The Working Actor's Journey

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ Analyzing Polonius' instructions for spying on Laertes

➤ Ophelia's alarming encounter that leaves her frightened and confused

➤ Claudius' maneuvering about the threat posed by Fortinbras

Welcome back to The Rehearsal Room for this season (10!) as we continue our HAMLET Project.

📷 cover photo: Nick Bettens

---

🛑 SUBSCRIBE to get notified of our next rehearsal session.

*** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality.***

🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION:

• 💰 PayPal: https://paypal.me/nathanagin81
• 🤑 Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nathanagin
• 💳 Credit card: http://workingactorsjourney.com/donation-checkout

🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wajpodcast

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: Sandy, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif, and Jeff!

---

🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month:

DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso

ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Benjamin Reigel, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Jim Stubbs, Terry Kerr, Steven Helmeke and Sharon McCune

AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Charles Stransky, Frank Tobin, Cindy Griffith, Rebecca Oettinger, Alexandra Mitchell, Roseann Sheridan, Val Lantz-Gefroh, Chris Chinn, Robert Duerr, Celine Noguiera, Adriana Roze, Ben Farrow, Jessica Gibbons, Aaron Mendelson and Sara Giacomini.

A big welcome to the many new participants with this project!

---

We explore...

• Act 2, Scene 1: Polonius sends his servant Reynaldo to Paris to question Laertes's acquaintances. Ophelia enters, deeply disturbed about a visit she has just had from an apparently mad Hamlet.

• Act 2, Scene 2: Claudius and Gertrude set Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two boyhood friends of Hamlet, to spy on him. As Hamlet and his "friends" talk, a company of touring actors enters and Hamlet persuades one of them to deliver a speech. Hamlet hopes that when the players stage their show for the court, he can determine whether Claudius is guilty of King Hamlet's death.

The links above will take you to the Folio version, which we use heavily here.

#hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ Meeting Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's friends with a secret mission

➤ Exploring Polonius' reaction to the description of Hamlet's strange behavior

➤ Analyzing Claudius' and Gertrude's responses to Hamlet's madness

Welcome back to The Rehearsal Room for this season (10!) as we continue our HAMLET Project.

📷 cover photo: Elizabeth Swain

---

🛑 SUBSCRIBE to get notified of our next rehearsal session.

*** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality.***

🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION:

• 💰 PayPal: https://paypal.me/nathanagin81
• 🤑 Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nathanagin
• 💳 Credit card: http://workingactorsjourney.com/donation-checkout

🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wajpodcast

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: Sandy, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif, and Jeff!

---

🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month:

DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso

ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Benjamin Reigel, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Jim Stubbs, Terry Kerr, Steven Helmeke and Sharon McCune

AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Charles Stransky, Frank Tobin, Cindy Griffith, Rebecca Oettinger, Alexandra Mitchell, Roseann Sheridan, Val Lantz-Gefroh, Chris Chinn, Robert Duerr, Celine Noguiera, Adriana Roze, Ben Farrow, Jessica Gibbons, Aaron Mendelson and Sara Giacomini.

A big welcome to the many new participants with this project!

---

We explore...

• Act 2, Scene 1: Polonius sends his servant Reynaldo to Paris to question Laertes's acquaintances. Ophelia enters, deeply disturbed about a visit she has just had from an apparently mad Hamlet.

• Act 2, Scene 2: Claudius and Gertrude set Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two boyhood friends of Hamlet, to spy on him. As Hamlet and his "friends" talk, a company of touring actors enters and Hamlet persuades one of them to deliver a speech. Hamlet hopes that when the players stage their show for the court, he can determine whether Claudius is guilty of King Hamlet's death.

The links above will take you to the Folio version, which we use heavily here.

#hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director

From 2018, here's my interview with the incomparable Peter Van Norden, who took his final curtain call on July 8, 2026 at age 75. We discuss how musicals shaped his life, training at the Neighborhood Playhouse with Sanford Meisner, learning from Meryl Streep, and much more. I'm grateful to have worked with and learned from Peter as a young actor - he clearly loved what he did and was so generous to fellow actors. He is missed by many!

Welcome back to The Rehearsal Room for this season (10!) as we continue our HAMLET Project.

---

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ Diving deeper into the relationships introduced in Act 1

➤ Exploring Polonius' nature as he instructs Reynaldo to spy on Laertes

➤ Ophelia's emotional turmoil as she describes her encounter with Hamlet

cover photo: Sharon McCune

---

🛑 SUBSCRIBE to get notified of our next rehearsal session.

*** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality.***

🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION:

• 💰 PayPal: https://paypal.me/nathanagin81
• 🤑 Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nathanagin
• 💳 Credit card: http://workingactorsjourney.com/donation-checkout

🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wajpodcast

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: Sandy, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif, and Jeff!

---

🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month:

DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso

ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Benjamin Reigel, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Jim Stubbs, Terry Kerr, Steven Helmeke and Sharon McCune

AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Charles Stransky, Frank Tobin, Cindy Griffith, Rebecca Oettinger, Alexandra Mitchell, Roseann Sheridan, Val Lantz-Gefroh, Chris Chinn, Robert Duerr, Celine Noguiera, Adriana Roze, Ben Farrow, Jessica Gibbons, Aaron Mendelson and Sara Giacomini.

A big welcome to the many new participants with this project!

---

We explore...

• Act 2, Scene 1: Polonius sends his servant Reynaldo to Paris to question Laertes's acquaintances. Ophelia enters, deeply disturbed about a visit she has just had from an apparently mad Hamlet.

• Act 2, Scene 2: Claudius and Gertrude set Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two boyhood friends of Hamlet, to spy on him. As Hamlet and his "friends" talk, a company of touring actors enters and Hamlet persuades one of them to deliver a speech. Hamlet hopes that when the players stage their show for the court, he can determine whether Claudius is guilty of King Hamlet's death.

The links above will take you to the Folio version, which we use heavily here.

#hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director

Welcome back to The Rehearsal Room as we kick off Act 2 of our HAMLET Project in SEASON 10 🙌, where we explore one scene (or section) of Shakespeare's Hamlet - one month at a time.

New sessions are still being produced; we recently crossed one year working on this play and are about to begin Act 4. Yes, a LOT happens in Acts 2 and 3. 😉

For this month, we'll look at Act 2, Sc 1, and then Act 2, Sc 2 (descriptions below) - and scene 2 has so much going on, we spent multiple months on it, hence the "part a".

---

🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ The transition into Act 2 as we reflect on the journey so far (by reading ALL of Act 1!)

➤ A deep dive into Polonius' approach and the implications of his nature

➤ Exploring the complex dynamics between Hamlet and Ophelia

cover photo: actress Terry Kerr

---

🛑 SUBSCRIBE to get notified of our next rehearsal session.

*** These sessions are free for all to enjoy; your support helps us keep this space creative, accessible, and high-quality.***

🙌 Many thanks to our recent supporters! Help us continue our work in the Rehearsal Room through a ONE-TIME DONATION:

• 💰 PayPal: https://paypal.me/nathanagin81
• 🤑 Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nathanagin
• 💳 Credit card: http://workingactorsjourney.com/donation-checkout

🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wajpodcast

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: Sandy, Joan, Michele, Jim, Magdalen, Claudia, Clif, and Jeff!

---

🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month:

DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso

ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Benjamin Reigel, Nick Bettens, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Jim Stubbs, Terry Kerr, Steven Helmeke and Sharon McCune

AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Charles Stransky, Frank Tobin, Cindy Griffith, Rebecca Oettinger, Alexandra Mitchell, Roseann Sheridan, Val Lantz-Gefroh, Chris Chinn, Robert Duerr, Celine Noguiera, Adriana Roze, Ben Farrow, Jessica Gibbons, Aaron Mendelson and Sara Giacomini.

A big welcome to the many new participants with this project!

---

We explore...

• Act 2, Scene 1: Polonius sends his servant Reynaldo to Paris to question Laertes's acquaintances. Ophelia enters, deeply disturbed about a visit she has just had from an apparently mad Hamlet.

• Act 2, Scene 2: Claudius and Gertrude set Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two boyhood friends of Hamlet, to spy on him. As Hamlet and his "friends" talk, a company of touring actors enters and Hamlet persuades one of them to deliver a speech. Hamlet hopes that when the players stage their show for the court, he can determine whether Claudius is guilty of King Hamlet's death.

The links above will take you to the Folio version, which we use heavily here.

#hamlet #workingactor #rehearsal #shakespeare #textwork #acting #actor #director

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ The tension and intrigue that fill Hamlet's encounter with the Ghost

➤ Exploring the themes of secrecy and trust as Hamlet asks his friends to swear silence

➤ Hamlet's emotional journey as he grapples with these revelations

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: https://paypal.me/nathanagin81
• 🤑 Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nathanagin
• 💳 Credit card: http://workingactorsjourney.com/donation-checkout

🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wajpodcast

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, Larry Petersen, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Jim Stubbs and Terry Kerr

AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Charles Stransky, Steven Helmeke, Frank Tobin, Cindy Griffith, Sharon McCune, Mikaela Kafka, Osborn Focht, Rebecca Oettinger, Alexandra Mitchell and Roseann Sheridan

A big welcome to the many new participants with this project!

---

We explore...

• Act 1, Scene 5: The Ghost tells Hamlet a tale of horror. Saying that he is the spirit of Hamlet's father, he demands that Hamlet avenge King Hamlet's murder at the hands of Claudius. Hamlet, horrified, vows to "remember" and swears his friends to secrecy about what they have seen.

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

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ Hamlet's emotional journey following his encounter with the Ghost

➤ The complexities of the Ghost's character and his impact on Hamlet

➤ Exploring how Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus navigate the revelations

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: https://paypal.me/nathanagin81
• 🤑 Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nathanagin
• 💳 Credit card: http://workingactorsjourney.com/donation-checkout

🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wajpodcast

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, Larry Petersen, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Jim Stubbs and Terry Kerr

AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Charles Stransky, Steven Helmeke, Frank Tobin, Cindy Griffith, Sharon McCune, Mikaela Kafka, Osborn Focht, Rebecca Oettinger, Alexandra Mitchell and Roseann Sheridan

A big welcome to the many new participants with this project!

---

We explore...

• Act 1, Scene 5: The Ghost tells Hamlet a tale of horror. Saying that he is the spirit of Hamlet's father, he demands that Hamlet avenge King Hamlet's murder at the hands of Claudius. Hamlet, horrified, vows to "remember" and swears his friends to secrecy about what they have seen.

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

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ Exploring the complex relationship between Hamlet and the Ghost

➤ Insights into the Ghost's motivations and emotional turmoil

➤ The implications of revenge and Hamlet's moral dilemmas

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: https://paypal.me/nathanagin81
• 🤑 Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nathanagin
• 💳 Credit card: http://workingactorsjourney.com/donation-checkout

🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wajpodcast

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, Larry Petersen, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Jim Stubbs and Terry Kerr

AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Charles Stransky, Steven Helmeke, Frank Tobin, Cindy Griffith, Sharon McCune, Mikaela Kafka, Osborn Focht, Rebecca Oettinger, Alexandra Mitchell and Roseann Sheridan

A big welcome to the many new participants with this project!

---

We explore...

• Act 1, Scene 5: The Ghost tells Hamlet a tale of horror. Saying that he is the spirit of Hamlet's father, he demands that Hamlet avenge King Hamlet's murder at the hands of Claudius. Hamlet, horrified, vows to "remember" and swears his friends to secrecy about what they have seen.

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

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ A deep examination of the dynamics between Hamlet, Horatio, and the Ghost

➤ Insights into Polonius' role and his influence on Ophelia and Laertes

➤ How Ophelia is often misrepresented in traditional interpretations

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: https://paypal.me/nathanagin81
• 🤑 Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nathanagin
• 💳 Credit card: http://workingactorsjourney.com/donation-checkout

🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wajpodcast

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...

• Act 1, Scene 3: 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.

• Act 1, Scene 4: 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

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ Exploring the relationship between Hamlet and the ghost, focusing on memory and loss

➤ An analysis of language and punctuation in Hamlet's initial lines

➤ Insights Marcellus' and Horatio's fears regarding the ghost's intentions

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: https://paypal.me/nathanagin81
• 🤑 Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nathanagin
• 💳 Credit card: http://workingactorsjourney.com/donation-checkout

🤗 Or become a MONTHLY PATRON with additional benefits (starting at $5/month) with Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wajpodcast

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...

• Act 1, Scene 3: 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.

• Act 1, Scene 4: 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