The Showstopper Blog

Theatre blog for the StageAgent community including audition tips, acting and singing advice, interviews with theatre industry experts and career advice.

Shuffle Along: How a Revolutionary Musical Became a Part of African-American History

Our first post of Black History Month shines the spotlight on Shuffle Along, the revolutionary musical that was a surprise hit on Broadway in 1921 and changed the future of musical theatre forever.

Goal-setting and Goal-shifting for Artists

How are those New Year's Resolutions going? If they disappeared rather quickly, take a look at this blog post about goal-setting, and goal-shifting, for artists.

Stage Combat: A Beginner's Guide

Effective stage combat can be a daunting prospect for any actor. Our latest blog post offers an introduction on how best to serve the fight director and the play in moments of physical combat.

Playwright Chronicles: A Short Guide to the Short Play

If you're interested in dabbling in playwriting, a short play might be a great way in. Let's take a look at how to get started!

When Your Day Job Isn't Your Dream Job...

It's a well known fact that a lot of actors simply don't make the big time. But how do you reconcile yourself to this uncomfortable fact? Here, we take a look at why it's not the end of the world if your day job isn't your dream job!

Introducing: The Tudor Queens Trilogy

Everyone loves a juicy period drama, with the gorgeous costumes, beautiful settings, and the stories of love prevailing over the tight social codes. Written in the 1830's, Donizetti's Tudor Queens Trilogy looks back at English Tudor history, with stories of romance, drama, and intrigue.

Creating a Youth Theatre Program: How to start?

Creating a new theatre program can be daunting, where do you start? In our latest blog post, we look at the basics you need to consider as you start to plan.

Getting to Grips with Brecht

The work of Bertolt Brecht has inspired generations of modern theatre-makers, but who was he and why was his vision so revolutionary? Let's find out!

Theatre Games and Warm-Ups

Theatre games are a great way to break the ice and warm-up the body. They are also a staple of every drama class and rehearsal. Here are some warm-ups and theatre games for you to try!

Divas: An Entymology

The world of musical theatre loves a divine diva, but what does the word 'diva' really mean and why are they so revered? Let's find out!

Theatre Educators: Creating Community in a COVID World

In today's blog post, we explore ideas for some fun and motivational ways to create community in your theatre program during a pandemic.

Acting: An Extreme Sport

The voice is a fragile thing and performing vocal extremes night after night can be damaging. In this blog post, we offer some tips on how to use your voice safely onstage.