Category: Advice on Acting

To be a Successful Chicago Actor, it not only takes education, experience and a great headshot; it also takes a proper use of social media. It doesn’t matter if you’re a movie star, a seasoned stage actor or a student starting out, you’ve got to have a plan regarding social media. And, since social media and social media platforms change, you’ve got to be able to change too. A) Have…

When the Work Slows by Darryn Glass “Never stand still. Only stand still enough to learn, and once you stop learning in that stance, move off. Always keep yourself engaged, in theater, in whatever job you can get. If you can’t get an acting job, then go backstage. Or take tickets. But be around actors because that is where you will primarily learn.” ~Ed Asner Sometimes, our acting work slows…

Mid-July 2017: I’m going to be really honest with you guys, I’m not just tired, I’m exhausted. As I write this I find myself fantasizing about my bed and when I can get back in it. My eyes feel bleary. I know I’m grumpy because I lose my patience with inanimate objects. Seriously, guys, I just yelled obscenities at my desk phone. I got angry at a pad of post…

Season Announcements and Self Submissions My project for the spring of 2017 was to take Adam Belcuore (Casting Director at the Goodman and ASC instructor) at his word: to straightforwardly submit myself for the roles I wanted in each theatre’s upcoming seasons as they were announced. Because I was out of Chicago for much of March, April, and May, I was especially interested in contacting the casting teams of those…

Wash, Rinse, Repeat by ASC Student, Darryn Glass Growing up, these 3 words were found on the back of every bottle of shampoo I ever used. The funny thing about these words was their origin.  They were a marketing scheme.  I say scheme because the shampoo industry was looking for a way to increase sales so they created  these simple instructions: Wash, Rinse, Repeat.  Three little words that led to…

THE WORLD OF THE PLAY By Janelle Snow Being invited to audition for an on-camera project is always exciting but the limited amount of time given to prepare can make an actor feel like they’ve overslept their alarm and are racing to get out the door, elevating excitement to virtual panic! Having a plan for breaking down the scene can help keep you centered and maximize the hours (or minutes)…

Acting Skills are Life Skills.Youth acting classes can make a difference! by Sarafina Vecchio Sarafina Vecchio has been working as a performer and teaching artist in Chicago for over 20 years. She holds a Post Graduate Award in Teaching Shakespeare from The University of Warwick, in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company, in Coventry, England. She also earned a Bachelor’s from Roosevelt University and studied classical acting at Richmond College in London. Sarafina…

The life of an actor can be exhausting. Auditions, classes, rehearsals, performances, day jobs, relationships, families, pets…sometimes it can be overwhelming. It’s natural that sometimes, we all have thoughts of quitting the business. Gina D’Ercoli offers some insight for those times when you feel like quitting. When You Feel Like Quitting by Gina D’Ercoli Quit for awhile.  See if you miss it.  See if you don’t. Quitting isn’t the end…