The Old Vic has always been first and foremost an actors' theatre, a home for great talent and memorable performances.
I started performing in high school. There was a pretty great drama department at my school, and that's when I started doing plays and musicals.
I don't see how they can with most of my pieces, but I think it's unfortunate that they can through familiarity with flashy performances of a great deal of other music.
Feeling emotionally connected to a song, and accumulating every bit of the moment's energy to sing out to the audience is what I believe makes a great performer.
Having been a child actor, I remember how directors would trick me to get good performances out of me. I don't think you need to do that.
Anything that loosens you up and makes you freer is good, because that's what acting and performing is all about - being free. It gives you a better connection to the audience.
I can't imagine how many first performances I've done, perhaps 500. Some of them have been very good, and some of course very bad.
A good athlete always mentally replays a competition over and over, even in victory, to see what might be done to improve the performance the next time.
Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action for all eternity.
First you have to spread on the rust performer, then you add a coat of protective enamel, and then you spray on the satin finish so you look good.
I didn't do improv in college, I never performed, I didn't do theater either. I was in student government, I was a history major.
Get out of your house and go see some live performance, for God's sake. There are people creating things just outside your window.
Lawsuits - and frivolous lawsuits - are just sapping the life out of the people who perform the services and deliver the goods for the rest of the citizenry in the State of Montana.
Do you know how many concerts I've done in my whole life, in more than 35 years of performing? Sixty-four.
I love being able to perform in front of people. I like potentially making a difference in somebody's day or somebody's life.
I have a life beyond performance. I love it, and it probably is the better part of my life, but I do have another life.
My acting career began on the streets of New York. When I was a cop, I played many impressive roles, from derelict to a doctor, and my life often depended on my performance.
There are two or three performances in your life that are absolutely on, where all the planets are lined up for you and you feel you're invincible.
I didn't get paid for performances most of my life. If I did, I would be billionaire now, and I'm not.
I do love live performing, but I'm not a stand-up naturally, and I don't like the lifestyle of working just in the evenings at clubs and stuff - not a natural gig-er.
I would really love to direct one day. I think there are certain actors who love the character and the performance and that's all they want to be a part of.
