The Working Actor's Journey

Hope you're new year is off to a great start! How have things been going with the podcast? Nathan checks in to share stats, reviews, and more in this quick look behind-the-scenes. We'll be back next week with continuing episodes in Season 1 of The Working Actor's Journey!

Anne Gee Byrd has performed leading roles in everything from Shakespeare to Shaw across the country, and is no stranger to contemporary works, too. She has received LA Drama Critics' Circle Awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. and was named Best Leading Actress by the LA Weekly for her performance as Mother Courage. She has also had a long television and film career, with over 80 credits on IMDb. This episode is brought to you by the FreeMeditationCourse.com - start your journey today!

You wanted these text work sessions as separate episodes and I'm happy to accommodate! First up: @ShimermanArmin from Ep #2 takes us into Shakespeare's Henry VI, part 3 with Richard of Gloucester, a soliloquy Armin used for auditions. He also talks about his general approach to Shakespeare and some of the overall principles he teaches in classes. If you're following along, this speech is at the end of Act 3, Scene 2.

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Armin's Monologue from Henry VI, Part III (Act 3, Scene 2) by Shakespeare

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

Ay, Edward will use women honorably. Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all, That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring, To cross me from the golden time I look for! And yet, between my soul's desire and me— The lustful Edward's title buried— Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, And all the unlook'd-for issue of their bodies To take their rooms, ere I can place myself: A cold premeditation for my purpose! Why then I do but dream on sovereignty, Like one that stands upon a promontory And spies a far-off shore where he would tread, Wishing his foot were equal with his eye, And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, Saying, he'll lade it dry to have his way: So do I wish the crown, being so far off, And so I chide the means that keeps me from it, And so, I say, I'll cut the causes off, Flattering me with impossibilities. My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much, Unless my hand and strength could equal them. [ARMIN BEGINS HERE, AND CUTS LINES] Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard; What other pleasure can the world afford? I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap, And deck my body in gay ornaments, And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. O miserable thought! And more unlikely Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns! Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb; And for I should not deal in her soft laws, She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe, To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub, To make an envious mountain on my back, Where sits deformity to mock my body; To shape my legs of an unequal size, To disproportion me in every part, Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp That carries no impression like the dam. And am I then a man to be belov'd? O monstrous fault, to harbor such a thought! Then since this earth affords no joy to me But to command, to check, to o'erbear such As are of better person than myself, I'll make my heaven to dream upon the crown, And whiles I live, t' account this world but hell, Until my misshap'd trunk that bears this head Be round impaled with a glorious crown. And yet I know not how to get the crown, For many lives stand between me and home; And I—like one lost in a thorny wood, That rents the thorns, and is rent with the thorns, Seeking a way, and straying from the way, Not knowing how to find the open air, But toiling desperately to find it out— Torment myself to catch the English crown; And from that torment I will free myself, Or hew my way out with a bloody axe. Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile, And cry "Content" to that which grieves my heart, And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, And frame my face to all occasions. I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall, I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk, I'll play the orator as well as Nestor, Deceive more slyly than Ulysses could, And like a Sinon, take another Troy. I can add colors to the chameleon, Change shapes with Proteus for advantages, And set the murderous Machevil to school. Can I do this, and cannot get a crown? Tut, were it farther off, I'll pluck it down.

@ShimermanArmin is perhaps best known as Quark on the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine series. He has been working 50 years in the business and has 200 credits on IMDb. He's also done many voiceovers, video games, and commercials. Plus: a Shakespeare scholar, teacher, director, and actor. We talk about acting in high school, working at the Old Globe, finding a mentor on Broadway, and even dive into some Richard of Gloucester. This episode is brought to you by FreeMeditationCourse.com - start your journey today!

Robert Pine is a great actor to help us kick things off! He's been working for the past 50+ years and probably best known for starring on the show CHiPs. He has over 200 credits on IMDb, appearing on almost every iconic show from the '60s to today. He's also done commercials, video games, soap operas, theatre, and plenty of films. We talk about being pre-med, his ADD, his son Chris, longevity, and having fun. This episode is brought to you by FreeMeditationCourse.com - start your journey today!

What's ahead for this podcast? Hear excerpts from upcoming interviews! The Working Actor's Journey features in-depth conversations with actors that have worked for 30-50+ years, hearing how they got started, what challenges they faced, how they deal with auditions, actually work on material, and more.