“I think I’m getting it.”
              Sir John Gielgud after his 3rd production playing King Lear

WHAT IS ACTOR DEVELOPMENT?”

When we began acting, many of us believed we could play and get cast in any role. We studied the great characters and in the process, stretched our talents to reach successes that seemed beyond our grasp.

When we made the transition from student to professional, we learned the “business” side, marketing ourselves and pursuing roles most suited for our perceived type.

However, in this process, the muscles we stretched in all directions begin to atrophy as we focus on the ones most demanded in our career. Like runners who work out their entire bodies even though their legs are taxed most, actors need to keep all their craft and talent exercised or their performances are unbalanced and narrowly interpreted.

Actor development is a process through which trained, working actors stay in shape, expand their skills, stimulate their talents, and rejuvenate the inspirational excitement that gets jaded by a career’s demands.

Student:    “Stella, I’m an actress!”
Stella Adler:    “Isn’t that interesting; I’m a student.“