February 21, 2021
Major Tom to Ground Control
Our Weekly Recap, Resources & Recommendations for Actors, Directors & Creatives
"Act at the speed of life."
Thanks to those of you who joined us yesterday for the Saturday Workshop featuring Master Voice & Speech Coach, Debora Joy!
Go here to learn about the Saturday Workshop!



The Work
VANYA AND SONYA AND MASHA AND SPIKE
by Christopher Durang
Liliane Klein & Trace Taylor & Mark Guerette
SAME TIME NEXT YEAR
by Bernard Slade
Ken Belsky & Carolyn Kennedy
TWELFTH NIGHT
by William Shakespeare
Janet Rembaum & Pippa Winslow
Hey Members!
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Here are the latest additions to your video library:
- Coaching Sessions from last Saturday (Feb 13th): "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" by Tennessee Williams with Matthew Mueller and Alison Araya; "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams with P. Lynn Johnson
- Lessons from Tom: from last Saturday (Feb 13th): "Act at the speed of life!" On the Brick and Maggie's relationship in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"; "On Stage Directions"; On Amanda & Laura's Relationship in "The Glass Menagerie" - "Dream.Plan.Reality"; "What career do you want?"
- Voice & Speech Lessons: from last Saturday (Feb 13th): Shane-Ann Younts Voice & Speech Workout
- Text Detective Exercise: Scene from "Angels in America" by Tony Kushner
Need a brief intro to your dashboard?
TAKE A TOUR
Reminder, use the 'search' icon in the upper right to search your dashboard by titles, topics or dates, to quickly find your desired video!
Music This Week
INTRO: Are You Experienced? and Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
OUTRO: Jungle Boogie - Kool & The Gang


Recommended This Week
READ / LISTEN
"The Checklist Manifesto"
The New York Times best-selling author of Being Mortal and Complications reveals the surprising power of the ordinary checklist.
We live in a world of great and increasing complexity, where even the most expert professionals struggle to master the tasks they face. Longer training, ever more advanced technologies - neither seems to prevent grievous errors. But in a hopeful turn, acclaimed surgeon and writer Atul Gawande finds a remedy in the humblest and simplest of techniques: the checklist. First introduced decades ago by the US Air Force, checklists have enabled pilots to fly aircraft of mind-boggling sophistication. Now innovative checklists are being adopted in hospitals around the world, helping doctors and nurses respond to everything from flu epidemics to avalanches. Even in the immensely complex world of surgery, a simple 90-second variant has cut the rate of fatalities by more than a third.
An intellectual adventure in which lives are lost and saved and one simple idea makes a tremendous difference, The Checklist Manifesto is essential listening for anyone working to get things right.
Available in hard copy or on Audible
WATCH
Sydney Pollack's "Tootsie"
buy the criterion collection version in order to watch the extras - discussions with Sydney Pollack, Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange etc.
In Tootsie, Michael Dorsey lands the role of a lifetime - as did the actor playing him, Dustin Hoffman. This multilayered comedy from Sydney Pollack follows the elaborate deception of a down-on-his-luck New York actor who poses as a woman to get a soap opera gig; while "Dorothy Michaels" skyrockets to fame, Michael finds himself learning to be a better man. Given support by a stellar cast that includes Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning, Teri Garr, George Gaynes, Bill Murray, and, in a breakthrough performance, Jessica Lange, Tootsie is a funny, cutting, and poignant film from an American moment defined by shifting social and exual identities.
Available onYouTube, Amazon Prime, and Google Play
WATCH
"Barrymore"
A film adaptation of playwright William Luce's "Barrymore" that depicts actor John Barrymore as he prepares for a revival of his 1920 Broadway triumph in "Richard III." The year is 1942 and Barrymore is far past his prime. It appears he has booked the theater simply to perform alone, while he drinks and reminisces about his family and the profession of acting. Meanwhile, a stage manager stands in the wings, prompting Barrymore with Shakespeare's dialogue, but the actor appears to be otherwise distracted. Christopher Plummer's Tony Award-winning tour de force is captured in this film. Presented by New York-based alternative content distributors BY Experience and Executive Producers Steve Kalafer and Peter LeDonne.
Available on YouTube & Google Play
WATCH
"John and Mary"
John and Mary begins the morning after John and Mary meet in a bar, during a conversation about Jean-Luc Godard's Weekend, and go home with each other. The story unfolds during the day as they belatedly get to know each other over breakfast, lunch and dinner. Flashbacks of their previous bad relationships are interspersed throughout when something in their conversation brings the thought up.
John and Mary stars Dustin Hoffman, Mia Farrow, Michael Tolan, Sunny Griffin and Tyne Daly. Directed by Peter Yates.
Full length film available on YouTube - here!
WATCH
"Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President"
Part-rockumentary, part-presidential portrait, JIMMY CARTER: ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT traces how rock music helped propel Jimmy Carter to the White House, and the significant role that music has played in President Carter’s life and work.
Jimmy Carter: Rock n Roll President was directed by Mary Wharton and starred Jimmy Carter, Madeleine Albright, Bono, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Chip Carter, Rosanne Cash, Bishop Michael Curry, Bob Dylan, Chuck Leavell, Willie Nelson, Nile Rodgers, Paul Simon, Trisha Yearwood, Andrew Young
Available for streaming in several places - view here
SEE YOU FEBRUARY 27TH!


New York Professional Actor Training comes to your home next Saturday!
Your First Class is Free!
Our International, Intergalactic Acting Jam continues next Saturday, featuring Voice & Speech Master Teacher:
RACHAEL WARREN
Rachael Warren is on the faculty of the Brown / Trinity Rep MFA Programs and is a graduate of the A.R.T Institute at Harvard. She is also a longtime member of the highly esteemed Trinity Repertory Company.
Rachael started at Trinity Rep in the 1999-2000 season playing Eliza in My Fair Lady and has been a company member since 2002. Other highlights at Trinity Rep include Tilly, Melancholy Play: a chamber musical; Mother, Ragtime; Mr. Darcy & Mr. Wickham, Pride & Prejudice; The Voice of the Plant, Little Shop of Horrors; Nancy, Oliver!; Sally, Cabaret; Puck, A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Warrior One, Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage; Betsy/ Lindsey, Clybourne Park; Ophelia, Hamlet; Rebecca, The Long Christmas Ride Home; Sabina, The Skin of Our Teeth; Mary, A Dublin Carol; Isobel, The Secret Rapture; and Mary Warren, The Crucible. Ms. Warren was a company member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for two seasons playing The Baker’s Wife, Into the Woods; Eliza, My Fair Lady; and Muriel Humphrey/Pat Nixon and others in the world premiere of The Great Society. She toured nationally with The Who’s TOMMY, Chess, and Company, and has also performed at The Wilbury Theatre Group (Big Alison, FUN HOME), Hartford Stage, American Repertory Theatre (Bacchae, Antigone, The Doctor’s Dilemma), Williamstown Theatre Festival (Tonight at 8:30, Princess Turandot), Goodspeed Opera (Great Expectations), Wallis Annenberg Center, Virginia Stage, Cleveland Play House (Aldonza, Man of La Mancha), and Actor’s Theatre of Louisville. She has been the Voice and Acting Coordinator for Trinity Rep’s Young Actors Summer Institute since 2007. More on Rachael Warren here!
And now YOU have the chance to learn from this incredible artist and coach without even leaving home!
Join us on Saturday to study with
Rachael Warren and Tom Todoroff!
The Guidepost Card Set
These beautiful cards were created by NYC Studio Director, Mark Guerette. An excellent way to learn and swiftly and joyfully integrate all elements of the Todoroff Technique!