The Emotions That Refuse to Be Conjured
There’s nothing more frustrating than when you know you’re supposed to be crying, but your body doesn’t care. Often new actors will attempt to generate emotion by squinting, shouting, or…
The Secret to Creating a Character, Sans Overthinking
Many new improvisers are stumped by “create a character”, and feel that some kind of detailed backstory is necessary before they can say anything. The reality is that most compelling…
Why Memorization Alone Won’t Make a Scene Believable
Even when memorized, a line can sound hollow. This confuses most novices. Memorization is comforting because it’s a quantifiable goal, but performance is an in-the-moment action, not a recitation. Help…
Your First Monologue: How to Practice So It Actually Feels Alive
The first time you read a monologue out loud, it can sound oddly lifeless, even if it seems quite compelling as you read it on the page. New actors tend…