Dog days of Summer. The phrase comes from the Greek, “Days of the dog Star” or the hottest days of the year which later became, The Dog Days of Summer”. When we are experiencing the heat, humidity, and sense of nothing else happening, we can become dog tired and frustrated. It’s ruff. Let’s take a moment, take a swim, take a breath and find our way…

The title, “Building Your Character” may sound like the start of an acting class subject. Or, it may feel like a self-help ethics lecture. Actually, It is neither. What I would like to talk about today is making the right choices for growing your career by building your resume the right way. Making the best decisions for taking on roles that look g…

It comes as no surprise that actors debate their options about how to launch and succeed actor professionally. Should you go to college or set up shop in a market or city that has work available now? What’s at stake when you decide to get that MFA degree over seeking acting work so you can use your talent to act? On this episode, we will do our bes…

In the world of acting, versatility and the ability to embody different characters are paramount. An actor's appearance, including their hairstyle, wardrobe, and overall look, plays a crucial role in defining a character and making a memorable impression. This chapter explores the reasons why an actor might change their appearance and provides prac…

Unlock Your Path to Acting Success On today's incredibly special episode of Casting Actors Cast, I am going to share with you the coolest, newest thing that's happened to me. And I hope that you will forgive me for making this episode one of personal privilege. I think this could be something you will definitely find valuable for your journey as an…

The allure of fame, with its promise of adoration and wealth, often captivates aspiring actors. Yet, the reality of celebrity status is a double-edged sword. While the recognition and rewards can be substantial, the pressures and intrusions into personal life are significant. This section explores how actors navigate the complexities of fame, highl…

Choosing where to live is a significant decision for any actor. The right location can greatly impact an actor’s career opportunities, lifestyle, and overall well-being. This chapter explores the factors actors should consider when deciding where to call home, the benefits and challenges of various cities, and practical tips for making the best cho…

Interpreting a script is at the heart of an actor’s craft. It is through this process that words on a page are transformed into compelling performances that resonate with audiences. This chapter explores the journey an actor takes from first reading a script to bringing a character to life on stage or screen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

The glitz and glamour of Hollywood often come with the pressure of maintaining a persona that resonates with audiences worldwide. For many actors, their name becomes an integral part of their brand, a key component in their rise to fame. However, deciding whether to change one's name is a complex and deeply personal decision. This episode delves in…

There may be times when you are asked to provide a bio or a biography of your accomplishments. It might be for a Playbill for a show you are in or it could be for your website. Now, I've seen a lot of bad BIOS. So let's take a look at how you can promote yourself the right way. On this episode of Casting Actors Cast. Learn more about your ad choice…

Part-time jobs for actors need to be flexible enough to accommodate their irregular schedules and offer opportunities for skill development or networking within the entertainment industry. Here are some options. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jeffrey Dreisbach & Broadway Podcast Network

Episode # 311 Air Date: 4/25/24 FEAR KNOT Actors, like any artists or professionals, often grapple with various fears as they pursue their craft. Let’s reveal some common fears actors may face on this episode of Casting Actors Cast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jeffrey Dreisbach & Broadway Podcast Network

Welcome back to Casting Actors Cast your go-to destination for all things theatre and acting. I'm your host, casting Partner with McCorkle Casting, Jeffrey Dreisbach, and today, we're delving deep into the world of summer theatre acting opportunities. Summer theatre isn't just about sunshine and warm nights; it's a vibrant playground for actors to …

Staying authentic in performances is a constant pursuit for actors. Here are several ways they work to maintain authenticity! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jeffrey Dreisbach & Broadway Podcast Network

Episode # 305 Secrets to Acting Success Air Date: April 5, 2024 Let's chat about the secret sauce that successful actors sprinkle on their careers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jeffrey Dreisbach & Broadway Podcast Network

Let's chat like we're grabbing coffee and talking about breaking into the acting scene. So, you're all pumped to get representation, right? Awesome. Here's the lowdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jeffrey Dreisbach & Broadway Podcast Network

Turning setbacks into comebacks is practically an art form in the acting world. Here are some savvy moves that actors often pull to rise from the ashes of disappointment: Learn and Adapt: Take setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. Maybe you didn't snag that role, but each audition is a chance to fine-tune your skills. Adaptability is key in …

I am often asked the following question. “How do I know if I'm making the right choice?” Actors would like to know how to play the character so that when they are acting, they have good ideas about how to play the character. The insecurity comes from not trusting your instincts. Sound confusing? Let's make it right. The choice is yours. On this epi…

Equity Principal Auditions (EPAs) are auditions organized by the Actors' Equity Association (AEA), the labor union representing actors and stage managers in the United States. These auditions are specifically for actors seeking principal roles in Equity productions, which are professional theater productions that adhere to certain labor standards a…

New actors often have several concerns as they enter the world of acting. It can seem quite daunting and stressful. Many of these concerns can be solved, however, if we look at each one and say, “What, me worry?” We’ll tackle some of the common concerns right now on Casting Actors Cast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

How to get back to work after the strike STRIKE BACK! Air Date: February 22, 2024 So, every task we take on has its own set of challenges. We know this. Everything worth doing contains the “what if’s”. “What if It doesn’t happen? (the role you’ve auditioned for)”, “What if I can’t find the time? (start auditions again)”, What if it doesn’t work out…

Becoming an actor in NYC Air Date: February 15, 2024 Becoming an actor in New York City involves a combination of education, training, networking, and perseverance. Of course, there is risk involved. Anything worth doing has risks. You can, however, increase your chances for success if you approach your planning in a straightforward way. I will ass…

Air Date 2/8/2024 You got a call back? Now What! I find it quite humorous when I call an actor to offer a callback after their audition. Sometimes the actor seems genuinely surprised. As if they are caught off-guard with unexpected news. I know that auditions come with their own set of doubts, nerves and issues but the callback should be a happy ev…

Air Date: February 2, 2024 Episode #296 Which Acting Method? There are various acting techniques that actors use to approach their craft. Different techniques appeal to different actors, and often, actors may use a combination of methods. Here are some specific types of acting techniques on this episode of Casting Actors Cast! Learn more about your…

Air Date: January 25, 2024 #295 Rejection Direction Handling rejection is an essential aspect of an actor's journey, and it's something that every actor faces at some point. Moving forward in the right direction will make the difference when experiencing rejection. Here are eight strategies that actors use to cope with rejection, happening right no…

Air Date: 1/18/2024 #294 College Showcase Breakdown I’ve had a bunch of interactions with many actors in training from colleges, universities and professional training programs of late. It’s typical this time of year, for many of these schools to “showcase” their graduating talent. Often, the schools rent space in New York, or LA, Chicago or elsewh…

Air Date: 1/11/2024 #293 Self-Tape Tweaks We’ve seen a ton of self-tapes come in for our film and theatre projects of late. I have to say, the submissions are getting so much better than during COVID. There are still some actors that should review the way they are submitting themselves. I think it’s time to let you in on some power tips that can up…

Air Date: 1/4/2024 #292 Oh No! Another New Year? I think every time we bring in a new year, we have the best of intensions to make the upcoming year even better than the year before. We “resolve” to do things better or make commitments to our self-improvement. The beginning of a new year brings the hope and optimism of what might be waiting for us …

Air Date: 12/28/2023 #291 Being Punctual In case you haven’t noticed, many episodes of this podcast have been about acting choices we can use to create our characters. We’ve shared the value of vocal pitch, the beauty of pace and making moments with beats. The last of these tools in our tool kit is often overlooked and underappreciated. I’m talking…

Air Date: 12/21/2023 #290 Perfect Pitch Of all the tools actors can draw upon when working on playing a role, the voice is possibly the least thought of yet most valuable. Sure, we all remember our vocal training and maybe even our singing lessons as being a core component of our education. But many times this is thought of as foundational and not …

Air Date: 12/14/2023 #289 Change of Pace Here’s a question for you; Have you ever had a director or teacher tell you to slow down? Maybe it’s something like, “Watch your pacing” or “don’t rush it”. If you have, you’ve probably been annoyed or frustrated at the note because to you, it was fine. It didn’t need adjustment. Or better still, exactly HOW…

Air Date: 12/7/2023 #288 Right Place, Right Time “Some people have all the luck”. Is that something you’ve said? I know I have. Even in my young acting career, I was always made aware of how hard it was to, “Make it”. Having the talent is one thing but being in the right place at the right time still seems to be the explanation for having a success…

Air Date: 11/30/2023 #287 Get More Auditions We’ve talked a ton on this podcast about the many layers of being a successful actor. Sometimes it’s tips about acting, other times it is about the business of show. We’ve even covered opportunities that are available for actors that don’t include acting! Today, it’s time we took a realistic approach for…

Air Date: 11/23/2023 #286 Turkey Day I am not a huge fan of turkey-the bird I mean. I have it at Thanksgiving because it is there. But usually, the rest of the year, I skip having the foul. For actors, the word turkey can be synonymous with an inferior show or failure and started in 1927 as show business slang, probably from the bird's reputation f…

Air Date: 11/16/2023 #285 The Agent Interview You’ve done it. After months of emails, invitations, and research, you’ve just received a call that the agent you’ve been wanting to work with now wants to meet with you! Congratulations! Oh wait. What exactly does a meeting mean? What do they want to know? What if you say the wrong thing? OMG what shou…

Air Date: 11/9/2023 #284 Finding the Flaws I think we can all agree with the following statement, “nobody’s perfect”. As much as we like to think of ourselves in a positive light, there is no denying that we possess qualities that need improvement. Be it anger, jealousy, greed or lust, there is always something we think of as a flaw. Some part of u…

Air Date: 11/2/2023 #283 Actor’s Survival Gear There’s a lot of stress going on right now. It feels like more than the usual, “Day to Day” issues we are familiar with. What’s going on? Well, there’s much we have no control over; conflicts, social unrest, strikes, you name it. We are in a really bizarre space, I think. One of the few choices I have,…

Air Date: 10/26/2023 #282 Improvise and Realize I was asked to workshop a scripted reality show pilot last week. A sort of send-up on actors in an acting conservatory setting. My job was to help the actors connect and relate to their characters and the other cast members in the project. At first, I wasn’t completely sure how to take on such a task.…

Air Date: 10/21/2023 #281 Scents of Humor How much importance do we really place on using our five senses? Most of us know the value of smell, taste, sight, sound but how much do we rely on those senses with our acting? Better yet, can we use our five senses with our emotions? Take, for example, humor. Exactly how does funny smell? Sound’s crazy ri…

Air Date: 10/12/2023 #280 Acting on Purpose For some reason, I happen to like double meanings for the same phrase. It can be in the form of a pun or a double entendre. For example, today’s episode is called Acting on Purpose. Well, it can mean acting for a reason or it can also mean having a purpose to act on! Either way, we’ll look into both meani…

Air Date: 10/5/2023 #279 Defining your character Part 2 of 2 On our last episode, we talked about the external choices you can make when defining a character. Today, let's dive into what defines you as an actor. Your personal character, your way of thinking, what defines you. on this episode of Casting Actors Cast. Having insight into what makes yo…

Air Date: 9/18/2023 Defining your character Part 1 of 2 When we are blessed with playing a part in a film, tv, or stage production, you have probably done most of the work when it comes to how you are going to play the part. After all, if you auditioned, you worked on a lot of the qualities needed for the role. Maybe you were hired without an audit…

When putting a demo of your acting together, do you know how to decide what should be on it? Demo reels are often asked for by talent reps and casting directors, but sometimes talent doesn't really know what to include. This is the podcast that takes on the question and gives you a memo for demo's. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.…

Television and Film credit rolls at the end of a project can sometimes lack real understanding of the actual job. Here are the most important "players" on the set and a job description to help you feel more confident and comfortable. A glossary of personal we use when Coming to Terms! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

#275 Air Date: 9/7/2023 “Beats Me” It’s kind of a slang phrase that I don’t really hear anymore. “It beats me” is usually a response to a question when you don’t have the answer. Like, “how did that candy bar I was saving suddenly disappear?”. “Beats Me”. For actors, this is not a great response when working on a script or audition. There is an exp…

#274 How to Remain Teachable Air Date: 8/31/2023 I can't believe I'm saying this, but. Here it goes. It's that time of year again. It's almost Fall. And that means going back to school. Back to auditioning. Back to the reality of what it is to be an actor. Part of your getting back, is to evaluate where you are and remain open to others that can ke…

#273 Working With a Partner Air Date: 8/24/2023 Whether it’s a class, a chemistry read or on the set, working with a partner can sometimes be fraught with challenges (fraught! Who talks like that?). Being a team player and good sport may not always be the most useful approach for you or your partner, for that matter. I don’t mean to imply that you …

#272 Making the Best Choice Air Date: 8/17/2023 In a recent class I was teaching, an actor timidly raised their hand and asked, “How do I now if I am making the right acting choice in an audition for film or TV?” My response was probably a typical one, “Well, decide what is best for you”. I was completely dissatisfied with my answer. First, I was r…

#271 You Need New Pictures! Air Date: 8/10/2023 I really love working with actors. It is a rare opportunity for me to share my professional feedback and advice to actors who are willing to listen. I ultimately think this interaction supplies information that improves the industry for everybody. One area that still remains a sticking point for me ar…

#270 Back Into It Air Date: 8/3/2023 So, everything we undertake has its own set of challenges. We know this. Everything worth doing contains the “what if’s”. “What if It doesn’t happen?”, “What if I can’t find the time?”, What if it doesn’t work out?”. Actors are well versed in taking on alternative points of view when it comes to their acting or …