Ask an Insider

What Schools or Coaches Catch Your Attention?

We've had good experiences with people who have studied in Los Angeles with Kate McGregor-Stewart, as well as at the American Film Institute and at the University of Southern California.

What Has Teaching Taught You About Acting?

I have learned from teaching that the more frenzied our lives become in this age of expanding technology, the more the actor needs a safe place to develop his craft.

How does a Standup Comic Land a Spot on Late-Night TV?

I scout local clubs and industry showcases as often as possible, although the majority of our submissions come in via YouTube links or DVDs.

How Does the Musical Director Shape an Actor's Performance?

When the musical director is in rehearsal, as a guide we try to establish parameters that are dictated by the composer and the lyricist.

What Prompts You to Cast Against Type?

I was asked several years ago by Pillsbury House Theatre in Minneapolis to consider directing a production of "A Streetcar Named Desire" with a black actor playing the lead.

What Do You Listen for in an Audio Reel?

When we listen to a demo, we usually want to hear some degree of versatility spread among a range of characters, accents, and even languages spoken.

Marci Liroff on the Life of a Casting Director

In a new Q&A series on her Facebook page called "Inside the World of Casting," Hollywood casting director Marci Liroff is currently answering questions from a college student.

How Can Actors Help Their Managers do Their Job?

I wish every client asked this question. Representing actors is a team effort, and actors who simply sit by the phone waiting for it to ring are not going to succeed.

Keeping a Long-Running Show Fresh

If a regular rehearsal doesn't work, then I have the actors do an improv but don't allow them to use any of the show's lines. As a result, they remember the show's purpose.

What Acting Teacher Inspired You?

Sande Shurin—who wasn't my first teacher but was the first teacher who made me deal with me—stopped me in my tracks. I learned how to become present in a way I had never experienced.