I Don't Need an Acting Class

Latest Episodes:

Casting Directors Need to See This Jul 19, 2025

Show notes

Milton shares insights from a panel with top New York casting directors including Bernard Telsey and Billy Hopkins. The key revelation: casting directors are looking for "active listening" - actors who remain fully present and engaged even when not speaking. Many actors mistakenly think they only need to act when delivering lines, but casting directors immediately notice when an actor goes "dead" during listening moments.

Milton advocates for his "telephone method" - talking out everything happening before and during scenes to ensure continuous engagement. The goal is experiencing circumstances rather than just reporting them, distinguishing between describing facts and experiencing those facts.

Note: Casting directors confirmed that Instagram following has zero impact on casting decisions.

Announcement! Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

The Actor Lab is an acting studio founded by industry veterans Milton Justice and Patrick Quagliano, and producer Walker Vreeland. The studio aims to fill critical gaps in contemporary actor training by focusing exclusively on fundamental acting techniques, script analysis, and practical scene work in a supportive yet challenging environment. Unlike other acting programs, The Actor Lab emphasizes personalized guidance and honest feedback rather than vague instruction. We view acting as a lifelong pursuit where growth as an actor parallels growth as a human being, and strive to create a community of passionate, like-minded artists where professional actors can reconnect with their craft and receive individualized attention. Our classes provide a space for artists to rediscover their passion while developing concrete processes that build confidence in their work and meet high standards of traditional excellence.

What is Personalizing? Jul 12, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to I Don't Need an Acting Class and our first episode of Season 8! In this first episode, we hear a coaching session between Milton and student Madior exploring the concept of "personalization" in acting.

The discussion centers around whether actors should draw from their own personal experiences or build relationships from the character's perspective. Using the example of a monologue where a character dismantles a house, Madior argues for using her own childhood home to tap into real emotional memories. However, Milton challenges this approach as potentially limiting, advocating instead for building relationships through imagination, which allows for endless creative expansion.

Milton warns against "effect-seeking" - trying to manufacture specific emotional responses rather than allowing feelings to emerge naturally through imaginative work. He emphasizes that while personal experiences remain part of an actor's toolkit, they should inform the work organically rather than being actively mined for emotional content.

Note: The Actor Lab, Milton's new acting school in New York City, begins classes September 15th.

theactorlab.nyc will be live next week.

Plays Are Difficult Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Milton explores the fundamental challenges of theatrical performance. He begins by praising a student's vivid storytelling about a traumatic experience, noting how the clarity of images and emotional connection made it compelling theater. The rest of the episode centers on Arthur's struggle with a complex role as an 1858 French priest, emphasizing how plays demand deep character work rather than plot-driven performance, requiring actors to build and experience a character's entire past.

This complex process is contrasted with simpler television work, using a student's French TV audition as an example of how different mediums require different approaches. The episode concludes with practical advice about making smart choices as an actor - identifying what specifically needs to be made believable in each piece and often finding that a clear, strong relationship with one's scene partner can anchor an entire performance.

Bonus Ep: What Separates the Good from the Great Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

www.idontneedanactingclass.com

Bonus Ep: The Imaginary Vacation Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We're so grateful for you. In honor of the holiday we're releasing some audio from 5 years ago, all about an exercise called The Imaginary Vacation. Interestingly, I found it in a folder called "Unusable." I have no idea why I deemed it as such at the time, but I certainly don't think it's unusable now!

www.idontneedanactingclass.com

Season 7 is Wrapped! Nov 15, 2024

Show notes

But we still have a lot going on. Check out out website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com for all the latest events. Happy Holidays to all of you and we can't wait to see you soon.

Avoid Boring Yourself to Death Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Milton discusses the importance of understanding specific relationships to text and sequence of thoughts. The discussion highlights a common actor's problem of moving too quickly to performance without fully understanding the text's underlying thoughts and relationships. The episode concludes with practical examples of how to break down and connect with text by being more specific about your relationship to each thought.

What Does That Mean Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

This episode delves into the importance of conveying big ideas in acting. Milton emphasizes the need for actors to grasp the magnitude of concepts in great plays, avoiding monotonous delivery that reduces dialogue to a mere "grocery list." He advises performers to explore ideas deeply by asking "What does this mean?" and to get specific with examples to bring concepts to life. He also talks about the difference between artistic pursuits and conventional careers.

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Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: ⁠questionsformilton@gmail.com⁠ Also, check out our website: ⁠www.idontneedanactingclass.com⁠

A Tear in the Curtain Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

You have to give yourself permission to fail. If you’re too afraid of being bad, you’ll block your creative energy. Like Venessa Redgrave, indulge yourself in all the worst, most cliche choices first. Get them out of your system, and once they are, then go back and really get to work. But most of that work is done at home. Between rehearsals. It’s about the creative, imaginative research. Talking out. Getting more specific— like “the tear in the curtain.” And you’ll know it’s a good choice because you love it. It excites and fuels you in the part.

WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content!

⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe⁠

Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: ⁠questionsformilton@gmail.com⁠ Also, check out our website: ⁠www.idontneedanactingclass.com⁠