Explore Uncharted Territories of Creativity and Elevate Your Acting Career!

Crafting characters with the greats, the Actor's Approach Toolbox is packed with craft, technique and exercises used by the likes of Stanislavski, Chekhov, Meisner, Strasberg, Adler, Hagen, Morris and others. This essential toolbox is your guide to mastering the art and craft of acting.

Unlock Over 375

Videos

Dozens of Concepts, Techniques & Exercises

Lifetime Membership Access

Unlock Over 375

Videos

Dozens of Concepts, Techniques & Exercises

Lifetime Membership Access

Meet Jared Kelner

Hi, I'm Jared Kelner, actor, teacher, coach and founder of the Actor's Approach Toolbox.

The Actor's Approach Toolbox was born out of a deep passion for empowering actors with the necessary tools to excel in their craft. As an experienced actor and teacher, I recognized the need for a comprehensive resource that addresses the myriad challenges actors face in their pursuit of excellence. Thus, the Toolbox was created to provide actors of all levels with access to a wealth of knowledge and techniques developed by master teachers.

From seasoned performers to those just stepping into the world of acting, this platform offers invaluable insights and guidance to refine skills and elevate performances.

This database of knowledge is designed for anyone who is serious about honing their craft and maximizing their potential as an actor. From aspiring actors seeking to build a strong foundation to seasoned professionals looking to refine their skills, the Toolbox caters to individuals at every stage of their career.

Whether you're preparing for auditions, working on character development, or simply seeking to expand your repertoire of techniques, the Toolbox provides a comprehensive suite of resources to support your growth and development as an actor.

Joining the Actor's Approach Craft Technique Toolbox offers numerous benefits and resources for all skill levels that set it apart from other acting resources. With over 45 hours of craft technique training spread across 375 videos, members gain access to a treasure trove of knowledge.

Sincerely,

Jared Kelner - The Actor's Approach Toolbox

Join The Actor's Approach Toolbox Now!
45+ Hours Including Over 375 Videos Packed With Acting Craft, Techniques, Training And More.

What Our Students Have To Say...

Image

Garen Darakjian

The Actor's Approach Craft Technique Toolbox is a revolutionized library for every actor and performing artist! A "must" Toolbox which will assist to overcome any obstacle an actor might face during his journey. Highly recommended!

Image

Nureen Lakhani

The Actors Approach Craft Technique Toolbox has really helped me improve my ability to act more confidently without overthinking it. The simplicity of the techniques I have learnt have allowed me to adopt new methods of acting - effortlessly. Jared is an excellent guru in this artform and his teaching style was open, transparent and communicative.

Image

Russ Ortiz

The Actor’s Approach is a remarkable resource that provides instruction, guidance, insight, and an incredible amount of knowledge about the craft of acting. The tool contains a universe of information and is a nexus between instruction and application of acting principles. The platform is a comprehensive and user-friendly source for anyone interested in the acting craft.

Image

Joseph Lacerda

I have never come across an online platform that teaches acting from the master teachers as well as The Craft Technique Toolbox. The highly knowledgeable instructor breaks down the content in a user-friendly video format that you can watch, pause and replay at your convenience. The tool box offers a wide variety of options and techniques to help you bring a character to life truthfully. Epiphanies are in every video. I have been waiting for an online platform like this to continue building my actor’s toolbox and navigate my craft. This toolbox should be on every actors computer & mobile phone. I am incredibly grateful to have found this affordable resource.

Two Guys Talking Craft

Join us on the Two Guys Talking Craft podcast as a guy from New Jersey and a guy from Scotland share our thoughts and experiences of a variety of different acting techniques. Actionable exercises and instantly applicable skills guaranteed!

Two Guys Talking Craft

Join us on the Two Guys Talking Craft podcast as a guy from New Jersey and a guy from Scotland share our thoughts and experiences of a variety of different acting techniques. Actionable exercises and instantly applicable skills guaranteed!

The Actor's Approach Library

A Peek behind The Curtain, Explore The Material Behind The Toolbox

Actor's Approach Newsletter

Dive deeper into acting mastery, elevate your craft with our monthly newsletter. Get Insider Insights, exclusive tip, tricks and more from The Actor's Approach Toolbox!

Rehearsal

The Purpose of Rehearsal

November 24, 20204 min read

The Gift of Exploration, Discovery and Realization

I LOVE REHEARSALS.

Sometimes I need the Director to remind me that we have an opening date to keep in mind and at some point we'll need to have confidence that what we've explored and created during the rehearsal process is more than enough, but still, I LOVE REHEARSALS.

To me, rehearsals are like being in the playground during recess when we were kids. I remember running from the swing set to the slides to the ball field to the tree house to the jungle gym. I remember chasing the girls and playing tag with the boys. I recall falling down on the grass and staining my clothes. I remember the laughter, the love, the life and the wonder of playtime. I discovered so much about myself. I learned my limitations, my fears, my desires, my joys, my skills, my purpose.

Rehearsals should be like that, too. Rehearsals should be a cherished time of wonderment and discovery. Yes, you ultimately have a deadline and an opening night you are working toward, but that journey to the performance should be paved with exploration, discovery and realization.

Your job as an actor is to arrive at rehearsals prepared. Playtime does not give you permission to be unprepared. You should respect the Producer, the Director, your fellow cast, the script writer, the entire crew and you should arrive every day to rehearsal ready to explore as a true professional artist regardless if the production is a local community theater show or a multi-million dollar blockbuster movie.

You should be familiar enough with your lines that you can be mentally, emotionally and physically present so that you can avoid having your nose buried in the script. It's the connections with the other actors that brings the script to life, not your connection to the paper that the lines are printed on.

You should have ideas and questions about the character, the relationships and the circumstances. You should have ideas of what is going on, but you should ALWAYS be open to making new discoveries and you should always explore what the Director asks of you. You just never know what you'll learn by saying yes to the exploration.

If all you're doing at rehearsals is coming in to validate and lock-in your predetermined concepts, and you are not open to stumbling upon new discoveries to lead you to new realizations, then you've distorted the rehearsal process into a pre-planned presentation preparation time and that will result in an underwhelming experience for the audience.

You must be open to be pushed and pulled by the Director's vision and requests.

You must be vulnerable and affectable so you can truly connect to your scene partner and to the material.

Rehearsals should be littered with more questions than answers, until such time as the Director and the cast all believe that the questions that have been asked and the answers that have been found have been scrutinized from every angle and what you have landed on is more than enough to tell the story with integrity.

Here are some principles that I follow for my rehearsals that I hope help you in some small way:

  • Preparation starts at home, long before you even leave to go to the rehearsal

  • Arrive early and get yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared for the rehearsal

  • Review the Director's notes from past rehearsals to remind yourself of what was requested of you

  • Walk around the set to allow the world of the piece to penetrate your body

  • Help set up the stage - this gets you connected to the space and the world of the play in a very personal way

  • Make a choice of what you wish to accomplish or explore at the rehearsal so you are focused and can reflect back on your work through a specific, not a general, lens

  • Get up on your feet and move

  • Get off-book quickly

  • Get the props in your hands as soon as possible (Acting is doing. Acting is not talking)

  • Get into your costume as early as possible so you can discover the body of the character

  • Play with purpose and intent

  • Be humble, professional and helpful

  • Take time to emotionally prepare before the scene so you are living truthfully under the emotional circumstances of the scene

  • Help clean up at the end - show respect to the space as well as to the others in the production

  • Review the night's rehearsals before you go to sleep

To learn more acting craft tools, consider joining the Toolbox where you'll be able to watch over 45 hours of acting craft training across 375 videos that teach you practical and attainable craft techniques.

If you're not a member of the TOOLBOX yet, please consider JOINING THE TOOLBOX.

If you're not ready to join the Toolbox, but want to keep learning more, please sign up for our email list HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page to fill out the form.

I hope this post has inspired you in some small way. I look forward to reading your comments.

Bye for now and Stay Safe My Fellow Travelers.
See you inside the Toolbox.
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.actorsapproach.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/actorsapproachcrafttoolbox

Back to Blog