Matthew Arkin Studio Newsletter

My acting class and audition coaching business is rebranding as Matthew Arkin Studio, with a fresh redesigned website. Take a look if you have a chance, and also please "like" the new Facebook page for the studio.

As to the new body, no, I have not gone all P90X. Paul Ryan's photo shoot should be enough to dissuade anyone from that. Rather, I'm having a very exciting adventure with prosthetics in preparation to play 600 pound Charlie in the West Coast premiere of Samuel D. Hunter's The Whale, at South Coast Rep. I'll be sharing photos of that as we progress through the process.

For now, this latest article describes my work with my friend Ramsey Moore, who has been gracious enough to share with me his own incredible and courageous struggle with obesity. Check it out, and the play, if you get a chance. It will run from March 10th through March 31st, and ticket information is available here.

Private audition coaching is also keeping me very busy. If have an audition coming up, schedule a session to put yourself in top form.

My acting class continues, and newcomers are welcome to join at any time. Please come by and check out what we're doing any Monday night. We'd love to have you. And feel free to to your friends and tell them to get in touch.

Peace.

Matthew Arkin
Matthew Arkin's Technique and Scene Study Class

NAVIGATING THE WHALE, PART IV

Being a record of my journey as I undertake a new role that, unlike many others I have played, fills me with a sense of immense challenge and a promise of growth, both as an actor and a seeker.

My friend Ramsey Moore sits across the table from me with tears streaming down his face. I have just given him a detailed plot summary of The Whale, and clearly it has hit home.

"That's the trajectory," he says. "That's how it happens." He's talking about the long-term, self-induced, life-threatening weight gain of my character, the 600 pound Charlie, and he is speaking from experience. When I met Ramsey 7 months ago, he was tipping the the scale at 475 pounds, down from 575. Now at 390, he is well on his way to a more complete recovery from the obesity that threatened his life.

As soon as I took on the role of Charlie, I wanted to contact Ramsey . . . read more . . .