Art and Craft

June 22, 2006

Many of my friends know that I spent a good deal of time (through most of the last two decades) as an actor. Mainly stage, though I have had my occasional foray into film (never tried or wanted to try television.)

Many also know that I have been the artistic director for two experimental theatre companies, one of which lingers on in limbo as I write this.

I often feel like I have nothing to say and consider taking this blog and hurling it into the void of a deep 86. Occasionally however, I do get an inspiration. Thus is born – All the World’s a Stage. A new category for the site. In this I’m going to start putting down my thoughts on the art and craft of acting.

There are several reasons for this.

  1. I think I actually know a bit about this. Call it hubris or call it experience, it is what it is.
  2. I have had several of my friends (and colleagues) beg me to teach acting classes because they are convinced of my abilities in this matter (teaching acting not necessarily acting.)
  3. I actually love directing (secretly though, everyone else believes that it causes me a great deal of insanity induced rage attacks.)

I have never had a real desire to teach acting. As a director it drives me crazy having to teach the craft to an ‘actor’ when they should already know how to do it if they’re going to get up on the stage in the first place. That’s a bit harsh. I realize. I also realize that often times people who don’t like something can quite often be uncannily good at it.

This is my attempt to get that all down. What will happen it to it? I have no idea. It may go no further then the pages of this under-read blog.

However, given my new chosen field of study (exercise physiology) and my old chosen field of study (the craft of acting) thoughts have been germinating in my head over the summer as I’ve been able to process everything from the last year of grad school. And these thoughts are leading me down a path that from this far end of a dark tunnel (and it appears to be a very, very long dark tunnel) look to be quite intriguing.

So, have a read and stop by once every few weeks. I’m on vacation this next week and plan to write the first article. An introduction of sorts to the craft.

One word that it will center on, and one word that I feel ALL of my craft as an artist is dependent on is HONESTY. This will be the foundation of everything you read concerning the art and the craft of possibly the ‘second’ oldest profession in the world.