Uncle Vanya (Act 2), Final Session: "Echoes of the Past" - The Rehearsal Room
Release Date: 04/01/2025
HAMLET Project: Act 1, Sc 1. Final Session: "Echoes of the Past" - Shakespeare
The Working Actor's Journey
We continue with The HAMLET Project, where we explore one scene (or section) of Shakespeare's Hamlet - one month at a time. To our knowledge, this is the first long-form, open rehearsal of this play available online! So yes, something new with Shakespeare. 😁 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ Insights into the relationships between the guards ➤ How Shakespeare's punctuation impacts the delivery and emotional weight of the text ➤ Reflections on how a supportive company can elevate the performance *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps...
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HAMLET Project: Act 1, Sc 1. Week 3: "Confronting the Ghost" - Shakespeare
The Working Actor's Journey
We continue with The HAMLET Project, where we explore one scene (or section) of Shakespeare's Hamlet - one month at a time. To our knowledge, this is the first long-form, open rehearsal of this play available online! So yes, something new with Shakespeare. 😁 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ A detailed examination of the Ghost's appearance and its implications for the characters' perceptions of reality ➤ Insights into Horatio's skepticism and the tension it creates among the watchmen ➤ How the Ghost’s presence symbolizes unresolved issues within Denmark and...
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HAMLET Project: Act 1, Sc 1. Week 2: The Watchmen's Dilemma - Shakespeare
The Working Actor's Journey
We continue with The HAMLET Project, where we explore one scene (or section) of Shakespeare's Hamlet - one month at a time. To our knowledge, this is the first long-form, open rehearsal of this play available online! So yes, something new with Shakespeare. 😁 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ An examination of the ghost's appearance and its impact for the characters and Denmark ➤ A discussion on Horatio's speech and how it sets the tone for the unfolding drama ➤ Insights into the roles of Bernardo, Marcellus, and Horatio, and how their interactions reveal deeper...
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HAMLET Project: Act 1, Sc 1. Week 1: Exploring Fear & Duty - Shakespeare
The Working Actor's Journey
As we begin Season 9, we embark on our BIGGEST venture to date: The HAMLET Project, where we explore one scene (or section) of Shakespeare's Hamlet - one month at a time. To our knowledge, this is the first long-form, open rehearsal of this play available online! So yes, something new with Shakespeare. 😁 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ An in-depth analysis of the opening lines and their implications for character relationships ➤ The exploration of fear and wonder as characters encounter the ghost ➤ A discussion on the use of the First Folio and its impact on performance...
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Dawn Didawick from 2018
The Working Actor's Journey
From 2018, here's our interview with the wonderful actress Dawn Didawick, who took her final curtain call on December 21, 2025 at age 84. We discuss dealing with fear, having mentors, how to keep working, passing it on and being respectful - and lots more. With a career spanning 50+ years, she accomplished so much and will be missed by all who knew her! I'm grateful to have worked with and learned from her as a young actor - she was always so generous and helpful. Our love goes out to Harry, her husband of 47 years.
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Olivia/Viola, Final Session (TWELFTH NIGHT) - "A Dance of Grief and Desire" | The Rehearsal Room
The Working Actor's Journey
Join us as we dive into two scenes featuring Olivia and Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. In our FINAL session (just 3 weeks this round), we conclude this great series from 2025 focused on the two Olivia/Viola scenes Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. This will also wrap up SEASON 8 of The Working Actor's Journey! New episodes will start again in January... 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ The transformative exercise of "Dropping In" to deepen connection ➤ Insights into the grief, identity, and power dynamics present in these interactions ➤ An exploration of the First...
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Olivia/Viola, Week 2 (TWELFTH NIGHT) - "The Tension of Love & Duty" | The Rehearsal Room
The Working Actor's Journey
Join us as we dive into two scenes featuring Olivia and Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ The nuances of gender identity and disguise in the pursuit of love ➤ Exploring the themes of desire, power dynamics, and emotional vulnerability ➤ The importance of breath control and pacing in delivering lines Act 1, Scene 5: Olivia allows Viola (in her disguise as Cesario) to speak with her privately about Orsino’s love, though Olivia ends up falling in love with Cesario. Act 3, Scene 1: Olivia declares her love to Cesario. Featuring...
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Olivia/Viola, Week 1 (TWELFTH NIGHT) - "Unmasking Love" | The Rehearsal Room
The Working Actor's Journey
Join us as we dive into two scenes featuring Olivia and Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ The significance of gender fluidity and self-expression ➤ Diving into the themes of love, identity, and societal roles ➤ The role of the fool in Shakespeare's works Act 1, Scene 5: Olivia allows Viola (in her disguise as Cesario) to speak with her privately about Orsino’s love, though Olivia ends up falling in love with Cesario. Act 3, Scene 1: Olivia declares her love to Cesario. Featuring DIRECTOR Edgar Landa, DRAMATURG Miranda...
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A Midsummer Night's Dream (3.2), Final Session: "A Forest of Heartache" - Lovers Fight | The Rehearsal Room
The Working Actor's Journey
Join us as we dive into the lovers fight: Helena is pursued by both Lysander and Demetrius, Hermia threatens Helena, and Lysander and Demetrius prepare to duel - from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ The intricate dynamics of friendship and betrayal between Helena and Hermia ➤ Insights into the rhetorical richness of Shakespeare's language ➤ The challenge of balancing physicality and text in performance ➤ Plus a Q&A with the team! Featuring DIRECTOR James Newcomb, DRAMATURG Gideon Rappaport, VOICE Ursula Meyer, HELENA Anne...
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A Midsummer Night's Dream (3.2), Week 3: "Words as Weapons" - Lovers Fight | The Rehearsal Room
The Working Actor's Journey
Join us as we dive into the lovers fight: Helena is pursued by both Lysander and Demetrius, Hermia threatens Helena, and Lysander and Demetrius prepare to duel - from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ How to convey action through language ➤ Utilizing plosives and elongated vowels to enhance emotional impact ➤ Vocal dynamics and the use of sound to express conflict Featuring DIRECTOR James Newcomb, DRAMATURG Gideon Rappaport, VOICE Ursula Meyer, HELENA Anne Gee Byrd, HERMIA Maggi Veltre, DEMETRIUS Michael Kirby, LYSANDER Garret...
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- Exploring the controversial reception of Chekhov's work and its impact on his legacy
- Delving into the complex relationships between characters in Uncle Vanya
- Q&A with the group about the process and what they learned
We dive into the first half of Act 2, from a translation by our director and dramaturg: https://www.chekhovplays.com/home
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😮 THE SCENE
Our group will be working on the first half of Act 2.
Follow along with the play here. Order a copy of Libby and Allison's translation here.
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🎭 CREATIVE TEAM - with artists in CA, Chicago, and New Zealand!
- DIRECTOR: Libby Appel
- VOICE COACH: Ursula Meyer
- DRAMATURG: Allison Horsley
- PROFESSOR: Alberto Isaac
- SONYA: Deidrie Henry
- MARINA: Jully Lee
- VANYA: Howard Leder
- YELENA: Sara Mountjoy-Pepka
- ASTROV: Corey Hedy
More about this group and artist bios: https://workingactorsjourney.com/workshop/cast-and-creative-team-announced-for-chekhov-in-the-rehearsal-room-fall-2021
**Originally recorded in October 2021, now released from the archive!
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The WAJ podcast is designed to show you HOW the work is done, WHAT the realities of the working actor life are like, and to share all the different ways actors have come to this career. There is no one path and no single answer. We want to learn from all of those further down the road, to shorten the learning curve and to discover what helps and what doesn’t when it comes to having a lifelong career as an actor.
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