Mark Evans Studio

 It Would Be Easier To NOT! Last week I led the first session of the new Mark Evans Studio - Acting Through Song group class which was incredibly inspiring and those in attendance had a great time.  There was an uplifting, supportive energy in the room because every student who was there described, at the top of class, how this was the first time they were going to sing in front of people after a break of a few months, up to a few years depending on the student.  One person said that it took courage to even sign up. Once she had, then in the few weeks leading up to class she was anxious about it and even on the morning of the first session she contemplated not coming. "I could just not go" she thought.  Isn't that so often the case? I have even felt that about auditions for jobs I really would like to book. The anticipation of the audition was so nerve wracking that I scrolled through excuses in my head not to go. Whenever we are faced with challenging, daunting, anx...

    Stop DOING stuff!  You’ve heard it many times, no doubt. “Less  doing , more  being ”. I want to say it again because it’s important to sometimes be reminded of the simple fundamental elements of acting.  I’m also seeing a lot of students recently whose default mode is to  fill  the scene with extra stuff which usually comes from a place of not trusting simplicity and truthfulness.  Let me be clear,  I do not ever tell students to ‘do less’. Just don’t do anything that isn’t honest. If  you’re behaving in an authentic, truthful way, ALL behavior is appropriate and can serve the scene.  What I’m focusing on here, specifically, are the habits that creep in when actors or singers feel the need to DO  something because the vulnerability of stillness is too uncomfortable. Film yourself, whether it’s for a self tape audition or just out of curiosity and you’ll notice what things you’re doing because you feel you  should...