moment has the potential to make or break a performance. Indeed, the transition from the actor being… Read More

Performer standing on a stage in front of an audience.
Jan 11, 2023

Insights from Performance Coach Anna Reynolds

Performance coach Anna Reynolds has a fascination with understanding how people function at the deepest levels. Trained in neuro-linguistic programming, she uses methodologies and coaching practices to support her clients to embrace uncertainty and express complexity. “My skill lies in… Read More

Legendary Acting Teachers on Being in the Moment
Jan 4, 2023

Legendary Acting Teachers on Being in the Moment

Audiences turn to theater, television, and film when they want to take a break from reality and tune into someone else’s story. A fine performance leaves viewers feeling as though they’re witnessing something real—a genuine interaction full of all the… Read More

The Power of Observation as an Acting Tool
Nov 13, 2024

The Power of Observation as an Acting Tool

Acting is a study of human behavior, and one of the most accessible and powerful ways to learn about people is through keen observation.  Acting instructors emphasize the word “observe,” knowing that life provides a steady stream of creative inspiration… Read More

Viola Spolin's Improv Method
Nov 30, 2022

Viola Spolin’s Improv Method

An important innovator of 20th century theater, Viola Spolin is often called the “mother of modern improvisation.” She authored the bestselling book “Improvisation for the Theater,” which has been referred to as the Bible of improvisational theater. Spolin created directorial… Read More