"Be yourself, work hard and never let your dreams die. You never know what tomorrow might bring. So be ready for it." What happens when Lori from Tutu Much discovers musical theatre? She can dance but can she belt out a show tune? Singing lessons, dancing in heels, technical rehearsals and competing for roles with kids who have agents, resumes and stage moms are all new to her. Introducing Dane; a child superstar who is trying to make it in an adult role, and Courtney; a kid with all the talent but few of the resources needed to make it in showbiz. Who will make the cut and who will miss the action?

The lack of new, local scripts appropriate for high school one-acts has long been a lament of our colleagues in education. They asked, and we listened Freshwater is proud to present world premiere one acts, written to follow Minnesota's guidelines for one act competitions, providing exciting new material for high school directors in the region.

Freshwater Theatre presents Better (or) Worse, an anthology of new short plays that attempts to pin down the moving target of modern marriage, with a bit of historic and comedic perspective. They asked us to define marriage: we're giving it a shot.

Being a Working Actor is written by veteran actor, Geoff Meed. There have been many other books written on the business of acting, but none by an actor as accomplished as he. His credits range from being a "name" in the television guest star world, to having performed in major supporting and starring roles in film. This is not a book on the technique of acting, but a career manual, beginning with tough questions and decisions you must make before you pack your first suitcase for Hollywood. Geoff Meed covers his 23 year career explaining little known facts and secrets on what to do, and what not to do, to provide the best chance of earning a career as a full time professional actor in film and TV. This is not a feel good, anybody can do it book, but an honest, truthful insight into what it takes to chase this elusive career, from beginning to end. What you really need to know, by someone who has actually MADE A LIVING at it. Compare Mr. Meed's credits to the other authors in this genre, and you'll get a pretty good sense that his knowledge borders on that of "expert."

2014 UPDATE - New Audition Protocols, Rates and Services added. From Broadway to Soundstage, Bev Leech offers 30 years of professional insight to the business of acting in Los Angeles and beyond. Begin, maintain, and sustain an exhilarating career as a performing artist in stage, television and film. Each successive chapter lays out the actor's next move in building an acting career: the actor's game plan, building your resume, getting representation, taking meetings and understanding contracts, differentiating audition techniques for stage, television and film, script breakdown, scams, and more. Whether you are new or an established professional, this book provides a solid and legitimate foundation of professional taste and insight to help you find work in this industry through all of its ever-changing tastes, and survive its "feast or famine," "crickets or cannonballs" energy. "Building an acting career is not an exact science. You won't find any hard and fast rules, but there are basic, established methods and protocol. I've shared those that I've found most useful, to show you a path toward a career worth having. Above all, don't strive to 'make it.' Strive to pave your own road and walk it like a warrior -- a road warrior. Good show, break a leg, and Carpe Diem " Bev Leech The companion audio CD of the chapter segment 'Nuts and Bolts' is also available separately on Amazon, "Actor Muscle: Nuts and Bolts of Audition Technique for Television and Film."

This book is written from the author's own perspectives as Theater performer, actress and professional singer from the age of two years old and, latterly, as an Osteopath specializing in the treatment of performing artists. Blending this experience and expertise, Jennie Morton uniquely draws together the physiological, psychological and sociocultural aspects of being a performer, and views them in the context of health and well-being. Illuminated with interviews with leading performers from many disciplines, including Paul Roberts, lead singer of The Stranglers, and Stefan Dennis, actor and cast member of Australian television series, Neighbours, the book provides detailed information on the physiological processes behind performing arts related injuries giving the reader the information to better manage their own health. Crucially, the author examines the culture of training in the performing arts and how best to prepare student performers for life in the profession. This issue is particularly pertinent to the author, who posits that the 'wearing of a mask' is inherent in many performers and is sometimes seen to be a prerequisite of many performing arts professions. It is this 'hiding behind the mask' that is a centerpiece of the work here, as Morton explains that 'in my experience as an Osteopath treating performers, the further removed they are from their authentic selves and the more buried they are beneath their own masks, the longer they seem to take to heal. I wanted to explore this connection further and have therefore delved into the medical, psychological and philosophical literature to discover the underlying physiological and biological mechanisms at play. I have then placed these in the context of the cultural requirements of being a performer in the modern world to see how we can explain the issues with which so many performing artists struggle'. The book explores how early childhood experiences can influence both emotional and physiological development and how this can play a role in the creation of talent and artistry. It looks at the culture of negative/fear-based training in the arts and how this can lead to the issues of perfectionism and obsession so often associated with performing artists. The neurology of creativity is also discussed along with issues of mental health with historical and cultural references to performers throughout history. The historical roots of art itself are also discussed with a look at how body language and early communication developed into the music and art of today. Issues of art as a commodity in the modern world are examined and how these can affect the health and psychological well-being of artists who try to earn their living from their passion. The physiological mechanisms that lead to the pain and anxiety often experienced by performing artists are explored, and descriptions of muscle injuries and inflammatory processes are given to inform the reader so they can better understand their own body mechanisms and how to manage them. The sympathetic nervous system, or 'fight or flight' mechanism is also discussed with reference to performance anxiety and pain levels. The neurology of finding the performance 'zone' is another subject of discussion. If this sounds like a science or sci-fi book - it isn't! It reads beautifully, and is perfectly pitched for the performer and student performer, as well as those who work with and support them. Much of the Performing Arts Medicine research and literature from the medical, psychological and philosophical domains has not filtered down to those performers who could benefit from it; this book simplifies and contextualizes that research into a concise, readable and wholly practical resource.