Actorcast

Jonathan Bank has been Artistic Director of Mint Theater Company for 26 years and is known for producing plays that have been lost or forgotten. In this episode, we discuss his role as Artistic Director, his favorite project he has worked on through the years, the biggest lesson he has learned about the theater industry, and what we recommends for actors to work on.
Jonathan Bank has been the artistic director of Mint Theater Company since 1995, where he has unearthed and produced dozens of lost or neglected plays, many of which he has also directed.  Under Bank’s leadership the Mint has earned an international reputation as the source for high-quality revivals of forgotten works and has become, in the words of The New York Times’ Jason Zinoman, “the leading New York entrepreneur” of the neglected play business. Recently for the Mint, Bank directed The Suitcase Under the Bed, Katie Roche, Temporal Powers and Wife to James Whelan—three plays by the neglected Irish playwright, Teresa Deevy.  Also for the Mint, Bank directed Yours Unfaithfully by Miles Malleson, The New Morality by Harold Chapin, Mary Broome by Allan Monkhouse, and Maurine Dallas Watkins’ So Help Me God! starring Emmy Award-winner Kristen Johnston. The production received four Drama Desk nominations, including Outstanding Revival and Outstanding Director. Other productions at the Mint include Lennox Robinson’s Is Life Worth Living?, the American Professional Premiere of The Fifth Column by Ernest Hemingway, The Return of the Prodigal by St. John Hankin and Susan and God by Rachel Crothers. Other directing credits include critically acclaimed productions of Ivanov and Othello for the National Asian American Theater Company, John Brown's Body, The Double Bass and Three Days of Rain for the Miniature Theater of Chester and The Heiress, Hobson’s Choice, Candida and Mr. Pim Passes By for the Peterborough Players. He earned his M.F.A. from Case Western Reserve University in his hometown of Cleveland, OH.
Learn more at https://minttheater.org.
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Brian Witkowski is the Founder of The Lucrative Artist, a business which helps artists realize ways in which they can earn "authentic income." I was excited to have Brian on the show because artists are rarely taught how to harness the business side of their artistic endeavors. In this episode, we discuss overcoming the "starving artist" stereotype, why money should be important to artists, and how to create a sustainable career.
Brian Witkowski is a professional classical singer, actor, voice teacher, and educator turned business and personal development coach for artists and artistic-minded entrepreneurs. With a passion for helping others realize ways to earn "authentic income" doing what work they are most meant to do, he became the founder and CEO of The Lucrative Artist, where he offers boutique business coaching services designed accomplish just that and more. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts with emphasis in Vocal Performance and minor in Theatre at the University of Arizona; his studies and career have taken him as far west as Hawaii and as far east as China with repertoire ranging from Gregorian Chant in cathedrals to musical theatre roles like Lancelot in Spamalot. He has taught at Rockford University, facilitated professional development seminars to teachers and artists through Arts Integration Solutions, Self-Employment in the Arts and other organizations, and is regularly sought out as a speaker, and offers artists masterclasses and seminars in authenticity, financial empowerment, and leadership. He believes that "We don't need to compete, we just need to create!"
Learn more at www.thelucrativeartist.com and visit Brian on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelucrativeartist
Instagram: @thelucrativeartist
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lucrativeart?lang=en
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Angela Mickey has been working with Liz Lewis Casting Partners for several years casting commercials, independent films, theater, and television series. She comes to this episode with a lot of knowledge about the industry for our actors. We discuss some of the differences in casting for stage and screen, what actors get wrong in auditions, and how actors can make the casting director's job easier.
Angela Mickey is the Managing Director of Casting for Liz Lewis Casting Partners and has been at this powerhouse office for 21 years, casting on-camera commercials, V/O's, TV, Film, and theater. Recent commercial projects include Comcast, Redemption Whiskey, AT&T, and iHop.. Recent film/tv projects include The Girl Who Left Home, The Clearing, DOE, ReRUN, and A Year In Change.
You can learn more about Angela by visiting Casting Director NYC and LA | Liz Lewis Casting Partners - New York, NY or emailing her directly at [email protected].
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Martín and I got contacted via LinkedIn.  Through his various posts and words of encouragement, I was amazed at how this artist was using LinkedIn to connect with people and develop a following. In this episode of Actorcast, Martín shares his insights on how to use social media effectively to connect with people and build meaningful relationships. In addition, we discussion his podcast "Backstage Talk" (which I definitely recommend!) and the reason behind why he created this platform.
Martín Acuña is a communications professional and performing artist based in Bogotá, Colombia, whose passion is to help people feel emotions beyond their skin through stories in film and theatre. He finds in Musical Theatre a field of exploration and creation that allows him to integrate his interests as a performer and writer. Organizing the actions that reveal their conflicts, moments of crisis and the decisions taken to solve them, he shows the humanity of characters stating a parallel between fiction and his reality. Applying this to Social Media, his favorite networking tool, Martín has learned how to create valuable content that establishes an emotional connection with the audience. Networking and knowing the journey people have been through inspires him to create and share their story. Martín is also the host of Backstage Talk in which he shares his thoughts about the arts and invites entertainment industry folks as guests to share their journey.
You can find Martín on Instagram @themartinacuna and LinkedIn at Martín Acuña | LinkedIn.
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Gabe and I met through a mutual friend (thanks Federico!) when Gabe was looking for an actor for an upcoming reading of one of his films. I had the opportunity to participate and was drawn to the quality and quantity of Gabe's work. In this episode of Actorcast, we discuss Gabe's process as a writer and director for film, as well as his most recent project, "The Sisters Kardos."
Gabe Rodriguez is an award-winning filmmaker, playwright, critic, and lyricist. His films include Fighting Nirvana, Susie In the Afterlife, Q To the 6 Train, Havana In Bushwick, and Goddess of Time, all available on Amazon video. Susie In the Afterlife won the Spirit Award at The Queens World Film Festival in 2011. Q To the 6 Train was selected by the Anthology Film Archives as part of a retrospective for the anniversary of 9/11, and has since played in part of The Subway Film Series. Havana In Bushwick premiered at The International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival.  His current project, The Sisters Kardos, is currently in post-production.  It is a feature narrative film set during 2020 and confronting the era of Covid.
Check out Gabe's website at https://fallenherofilms.com. You can also follow Gabe's work on Instagram @fallenheroproductions and on Facebook at (1) Gabe Rodríguez | Facebook. You can also check out some of his films on YouTube at Fallen Hero - YouTube.
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

For episode 05 of Actorcast, we are joined by my good friend, Weaux. Weaux and I first met doing playback theater together in New York (if you don't know playback, I highly recommend checking it out). Weaux has an energy that is contagious and, in this episode, he talks about his process as a musician creating his debut album, "Weaux is Me."
Weaux is a musician, actor, and a writer from Houston, TX gearing up to release his debut album, "Weaux Is Me", in February 2021. This year, he debuted his first full-length solo musical, "Coincoin: Queen of Louisiana" at Fordham University. His music combines elegant piano pop and glittery synths with deeply personal lyrics about love, heartbreak, and self-empowerment. As a live performer, he combines music and first-person testimony to take audiences on an adventurous emotional journey.
You can find Weaux by visiting his website at Weaux (weauxisme.com). Be sure to follow him on social media at @weauxisme on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Robert has been a good friend of mine for some time now after working on a production together awhile back. He puts the pedal to the metal in his work and on this episode of Actorcast we discusses his process as a writer and director, as well as two of his upcoming short films, "The Eyes of the World" and "Double A."
Residing in New York City, Robert Monegan has produced and directed his GLAM DIVAS comic art (http://glamdivas.net/home.html) for stage, film, and gallery exhibitions, along with public staged readings and indie film shorts of his written works, THE EYES OF THE WORLD (a dark comedy set in 1920s Hollywood) and DOUBLE A (about two rival actors up for, yet again, the same role). Plans to produce/direct his play, DEFIANTLY FABULOUS (a gay/comedic twist on the classic film, "The Defiant Ones") in 2021.
Be sure to check out Robert's film Facebook pages at (1) The Eyes Of The World | Facebook and (1) Double A | Facebook
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Julie and I first got acquainted when she joined me on my other podcast, "Relate w/ Patrick McAndrew." I had such a great time talking with her and learning about her career, that I invited her onto Actorcast to answer your questions. She is an Emmy-winning casting director with a wide breadth of experience. In this episode, we discuss the best ways for actors to connect with casting directors, the top things actors should do to improve their auditions, and what "being prepared" looks like.
Julie Schubert is a New York based casting director.  Some of her previous work includes House of Cards for which she was awarded the Emmy for outstanding casting, Marvel’s The Defenders and Marvel's Daredevil, among others.  Features include Deliver Us from Evil, Confessions of a Shopaholic and award winning indie feature Night Comes On.   Julie began her career assisting on features for casting directors Juliet Taylor (Woody Allen's Match Point) and Ellen Lewis (Martin Scorsese's The Departed).
You can check out Julie's IMDb page by visiting Julie Schubert - IMDb.

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In this Q&A episode of Actorcast, we talk with Ryan Kessler, an actor and acting coach. Ryan and I had the opportunity to meet while doing a production of the Scottish play. From there, I took an acting class with him, which I highly recommend! He answers listeners' questions on  agent/manager relationships, the craft of acting and acting techniques, and his insights on how to create a sustainable, artistic career.

Ryan is an actor and acting instructor from NYC. Acting credits include: The Blacklist (NBC) The Vampire Diaries (CW Network), NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), As the World Turns (CBS) South of Hell (We TV), Pinkville (Hollywood Film Festival, Rome International Film Festival), ) A Christmas Carol (Hartford Stage Co.), Sixteen Wounded (Long Wharf Theatre), Sideman (Meetinghouse Rep.), A Few Good Men and A Comedy of Errors (River Rep.), Macbeth (The Secret Theatre), and The Brontë Girls (The Bechdel Project).

As an acting teacher Ryan has taught at the Penny Templeton Studio, Broadway Artists Alliance, Theater Arts Center, and Artistree Arts. He currently runs RK Acting where he holds weekly classes and coaches actors. Students have appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in film and television.
Learn more about Ryan by visiting his website Ryan Kessler (ryan-kessler.com) and on his Facebook page at (1) RK Acting Classes | Facebook.
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Welcome to our first episode of Actorcast! This podcast is for all of you actors out there who are looking for guidance in your careers.  Actorcast is the podcast that broadcasts the work, advice, and insight of actors, writers, directors, producers, and other industry experts in show business. From Q&As, to interviews and showcases, Actorcast is the go-to resource for beginners and pros alike, who are looking to carve their path in the entertainment industry by learning from those who've made their mark from Hollywood to Broadway.
Please visit https://www.actorcast.fm to learn more, and sign up for our newsletter! Send your questions for Q&As or submit yourself for one of our showcase segments by emailing us at [email protected]. 
Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/