This fun and informative workshop is designed to give an overview of the acting and singing requirements for professional auditions, as well as a chance to perform in a professional NYC Cabaret.
Cabaret Class
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Musical Audition Workshop
Bring sheet music to a song you’re comfortable singing and get professional audition advice. Piano and accompanist provided. Acting material provided. Monologue is optional if you have one. Have fun learning and practicing throughout the day then put what you’ve learned to use in an informal. audition with Casting Director Cesar Rocha.
Summer Bootcamp for Young Actors
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Get back to basics with improvisation, learn how to master commercial and voice over copy, tackle a new monologue and work on film and television technique. Week ends with a taping and popcorn party.
Young Actors: Time for Serious Summer Fun!
Original article reprinted here with permission from backstage.com.
How To Help Your Child Actor Have a Fun and Productive Summer
I like to think of time in four ways – my time, your time, together time, and down time. My child needs empowering, fun, and enriching activities to help her grow and learn independence. I need “me” time whether I am working or relaxing. Together time as a family, including vacations and activities at home, is equally important – especially since our kids are grown and out of the house before we know it. We all lead busy lives so building in downtime is crucial to prevent burn out.
Most school-aged children have eight to ten weeks of summer break. This can either be a blessing or a curse depending on your child’s individual needs and personality. I know my own children benefit from structure. However, as much as I would like them to keep busy, they remind me they need downtime too. For example, seven weeks of sleep-away camp is too much time away from home for my teenage daughter, so we found a program where she goes for four weeks and gets to come home on the weekends. This arrangement works beautifully for our family. I had never heard of this kind of camp schedule before, but I am grateful I found it. The point is that there are lots of options, so you should be able to find something that is just right for your family.
Does Your Child Dream of Acting? Don’t Just Say “No.”
Original article reprinted here with permission from backstage.com.
3 Reasons to Support Your Child’s Acting Dreams
“Help, my son wants to be an actor! Can’t I talk him out of it?” No, and why would you want to? You are so lucky your child has a passion that gets him out of bed each day. So many kids flounder because they haven’t found that “something special” that motivates them. Statistics show that most child actors won’t end up pursuing acting as adults, but there are still countless benefits they can gain as they make the journey.
A parent who recently brought her daughter to me for a consultation was concerned about all the negative effects the business has on a child, with the prospect of having to face rejection at the forefront. Continue reading
Got a Rep? Keep Him on Your Side
Original article reprinted here with permission from backstage.com.
3 Essential Steps To Keeping Your Representation
fortunate enough to sign with an agent or manager. Fostering a healthy, long-lasting relationship with them takes work just like any other partnership. Here are some helpful tips to follow if you are serious about keeping your rep on your side and working hard on your behalf.
- Be honest. Establish a habit of honest communication from the beginning of your relationship. If you feel like you are not getting what you need, speak up. I had a client who was upset that she wasn’t getting feedback on her auditions. Instead of letting her manager know this was important for her, she became angry and resentful. Another client came to me asking if my other students had been auditioning for roles she was not getting appointments for. When I asked her to confront her agent, she said she was afraid to for fear of sounding like a nudge. Continue reading
Open Call: A Christmas Story 2013
I just got the news that Klapper Casting is currently casting for the 2013 production of “A Christmas Story, The Musical.” You may have seen this successful musical on Broadway this past holiday season.
They are looking for extremely talented kids, ages 8-13 who can sing, act, and dance. There will be an open call in NYC on Sunday, May 5th, but if you are not able to make it to the open call, they will also be accepting video-taped submissions here.
I’d love to see some of my students audition for this. Let me know if you need any help.
Choose the Right Summer Camp for your Young Actor
Original article reprinted here with permission from backstage.com.
4 Steps To Choosing an Arts Camp for Your Child
As a former child actor, all I wanted to do was eat, breathe, and live theater. For me, that meant spending my summer doing show after show after show. I wanted to be with kids who “got” me. I didn’t hang around with the popular crowd or the intellectuals. Socially, my comfort zone was with the theater geeks. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend eight weeks of my summer than fitting in and doing what I loved. As an adult, I also spent my summers at theater camps directing and teaching so I have some experience with these programs that might be of interest to you. Continue reading
Gaining Industry Attention for Your Child
Original article reprinted here with permission from backstage.com.
Parents write to me all the time asking advice on how their child can get noticed in the business. One mom writes, “I have sent my child’s photos around and have gotten no response.” Another asks, “How do I get an audition for my child if he has no representation?” Much has been written on this subject, and after many years in the business working with child performers and their families, I am happy to weigh in with my six tips on increasing your child’s chances of getting representation and auditions.
- A great headshot. This is an actor’s calling card and may be the single most important tool in your young performer’s kit. Unless you or grandma can take a really great snapshot, spend a little money on a professional headshot. Even if a rep has a lot of clients, a great headshot will win attention. Be sure to read my article on how to choose a photographer for some additional tips.
Finding the Love in Your Scene
Original article reprinted here with permission from backstage.com.
Find the Love in Your scene
When I ask my younger students how many of them hate their siblings, most of their hands go up. I then ask how they would feel if something bad happened to their sister or brother. The general consensus is they would feel sad. “So you really love your sibling even though you say you hate him?” Both can be true. We can hate and love at the same time.
One of the biggest criticisms I have, especially with teenage actors, is that they are missing the love in their scene. It is easy to be nasty and bitchy, but if they can’t find even an ounce of love, they are unlikeable. Many teenage female characters written for television are sarcastic and acerbic. The challenge is to find the character’s likable qualities as well, avoiding obvious, trite, and stereotypical choices. If you think the character has no redeeming qualities, that is a choice you are making and it is not a very interesting one.