Reed Birney played Uncle Vanya at SoHo Rep in 2012 in a translation by Annie Baker, with a cast that also included Michael Shannon. He joined us in December 2021 to discuss the character in depth.

You’ll hear Reed and I talk about:

• his ideas going into Chekhov
• what he discovered and connected with about the role
• trusting the script
• challenges in the production
• and playing trapped characters

We also learn lots more about Reed in our lightning round with a couple special New York questions!

This episode marks our third installment in our Chekhov series as we focus on Reed playing the role of Uncle Vanya. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out two most recent episodes of our Vanya workshop and Libby Appel’s Q&A. I suspect you’ll have an even deeper appreciation of and curiosity for the works of Chekhov.

This episode also concludes Season 5, which began way back in March! We’ve released a dozen episodes this year, from interviews to workshops to text work and Q&A’s. Thank you to everyone listening and I hope you’ve enjoyed this season as much as I have. I’d love to hear below if you have a favorite episode, guest, or moment. I’m also excited to share that we just passed 40K downloads and the show regularly appears in the top 100 of arts podcasts around the world! 

Reed and I first spoke on the podcast back in Season 2 about his life and career. He has over 130 credits on stage and screen over the past 45 years. He is a Tony Winner for The Humans, a Tony nominee for Casa Valentina, and you can see him in the film Mass (now streaming on Hulu and elsewhere), HBO’s Succession, Apple’s Home Before Dark, and currently in theaters in The Menu with Ralph Fiennes. He also just closed a production of Chester Bailey with his son Ephraim at Irish Rep in New York. This guy just keeps working!

--

Get your copy of "Keys the Pro's Use to Unlock Any Script"

See additional content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

This is a wonderful follow up to our Chekhov workshop from last episode with an even deeper discussion with the director!

You’ll hear Libby and I talk about what she looks for in auditions, what she expects in rehearsals, her inspirations, what things went well, what scared her, and yes, we have another lighting round!

Libby Appel is the author and translator of Five Chekhov Plays, the former Artistic Director for Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Indiana Repertory Theatre, and former Dean of Cal Arts Theatre.

It was a great honor that she gave so much of her time to both the workshop and this Q&A. Gaining insight into “the other side of the table” is always valuable and few directors have accomplished as much as Libby, so I’m sure it’ll be a fun and very informative hour for you. 

Learn more about Libby @ theworkslibbyappel.com 

--

Get your FREE copy of the guide "Keys the Pro's Use to Unlock Any Script" - plus you'll receive 2 other bonus guides with lessons and wisdom from professional actors!

See additional content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We have our first workshop scene NOT from Shakespeare, and there’s a great reason! From October 2021, we present a deep dive into the first half of Act 2 from Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya with director Libby Appel - who wrote the translation along with our dramaturg!

Uncle Vanya - excerpt of Act 2

• DIRECTOR: Libby Appel (Q&A)
• DRAMATURG: Allison Horsley
• VOICE: Ursula Meyer
• PROFESSOR: Alberto Isaac (interview)
• SONYA: Deidrie Henry
• MARINA: Jully Lee
• VANYA: Howard Leder
• YELENA: Sara Mountjoy-Pepka
• ASTROV: Corey Hedy

One final thing I’ll leave you with before we get to it is that Sara mentions toward the end that Libby asks such great questions, which is really the basis of any deep work, creative or otherwise. What questions do you need to be asking yourself, and as an actor, how far are you willing to push yourself to find answers?

Fantastic work after only a few weeks of rehearsals; listen in to the cast and director continue to discuss the process. Part of The Rehearsal Room series. Prefer to watch the session? Find it here on YouTube!

Get your copy of "Keys the Pro's Use to Unlock Any Script"

See additional content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

---

The WAJ podcast is designed to show you HOW the work is done, WHAT the realities of the working actor life are like, and to share all the different ways actors have come to this career. There is no one path and no single answer. We want to learn from all of those further down the road, to shorten the learning curve and to discover what helps and what doesn’t when it comes to having a lifelong career as an actor.

Geoffrey has played Dogberry twice, at very different times in his life, and finds it's a fascinating character to dissect. He first performed it as a student at Amherst College and then again at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

You’ll hear Geoffrey and I talk about rehearsals, preconceived ideas, and discoveries. How to ground characters that seem eccentric, bizarre or over the top, and how to trust yourself and the script. He’ll talk about working on roles that people think are “funny” and dealing with any sense of obligation an actor might have to be comical.

And as some of these guests have been mentors to me and perhaps even to some of you (even by listening to these conversations), you’ll hear a defining conversation in Geoffrey’s life with a mentor about this very role. Plus, don’t miss the lighting round where you’ll learn even more about Geoffrey!

--

Get your copy of "Keys the Pro's Use to Unlock Any Script"

See additional content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

We have another “all pro” group—all the actors in the scene are professionals, so the work has been so fun and rich! Our dramaturg Philippa said that she found it so mind-blowingly good how fully the actors and director jumped into this scene, that it’s not something she usually experiences—and I don’t think I could have said it better myself.

In the scene today, Silvius tries in vain to get an answer from Phoebe regarding her love. Rosalind chides Phoebe about her treatment of Silvius and Phoebe ends up falling in love with “Ganymede” (which is, of course, Rosalind in disguise as a man). After Rosalind departs, Phoebe convinces Silvius to bring a letter to this Ganymede, and Silvius is delighted to do so.

As You Like It - Act 3, Scene 5: “Sweet Phoebe”

• DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Dennehy (listen to our interview)
• DRAMATURG: Philippa Kelly
• SILVIUS: James Newcomb (listen to our interview)
• PHOEBE: Erika Rolfsrud
• ROSALIND: Meaghan Boeing

Fantastic work in Shakespeare's As You Like It from May 2021. After only a few weeks of work, the cast and director continue to work on and discuss the process. Part of The Rehearsal Room series. Prefer to watch the session? Find it here on YouTube!

--

Get your copy of "Keys the Pro's Use to Unlock Any Script"

See additional content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Today’s guest grew up on a tiny island in the Caribbean, studied fashion and dance in New York, often felt like she never had the right background or training, and yet found success in several careers.

Veralyn Jones is an award-winning actress who has been working professionally for over 30 years across theatre, film and TV. She has worked at The Denver Center, South Coast Repertory, Mark Taper Forum, The Kirk Douglas Theatre, and internationally at LaScala Theatre in Stockholm, Sweden.

Click here for full show notes and links.

Become a Patron to get exclusive access and discounts.

Get your copy of "Keys the Pro's Use to Unlock Any Script"

---

The WAJ podcast is designed to show you HOW the work is done, WHAT the realities of the working actor life are like, and to share all the different ways actors have come to this career. There is no one path and no single answer. We want to learn from all of those further down the road, to shorten the learning curve and to discover what helps and what doesn’t when it comes to having a lifelong career as an actor.

Today’s guest grew up in the Philippines, fell in love with movies as a kid, found validation through acting, pursued his master’s degree, got fired from a big break, and still has been working for over five decades!

Alberto Isaac has been working for 50+ years across theatre, TV, and film. In addition to regional theatre gigs across the country, he has enjoyed a long association with East West Players, joining them shortly after that company started, and also found success as a director and playwright there.

Click here for full show notes and links.

Become a Patron to get exclusive access and discounts.

Get your copy of "Keys the Pro's Use to Unlock Any Script"

---

The WAJ podcast is designed to show you HOW the work is done, WHAT the realities of the working actor life are like, and to share all the different ways actors have come to this career. There is no one path and no single answer. We want to learn from all of those further down the road, to shorten the learning curve and to discover what helps and what doesn’t when it comes to having a lifelong career as an actor.

Today's guest started in the theatre at a very young age, felt adrift and wasn’t exactly sure what he’d do as a young man, and ended up working for years at some of the best theatres in the country.

Jamie Newcomb has performed in over 60 Shakespeare plays and 75 other productions. He worked for 14 seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, is a founding company member of Shakespeare & Company, and was an inaugural company member of The Denver Center Theatre, where he remained for 7 seasons.

Click here for full show notes and links.

Register for Acting the Role: The Macbeth's with Susan Angelo and Bo Foxworth

Get your copy of "Keys the Pro's Use to Unlock Any Script"

---

The WAJ podcast is designed to show you HOW the work is done, WHAT the realities of the working actor life are like, and to share all the different ways actors have come to this career. There is no one path and no single answer. We want to learn from all of those further down the road, to shorten the learning curve and to discover what helps and what doesn’t when it comes to having a lifelong career as an actor.

Marcelo shares how he approaches a voiceover audition for a video game. We look at what direction and description is initially provided and then how to use your instincts to create your own performance rather than going for an impersonation. You’ll hear the actual audition Marcelo sent in and we also get into dealing with rejection and booking jobs.

Click here for full show notes and links.

More...

Learn about Acting the Role: The Macbeth's with Susan Angelo and Bo Foxworth

Become a Patron - save 10% on workshops

Get your copy of "Keys the Pro's Use to Unlock Any Script"

Marcelo was born in Argentina, moved to LA at a young age, felt very lost with his career, almost quit after his first TV role, and eventually booked a job that changed his life. Plus, we get a quick look at Marcelo’s process with a voiceover audition for a video game, and you’ll hear what he sent in! It was fascinating to hear about the many ups and downs, and all the relationships, mentors, and teachers who helped him along the way. We covered a LOT of ground, so get ready for a very full ride. A lot of laughs too.

Click here for full show notes and links.

Get your copy of "Keys the Pro's Use to Unlock Any Script"

---

The WAJ podcast is designed to show you HOW the work is done, WHAT the realities of the working actor life are like, and to share all the different ways actors have come to this career. There is no one path and no single answer. We want to learn from all of those further down the road, to shorten the learning curve and to discover what helps and what doesn’t when it comes to having a lifelong career as an actor.