The Working Actor's Journey

Elizabeth shares her approach to working on Shakespeare, which includes what the number of syllables can tell you, the thought igniter exercise, the first question to ask, and more. Plus we chat about the difference in performing a monologue in an audition vs a show.

Learn more about our April Shakespeare workshop with Randall Duk Kim and Annie Occhiogrosso

Macbeth's dagger speech (Act 2, Sc 1)

Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain? I see thee yet, in form as palpable As this which now I draw. [He draws his dagger.] Thou marshal'st me the way that I was going, And such an instrument I was to use. Mine eyes are made the fools o' th' other senses Or else worth all the rest. I see thee still, And, on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There's no such thing. It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one-half world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtained sleep. Witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate's off'rings, and withered murder, Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my whereabouts And take the present horror from the time, Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives. Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives. [A bell rings.] I go, and it is done. The bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell.

Click here for full show notes and links.

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We discuss her very humble beginnings, her dad Brian Dennehy and his career struggles, deciding her family was a priority, working even more when she was pregnant, and helping other actors. Plus, we get another mini-Shakespeare class where Elizabeth dives into a piece from Macbeth! She's been an audition coach for years, and has also helped many students with their college auditions, so you'll definitely want to check this out!

Click here for full show notes and links.

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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.

We've got five more amazing interviews headed your way over the coming months; you'll hear:

• coming to America stories
• the realities and hardships of working in New York and LA
• and what it's like with parents who were in the biz.

Professional actors speak about feeling adrift, lack of confidence, and full blown-panic attacks. These guests have had the chance to look back and to see what's worked, what hasn't, and what to embrace about their path.

Be sure to subscribe to find out who are guests are and to hear so much more. Regular listeners may be able to identify the voices, as all of these guests have been part of our workshop series and almost all of them were totally new to me, so it was very exciting to learn all about them!

Get your copy of "10 Ways to Stop Worrying and Start Working!"

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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.

For today's episode, we're bringing you the second half of the Repertory workshop featuring Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

In the fist scene: Viola (as Cesario), is on her way to see Olivia, and encounters first the Fool Feste and then Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. Olivia, meeting Cesario, sends the others away and declares her love.

Then in our second scene - Malvolio, who (according to the mischievous letter he received) is dressed with yellow stockings and is smiling grotesquely, appears before an astonished Olivia. Thinking him insane, Olivia puts him in the care of Sir Toby, who decides to treat him as a madman by having him bound and put in a dark room. Toby also decides to deliver Sir Andrew's challenge to Cesario in person in order to force the two of them into a duel. Terrified, they prepare to fight.

Act 3, Sc 1: FESTE – Garrett Botts VIOLA – Sara Mountjoy-Pepka OLIVIA – Michele Schultz SIR TOBY – Jamal Douglas SIR ANDREW – Janet Greaves

Act 3, Sc 4: VIOLA – Michele Schultz OLIVIA – Sara Mountjoy-Pepka MARIA – Erika Rolfsrud MALVOLIO and SIR ANDREW – Janet Greaves SIR TOBY – Jamal Douglas FABIAN – Garrett Botts

DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Swain

DRAMATURGS: Gideon Rappaport and Philippa Kelly

VOICE COACHES: Ursula Meyer and Scott Ferrara.

Prefer to watch the session? Find it here on YouTube!

Join us for Comedy of Manners in the Rehearsal Room ONLINE with director Brendon Fox - sessions begin February 3rd!

Registration for Actors open through Sunday, January 23rd - grab your spot here. Plenty of room for virtual audience too.

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Get your copy of "10 Ways to Stop Worrying and Start Working!"

See additional content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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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.

For today's episode, we're bringing you the second half of the Repertory workshop featuring Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

The first scene includes almost everyone at Olivia's house, some great exchanges with the Fool, and then the meeting of Olivia and Viola, who is disguised as Orsino's servant Cesario. Then the following scene has Orsino with Viola (disguised) who expresses her love for Orsino through a story about "Cesario's sister."

This was actually the second presentation we did, though these two scenes come first chronologically in the play, so that's why you're hearing this part first. Don't worry - you didn't miss anything.

Act 1, Sc 5: MARIA – Janet Greaves FESTE – Sara Mountjoy-Pepka OLIVIA – Michele Schultz MALVOLIO – Jamal Douglas SIR TOBY – Garrett Botts VIOLA – Erika Rolfsrud

Act 2, Sc 4: ORSINO – Garrett Botts FESTE – Michele Schultz VIOLA – Sara Mountjoy-Pepka

DIRECTOR: Brendon Fox

DRAMATURGS: Gideon Rappaport and Philippa Kelly

VOICE COACHES: Ursula Meyer and Scott Ferrara.

Prefer to watch the session? Find it here on YouTube!

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Get your copy of "10 Ways to Stop Worrying and Start Working!"

See additional content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

---

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.

OK, there is a lot going on with this scene, so let's attempt to summarize! Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of York (Richard's mother) are grieving over their children and grandchildren. Former Queen Margaret secretly watches, and then comes forward to share they are not the only ones who've suffered. King Richard is passing by with his army, and the Duchess gives him a piece of her mind. Finally Richard is alone with Elizabeth and begins to talk with her about her daughter—also named Elizabeth—and the plans Richard has for her. So buckle in!

• DIRECTOR: Liz Swain
• DRAMATURG: Gideon Rappaport
• MARGARET: Veralyn Jones
• RICHARD: Michael Kirby
• DUCHESS: Maggi Veltre
• ELIZABETH: Morgan Ring

Fantastic work in Shakespeare's Richard III from May 2021. After only a few weeks of work, the cast and director continue to work on and discuss the process. Part of The Rehearsal Room series. Prefer to watch the session? Find it here on YouTube!

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In this scene, Hamlet's friends from school, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, have just arrived and the King and Queen ask them to find out what's going on with Hamlet. A short while later, Hamlet enter reading and is greeted by Polonius before Ros and Guil join us.

• DIRECTOR: Gigi Bermingham
• DRAMATURG: Gideon Rappaport
• HAMLET: Kwana Martinez
• POLONIUS: Seth David Mitchell
• ROSENCRANTZ: Max Herzfeld
• GUILDENSTERN: Danielle Reliford

Fantastic work in Shakespeare's Hamlet from May 2021. After only a few weeks of work, the cast and director continue to work on and discuss the process. Part of The Rehearsal Room series. Prefer to watch the session? Find it here on YouTube!

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This is the final section of the play right to the end. As Bassanio, Gratiano, and Antonio all return home after the trial with Shylock, Portia and Nerissa decide to play one final trick on their partners. And it's important to remember this is actually the first time Antonio—who is such close friends with Bassanio—meets Portia (as herself, not the disguised lawyer).

• DIRECTOR: Brendon Fox
• DRAMATURG: Philippa Kelly
• BASSANIO: Marcelo Tubert
• PORTIA: Amber Scales
• NERISSA: Aubrey Saverino
• ANTONIO: Ross Hellwig
• GRATIANO: Sara Mountjoy-Pepka

Fantastic work in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice from May 2021. After only a few weeks of work, the cast and director continue to work on and discuss the process. Part of The Rehearsal Room series.

Prefer to watch the session? Find it here on YouTube!

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Get your copy of "10 Ways to Stop Worrying and Start Working!"

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A fantastic scene workshop from Shakespeare's As You Like It from April 2021. After only a few weeks of work, the cast and director continue to work on and discuss the process. Part of The Rehearsal Room series.

In this scene, we first meet Rosalind and Celia, and have only recently learned that Rosalind's father has been banished by Celia's father, the Duke. The two women attempt to dissuade Orlando from wrestling Charles, and Rosalind and Orlando are visibly affected by each other.

• DIRECTOR: Geoffrey Wade (also covering for Duke)
• DRAMATURG: Gideon Rappaport
• ROSALIND: Janet Greaves
• ORLANDO: Jamal Douglas
• CELIA: Whitney Wakimoto
• LE BEAU: Madeleine Person
• DUKE FREDERICK: Danny Fulkerson

Prefer to watch the session? Find it here on YouTube!

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Get your copy of "10 Ways to Stop Worrying and Start Working!"

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A fantastic scene workshop from Shakespeare's King John from February 2021. After only a few weeks of work, the cast and director continue to work on and discuss the process. Part of The Rehearsal Room series.

This is the very opening of the play—where we learn of the conflict over the throne between England and France, and then there is a dispute between two brothers brought before the King. One of the brothers (the Bastard) resembles King John's older brother Richard and that young man is given a choice.

• DIRECTOR: Gigi Bermingham
• DRAMATURG: Gideon Rappaport
• KING JOHN: Marcelo Tubert
• QUEEN ELINOR: Madeleine Person
• BASTARD: Ross Hellwig
• CHATILLON/ROBERT: Corinna Christman

Prefer to watch the session? Find it here on YouTube!

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Click here to register for our new workshop - Acting the Role: LADY MACBETH with Susan Angelo - begins October 11th! Spots for actors and audience, though space is limited.

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