Take your time! (as an Actor) - Discussion with the ARCADIA team | The Rehearsal Room
Release Date: 06/24/2025
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. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! ๐ In this session, highlights include: โค An in-depth analysis of the opening lines and their implications for character relationships โค The exploration of fear and wonder as characters encounter the ghost โค A discussion on the use of the First Folio and its impact on performance We explore Act...
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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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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... ๐ In this session, highlights include: โค The transformative exercise of "Dropping In" to deepen connection โค Insights into the grief, identity, and power dynamics present in these interactions โค An exploration of the First...
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Join us as we dive into two scenes featuring Olivia and Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. ๐ In this session, highlights include: โค The nuances of gender identity and disguise in the pursuit of love โค Exploring the themes of desire, power dynamics, and emotional vulnerability โค 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 Orsinoโs love, though Olivia ends up falling in love with Cesario. Act 3, Scene 1: Olivia declares her love to Cesario. Featuring...
info_outlineThe Working Actor's Journey
Join us as we dive into two scenes featuring Olivia and Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. ๐ In this session, highlights include: โค The significance of gender fluidity and self-expression โค Diving into the themes of love, identity, and societal roles โค 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 Orsinoโs 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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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. ๐ In this session, highlights include: โค The intricate dynamics of friendship and betrayal between Helena and Hermia โค Insights into the rhetorical richness of Shakespeare's language โค The challenge of balancing physicality and text in performance โค Plus a Q&A with the team! Featuring DIRECTOR James Newcomb, DRAMATURG Gideon Rappaport, VOICE Ursula Meyer, HELENA Anne...
info_outlineThe 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. ๐ In this session, highlights include: โค How to convey action through language โค Utilizing plosives and elongated vowels to enhance emotional impact โค 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...
info_outlineThe 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. ๐ In this session, highlights include: โค The complexity of character relationships and their evolution โค Insights into the juxtaposition of love and rivalry โค A deep dive into the physicality and emotionality inherent in Shakespeare's text Featuring DIRECTOR James Newcomb, DRAMATURG Gideon Rappaport, VOICE Ursula Meyer, HELENA Anne Gee Byrd, HERMIA Maggi Veltre, DEMETRIUS Michael...
info_outlineThe 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. ๐ In this session, highlights include: โค The physicality of emotion โค Insights into the shifting dynamics of love โค The rhetorical devices used to express passion and conflict Featuring DIRECTOR James Newcomb, DRAMATURG Gideon Rappaport, VOICE Ursula Meyer, HELENA Anne Gee Byrd, HERMIA Maggi Veltre, DEMETRIUS Michael Kirby, LYSANDER Garret Botts, and host Nathan Agin.
info_outlineThe Working Actor's Journey
Join us as we dive into the scene where Hamlet confronts his mother, kills Polonius and is visited by the Ghost in Shakespeare's Hamlet ๐ In this session, highlights include: โค How two Hamlets navigate the internal conflict โค Insights into Gertrude's role as a responder โค An exploration of madness and familial bonds โค Plus a Q&A with the team! Featuring J. Paul Nicholas (DIRECTOR), Cassandra Alexander (DRAMATURG), Kathleen Turco-Lyon (GERTRUDE), and Charlotte Northeast and Max Herzfeld as the two sides of HAMLET, and host, Nathan Agin.
info_outlineDirector Brendon Fox kicks off the question of "what happens when you take your time?" and the entire group shares their experience and ideas.
This was such a wonderful and spontaneous discussion to highlight. It was taken from our Week 3 session of 2 scenes from ARCADIA: https://youtu.be/aUa7sRheup8
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๐ญ CREATIVE TEAM โ with artists across the US in CA, NY, and MA!
- DIRECTOR: Brendon Fox
- DRAMATURG: Kathryn Moncrief
- SEPTIMUS (1.1): Geoffrey Wade
- THOMASINA (1.1): Tรฉa Guarino
- SEPTIMUS (2.6): Christopher Guilmet
- LADY CROOM (2.6): Jennifer Le Blanc
- JELLABY (1.1 and 2.6): James Newcomb
More about this group and artist bios: https://workingactorsjourney.com/workshop/january-2025-arcadia-two-scenes
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๐ฎ THE SCENE Our group will be working on the following scenes:
- Act 1, Scene 1 โ with Septimus and Thomasina
- Act 2, Scene 6 โ with Septimus, Jellaby and Lady Croom
Follow along with the play here: https://www.scribd.com/doc/240488205/ARCADIA-by-Tom-Stoppard-PDF
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