-The key to effectively rehearsing any show is Discipline. Discipline is the heart of acting success.

-With Discipline, an ensemble is focused on the one common goal of mounting the production. An atmosphere is created where alternatives can be explored and choices can finally be made, with the ensemble receptive to TRUSTING THE MOMENT during the rehearsal process.

---Punctuality

---Prepare and warm-up

---Put the day and your mood aside

---Consistent attendance, with death of friend or family member the only valid excuse for missing

---No distracting chatter

---Refusing to get involved in extraneous conversation

---No missed cues or entrances

---Always reporting to Stage Manager if temporarily leaving the rehearsal space

---Sitting quiety in wings or auditorium, absorbing all activity

---Rehearsing scenes when off stage with other actors not needed on stage at a given moment (at a safe distance from the stage)

---Never inviting friends or relatives to a rehearsal which should be the private work of actors and directors in an atmosphere free from all distractions

---Respect and stay out of the way of the activity of stagehands and crew members

---Ask for simple adjustments from fellow actors, but NEVER offer directorial ideas unless requested by the Director

---NEVER leaving the stage when a scene is being worked on. When the Director stops to work with other individuals in a given scene, a library calm must be maintained until the action begins again

---NEVER taking unscheduled self dictated breaks to go to the bathroom, drink water, etc

---NEVER having drinking containers or other inappropriate objects littering the acting area

---Making detailed blocking notations in your script and studying them everyday, so time is not wasted trying to reconstruct blocking at later rehearsals

---Realizing that the MAJORITY of your work on a show happens outside of rehearsal. The time a cast and Director works together is to hone the work brought TO the rehearsal

---NOT performing at rehearsals, where the desire to "succeed" steals the chance to do honest exploration.

--Allow the Director to change his mind a million times--be prepared to try anything and everything that a Director requests.

--Don't push or force for emotion and character. Be patient.

--The key is to lean on yourself for that within you which wants to reach out to people. Once you tap yourself and use it, then it must be CRAFTED. IT can't work YOU.

--Risk yourself on stage. If YOU "hide" it will lead to mediocre acting.

--Never cry over criticism; only cry over failure to work purposefully and hard.

--Don't FEEL everything to the sacrifice of craft.

--Too many actors are emotional rather than dramatic.

--Learn to LOCATE as an actor. Know where you are--to whom you speak--and why--and what for!

--Speak to us first as you, later in rehearsals, as the character.

--One can't perform carrying self-criticism in one's head. Don't make clinical decisions. Just do.

--Use of private moments is a risk actors must learn to take.

--Don't suppress nervousness--channel it and use it.

--Don't fret about results. Leave it to Directors and critics. Just act one intention at a time. When you get to the last one, there will be the results.

--Homework should appear in rehearsal, not AT the rehearsal.

--Don't show--DO!

--Repeat blocking precisely, but never repeat inner reactions--keep those spontaneous.

--Don't do facile, easy things. If you rein everything in, you can't get "naked" up there. Think in physical terms, not emotional terms.

--Don't show your preparation IN the scene. That's acting. Rather, us it UNDER the scene, or throw it away before entering.

--You cannot perform effectively out of mere instinct and inspiration. Crafting your discoveries into a repeatable performance--that's the true Art of stage acting.