Category: Advice on Acting

Deciding when to join the actor’s unions is an important step for every performing artist. Whether it’s going Equity or joining SAG-AFTRA, the question of if and when you should start paying dues is an important step in the process of becoming a professional actor. It can be a little confusing as to whether or not it’s a good idea at this point in your career. Luckily, one of our…

By Michelle Greenberg I’m signing up for a second time to take Michael Hayden’s Intermediate Scene Study class. This class has been fundamental in my growth as an actor and I look forward to taking it again next session. Let me tell you why. Obviously, there’s value in taking acting classes; at the same time, no matter how much you learn, you’re only scratching the surface.  You go into an acting…

Grind and hustle….  Hustle and grind. Those are the classic actions of the Chicago actor, are they not? Bouncing from one audition, show, set to the next. All the while, trying to maintain a sense of control over the uncontrollable fluster of your creative life. Have you ever thought about creating your own work? At the end of the day, we are each in control of our preparation, choices, and…

Why Stage Combat? By Christina Gorman Christina is an actor and fight choreographer, originally from the Hudson Valley region of upstate New York. As an actor, Christina has studied in Chicago and abroad, including the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. She teaches Youth & Adults acting and stage combat at ASC. Earlier this year Christina was seen fighting & acting on stage in BoHo Theatre’s production of CYRANO at Theatre Wit.  She was also the  Intimacy…

Learning to navigate the “business” and demystify the actor-agent relationship is much of what I teach every Winter to BFA Seniors at the Theatre School at DePaul University. This year the students were assigned to interview the agents. Two students visited each Chicago SAG-AFTRA franchised agency and asked them questions about their agencies, audition advice and marketing for actors.  Not only were the agents generous with their time, they also…

You went to the initial audition. You were energetic and focused. You looked great, you felt great and you know you killed it. Then, you get the callback and you really want to land this part because you’re excited about it and you know you’re perfect for the role. So how do you insure that you give the best possible callback you can? So much of casting and auditioning is…

Many Chicago theatres are in the midst of holding their General auditions. These auditions require a monologue. Performing a monologue, (while a standard in our trade) can still seem daunting. Finding the right piece can be one of the most stressful parts of an upcoming audition. It’s one of the only times in your career when you will get the chance to cast yourself.  What should you choose? What are Casting…

The Reality of the Business  Let’s face facts; most actors have a hard time turning ​our ART into our BUSINESS. It is surprisingly easy to fall into that spiral of only working the survival job and convincing ourselves​​ that we‘re too tired, too busy, or too broke, to do the real thing ​we​ decided to make our life’s work. ​We​ lose motivation and​ drive, and without positive feedback or reinforcement; there is a risk we might ​shut down. Yet we all…

We’re excited to have Esteban Andres Cruz join us at Acting Studio Chicago to teach Applied Viewpoints! We asked him a few questions about his experience and his teaching style. When did you decide to become an actor and where did you get your training? Acting wasn’t much of a choice – it came upon me, as they say. I was one of those-performing-from-the-womb types. My first play was at…

Becky Keeshin spoke with Award winning, Musical Theatre actor, Michael Hayden to ask him about his thoughts on the profession and teaching ASC’s first Musical Theatre class,  Acting The Song. How did you discover theater and music? How old were you? How was your journey to becoming a working actor?  I discovered it as many of us do. Doing plays in elementary school and then getting serious about it in…