For actors, there is only but so much in our control. Nepotism, Hollywood beauty standards, and luck all play a part in one's acting career, and at the same time, none of it is up to us as individuals. BUT there is a host of other things that are within our control, and it is our job to make sure that we capitalize on all of them; and to help us better understand what those things are that can help us break through the noise, I’m joined this week by one of Broadway’s most accomplished Casting Directors, Tara Rubin. Tara’s office has cast Mama Mia, Jersey Boys, Les Mis, Phantom of the Opera, Aladdin, and many many other Broadway, and regional theater productions. With a resume that long, I’d say that Tara knows a thing or two about how actors can "do the doables". 

Sometimes, the Broadway audition process can take months, and you have to go through five to six rounds of callbacks before you finally book your dream job. This week, I'm joined by actor, Samaria Nixon-Fleming, who shares an inside look into her very unique Broadway audition process, what it's like to be a swing at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, and how important it is in the acting industry to cultivate the value of hard work. 

There is a real mental health crisis in the acting industry. "Actors experience significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress than the general population," according to the University of Sydney. A study that they conducted showed that out 782 actors,  25% reported having experienced "debilitating performance anxiety" at some point in their career and many relied on alcohol and drugs to cope with the pressure and burden of their roles. This week, Rachel Brooks, a creative arts/drama therapist and actress, who received her Masters in Drama Therapy at NYU joins the show to share some of her go to tips for actors for taking control of one’s mental health.

In September's Monthly Motivation segment, host, Hassiem Muhammad, goes solo to share a story about one of the greatest lessons he learned as an actor, and how he blieves that this lesson is the key to having a successful acting career-or not. In this episode, Hassiem details the moment when, as a young man, he felt like he'd failed as an actor--not getting into The Juilliard School.  It wasn't until years after this moment that he fully understood the weight and meaning of what his acting teacher told him during that time: that you've got to "run your own race".  

This week's guest booked his first pilot before he even graduated from college–but it didn’t get picked up to series. Then shortly after graduation, he booked another, which went to series-but got canceled before the end of its first season. Always defying the odds, Brandon Micheal Hall didn't let a couple of cancellations stop him. TV creators kept bringing him back over and over, and before the age of 30, he racked up series regular billing on four different tv shows. This week we get into how Brandon has stayed in high demand in the acting industry, and how he adopted a nomadic lifestyle during the pandemic; traveling the world without emptying his bank account.  

“Theater is in free fall, and the pandemic isn’t the only thing to blame” was a headline in the Washington Post 2 months ago, and to discuss the state of American Theatre, I’m joined today by Rylan Rilette, the Artistic Director at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland. Ryan is in his twelfth season as AD at Round House, and during his tenure, he has produced five of the best-selling and highest-attended seasons in the theater’s history. His productions have received 81 Helen Hayes Awards nominations, with 21 wins, and on this week’s episode, Ryan shares how he and his team have kept their theater afloat, and his tips for actors who are trying to weather this storm. 

Writer and Director, Andy Wolk, shares loads of tips for actors in this week's episode! Andy’s career started in the New York City theater scene, where he has had plays produced as a writer and director at theaters such as Lincoln Center, LaMaMa, Ensemble Studio Theater and the Manhattan Theater Club. After making a transition to LA, Andy wrote and directed the acclaimed HBO drama CRIMINAL JUSTICE which Time Magazine named one of the "Ten Best" films of the year. He has directed episodes NYPD BLUE, The Sopranos, Ugly Betty, Manifest, Gossip Girls, and my favorite show of all time, Criminal Minds. Safe to say that Andy knows a thing or two about the acting industry, and I am so excited to have him on the show!

In this week's episode of The Actor's Instrument, host, Hassiem Muhammad, goes solo to share his thoughts about the damaging trope that actors are told they must accept: that you must be poor to be an artist. There is no doubt that making it in the acting industry is a tall order, but that pathway to success must include confidence, the fortitude to reject negative self talk, and the ability to adopt a positive mindset. This episode is rich with tips for actors, and motivation for those who may be struggling to stay positive during this time.

Black White and the Greys is a film that I saw at the perfect time in my life, and I am so excited because one of the co-creators of this film, Marchelle Thurman,  will be joining me on the show this week. Marchelle can be seen on The Last Days of Ptolymey Gray,  Law and Order, and The Endgame; and she’s here  to chat with us about her experience as a multi-hyphenate, how the strike has impacted her acting career, and the tips for actors that she has after producing her own work.

Rick Sordelet, is a New York City based fight director, whose credits cover the various worlds of stage, TV and film, stage combat training, stunt coordination, play direction and more. If you’re a frequenter of broadway or off broadway shows, you’ve likely seen his work, because he has racked up collaborations with over 70 Broadway directors! His company, Sordelet Inc has a long list of credits that include: Broadway’s Indecent, Misery, Annie, Sunset Boulevard, and Fences starring Denzel Washington. Basically, in New York, Rick Sordelet is the guy when it comes to fight direction, and if there's one thing that Rick makes clear in this week's episode, it's that he loves actors!