An Interview with Sara Greenberg in Dallas, Part 1
I am performing April 18 in Dallas, Texas at the Dallas Museum of Art in the Horchow Auditorium (which is beautiful) Here is the link. Sara Greenberg asked me a series of questions to promote the event. I found them very entertaining. I thought I would share our exchange. Her questions go to the heart…
Read MoreThe Reunion
This last weekend was the reunion of my college theater department. SMU. Dallas, Texas. Reunions are wonderful and dangerous. They are as close as we can come to taking a ride in a time machine. They become epic dramas of survival and apology—fueled by chardonnay. You may think the lanyard they loop around your neck…
Read MoreThe Primary Instinct — Released!
David Chen here: About 18 months after I first launched my movie Kickstarter, THE PRIMARY INSTINCT (my first film with Stephen Tobolowsky) is now available for purchase across all VOD platforms. In fact, we’re on the front page of iTunes Movies right now! I hope you’ll consider checking out the film and, if you like it,…
Read MoreFeelings Are Not Your Friend
Originally published backstage.com Nov. 28, 2014, advice for actors series. I was working on a production of “The Glass Menagerie” many years ago in upstate New York. We were rehearsing Tom’s “drunk scene.” The director called up to the stage, “What are you two doing up there?” I shouted back, “Acting!” He said, “I know…
Read MoreThe Tobolowsky Files is off to Edinburgh, Scotland!
Two glorious weeks in the never-ending rain. As they say in Iceland, “There is no such thing as bad weather—only bad clothing.” I am doing seven different shows, including some of my favorite stories from the past and some new ones that I love. I think we have everything taken care of…the new podcast is…
Read MoreImprovisation for Writers – CANCELLED
This October I am conducting a writing workshop in the mountains of upstate New York. Beautiful. I am thrilled about the change of scenery. I am excited about the workshop. I am going to be teaching improvisational techniques for writers. I have 10 years experience teaching improv for actors and comics. It has been fun.…
Read MoreWhat is So Big About “Big Time in Hollywood, FL”? (Part 3)
Photo: Alex Anfanger, Lenny Jacobson as Jack and Ben Dolfe in Comedy Central’s Big Time in Hollywood, FL Photo credit: Jesse Grant I had a great acting teacher, Ed Kaye-Martin, who said, “Comfort is the enemy of the artist.” I found this encouraging. I was in graduate school at the time and was almost…
Read MorePoster by Frida Clements
Frida’s beautiful poster. See also David’s story.
Read MoreThe Story Behind The Primary Instinct (Part 1)
David Chen approached me last January and said, “Why don’t we do a concert film. Can you tell stories for an hour or two?” David does things like that all of the time. He makes suggestions that unleash a sea of work, fear, and hopefully triumph. The story of The Primary Instinct is the latter.…
Read MoreA New Lesson From Long Ago
First Published backstage.com Oct. 30, 2014 I was a student in graduate school at the University of Illinois. It was the first year of its master’s program in acting and, consequently, they didn’t have a handle on who would teach what. They lassoed in a woman in her late 70s or early 80s to teach…
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