Starting Off

The idea for this blog came from my friend, Casey Jones, an actor I worked with years ago in DC.  Casey moved to NYC to pursue his dreams as an actor and playwrite.  I told Casey about the Theatre Lab's Honors Program and he said that I should write about it.  Doing this would serve 3 purposes:  To keep fresh what I have learned, to produce a "journal" of the journey over the year in the program, and to provide a day to day "in the life of" for others who are interested in acting programs and what goes on in them.  I thought it was a great idea.

The Theatre Lab is an actor's training school in Washington, DC.
          "The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts is the Washington area's most comprehensive theatre training center, providing theatre education to more than 1,000 adults, teens and children in the DC area each year. Courses and programs, all taught by professional theatre artists, include year-round classes for adults in acting, playwriting, directing, musical theatre, and drama criticism, as well as summer acting and musical theatre camps for youth. We also offer the Honors Conservatory—an intensive year-long training program for those preparing for a career in the theatre."


Acting programs are all unique in their own way.  As opposed to some programs that break you down and build you back up, weed out those who can't handle the buisness and employ a survival of the fittest mentality, the Theatre Lab has a reputation for excellent, challenging actor's training in a supportive, creative environment.  One where an actor feels free to try different things and take risks without being broken down and humiliated.  


Five years ago I heard about the Honors Conservatory.  A one year intensive study program where  10 actors are chosen to work together and learn the craft of acting from scene study, to voice and movement, Shakespeare, dialects, and other aspects of the business all while having professional performance opportunities during the year.  Working with DC directors and casting directors, professional actors, and other creative types in a collaborative environment.  I knew this was something I wanted to do.