Where to start... It took me a year and a half to get into the workshop in the first place, but I was determined I was going to work with this man, no matter what it took. He is a legend, a Stella Adler pupil himself, and I know she changed many lives with her teachings, but Larry Moss, to me has got to be up there with the top five best best Acting Coaches that ever existed. (at least in my books, and to be honest, that's what matters to me!).
Catie LeOrisa (his assistant and Co-Captain of the ship), after some harassment from my part (bless her!), emailed me to say someone had dropped out last minute and asked me if I wanted to step in. Not for a second did I have a doubt. YES!!! Of course I want in!!! So I was paired up with the lovely Luciana Carro (Battlestar Galactica, Helix among other shows). I loved that I was being partnered with a fellow student, that had the same level of passion as I. We were given three plays to choose from. We chose "Boston Marriage" by David Mamet as our challenge. And boy was it a challenge, but a really good one. Four weeks of preparation, (Luciana was right, I thought it was six, I like to exaggerate). Daily rehearsals, play analysis, vocabulary searching, costume finding, accent researching, all kinds of searches, the kind that are required and expected of you when you are working on something important to you, and you want to do your very best. People in Larry's class don't mess around. None of that; I don't know my lines, I don't know what I'm doing, I didn't have time, and other excuses... this is the kind of preparation every serious actor should be doing. It reminds you how exciting THEATRE really is. And then came the Workshop, located at The Electric Lodge, a lovely Theatre in Venice. This is where I find it so hard to express what we all went through and experienced during our four day intensive. There were so many emotions in that room. There were tears (everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, Females, Males, audience members) cried at some point. Larry (due to his many years of teaching - no less than 44 years at this point - and he will admit countless Therapy sessions) has a way of knowing exactly what is going on with you, and can tell you within minutes of you standing on stage, what your childhood blockages are doing to you. He analyses you, and points things out you know, but sometimes don't want to face or admit. He understands your core and your struggles, like only a good Psychologist can. He points them out, not to ridicule you, but because he wants you to work on it/them, to become comfortable in your own skin, to be a better person and to not be stifled by what he calls "Our Stories" (we all have one!), when it comes to giving ourselves fully to bring out our best performances. There were laughs too, so many laughs, hysterical giggles, so much humour, we needed that too. Frequent mentions of Voice Classes, Alexander Technique Classes, Therapy and other aids were brought up. None to make anyone feel small or inadequate. He does it all with care, love and so much passion. You feel the support, without it feeling so safe, that you feel like you are never going to learn. Oh you learn, you learn about acting just as much as you do about Humanity. Watching fellow actors, break through, was equally as inspiring. It makes you want to help each other out, collaborate and support each other in whichever way we can. It makes us less selfish, more willing to give and encourage others. To be a community. This magical world that we become involved in, for those few days, become Inspiring like nothing I've ever experienced before. He makes you want to read plays, work in Theatre, find the love for it all again, which is sadly so easily lost in "show-business". This environment is addictive, because you gain more than I could ever put into words! From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank Larry Moss for sharing himself with us and all his years of knowledge, wisdom and expertise. I'd also like to thank Catie LeOrisa for organising everything and getting me into the workshop. I want to thank every person that was there to help us, and last but not least, my fellow actors, whom I learned so much from and who have also inspired me beyond words, to work hard and aspire to grow. All the Auditors I met and had the opportunity to share ideas and stories with. This will go down, as one of the best experiences in my life! #LarryMoss #Acting #BostonMarriage #DavidMamet #Play #Theatre #StellaAdler #AlexCartana #LucianaCarro #TheIntentToLive
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