HB is where I studied for four years before Naomi Reardon edged me out of the nest to audition. “You’re not here to be a professional student”, she chided me many years ago. I’ve enjoyed a full career and about three years ago came back and took Eric Michael Gillett’s Monologue Workshop and loved it. Last summer I took a slew of summer classes. I love being back at HB. While each instructor and class I took was precious to me, Eric Michael’s monologue class as well as his Auditioning for Musical Theatre class were invaluable.
A monologue, like a song, as you know, is a calling card. EMG is so well-read and astute at finding monologues to suit personalities as well as acting skills. His work with each of us is like a private coaching session. That fellow students get to watch the process is invaluable to our own work. He’s always encouraging and finds ways of communicating economically and succinctly to each actor. We see actor after actor blossom with each note. Not a little. Hugely.
EMG arms us with an audition monologue to get us work. To show us to our best advantage. Because he works as much as he does, he’s aware of not only how things are done in the industry, but who does what how. That’s pretty valuable to an actor.
What I’ve always loved about HB is Uta and Herbert’s mission-to have an affordable acting studio in the community to be taught by working professionals. I think this is the heart that motivates actors and working professionals trained here, to come back and give back. I don’t know if EMG was trained at HB but if he wasn’t, you couldn’t tell he is not of this heart and mind.
Because there are only three sessions, EMG starts right in and doesn’t quit until the last actor has worked. He is mindful to share what he knows we need to know to do our best in the industry. The session that just ended was quite full. Every single actor was committed, prepared and ready to work. With more sessions, the workshop could accomplish so much more. With three sessions, most actors could only do one monologue twice and attempt a second one in the last session. Imagine how many we could work on and with growing efficiency if there were four or six sessions! If that’s not possible and it stays at three sessions, I will be back. Again and again. I thank you for having the workshop and for having EMG lead it!