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ANNOYING ACTOR FRIEND IS #SOBLESSED

I can 100% honestly and truly say that I have absolutely no clue who I just interviewed, but I am darn glad I did. In the last year, “Annoying Actor Friend” (or @Actor_Friend) has become an anonymous Broadway guru of sorts, telling it like it is and offering much insight into the theater world… in the most hilarious way possible, of course. AAF has just released an e-book, #SOBLESSED: the…

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JOHN CARIANI: NO SMALL MOMENTS

The opening number of The Band’s Visit is a song called “Waiting.” The song has town members of Bet Hatikva singing about living their lives in liminal space. Nothing happens in Bet Hatikva. Bet Hatikva is the middle of nowhere. At first it seems like we are in an inconsequential time and place. But it is in this “waiting,” the audience is awakened to the significance of the small stuff. …

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#Almost Maine #Amherst College #Fiddler on the Roof #John Cariani #Love/Sick #Motel #Nigel Bottom #Something Rotton #The Band&039;s Visit

DESMIN BORGES: ACTING WITH VIBRANT PASSION

Chicago breeds actors who selflessly create and collaborate. Take Desmin Borges, for example. He came up in the Windy City and has held onto its artistic sensibilities throughout his career. He supports his ensemble members, breathes life into writers’ words, and develops fully formed characters with compassion. These traits are particularly evident in Borges’ portrayal of Edgar Quintero…

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#DePaul University #Desmin Borges #Edgar Quintero #FXX #Private Life #You&039;re the Worst

JENNA FISCHER ON 'THE ACTOR'S LIFE'

JENNA FISCHER ON ‘THE ACTOR’S LIFE’

When Jenna Fischer wrote her book, The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide, she wanted it to read like we were out to coffee with her. It did. And interviewing her felt the same way. It’s no secret she has boundless knowledge about acting, but the way she speaks about it is uniquely accessible and compelling. Even with all she’s achieved, Fischer remains grounded and genuine. She’s also one of the…

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#Brad&039;s Status #Hall Pass #Jenna Fischer #Pam Beesley #Pam Halpert #Splitting Up Together #The Actor&039;s Life: A Survival Guide #The Giant Mechanical Man #The Guest Book #The Office

POOCH HALL ON 'RAY DONOVAN' & PERFORMANCES THAT PACK A PUNCH

POOCH HALL ON ‘RAY DONOVAN’ & PERFORMANCES THAT PACK A PUNCH

Boxing and acting are more similar than you think. Take Pooch Hall’s word for it. The Ray Donovan star grew up as a fighter. In the ring he learned discipline, focus, and how to roll with the punches. As Hall can attest, all three qualities are necessary to succeed as an actor. On the SHOWTIME hit, Hall plays Daryll, the illegitimate son of Mickey Donovan (Jon Voight) and half-brother of Ray…

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#Accidentally on Purpose #Jumping the Broom #Lift #Pooch Hall #Ray Donovan #Showtime #STOMP THE YARD 2: HOMECOMING #The Game

IN THE MOMENT WITH KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY

One of the fundamentals of good acting is the ability to be in the moment. When you’re truly present, you can be surprised, follow your impulses, and listen with intent. Keegan-Michael Key is a true master of these skills. No matter if he’s improvising a comedic scene or reciting Shakespearean verse, Key makes revelatory and clear choices. Actors of his caliber often have difficulty explaining…

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#Comedy Central #Hamlet #Improv #Keegan-Michael Key #Key & Peele #MadTV #Meteor Shower #Penn State #Pennsylvania State University #Second City #sketch comedy #The Second City #University of Detroit Mercy #Why Him?

UNAPOLOGETICALLY FUNNY: AN INTERVIEW WITH 'I'M SORRY' STAR & CREATOR ANDREA SAVAGE

UNAPOLOGETICALLY FUNNY: AN INTERVIEW WITH ‘I’M SORRY’ STAR & CREATOR ANDREA SAVAGE

“I’m obsessed with your show. It’s one of my favorite things on TV right now,” I said mere seconds into my phone call with I’m Sorry star and creator Andrea Savage. I knew I’d have to dial down my excitement for this interview to have some semblance of professionalism, but so far, it just wasn’t happening. “I promise I’m not kissing your ass either,” I assured her. “Oh no,” she said, “I’m not…

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#Andrea Savage #Andrea Warren #I&039;m Sorry #Laura Montez #The Groundlings #TruTV #Veep

DESTIN DANIEL CRETTON BRINGS EMPATHY TO THE BIG SCREEN

In times like these, we often look to art for refuge. We seek works that show the good in humanity and offer a little bit of hope. Those are the kinds of movies Destin Daniel Cretton creates. He writes characters and crafts worlds always with empathy in mind. There’s no room for hate. This was true in Short Term 12 and is evident in his new film The Glass Castle—adapted from Jeannette Walls’…

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DESTIN DANIEL CRETTON BRINGS EMPATHY TO THE BIG SCREEN

In times like these, we often look to art for refuge. We seek works that show the good in humanity and offer a little bit of hope. Those are the kinds of movies Destin Daniel Cretton creates. He writes characters and crafts worlds always with empathy in mind. There’s no room for hate. This was true in Short Term 12 and is evident in his new film The Glass Castle—adapted from Jeannette Walls’…

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BRIDGET EVERETT ON HER HAPPY ACCIDENTS

Bridget Everett’s career is full of moments she calls “happy accidents:” her love of Karaoke turning into a landmark NYC cabaret-comedy act, her growing list of film roles in movies like Fun Mom Dinner and Patti Cake$. Accidents aside, Everett is a performer with so much intention, giving 150% to every show she does. It’s no accident Everett is noted as one of the most talented comedians of…

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#Bridget Everett #Bridget Everett: Gynecological Wonder #Cabaret #Comedy #Fun Mom Dinner #Inside Amy Schumer #Patti Cake$#Trainwreck

"YOUNGER" STAR MOLLY BERNARD IMPARTS HER WISDOM

“YOUNGER” STAR MOLLY BERNARD IMPARTS HER WISDOM

After Molly Bernard graduated from Yale School of Drama, she was prepared to pound the pavement for a long time. Her sights were set on being a Downtown New York theater actress. Then, she got cast as Lauren on Younger. Ever Since, Bernard has become a TV favorite switching between her role on Younger and playing Young Shelly on Transparent. In both parts, Bernard slips into character,…

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#Molly Bernard #Skidmore College #Transparent #TV Land #Yale School of Drama #Yale University

INSIDE BETSY WOLFE'S BROADWAY

INSIDE BETSY WOLFE’S BROADWAY

Betsy Wolfe exemplifies leading ladies at their finest: versatile, sincere, and strong. With each role, Wolfe approaches the script from her heart and incorporates her unique self into the process. This is true for how she’s made the character Jenna Hunterson her own in her current show Waitress. Wolfe’s impulse towards exploration has allowed her to craft a completely unique performance, with…

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#Betsy Wolfe #CCM #College-Conservatory of Music #Falsettos #Jenna Hunterson #University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music #Waitress #Waitress the Musical

BARRY WATSON ON LEADING BY EXAMPLE

When you’re lucky enough to be the lead on a TV show, it comes with more responsibility than just giving a good performance. No one knows this better than Barry Watson. Throughout his years working in TV, he’s come to learn how to set the tone of a show, making sure it’s a happy, well-functioning environment. On his show Date My Dad, Watson plays Ricky Cooper, the widower father of three young…

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#7th Heaven #Barry Watson #Date My Dad #Ricky Cooper #UpTV

JOHN EARLY: THE ART OF GOOD TASTE

Watching John Early’s comedy is like drinking fine wine. It’s bold and fresh. The more you take in, the more you laugh. That’s because Early has carefully crafted his work to be the best of the best. Everything is thought out, there’s nothing sloppy about what he does. With an eye for satire and interest in subversion, Early’s work takes down authority, fights against “cool,” always finding…

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#555 #Atlantic Acting School #Comedy #John Early #Kate Berlant #Netflix #NYU #NYU Tisch #Search Party #Stand-Up Comedy #The Characters

JACKIE HOFFMAN: SERVING UP LAUGHS

Whenever Jackie Hoffman’s name appears in a Playbill or open credit sequence, I breathe a sigh of relief. Phew…now I know I’ll be entertained. A lot of pressure to put on a performer, I know, but she never disappoints. From TV roles to Tweets, on Broadway and in cabarets, her quick wit, characterization, and candor bring in the laughs. No matter the size of the audience, no matter the medium,…

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#Charlie and the Chocolate Factory #Feud #FEUD: Bette and Joan #Improv #Jackie Hoffman #Mamacita #Second City #The Addams Family #The Second City

JENNIFER LAURA THOMPSON: MAKING A MARK ON BROADWAY

Jennifer Laura Thompson has had a career on Broadway for the last 20 years and now she’s finally playing the kind of role she always hoped she would. Since she first fell in love with musicals, Thompson has had an affinity for contemporary works filled with heart and grit. The bulk of her roles have been playing the ingénue, but right around when she was looking to change course, cue Dear Evan…

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#Company #Cynthia Murphy #Dear Evan Hansen #Jennifer Laura Thompson #Lend Me A Tenor #Nice Work if you can Get it #Pasek and Paul #Tony Nominee #Urinetown #Urinetown the Musical #Wicked

Few Broadway debuts are as triumphant as Will Roland’s. His involvement, influence, and impact on Dear Evan Hansen has helped make the show what it is today: a huge hit. Roland has been wit…

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