The work of the singing actor is a lonely business. Sure, it might not seem that way at first. Singing actors are often in shows, either rehearsing or performing, and we feel ourselves come to life in the company of our fellow artists. And they’re often in classes, either attending college or high school or …
Author Archives: Charlie
Dramatic Circumstances – a new book by William Wesbrooks
Once upon a time, there was a professor who taught singing actors about how to perform songs. He worked in a big city at a university with a big reputation, and many students came to study with him. He loved his work; he loved being able to help students, and the things he taught them …
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June Is Bustin’ Out All Over
The month of June has just begun. Out in my garden on this first day of June, raspberries are fruiting in rude profusion. Lavender that I thought had been killed off by an unusually harsh winter has not only sent out new leaves but its first fragrant flowers. Roses on a neighbor’s bush are spilling …
Say the words!
That’s it, folks – the single most powerful piece of advice I can give a singer attempting to interpret a song in performance. Say the words! Time and again, my students have told me that when they’re feeling stumped by a song, lost in a fog of moods and sounds and prior interpretations that present …
Why does it matter if we do good work?
Singing today from the hymnal of Seth Godin: As Jony Ive said, “When you realize how well you can make something, falling short, whether seen or not, feels like failure.” Practice is not the answer here. Practice, the 10,000 hours thing, practice alone doesn’t produce work that matters. No, that only comes from caring. From …
Starting with subtext
“There are two aspects to the technique of the [Stanislavski] ‘system’; one inner, where the mind and imagination create the thoughts and feelings of the character; the other outer, where the body expresses and communicates what is going on inside. It is no good my carrying imaginative and subtle thoughts and feelings inside me if …
Break the spell!
I’ve spent the past few days at the Danish Musical Theater Academy, teaching workshops and coaching students for a concert they will present later this week. They’ve participated bravely and eagerly in classes and rehearsals, exploring new ideas and taking risks in order to grow as artists. Last night, after a full and rewarding day …
The Twelve Days of SAVI
To help with the holiday spirit, here’s a DIY Christmas Carol for Singing Actors On the first day of SAVI, my teacher gave to me A lesson in specificity. On the second day of SAVI, my teacher gave to me Two moving eyes And a lesson in specificity. (You know how this goes, right? So …
The Stanislavski Centre talk – Part I
NOTE: I’ve been invited to deliver a talk at the Stanislavski Centre at Rose Bruford College in London on October 20, and have chosen the title “Stanislavsky and the Singing Actor.” Below, a draft of the first part of my talk. I’d love to hear your comments; add them in the “Comments” section at the …
Welcome to The SAVI Singing Actor!
This site has been a while in arriving, but if you’re reading this, you’re probably among my first visitors, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you and fill you in on what this site intends to be. I’ve spent my entire professional life, nearly four decades, making musicals and training people to perform in them. …