The Working Actor's Journey

As we begin Season 9, we embark on our BIGGEST venture to date: 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. 😁

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ An in-depth analysis of the opening lines and their implications for character relationships

➤ The exploration of fear and wonder as characters encounter the ghost

➤ A discussion on the use of the First Folio and its impact on performance

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

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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!

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🎭 CREATIVE TEAM for this month:

DIRECTOR: Annie Occhiogrosso

ACTORS: Randall Duk Kim, Lee Ernst, Benjamin Reigel, Larry Petersen, Nick Bettens

AUDIENCE: Sandy Robbins, Michele Schultz, Liz Swain, Sarah Mabes, Sandy Ernst, Laurie Strother, Doug Strother, Elizabeth Dennehy, Paul Nicholas, Lizzie King-Hall

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We explore Act 1, Scene 1: On the guards' platform at Elsinore, Horatio waits with Barnardo and Marcellus to question a ghost that has twice before appeared. The Ghost, in the form of the late King Hamlet of Denmark, appears but will not speak. Horatio decides to tell his fellow student, Prince Hamlet, about the Ghost's appearance.

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

From 2018, here's our interview with the wonderful actress Dawn Didawick, who took her final curtain call on December 21, 2025 at age 84. We discuss dealing with fear, having mentors, how to keep working, passing it on and being respectful - and lots more. With a career spanning 50+ years, she accomplished so much and will be missed by all who knew her! I'm grateful to have worked with and learned from her as a young actor - she was always so generous and helpful. Our love goes out to Harry, her husband of 47 years.

Click here for full show notes and links.

Join us as we dive into two scenes featuring Olivia and Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. In our FINAL session (just 3 weeks this round), we conclude this great series from 2025 focused on the two Olivia/Viola scenes Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. This will also wrap up SEASON 8 of The Working Actor's Journey! New episodes will start again in January...

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ The transformative exercise of "Dropping In" to deepen connection

➤ Insights into the grief, identity, and power dynamics present in these interactions

➤ An exploration of the First Folio and its clues to Shakespeare's language and intent

➤ A Q&A with the team, including the value of different interpretations

Act 1, Scene 5: Olivia allows Viola (in her disguise as Cesario) to speak with her privately about Orsino's love, though Olivia ends up falling in love with Cesario.

Act 3, Scene 1: Olivia declares her love to Cesario.

Featuring DIRECTOR Edgar Landa, DRAMATURG Miranda Johnson-Haddad, and ACTORS Anne Gee Byrd (Viola) and Shelby Lewis (Olivia). With your host, Nathan Agin.

Join us as we dive into two scenes featuring Olivia and Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ The nuances of gender identity and disguise in the pursuit of love

➤ Exploring the themes of desire, power dynamics, and emotional vulnerability

➤ The importance of breath control and pacing in delivering lines

Act 1, Scene 5: Olivia allows Viola (in her disguise as Cesario) to speak with her privately about Orsino's love, though Olivia ends up falling in love with Cesario.

Act 3, Scene 1: Olivia declares her love to Cesario.

Featuring DIRECTOR Edgar Landa, DRAMATURG Miranda Johnson-Haddad, and ACTORS Anne Gee Byrd (Viola) and Shelby Lewis (Olivia). With your host, Nathan Agin.

Join us as we dive into two scenes featuring Olivia and Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

🏁 In this session, highlights include: ➤ The significance of gender fluidity and self-expression

➤ Diving into the themes of love, identity, and societal roles

➤ The role of the fool in Shakespeare's works

Act 1, Scene 5: Olivia allows Viola (in her disguise as Cesario) to speak with her privately about Orsino's love, though Olivia ends up falling in love with Cesario.

Act 3, Scene 1: Olivia declares her love to Cesario.

Featuring DIRECTOR Edgar Landa, DRAMATURG Miranda Johnson-Haddad, and ACTORS Anne Gee Byrd (Viola) and Shelby Lewis (Olivia). With your host, Nathan Agin.

Join us as we dive into the lovers fight: Helena is pursued by both Lysander and Demetrius, Hermia threatens Helena, and Lysander and Demetrius prepare to duel - from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ The intricate dynamics of friendship and betrayal between Helena and Hermia

➤ Insights into the rhetorical richness of Shakespeare's language

➤ The challenge of balancing physicality and text in performance

➤ Plus a Q&A with the team!

Featuring DIRECTOR James Newcomb, DRAMATURG Gideon Rappaport, VOICE Ursula Meyer, HELENA Anne Gee Byrd, HERMIA Maggi Veltre, DEMETRIUS Michael Kirby, LYSANDER Garret Botts. With your host, Nathan Agin.

Join us as we dive into the lovers fight: Helena is pursued by both Lysander and Demetrius, Hermia threatens Helena, and Lysander and Demetrius prepare to duel - from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ How to convey action through language

➤ Utilizing plosives and elongated vowels to enhance emotional impact

➤ Vocal dynamics and the use of sound to express conflict

Featuring DIRECTOR James Newcomb, DRAMATURG Gideon Rappaport, VOICE Ursula Meyer, HELENA Anne Gee Byrd, HERMIA Maggi Veltre, DEMETRIUS Michael Kirby, LYSANDER Garret Botts. With your host, Nathan Agin.

Join us as we dive into the lovers fight: Helena is pursued by both Lysander and Demetrius, Hermia threatens Helena, and Lysander and Demetrius prepare to duel - from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ The complexity of character relationships and their evolution

➤ Insights into the juxtaposition of love and rivalry

➤ A deep dive into the physicality and emotionality inherent in Shakespeare's text

Featuring DIRECTOR James Newcomb, DRAMATURG Gideon Rappaport, VOICE Ursula Meyer, HELENA Anne Gee Byrd, HERMIA Maggi Veltre, DEMETRIUS Michael Kirby, LYSANDER Garret Botts. With your host, Nathan Agin.

Join us as we dive into the lovers fight: Helena is pursued by both Lysander and Demetrius, Hermia threatens Helena, and Lysander and Demetrius prepare to duel - from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ The physicality of emotion

➤ Insights into the shifting dynamics of love

➤ The rhetorical devices used to express passion and conflict

Featuring DIRECTOR James Newcomb, DRAMATURG Gideon Rappaport, VOICE Ursula Meyer, HELENA Anne Gee Byrd, HERMIA Maggi Veltre, DEMETRIUS Michael Kirby, LYSANDER Garret Botts, and host Nathan Agin.

Join us as we dive into the scene where Hamlet confronts his mother, kills Polonius and is visited by the Ghost in Shakespeare's Hamlet

🏁 In this session, highlights include:

➤ How two Hamlets navigate the internal conflict

➤ Insights into Gertrude's role as a responder

➤ An exploration of madness and familial bonds

➤ Plus a Q&A with the team!

Featuring J. Paul Nicholas (DIRECTOR), Cassandra Alexander (DRAMATURG), Kathleen Turco-Lyon (GERTRUDE), and Charlotte Northeast and Max Herzfeld as the two sides of HAMLET, and host, Nathan Agin.