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Rhonda Musak
Acting Coach
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Quick Links
Have you studied with me? If so, if you would be willing to write a review of your experience of working with me on Actor Rated it would be greatly appreciated!
Follow Book Club for Actors' on Twitter at #asabc
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It's November and the fall season is in full swing!
A quick shout out to the fall play casts of both LTHS & MCHS where I have taught my Summer Acting Intensive for Teens for the past few years - break a leg! So wish I could be there to cheer you on.
And very special shout outs to LTHS director Ms. Gilbert and MCHS director Ms. King. I'm truly inspired by your devotion and dedication to your students, your respective theatre programs, and to the art of acting. Every high school student should be lucky enough to have teachers like you...truly.
Much going on this month at Art & Soul Acting, too.
In solo show news, I'm thrilled to say that rewrites have finally begun on my now nearly-completed script and - drumroll please - I have a director: Mr. Gareth Hendee! Gareth is a wonderful director and friend whom I have known for nearly half my life. I couldn't imagine my solo show in better hands. We look to begin rehearsals in the New Year.
If you have always wished for the time and space to take stock as the New Year approaches, then this workshop is for you. And it's not limited to actors - feel free to invite non-actor friends! Space is limited, so sign up now.
In great gratitude & thanksgiving,
Rhonda
PS Photo at left from WNYC's #voterselfie Twitter project.
Rhonda S. Musak
Acting Coach
Art & Soul Acting
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Free Subscriber Gift
 A special audio gift for Art & Soul Acting mailing list subscribers.
Rock your auditions with my special subscriber gift:
How to NAIL Your Next Audition -
Secrets for Prepping in the Waiting Room
...a 19-minute audio that preps you to walk into that audition room and do your very best acting work.
Subscribers received the link to this audio program on August 8th. If you still need to download it and do not find it in your e-mail, please e-mail me here and I will get you the link asap.
If you're not yet a subscriber, sign up at left and you will receive the audio automatically.
Enjoy!
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What's Going on with Acting Class?
 For an actor, acting class is the #1 laboratory for growth and exploration. It is the place to take risks...a safe harbor where it's okay to let go of perfection in lieu of stretching and expanding beyond limitations.
Classes are currently in session. The next session of classes will begin in January or February 2014.
Core Acting Technique
Core Acting Technique is a dynamic, structured 10-week class designed to fortify and deepen the skills that go into brilliant acting while stretching students as artists and as human beings.
Acting exercises, take home assignments for in-class work and scene study make up the bulk of each class. This powerful classroom work allows students to grow at a rapid pace while creating an acting foundation that will serve for a lifetime.
This class is perfect for those who are beginners, for those who are looking for a slower paced class, or for those with prior acting experience who need a technique brush-up.
This is not a sit in your seat lecture! Students are up on their feet working in every class in a supportive environment that allows them to really take risks and fly.
Class size is kept small so that participants have time to be up on their feet working, making mistakes, learning from their mistakes and growing into ever more powerful actors.
DAY: Mondays
TIME: 6-10 PM
DATES: September 9-November 11 (a total of 10 classes)
LOCATION: NYC Studio TBA
FEE: $495, payable in 2 installments
Scene Study & Cold Reading Technique
Scene Study & Cold Reading Technique is 10-week class created specifically for the actor who wants to deeply invigorate and rev up their scene work capacity with an eye toward booking more acting work.
By pairing scene study along with cold readings, students will have the opportunity to both ground their scene work skills and then take them even further by tying them to the quick work that's often required at an audition.
This is a real acting workout. Each week, actors will be up on their feet further developing their craft and adding new skills to their acting tool bag -- this is not a sit-in-your seat lecture.
Throughout the 10-week course, actors will take their scene work skills and apply them to cold reading in the quick manner of the audition process.
The class atmosphere is supportive and is the perfect environment to take risks in order to grow beyond limitations.
Throughout the 10-week course, actors will take their scene work skills and apply them to cold reading in the quick manner of the audition process.
Students will learn:
- 4 Key Shortcuts to a Great Cold Reading
- How to Take Control of the Audition Room
- The Most Important Cold Reading Preparation Strategies
This class is designed for students with prior acting experience. It would not be appropriate for actors at a beginning level or those who have no prior acting experience.
DAY: Thursdays
TIME: 6-10 PM
DATES: September 12-November 14 (a total of 10 classes)
LOCATION: NYC Studio TBA
FEE: $495, payable in 2 installments
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What's Up with the Book Club for Actors?
Remaining reading time - 2 weeks.
On Tuesday, November 19 & Saturday, November 23 we will be discussing the plays of
Martin McDonagh.
The Book Club for Actors is offered twice; please choose either meeting:
WHEN: Tuesday, November 19, 7-9:00 - East Village
(this was changed from Monday, November 18) OR
Saturday, November 23, 3-5:00 - East Village
WHERE: Location will be e-mailed with RSVP confirmation
Please begin by reading The Beauty Queen of Leenane. After that, feel free to read any play from the Martin McDonagh Reading List found on the Art & Soul Acting website. To ensure a robust conversation, participants are asked to read at least 3-4 plays.
Be ready to share what you have discovered about this amazing playwright so we can all learn and grow together.
Looking forward to it!
Click here for complete details & to RSVP.
In The Press
Curious to know more about the Book Club for Actors? Please check out following articles:
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Summer Acting Intensive for Teens
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 Art & Soul Acting travels! The Summer Acting Intensive for Teens is a one-of-a-kind traveling professional acting workshop. Teens spend a week training like the pros! Created in 2011-but dreamed about for a long time-the aim of this workshop is to bring acting training to teens who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study professionally.
The group activities made me feel as one with my fellow actors in the workshop, and I believe the trusting bond was carried on from the stage to everyday life. I made friends, improvements, and most importantly memories to last a lifetime.
~ Brandon Vlach ~
Summer 2014 will feature both Level I & Level II:
Level I - Core Acting Techniques: Intense focus on the core elements that go into powerful acting.
Level II - The Audition Process: Includes monologues, cold readings and college audition prep. Prerequisites: Level I.
I love that every day I walked into class I learned something new.
~ Julia Barich ~
Level I SAMPLE WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Classes: Monday-Friday, 5-hours a day
Final Rehearsal: Saturday, 5-hours
Dinner Break: 1-hour
Warm-Up & Half-Hour Call: 1-hour
Performance Cabaret: 45 minutes
Post-Performance Celebration!
The Summer Acting Intensive was a blessing! New friends
were made through never forgettable experiences.
Acting is being: it is living.
~Joey Dearduff ~
Summer 2014 workshops are booking now! If you are interested in hosting a Summer Acting Intensive for Teens in your area - or know someone who is - please visit the Art & Soul Acting website for complete details:
Summer Acting Intensive for Teens
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LEAP with Passion into 2014!!!
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 Leap 2014 celebrates the 6th year of the annual Leap with Passion Workshop. It is a sought after favorite of many of my students.
Leap with Passion into 2014!!!
Do you get near the end of the year wishing you had the time to slow down and take stock of your life in order to make changes that stick for the New Year? And then in a blur of the holiday rush, the next thing you know...it's February. That's exactly why the Leap with Passion Workshop was created! I am so glad I attended Rhonda's Leap with Passion workshop. I discovered amazing things that I hadn't seen about this past year, and now I have a new and inspiring approach to my goals and dreams for the coming year!
In this 5-hour workshop, participants will have the opportunity to:
- Powerfully complete the past year and joyfully celebrate its greatest accomplishments.
- Turn the challenges of past year into fuel for the next.
- Learn an amazing goal-setting technique that is the difference that makes the difference in terms of "sticking to it."
- Design 3 life changing, personal focuses for the year ahead that are achievable and really inspire.
- Discover who they need to be and they actions they need to take in order to succeed in accomplishing their 3 focuses.
- Express and joyfully celebrate life.
The biggest thing I received from the workshop was a new method of goal making which I could not possibly do justice to describe. As a chronic goal-maker who has tried many goal-making methods throughout my life, I will say, I have never found a technique
and experience more effective for me. I highly recommend
any workshop or class with Rhonda and if you have the
opportunity to attend Leap with Passion - DO IT!
~ Amanda Donnelly ~
Leap with Passion into 2014 will be offered 3 times:
WHEN: Sunday, December 1 - NYC
Saturday, December 28 - Chicago
Saturday, January 4 - NYC
Rhonda will help you realize your accomplishments and give you the push you need to make the next chapters in your life fulfilling.
~ Donna Baker ~
I hope you'll be able to join us for this once a year event!
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Book that Job Blog's Latest Articles
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 The "Book That Job Blog" features articles focusing on the craft or business of acting.
October 10, 2013
This Actor Prepares
I recently came upon my original post of "This Actor Prepares" which I had written in 2011 for the site Daily Actor. After reading it through, I thought it would be a great piece to share on my own blog as it reflects some of the conversation my students and I have been having recently in my acting classes about the best ways to rehearse.
At the original time of writing, I was part of an acting project that presented me with a particular challenge: to cover two performances of a role in a new play while having only a minimum amount of rehearsal with the cast. My uber challenge: to be 100% alive, free and fully present while doing so...
October 31, 2013
A Streetcar Named Given Circumstances 
A couple of months ago my cousin and I were planning a weekend in New Haven, CT to see a play at Yale Rep. We had a perfect fall weekend in mind, but when I learned that A Streetcar Named Desire would be in performance at that time...ugh, I thought.
It's not that I have anything against A Streetcar Named Desire itself, it's just that every production I've ever seen has left me cheering when the folks at the end of the play come to take Blanche away. Not, I am sure, what Mr. Williams had intended! I figured that the Yale Rep production would be no different.
Click here to read entire article.
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 If you've studied with me and have news to share, please let me know the details by about 5 days before the end of the month; I am happy to include it here!
Kevin Cusick
Congrats on several recent airings of Discovery ID's true life murder mysteries!
Shea Davies
The Quickening - Sideshow Benefit
Performing the role of Kristen
November 9, 7pm
DETAILS
Jenna Kantor
Spamalot
Performing the role of The Lady of the Lake
The Palace Theatre in Manchester, NH
November 1-16
DETAILS
Andrew Rothkin
Reading of Andrew's play: Strangers on Hallow Hill
November 11, 8pm
Ryan's Daughter Pub
350 E. 85th Street, NYC
$10 entrance fee includes complimentary cocktail.
Andrew Rothkin
"Redrum" on Discovery ID's true life murder mysteries
Performing the role of Ronald Bench
Airing date TBA
Andrew Rothkin
"Complaisant" - feature film
Performing the role of Dan
Congratulations to my Summer Acting Intensive for Teens student:
Julia Barich
Congrats on having your short play Dinner Dates accepted for performance in Eureka College's Illinois High School 10-Minute Play Festival!
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