First Breath Speech - Better Voice Better Life

In this week’s ep, a great conversation with actor, teacher, Artistic Director, Rob Nagle about how a shy kid got bitten by the bohemian actor lifestyle and what 3 essentials actors must master in order to be successful artists. Bitterness “takes a powder”!   Rob Nagle is a proud member of the Antaeus Theatre Company and the Troubadour Theater Company. Recent credits include the world premieres of Meghan Brown’s The Kill-or-Dies (with Electric Footlights and Moving Arts), Melissa Ross’ Of Good Stock and Samuel D. Hunter’s Rest (both at South Coast Repertory), as well as James Still’s Appoggiatura at Denver Center Theatre Company. Also, Itamar Moses’ Completeness at Vs. Theatre Company and James Joyce’s The Dead at Open Fist Theatre Company. Other theaters include Portland Center Stage, Mark Taper Forum, Old Globe Theatre, Centerstage, San Jose Repertory and Shakespeare Theatre Company.   Film: Boost, Fishing Naked, New Year’s Eve, Life As We Know It, The Soloist, Fun with Dick and Jane, Cellular and American

In this episode, I’m chatting with casting director, Dan Shaner about what he looks for in auditions and a bit about how the network TV system works. He’s got some great advice about how make acting your daily job - whether you’ve got a gig or not. Dan Shaner has been a Casting Director in film, television and new media for over 25 years, and has cast pilots and/ or episodes for every major studio and network.  He also teaches Business of Acting courses at USC, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Art of Acting Studios, and coaches actors privately in Career Counseling and Audition Technique and Preparation. He was born and raised and lives in Los Angeles. And also makes a kick-ass pumpkin cheesecake....Just sayin... He can be reached at dan@danshaner.com, www.danshaner.com, and of course on Facebook.

Here in episode two, I talk with Don Williams, the Managing Artistic Director of the Art of Acting Studio in LA. We talk what he looks for in a potential student or actor for the shows he directs, as well as theater vs. film and TV. Since 2002 Don has worked as Head of Acting, Managing Artistic Director and Chief Academic Officer for the Art of Acting Studio, Los Angeles and the Stella Adler Studio NYC. Don holds an MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory and BA from California State University Fresno. As director, Don Williams off- Broadway: Lebensraum, Turn of the Screw, Look Back in Anger, Libidoff.Regional: Waiting For Lefty, Marisol (LA premiere), Long Way Go Down (LA Premiere), Muckrakers (LA Premiere) Macbeth, Speed The Plow, Midsummer Night's Dream, the Laramie Project, Carrying, All in the Timing, Prelude to a Kiss, The Dining Room. At New York University: The Shape of Things, Dancing at Lughnasa, North Shore Fish, , That Championship Season, Twelve Angry Jurors, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, t

When I thought about creating First Breath Speech - the website, blogs, videos and podcasts -- I knew I wanted to explore the voice and how we speak, and also how that integrates into other aspects of our lives. I’m interested in how our voices are affected by the way we live and what we think and how we see ourselves. I want to offer ideas as well as practical solutions for actors and public speakers so each person can feel prepared and well-spoken -- though what you say is entirely up to you…   In this, our nascent episode, I talk with my friend, Jessica Mariglio who is a yoga practitioner and teacher. We talk about pieces of yoga you can do in your car or a small room to help warm up the breathing mechanism, and the head, neck and shoulders. We also touch on strength and balance. Jessica Mariglio has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 10 years. She received her 200hr certification from the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Dalat Vietnam, and has a MS in Conflict analysis and Resolution from George Mason U

In this episode Laura and I talk about the voice and how UNrelaxing acting is, as well as her time in Moscow in the 1990’s and how things have changed.