If you’re an American Actor you should know what’s American

I am finding more and more that young actors don’t know how to find material to work on. I believe if you are an American actor you have to know what’s American and work on Williams, Miller, O’Neill, Odets, Shanley, Mamet, Simon, Beth Henley & August Wilson. These are amazing writers that write about the human condition which allows the actor to get in touch with their emotional life. I had the joy with my group to work on pieces for all of these writers. It is important for the young actor to read plays and find those playwrights that speak to them. For me, one of those playwrights was and still is, John Patrick Shanley. I acted in Danny & The Deep Blue Sea, The Dreamer Examines His Pillow, Italian American Reconciliation, The Red Coat, A Lonely Impulse Of Delight, Out West to name a few. I believe it is not only important to work on such rich material in class, but to get the rights to the plays that you love, those plays that make you want to act and put them up. I think doing stage, especially in 99 seat theatres or less is the best training for acting in front of the camera. To find out if the rights for a play that is published through Samuel French or Dramatist Play Services, you can find that information in the front of the play. Create your own opportunity. Don’t wait for someone to give you permission. Do that thing that we all moved to Los Angeles or New York to do. You’re an Actor… Act!