Acting Class Blog Posts

African American voice actor recording his lines in a studio.
Jul 31, 2023

The Power of Voice and Speech Training

“Red leather, yellow leather. The tip of the tongue, the teeth, the lips. Unique New York, unique New York, unique New York.” Sound familiar? At any given moment, from training programs to household self tape setups, actors are working on… Read More

A happy Asian actress meeting with casting directors smiling and shaking hands.
Jul 28, 2023

Four Casting Directors Share Audition Advice and Audition Mistakes Actors Should Avoid

Whether you’re in the room or submitting a self tape from home, the audition process can be stressful. And although you’re making sure you hit your mark and deliver a strong performance, there’s a chance you’ve made a mistake without… Read More

Various stage actors performing in a play.
Jul 17, 2023

Mastering Authenticity: A Guide to Captivating Audiences and Landing Dream Roles

At face value, authenticity and acting may seem at odds. Acting is, at its core, pretending to be someone you’re not in a story that doesn’t belong to you. How can that possibly be authentic? The truth is, authenticity and… 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

Actor and comedian Chris Gethard in a suit in front of a black and white backdrop.
Apr 25, 2023

Chris Gethard’s Lessons on Improv

Chris Gethard is an actor, comedian, and writer who is known for his 2017 HBO stand-up special “Career Suicide,” based on his off-Broadway show of the same name. In the genre of self-disclosure monologues, Gethard delves into the topic of… 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

Acting Coach Miranda Harcourt's Approach for Actors
Dec 7, 2022

Acting Coach Miranda Harcourt’s Approach for Actors

Top acting coach Miranda Harcourt’s specialty is screen naturalism. The New Zealand native bases her approach on years of experience writing and performing verbatim theater, as well as her on-set coaching work with acclaimed actors and directors across the globe…. Read More