Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “Blog”
I’m in a scene study class. Katherine has just finished doing her monologue. Before I can get a word out, she says, “I have to work on the circumstances, and I didn’t feel very relaxed. My body was tense, and I think I should play the opposite of what the …
Why am I still taking acting classes at this point in my life? After a long career edging towards 50 years? I am talking specifically about taking class at TBG, with Seth Barrish and Lee Brock, though I have trained in other techniques along the way. The following is an excerpt …
I’m teaching a ten-week monologue class. I ask everyone to bring in contemporary material, and also, of course, Shakespeare. A student, Alex, says, “I can’t do Shakespeare.” I think, “Can’t” is a strong word. It stops us from having an experience. “Can’t…” brings us to a full stop. Alex continues, …
Have you ever wanted the first go of a scene to feel more like the second go? Me too. And I’ve heard this from students in class a lot, sometimes with a bit of frustration or longing. Years ago my friend and fellow teacher Chris Wells and I were talking …
I’m teaching. Two actors finish their scene. One of them says, “That was so horrible. I wasn’t real. It was just terrible.” I pause and walk slowly to the side of the stage. “Why don’t you change the sentence in your head” “What do you mean?” “It’s just a sentence …
About five years ago I was approached about teaching a Musical Theatre class for The Barrow Group’s adult students. An acting class for singers and actors. It had been a while since TBG had such a class. They thought I would be a good candidate based on my years of …
I am standing on top of a ridge at thirteen thousand feet after hiking a bit with my skis on my shoulder. My son wants to start the day off with the deepest powder. I haven’t done this run in years and not with this much powder. I throw …
Some of the most extraordinary experiences I have while teaching come when I’m leading youth classes. Young artists are a constant reminder of the importance of play, imagination, and joy. Three ideas come to mind most clearly when I think of what I’ve learned from kids about storytelling: 1. Storytelling …
Ask any actor and they’ll tell you that some of the best acting they’ve ever seen has not been on screen or on a stage, but in small rooms. A play reading in a living room. A scene study class in an out-of-the-way studio space. Sharing a monologue in some …
I didn’t realize how someone asking me to write a blog would send me into a tailspin of identity crisis and panic about not having my own opinion about anything, let alone art. I blame this on being a fresh mom of two, where I basically live in an echo …
I’m sitting in rehearsal with K. Lorrel Manning, working on his one-person show, “Lost…Found.” He says a line about his father. He stops, overcome with emotion. “That just hit me so hard for the first time.” I look at Christine Cirker, my co-director, who catches my gaze. The room gets …
When I was a senior in college as an Early Childhood Education major, I took my first theater class. This was my first attempt to follow my dream of being a professional storyteller. It was a stage movement class that focused on character-building and storytelling with commedia dell’arte masks. My …
I’m on a speed boat speeding across the azure blue waters of the Galapagos Islands on our way to Kicker Rock. A brown-haired gentleman with Rayban sunglasses leans against the cabin wall sporting a yellow T-shirt that reads, “SLOW LIFE.” We arrive at our destination, a huge, jagged piece of …
New Year’s resolutions have never been my thing. Which may come as a surprise since I’m not only an actor, but a longtime personal trainer and a recently-certified life coach. I’ve spent years helping others clarify their desires, take steps in service of their goals and dreams, and shift limiting …
The holiday season is upon us, and whatever holidays you celebrate, I hope they’re happy. It’s also a gift-giving season for many, so I thought this might be a good time for my list of favorite theatre books. If you’ve taken class with me I’ve likely mentioned these before. As …
In 2017, The Barrow Group held our thirty-year anniversary party. As I stood in the lobby, next to a large blue painting that still hangs in our space, a dear friend came up to me, gave me a big huge smile, and said, “Lee Brock, you are an aspen tree.” …
“I love acting class because I feel comfortable talking about anything.” This unprompted remark from one of my nine-year-old students comes during a break in class. I barely get out, “Oh, great! I’m glad you feel comfortable,” before she’s off and running to a friend to chat about the differences …
It’s 5:00 in the morning. It’s dark, and Trigger, my dog, needs to go out for a walk. Oh, just five more minutes, I think. He licks my face again. I get up and get dressed; put my shoes and coat on; put Trigger’s leash on; get in the elevator …
I remember the first time Lee Brock (TBG co-artistic director and teaching artist) asked me how much fun I was having after my first go of a scene. It was in the master class, which by name alone can carry some pressure. In verbatim, she asked my scene partner and …
I’m walking down the hall at The Barrow Group on my way to get some water before I start teaching class. I pass two young students talking about a play they had seen. “What do you say to your friend when they suck in the play and the play sucks?” …
