Bloody Good Show
Why do stage actors like to work with blood? Seán G. Griffin, who played Donny in the satirical bloodbath "The Lieutenant of Inishmore," by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, says blood helps drive a scene. More »

Hitting the Back of the Balcony
When the intimate drama "Next Fall" moved from a 99-seat Off-Broadway house to the 597-seat Helen Hayes Theatre, cast member Patrick Heusinger remembered two pieces of advice to help him with the transition. More »

Be a Smart Actor
Knowing what to use and when to use it is important for your success as an actor. You can't bring the whole kitchen sink in with you every time you go to perform or audition. More »

Hey, Teach!
With apologies to Paul Simon, there must be 50 ways to find a teacher. Check out the Back, Jack. Back Stage, that is, and other trade publications with ads and listings. More »

Shuffling off This Mortal Coil
Despite the popular belief, dying isn't easy--especially on stage. More »

You Can't Think and Act
The great philosopher Yogi Berra once said, "You can't think and hit a baseball at the same time." Those words of wisdom hold true for a lot of other things too, including improvising on stage. More »

On Directing Kids
"Young actors have an advanced understanding of the thought processes of people," asserts Robert Kelley, of the Bay Area's TheatreWorks, in the midst of directing two preteens and a teen in "To Kill a Mockingbird." More »

All Alone
Solo theater is not standup comedy. Solo theater is acting. You take the emotional journey—as every character in the play. More »

You Can't Fake It
Here are some signs that you might not be acting totally truthfully: unnatural body language, movement that's general, an unctuous tone in your voice. More »

Summer Shakespeare in the City
Al Pacino will play Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice" in a production directed by Daniel Sullivan that will run at Central Park's Delacorte Theater alongside "The Winter's Tale." More »

Something to Not Think About
Whether it's for a play, a commercial, episodic television, or a feature film, how you approach a role is the most essential decision you can make as an actor. More »

When Women Age
How do older women relate to the ages of their characters? And what do they know now about the craft of acting that they didn't know when they were younger? More »

When Men Age
There is much to be learned from playing characters older than yourself when the chance arises. More »

Auditioning for Pilots
Reality-check time: As Los Angeles acting teacher Doug Warhit reminds us, most pilots don't go beyond the pilot stage. Of those that do, most are canceled within the first four weeks. More »

Everything Matters
Speaking with Back Stage, Olympia Dukakis and Marco Barricelli touched on many subjects related to the craft of acting. More »

Quiet! Someone's Getting the Job
Film and television are reactive media. The next time you're watching a TV show or movie, notice that the actors listen and react more than they talk. More »

Playing Iconic Roles
Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov, Williams, Miller—all these playwrights and many more wrote memorable roles that over time have become iconic. More »

The Root of Good Acting (Pt. 3)
What are you doing when you act on the line?  You read the script and think, "This is what the line is telling me to do." More »

The Root of Good Acting (Pt. 4)
The first common mistake that will lead you down a very bad path is judging the character.  To me, the root of all prejudice stems from our inability to see ourselves in other people. More »

The Root of Good Acting (Pt. 2)
If you are emotionally blocked, please be aware that such blockage is not your natural emotional state.  The natural state of every human being is the way the baby is in the crib. More »

Stop Acting and Live the Life
When I first meet actors at my studio, I notice one thing they have in common: a disease I call "classitis." More »

The Root of Good Acting
Personalization is the foundation upon which the house built. Step number one of my eight steps is phrased, "Who am I?"—think of that "I" as standing for identification. More »

Technology and Imagination in the Acting Process
At first it was subtle, a few students expressing their frustration at not being able to come up with a new idea in acting class. Then the dissatisfaction of some became more open. More »

The Technique of Process
What inspires you? What blocks you? What rocks you? What delights and repels you? More »

Crying on Cue
12 techniques to help you explore other ways to release your character's pent-up emotion. More »