In the theater the audience wants to be surprised but by things that they expect

In the theater the audience wants to be surprised but by things that they expect

The virtue of dress rehearsals is that they are a free show for a select group of artists and friends read more

The virtue of dress rehearsals is that they are a free show for a select group of artists and friends of the author, and where for one unique evening the audience is almost expurgated of idiots.

I believe that in a great city, or even in a small city or a village, a great theater is read more

I believe that in a great city, or even in a small city or a village, a great theater is the outward and visible sign of an inward and probable culture.

Theater is, of course, a reflection of life. Maybe we have to improve life before we can hope to improve read more

Theater is, of course, a reflection of life. Maybe we have to improve life before we can hope to improve theater.

Coughing in the theater is not a respiratory ailment. It is a criticism.

Coughing in the theater is not a respiratory ailment. It is a criticism.

You can throw away the privilege of acting, but that would be such a shame. The tribe has elected you read more

You can throw away the privilege of acting, but that would be such a shame. The tribe has elected you to tell its story. You are the shaman/healer, that's what the storyteller is, and I think it's important for actors to appreciate that. Too often actors think it's all about them, when in reality it's all about the audience being able to recognize themselves in you. The more you pull away from the public, the less power you have on screen.

We are in the black theater of nonexistence. In an eye blink the curtain is up, the stage ablaze, for read more

We are in the black theater of nonexistence. In an eye blink the curtain is up, the stage ablaze, for the vast drama of ourselves.

For my part, I confess I seldom listen to the players: one has so much to do, in looking about read more

For my part, I confess I seldom listen to the players: one has so much to do, in looking about and finding out one's acquaintance, that, really, one has no time to mind the stage. One merely comes to meet one's friends, and show that one's alive.

The center of the stage is where I am.

The center of the stage is where I am.