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Hello!  Welcome to “My Thoughts on Acting,” a blog where I’ll share my ideas on what I believe are the most effective acting theories and techniques – the things that can help any actor in any role or style of performance.  My blog is designed to stimulate fresh perspectives on the craft of acting for professional and amateur actors, acting students, and even directors and playwrights.  If you are looking to continue honing your craft (for either stage or screen work), or are just interested in learning how actors do what they do, then this blog is for you.

In my diverse career I’ve studied a wide range of acting theories and techniques – Stanislavski-based teachings, the physically-informed work of Michael Chekhov and Jerzy Grotowski, and even the often confusing and misunderstood theories of Bertolt Brecht.  I’ve also worked with hundreds of actors and scores of directors who come at acting from all different backgrounds.  This has afforded me the opportunity to examine a wide range of acting styles and approaches.  I’ve also, in many cases, found a good deal of misunderstanding and misapplication of acting techniques in ways that are counterproductive to the actor’s work.  Directors, too, can cause their actors a good deal of confusion.  As the saying goes “a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.”

Readers will quickly find that my ideas are pragmatic rather than ideological, and are not tied to any one theoretical approach.  Throughout my career I’ve continually engaged in a process of observation, experimentation, and lots of trial and error to uncover what works in acting versus what blocks or impedes.  Over time, I’ve tested these ideas in my own acting, directing and teaching to hone and refine the best techniques I have discovered.  Along the way, I’ve also developed a few concepts and techniques of my own which I will happily share.  Even if the techniques I write about are familiar to you, I hope you will find I bring a fresh renewed understanding of those concepts and how best to apply them in practice.

Thank you for checking out my blog!  Enjoy!