Dammit! The New York Times has discovered another one of our secret enclaves. Reporter Erik Piepenburg braved the $300 weekly acting class called Act Out. Run by acting coach Brad Calcaterra (pictured, center), it’s a place where “GLBT actors are encouraged to expand and create powerful work based on who they really are and what they really feel.” Like group therapy, explains the Times: “During a recent session students sat before a video camera and answered Mr. Calcaterra’s sensitive yet forward questions about sexual histories, family relationships, discrimination and other personal issues. In several cases students cried, or they expressed hostility toward Mr. Calcaterra. The result was like a series of brutally frank, often humorous miniature solo shows about embarrassing crushes, first loves and locker room beatings.” [photo via NYT]
Jeffree
This sounds as much like a therapy session as an acting class! Good on Brad!
In acting and comedy both, you need to tap into your own experiences and the things that are painful, difficult, ironic and meaningful to you personally.
It’s no secret that even those LGB actors or comedians who don’t do specifically “gay” material still filter their work through our own lenses.
Neela Vazzana
Hmmmmp, this sounds interesting, i think you can promote this class to those people who can’t totally come out of their closets. I think this can help those people who wants to come out of their cocoon because it involves real emotions. By the way, i have a friend, maybe i can refer her to this class, is there any website, brochure, promotional items or anything to know how we can contact the organizer of this therapy? Thank You!Kudos!