Respect for Acting

1. Acting Demands Respect and Rigorous Training

More than in the other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to spring from the fact that every layman considers himself a valid critic.

Challenging Misconceptions. Acting is often undervalued, with many believing it's purely instinctual or that anyone can do it. This perspective overlooks the dedicated training, skill, and artistry required to create compelling and truthful performances. Just as musicians, dancers, and painters undergo extensive training, actors must hone their craft through disciplined study and practice.

Beyond Natural Talent. While natural talent is essential, it's not enough. Actors must cultivate their voices, bodies, and minds to meet the demands of diverse roles. This includes mastering vocal projection, physical expression, and standard speech, as well as developing a deep understanding of human behavior and dramatic literature.

Elevating the Craft. By recognizing acting as a complex art form that requires rigorous training and dedication, we can elevate its status and foster greater appreciation for the skill and artistry of actors. This respect is crucial for creating a thriving theater culture that values artistic excellence and supports the development of talented performers.

2. Presentational Acting Reveals Truth Through Self

As an artist the only thing she had to offer was the revelation of her soul.

Two Approaches. There are two primary approaches to acting: Representational and Presentational. Representational acting focuses on imitating or illustrating a character's behavior, while Presentational acting seeks to reveal human behavior through the actor's own understanding and use of self.

Internal vs. External. Presentational acting emphasizes internal exploration and subjective experience, trusting that a form will emerge from the actor's identification with the character. In contrast, Representational acting prioritizes external form and objective results, carefully watching and executing pre-determined behaviors.

Timelessness of Truth. While formalized, external acting tends to follow fashion and become dated, internal acting, rooted in genuine human experience, can transcend time and resonate with audiences across generations. By connecting with their own emotions and experiences, actors can create authentic and compelling portrayals that reveal universal truths about the human condition.

3. Talent Requires Character, Ethics, and Education

Talent alone is not enough. Character and ethics, a point of view about the world in which you live and an education, can and must be acquired and developed.

Beyond Innate Ability. While talent is a prerequisite for acting, it's not sufficient for a fulfilling and impactful career. Actors must also cultivate strong character, ethical principles, and a well-rounded education to become true artists who can serve and enlighten audiences.

Moral and Ethical Compass. Character in the moral and ethical sense is crucial, encompassing virtues like mutual respect, courtesy, kindness, generosity, trust, and loyalty. These qualities foster a collaborative and supportive environment, essential for the communal nature of theater.

Education as Enrichment. A thorough education in history, literature, linguistics, and the arts provides actors with a broader understanding of the world and the human experience. This knowledge enriches their performances and allows them to bring depth and nuance to their roles.

4. Identity Exploration Fuels Versatile Portrayals

The more an actor develops a full sense of his own identity, the more his scope and capacity for identification with other characters than his own will be made possible.

Knowing Yourself. The foundation of great acting lies in self-knowledge. Actors must delve into their own identities, exploring their strengths, weaknesses, and unique perspectives, to unlock their capacity for portraying diverse characters authentically.

Inner and Outer Selves. Recognizing the discrepancies between inner self-image and outward presentation is crucial. By acknowledging both the positive and negative aspects of their personalities, actors can tap into a wider range of human experiences and emotions.

Breaking Stereotypes. By understanding their own multifaceted nature, actors can avoid relying on clichés and stereotypes in their portrayals. Instead, they can bring depth, nuance, and originality to their characters, creating truly memorable and impactful performances.

5. Substitution Creates Believable Realities

I use substitution in order to “make believe” in its literal sense—to make me believe the time, the place, what surrounds me, the conditioning forces, my new character and my relationship to the other characters, in order to send me into the moment-to-moment spontaneous action of my newly selected self on stage.

Bridging the Gap. Substitution is a technique that allows actors to bridge the gap between their own experiences and the fictional world of the play. By replacing elements of the play with personal memories, emotions, and sensory details, actors can create a sense of reality and authenticity on stage.

Psychological Springboard. Substitution involves finding psychological parallels between the actor's life and the character's circumstances. This allows actors to tap into genuine emotions and experiences, even when the events of the play are far removed from their own lives.

Complete Synonyms. The process is complete only when the substitutions have become synonymous with the actor on stage, the object, the word, the event of the stage life and found a consequent character action. The past is used to make the present real.

6. Emotional and Sense Memory Anchor Performances

To experience for yourself what I am speaking about, tell a friend the story of an unhappy event in your life... One of these objects will suddenly release the pain anew and you will weep again.

Unlocking Emotion. Emotional memory involves recalling past experiences to trigger specific emotions needed for a performance. This technique requires careful selection of "trigger objects" – seemingly insignificant details that were present during the original emotional event.

Physiological Recall. Sense memory focuses on recreating physical sensations, such as heat, cold, pain, or fatigue. By localizing the sensation and finding a physical adjustment to alleviate it, actors can create a believable and visceral experience for themselves and the audience.

Avoiding Pitfalls. It's crucial to avoid delving into traumatic or unresolved experiences, as this can lead to hysteria or mental distress. The goal is to use emotional and sense memory to serve the play, not to engage in personal therapy.

7. Heightened Senses and Active Thinking Drive Action

The visual contact we make with another human being or with something in nature can act on us like a stroke of lightning if we really open ourselves up to it.

Sensory Awareness. Actors must cultivate heightened sensory awareness to fully engage with their surroundings and connect with their characters. This includes developing their ability to touch, taste, smell, see, and hear with intensity and precision.

Active Thinking. Real thinking is active and precedes, accompanies, and follows action. It involves a continuous process of weighing the course of action by contacting inner and outer objects.

Avoiding Distractions. By strengthening and enlarging the circle of inner objects belonging to the play, actors can conquer distractions and channel their attention into the private world of their characters. This allows them to create genuine and compelling performances that resonate with audiences.

8. Object Exercises Develop Essential Skills

The Object Exercises... are designed, among other things, to help you develop this self-awareness.

Practical Application. Object exercises provide a structured approach to developing essential acting skills, such as self-awareness, sensory recall, and the ability to create believable realities on stage. These exercises involve working with tangible objects to explore character, circumstances, and relationships.

Building Blocks. The object exercises progress in complexity, starting with basic tasks and gradually introducing new challenges. This allows actors to build a solid foundation of skills and techniques that they can apply to any role.

From Exercise to Performance. The ultimate goal of the object exercises is to translate the skills learned in the studio to the stage. By mastering these techniques, actors can create performances that are both authentic and compelling, drawing audiences into the world of the play.

9. Commitment to Reality Distinguishes Art from Imitation

Reality is incredible, reality is a whirlwind. What we call reality is a false god, the dull eye of custom.

Beyond Surface Level. True art goes beyond mere imitation of nature. It involves a deep understanding of human behavior and a commitment to revealing the extraordinary within the ordinary.

Stage vs. Life. Truth on stage is not the same as truth in life. Actors must select and distill elements of reality to create a heightened and meaningful experience for the audience.

Poetic Action. By embracing poetic action and rejecting clichés, actors can create performances that are both truthful and transformative, offering audiences a glimpse into the depths of the human soul.

10. The Playwright's Vision Guides the Actor's Journey

Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.

Serving the Play. The actor's primary responsibility is to serve the play and the playwright's vision. This requires a deep understanding of the play's themes, characters, and overall message.

Collaboration and Respect. The theater is a communal art form, and actors must work collaboratively with the director, fellow actors, and designers to bring the play to life. This requires mutual respect, courtesy, and a willingness to serve the greater good of the production.

Collective Responsibility. Actors share responsibility for the state of the theater. By upholding ethical standards and striving for artistic excellence, they can contribute to a more meaningful and respected theater culture.

11. Rehearsal: A Collaborative Exploration

I want to probe, to test, to try . . . to adventure!

Ethical Collaboration. Rehearsal is a collaborative process that demands respect, punctuality, and preparedness from all involved. Actors must avoid telling each other what to do, instead focusing on serving the play and their fellow performers.

Active Exploration. Rehearsal should be a time for active exploration and experimentation, not intellectualizing or socializing. Actors should engage in improvisations, physical exercises, and sensory explorations to deepen their understanding of the characters and the play's world.

Director as Guide. The director serves as a guide, helping actors navigate the play's complexities and shape their performances. Actors must be open to the director's vision and willing to adapt their interpretations to serve the overall production.

12. Practical Ethics Sustain a Thriving Theater

Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.

Communal Adventure. The theater is a communal adventure, requiring actors to support each other's strengths and work together to serve the play. An ego-maniacal "star" attitude is self-serving and ultimately hurts everyone, including the "star."

Moral and Ethical Character. Ethical behavior in the theater is built on mutual respect, courtesy, kindness, generosity, trust, attention to others, seriousness, and loyalty. These qualities are as essential as diligence and dedication.

Serving the Play. The actor's ultimate goal is to serve the play, not to serve themselves. This requires a commitment to the art form and a willingness to put the needs of the production above personal ambition.

Last updated: March 28, 2025