The Working Actor's Journey

In The Working Actor's Journey, hear from amazing teachers, role models, and mentors about their lifelong careers. Learn from those who have been acting professionally for decades—to see exactly how they approach the work, what decisions and resources have made the biggest impacts on their artistic lives, and to hear their struggles and successes in the business. How do great actors work? What do they actually do? Let’s find out. These conversations are a virtual toolbox for actors, full of techniques, advice, and lessons learned.

"Ophelia's Strength" in HAMLET: Act 1, Scenes 3-4, Week 2 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 03/17/2026

"Ophelia's Strength" in HAMLET: Act 1, Scenes 3-4, Week 2 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ Reframing Ophelia as a strong, self-aware woman rather than a passive character ➤ The dynamic of Polonius' family, exploring familial duty and societal expectations ➤ How the characters' relationships influence the unfolding tragedy of the play 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. 😁 *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Charles Stransky and Jim Stubbs AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Steven Helmeke, Frank Tobin, Cindy Griffith, Sharon McCune, Mikaela Kafka, Osborn Focht, Rebecca Oettinger, Alexandra Mitchell, Terry Kerr, Gary Lowery and Steve Robinson A big welcome to the many new participants with this project! --- We explore... : Laertes says good-bye to his sister, Ophelia, and tells her not to trust Hamlet’s promises of love. Polonius joins them, sends Laertes off, then echoes Laertes’s warnings to Ophelia, finally ordering her not to see Hamlet again. : Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus are visited by the Ghost, who beckons for Hamlet to follow and the Prince will not be held back. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/40447410

"The Ties that Bind" in HAMLET: Act 1, Scenes 3-4, Week 1 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 03/10/2026

"The Ties that Bind" in HAMLET: Act 1, Scenes 3-4, Week 1 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ A deep dive into the relationships between Laertes, Ophelia, and Polonius ➤ An examination of Ophelia's agency and her struggle within her family and society ➤ Insights into familial duty and how it influences the characters’ decisions 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. 😁 *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Charles Stransky and Jim Stubbs AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Steven Helmeke, Frank Tobin, Cindy Griffith, Sharon McCune, Mikaela Kafka, Osborn Focht, Rebecca Oettinger, Alexandra Mitchell, Terry Kerr, Gary Lowery and Steve Robinson A big welcome to the many new participants with this project! --- We explore... : Laertes says good-bye to his sister, Ophelia, and tells her not to trust Hamlet’s promises of love. Polonius joins them, sends Laertes off, then echoes Laertes’s warnings to Ophelia, finally ordering her not to see Hamlet again. : Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus are visited by the Ghost, who beckons for Hamlet to follow and the Prince will not be held back. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/40376785

"A Complex Web" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 2, FINAL *Bonus* Session - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 03/03/2026

"A Complex Web" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 2, FINAL *Bonus* Session - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ A thorough examination of Claudius' character, that he's more than just a villain ➤ The significance of word choice and delivery to convey deeper meanings in the lines ➤ A focus on physicality in performance and how it enhances the emotional stakes 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. 😁 *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Larry Petersen, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Chuck Stransky, Jim Stubbs, Terry Kerr, Steven Helmeke, Mikaela Kafka, Osborn Focht, Ezra Barnes, Sharon McCune, Rebecca Oettinger, Baron Kelly, James Nester, Roseann Sheridan --- We explore Act 1, Scene 2: Claudius, the new king of Denmark, thanks his courtiers for their recent support and dispatches ambassadors to Norway to halt a threatened attack from Fortinbras. He gives Laertes permission to return to France but denies Hamlet’s request to return to the university in Wittenberg. Hamlet, mourning for his father’s death, is left alone to vent his despair at what he regards as his mother’s all too hasty marriage to his uncle, Claudius. Horatio, Barnardo, and Marcellus arrive and tell Hamlet about the Ghost. Hamlet makes plans to join them that night. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/40265725

"Secrets of Elsinore" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 2. Week 4 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 02/24/2026

"Secrets of Elsinore" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 2. Week 4 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 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 analysis of Hamlet's emotional state following his father's death ➤ Insights into Horatio's loyalty and the significance of friendship in the face of tragedy ➤ The importance of pauses with regard to the tension and urgency of the scene *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Larry Petersen, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Chuck Stransky, Jim Stubbs, Terry Kerr, Steven Helmeke, Mikaela Kafka, Osborn Focht, Ezra Barnes, Sharon McCune, Rebecca Oettinger, Baron Kelly, James Nester, Roseann Sheridan --- We explore Act 1, Scene 2: Claudius, the new king of Denmark, thanks his courtiers for their recent support and dispatches ambassadors to Norway to halt a threatened attack from Fortinbras. He gives Laertes permission to return to France but denies Hamlet’s request to return to the university in Wittenberg. Hamlet, mourning for his father’s death, is left alone to vent his despair at what he regards as his mother’s all too hasty marriage to his uncle, Claudius. Horatio, Barnardo, and Marcellus arrive and tell Hamlet about the Ghost. Hamlet makes plans to join them that night. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/40208865

"The Garden of Grief" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 2. Week 3 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 02/17/2026

"The Garden of Grief" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 2. Week 3 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 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 exploration of Hamlet's struggle with his mother's hasty remarriage ➤ Insights into Hamlet's responsibilities as a prince and his personal anguish ➤ The importance of staging and audience engagement in conveying Hamlet's emotions *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Larry Petersen, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Chuck Stransky, Jim Stubbs, Terry Kerr, Steven Helmeke, Mikaela Kafka, Osborn Focht, Ezra Barnes, Sharon McCune, Rebecca Oettinger, Baron Kelly, James Nester, Roseann Sheridan --- We explore Act 1, Scene 2: Claudius, the new king of Denmark, thanks his courtiers for their recent support and dispatches ambassadors to Norway to halt a threatened attack from Fortinbras. He gives Laertes permission to return to France but denies Hamlet’s request to return to the university in Wittenberg. Hamlet, mourning for his father’s death, is left alone to vent his despair at what he regards as his mother’s all too hasty marriage to his uncle, Claudius. Horatio, Barnardo, and Marcellus arrive and tell Hamlet about the Ghost. Hamlet makes plans to join them that night. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/40132355

"Between Kin and Kind" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 2. Week 2 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 02/10/2026

"Between Kin and Kind" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 2. Week 2 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 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 Hamlet's struggle with grief and the challenges of expressing deep emotions ➤ Exploration of Claudius' motivations and the implications of his actions ➤ A discussion on how the Folio serves as an interpretive tool for actors and its impact on performance *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Larry Petersen, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Chuck Stransky, Jim Stubbs, Terry Kerr, Steven Helmeke, Mikaela Kafka, Osborn Focht, Ezra Barnes, Sharon McCune, Rebecca Oettinger, Baron Kelly, James Nester, Roseann Sheridan --- We explore Act 1, Scene 2: Claudius, the new king of Denmark, thanks his courtiers for their recent support and dispatches ambassadors to Norway to halt a threatened attack from Fortinbras. He gives Laertes permission to return to France but denies Hamlet’s request to return to the university in Wittenberg. Hamlet, mourning for his father’s death, is left alone to vent his despair at what he regards as his mother’s all too hasty marriage to his uncle, Claudius. Horatio, Barnardo, and Marcellus arrive and tell Hamlet about the Ghost. Hamlet makes plans to join them that night. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/40037325

"The Politics of Mourning" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 2. Week 1 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 02/03/2026

"The Politics of Mourning" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 2. Week 1 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 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 analysis of Claudius's maneuvering and the implications of his marriage to Gertrude ➤ Insights into Hamlet's emotional turmoil as he grapples with his mother's actions ➤ Discussion on how Gertrude's agency challenges traditional perceptions of her character *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Larry Petersen, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Chuck Stransky, Jim Stubbs, Terry Kerr, Steven Helmeke, Mikaela Kafka, Osborn Focht, Ezra Barnes, Sharon McCune, Rebecca Oettinger, Baron Kelly, James Nester, Roseann Sheridan --- We explore Act 1, Scene 2: Claudius, the new king of Denmark, thanks his courtiers for their recent support and dispatches ambassadors to Norway to halt a threatened attack from Fortinbras. He gives Laertes permission to return to France but denies Hamlet’s request to return to the university in Wittenberg. Hamlet, mourning for his father’s death, is left alone to vent his despair at what he regards as his mother’s all too hasty marriage to his uncle, Claudius. Horatio, Barnardo, and Marcellus arrive and tell Hamlet about the Ghost. Hamlet makes plans to join them that night. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/39999585

"Echoes of the Past" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 1. Final Session - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 01/27/2026

"Echoes of the Past" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 1. Final Session - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 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 us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Larry Petersen, Nick Bettens AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Elizabeth Dennehy, Paul Nicholas, Lizzie King-Hall --- We explore Act 1, Scene 1: On the guards’ platform at Elsinore, Horatio waits with Barnardo and Marcellus to question a ghost that has twice before appeared. The Ghost, in the form of the late King Hamlet of Denmark, appears but will not speak. Horatio decides to tell his fellow student, Prince Hamlet, about the Ghost’s appearance. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/39890435

"Confronting the Ghost" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 1. Week 3 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 01/20/2026

"Confronting the Ghost" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 1. Week 3 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 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 foreshadows the chaos to come *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Larry Petersen, Nick Bettens AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Elizabeth Dennehy, Paul Nicholas, Lizzie King-Hall --- We explore Act 1, Scene 1: On the guards’ platform at Elsinore, Horatio waits with Barnardo and Marcellus to question a ghost that has twice before appeared. The Ghost, in the form of the late King Hamlet of Denmark, appears but will not speak. Horatio decides to tell his fellow student, Prince Hamlet, about the Ghost’s appearance. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/39781010

"The Watchmen's Dilemma" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 1. Week 2 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 01/13/2026

"The Watchmen's Dilemma" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 1. Week 2 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 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 truths about fear, loyalty, and uncertainty We unpack the tension of the night watch, the mystery of the ghost, and the stakes involved as our characters grapple with their reality! *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Larry Petersen, Nick Bettens AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Elizabeth Dennehy, Paul Nicholas, Lizzie King-Hall --- We explore Act 1, Scene 1: On the guards’ platform at Elsinore, Horatio waits with Barnardo and Marcellus to question a ghost that has twice before appeared. The Ghost, in the form of the late King Hamlet of Denmark, appears but will not speak. Horatio decides to tell his fellow student, Prince Hamlet, about the Ghost’s appearance. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/39707475

"Exploring Fear & Duty" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 1. Week 1 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 01/06/2026

"Exploring Fear & Duty" in HAMLET: Act 1, Sc 1. Week 1 - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 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 *** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality. (See below for options) *** --- 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month: DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Larry Petersen, Nick Bettens AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Elizabeth Dennehy, Paul Nicholas, Lizzie King-Hall --- We explore Act 1, Scene 1: On the guards’ platform at Elsinore, Horatio waits with Barnardo and Marcellus to question a ghost that has twice before appeared. The Ghost, in the form of the late King Hamlet of Denmark, appears but will not speak. Horatio decides to tell his fellow student, Prince Hamlet, about the Ghost’s appearance. I'm excited to finally share the amazing work this groups of artists has been doing. And we're still producing new sessions! #hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/39624430

Dawn Didawick from 2018 12/28/2025

Olivia/Viola, Final Session (TWELFTH NIGHT) - "A Dance of Grief and Desire" | The Rehearsal Room 11/18/2025

Olivia/Viola, Week 2 (TWELFTH NIGHT) - "The Tension of Love & Duty" | The Rehearsal Room 11/11/2025

Olivia/Viola, Week 1 (TWELFTH NIGHT) - "Unmasking Love" | The Rehearsal Room 11/04/2025

A Midsummer Night's Dream (3.2), Final Session: "A Forest of Heartache" - Lovers Fight | The Rehearsal Room 10/28/2025

A Midsummer Night's Dream (3.2), Week 3: "Words as Weapons" - Lovers Fight | The Rehearsal Room 10/21/2025

A Midsummer Night's Dream (3.2), Week 2: "Jealousy & Confusion" - Lovers Fight | The Rehearsal Room 10/14/2025

A Midsummer Night's Dream (3.2), Week 1: "Love's Labyrinth" - Lovers Fight | The Rehearsal Room 10/07/2025

Hamlet (3.4), Final Session: "Voices Within" - Confronting Gertrude | The Rehearsal Room 09/23/2025

Hamlet (3.4), Week 3: "A Mother's Burden" - Confronting Gertrude | The Rehearsal Room 09/16/2025

Hamlet (3.4), Week 2: "The Price of Truth" - Confronting Gertrude | The Rehearsal Room 09/09/2025

HAMLET (3.4) Week 1: "The Weight of Duality" - Confronting Gertrude | The Rehearsal Room 09/02/2025

Richard III (1.4), Final Session: "A Dance with Death" - The Rehearsal Room 08/19/2025

Richard III (1.4), Week 2: "The Weight of Conscience" - The Rehearsal Room 08/12/2025

Richard III (1.4), Week 1: "From Dreams to Deeds" - Shakespeare | The Rehearsal Room 08/05/2025

Titus Andronicus (5.2), Final Session: "Blood & Bonds" - The Rehearsal Room 07/29/2025

Titus Andronicus (5.2), Final Session: "Blood & Bonds" - The Rehearsal Room 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ The play's poetic richness, despite its often grim subject matter ➤ The profound themes of maternal love and the impact of violence on humanity ➤ The impact of Lavinia's silence and her role in the narrative ➤ Plus a Q&A with the artists! --- 🛑 SUBSCRIBE to get notified of our next rehearsal session! 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! ----- 😮 THE SCENE Our group will work on the following scene: Act 5, Scene 2: Tamora tells Titus she has come to his aid and will help him seek revenge. Titus has other plans. Follow along with the play . --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM - Titus Team - with artists in California, Hawaii and Pennsylvania! DIRECTOR: Nick Cagle DRAMATURG: Miranda Johnson-Haddad PLAYERS: Anne Gee Byrd Tony Amendola Charlotte Northeast Jamal Douglas --- - plus two other free guides of acting and career advice! See additional content on and . --- 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. #workingactor #rehearsal #acting #actor #director #shaw #georgebernardshaw #misalliance #england #business #capitalism #class #conflict /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/37591290

Titus Andronicus (5.2), Week 3: "Embracing the Grotesque" - The Rehearsal Room 07/22/2025

Titus Andronicus (5.2), Week 3: "Embracing the Grotesque" - The Rehearsal Room 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ Handling the emotional toll of performing intense material ➤ Discussing self-care for actors as they navigate the dark themes of the play ➤ Insight on the cyclical nature of violence in both the play and modern society --- 🛑 SUBSCRIBE to get notified of our next rehearsal session! 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! ----- 😮 THE SCENE Our group will work on the following scene: Act 5, Scene 2: Tamora tells Titus she has come to his aid and will help him seek revenge. Titus has other plans. Follow along with the play . --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM - Titus Team - with artists in California, Hawaii and Pennsylvania! DIRECTOR: Nick Cagle DRAMATURG: Miranda Johnson-Haddad PLAYERS: Anne Gee Byrd Tony Amendola Charlotte Northeast Jamal Douglas --- - plus two other free guides of acting and career advice! See additional content on and . --- 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. #workingactor #rehearsal #acting #actor #director #shaw #georgebernardshaw #misalliance #england #business #capitalism #class #conflict /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/37497780

Titus Andronicus (5.2), Week 2: "A Dark Comedy of Revenge" - The Rehearsal Room 07/15/2025

Titus Andronicus (5.2), Week 2: "A Dark Comedy of Revenge" - The Rehearsal Room 🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ The historical significance of cannibalism➤ The complex relationships between Titus, Tamara, and the dark forces at play ➤ A detailed analysis of the verse, including scansion and emotional shifts within the text --- 🛑 SUBSCRIBE to get notified of our next rehearsal session! 🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION: 💰 PayPal: 🤑 Venmo: 💳 Credit card: 🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: Get early access to sessions (before they go public on YouTube and the podcast), priority with asking questions, and more! 🙏 THANK YOU to our patrons at the Co-Star level and higher: Ivar, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif and Jeff! ----- 😮 THE SCENE Our group will work on the following scene: Act 5, Scene 2: Tamora tells Titus she has come to his aid and will help him seek revenge. Titus has other plans. Follow along with the play . --- 🎭 CREATIVE TEAM - Titus Team - with artists in California, Hawaii and Pennsylvania! DIRECTOR: Nick Cagle DRAMATURG: Miranda Johnson-Haddad PLAYERS: Anne Gee Byrd Tony Amendola Charlotte Northeast Jamal Douglas --- - plus two other free guides of acting and career advice! See additional content on and . --- 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. #workingactor #rehearsal #acting #actor #director #shaw #georgebernardshaw #misalliance #england #business #capitalism #class #conflict /episode/index/show/workingactorsjourney/id/37410580

Titus Andronicus (5.2), Week 1: "Witnessing the Vengeance" - The Rehearsal Room 07/08/2025

The Working Actor's Journey

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