American stage actors

acting has shaped the way actors perform and has improved the acting experience. In June 1897 in Russia, Stanislavski and Nemirovich Danchenko formed the Moscow Art Theatre, known as MAT. They set out to form a better theatre experience. In 1898, they produced Seagull, which initiated reforms in actor…

The thundering sounds of applause by the audience pulled me back into reality. Closing my eyes, all the characters and scenes of the magic flute flashed back into my mind. The courageous Tamino, the beautiful yet flexuous Pamina, the hilarious Papageno, the righteous Sarastro, and the selfish queen of the night, all of their songs, their emotions, and their performances carved deeply in my mind. Composed by one of the greatest musical genius – Mozart, the magic flute stands to be one of the most…

In 2008, Twentieth Century Fox released the blockbuster film, Taken, an action-packed thriller that starred Irish actor, Liam Neeson. He played the character, Brian Mills, a former CIA government official. In the movie, he learns about his daughter’s abduction, while she and her girlfriend are visiting Paris, France. The viewer learns that his daughter had been abducted by an Albanian sex-trafficking gang, with the sole intent of selling Mills’ daughter as a prostitute in Europe. This movie…

Rivas deeply moved me while I was reading it. I found the dialogue to be emotionally powerful and the stage directions intriguing. The script affected me so much that I was almost afraid to see it on the stage. Unfortunately, however, I was very underwhelmed by KU’s production of Johanna: Facing Forward. Many of the scenes that moved me in the script fell flat on the stage, due largely to the actors’ lack consistent connection to their character and lack of energy. I saw the production on…

struggle to keep her identity as a fighter pilot while still being a loving mother and wife. The show was held in the basement of the Longstreet Theatre in a small, dark room. There was one actress on stage, but it was obvious that the production involved several other people to pull it all together back stage. The show was designed so that the audience could see the actress playing the Pilot, a single chair, and a variety of projections on the draped ceiling. The elements of the set, although…

just an act put on in a room for an audience. As I began this class, theatre became much more. I was able to understand that theatre is not just an act put on in a room for an audience, yet it is a well thought out production between directors and actors to ensure the audience is getting the best show possible from any angle in the theatre. Theatre also is a form of art and tells a story through acting, singing, and dancing in the background of ethics, culture, and/or morals. Throughout this…

On December 7th, at 7:30pm, I attended It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play. Illinois State University’s adaptation of this classic film took place in the Center for the Performing Arts. The actors took the stage as members of a 1940s radio show, playing a multitude of characters depicted in the original film. Although vastly different from the cinema version, this adaptation was very successful due to the congruous 1940s costumes, the use of varied voices to portray numerous characters, and…

Mockingbirds are beautiful, singing many songs. Showing up in many ways. They do nothing other than amuse and sing for listeners enjoyment, but why hurt them? Jeremy Finch, son of Atticus Finch, brother of Scout and a citizen of Maycomb. In the beginning Jem is 10 years old and through the book ages 3 years and becomes 13. After growing up, Jem becomes courageous, protective, loving and caring. He is like a mockingbird once he grows up a bit he becomes really nice but he still gets insulted and…

Tokyo Ghoul: Unravel My Soul Chapter One: In Every Nothing Lights from the stage flashed throughout the bar, blinding the crowd as they screamed and danced. Lights in purple, blue, red and yellow circled around them and upon the walls of the massive dance floor. There was a bar to the left, lit by black lights. On the right stood a metal clad staircase that led to an area where people could sit and enjoy their drinks. The singer was a young girl, with a short build. Her voice was rough, and…

The echo bounced from wall to wall waking everything in its presence. Bright lights shining upon me, bringing everything to life. Ever since I was a little girl, acting has always been a passion of mine. My life consisted of being on and off the stage. At the age of eight, I performed in my first show. The show was portrayed around bullying and I played the bullied. It taught me what is deemed acceptable aside from what is considered demeaning. That day, I fell head over heels with acting.…