The cast of Emma made the show work. From what I got off other patrons, the cast was the main reason they liked the show. Several people mentioned that the music was so-so but that the cast was basically adorable. …

Jane Austen’s Emma - A Musical Romantic Comedy is playing at the Old Globe Theatre through March 6th. The creation of composer/writer Paul Gordon, Emma premiered in September 2007 at Palo Alto’s TheaterWorks. The show has had some success in …

The cast of Death of a Salesman at The Globe was, in a word, extraordinary. There were a few rough patches, particularly the initial scene between the brothers Happy (Tyler Pierce) and Biff (Lucas Caleb Rooney). The scene is basically …

“So attention must be paid. He's not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person. You called him crazy... no, a lot of people think he's …

The All City Auditions are on the way. Every year, The Actor’s Alliance coordinates The All City Auditions. This is a chance for Actor’s Alliance members, at least those who qualify, to audition for just about every theater company in …

Is there a difference between acting and impersonating? Yes, I think so but the lines are starting to blur. When Jim Carrey portrayed Andy Kaufman in the movie “Man in the Moon”, he wasn’t nominated for best actor even though …

And the shark, it has teeth, And it wears them in its face. And Macheath, he has a knife, But the knife one doesn't see. These are the original lyrics to the well know song, “Mac the Knife” from The …

I just overheard a patron say, "Now what is down stage again?" With that in mind, here are some common theater terms. Down Stage: Closer to the audience or foot of the stage. Stage Right: While facing the audience this …

I was watching a rehearsal of Turnadot at San Diego Opera earlier this week. Opera theater is incredible but full of anachronisms. The acting, if it can be called that, tends to be stuck in the 18th Century. The style …

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is opening at the Old Globe on January 27th with previews starting on the 22nd. I can’t wait to see it. It is a story of ignorance, pride, and inadequacy with a dash of …

There is a considerable difference between good acting and great acting. We’ve already talked about some aspects of bad or immature acting. The next step is good acting. After seeing a good actor the audience will say something like, “Wow, …

What is good acting? It’s hard to say. It’s easier to recognize bad acting. Perhaps we can start there. Bad acting is obvious at any level of theater. How is it obvious? As an audience member you have a sinking …

I was chatting with a long time friend, I try not to call actors “old” friends, about different types of theaters. She wanted to make a distinction between commercial theater and nonprofit theater. I think it is a very good …

Andy and Molly are currently building the set for a new play called Tragedy of the Commons. When it’s time to build a set, Andy gets some basic blue prints and maybe a model of the set. He then has …

“When Andy starts talking technical, that’s when Molly falls asleep.” I went over to Old Town and hung out with Andy Scrimger and Molly Whitaker of Cygnet Theater. Andy is the technical director and Molly is the lead carpenter. In …

A dresser can bring an entire show to a screeching halt. One of the vital elements of the theater which usually goes unappreciated by the audience is the dresser. The performers appreciate a good dresser and in some bigger productions …

In San Diego, the biggest difference between a professional, semi-professional, and a community theater show is the production level. Performance wise, San Diego is a city full of amazing performers who figure out a way to make ends meet. The …