Click on logo for information about DC Metro Theatre Arts.
Cue Recording Studios in Falls Church, Va. is a great professional venue to record voice demo tapes for actors in northern Virginia.
Emma Earnest, a student of Cheryl Felicia Rhoads, and Cheryl Rhoads herself filmed scenes in 2009 for Director Ron Newcomb's independent movie from Opening Act Productions titled "The Fellow's Hip: Rise of the Gamers," which is now available on Netflix. Click on the poster above to see the movie web site.
Artistic Venues serving National Capital Region
Artistic Venues in Virginia: Click on Virginia Flag above.
Theaters in The District of Columbia: Click on DC Flag above.
Theaters in Maryland: Click on Maryland Flag above.
FORD'S THEATRE AND MUSEUM
JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
THE NATIONAL THEATRE
THE WARNER THEATRE
THE ARENA STAGE
THE STUDIO THEATRE
Avery Brooks in Othello at
THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE
DISCOVERY THEATER
For Children sponsored by Smithsonian Associates
THE WASHINGTON BALLET
LEAGUE OF WASHINGTON
THEATRES
Bargain and Discount Price Tickets for Live Theaters in the Greater DC Area
The DC Improv Comedy Club/Restaurant
The Comedy Spot in Ballston Common Mall
Arlington, VA.
THE DC FILM ALLIANCE CALENDAR LISTS
MANY EVENTS IN THE DC AREA.
Cheryl Felicia Rhoads serves with other actors on the advisory board for the Parents Television Council.
Broadway News Notes
Pictured above is Saint Genesius, who is the
patron saint of actors. He was the leader of a theatrical troupe in Rome who defended his faith against the tryranny and persecution of Emporer Diocletian in about A.D. 300.
Russian actor and director Constatin Stanislavski (1863-1938) authored several classic books on acting. See a list of some of his books and classics by other authors by clicking on picture above.
MovieGuide Awards
Writers Guild of America East
Directors Guild of America
Producers Guild of America
DAILY VARIETY.COM
Internet Movie Database, like the Internet Broadway Database link below this one, offers a treasure trove of informaion on thousands of actors, directors, producers, and technical crew members.
INTERNET BROADWAY DATABASE
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,"
"As You Like It" --Act II, Scene VII
BROADWAY LEAGUE
CSA is a professional society of theatrical Casting Directors in film, television, and theatre.
News for Voice Over Actors
The Helen Hayes Awards
Celebrating Theatre
in Washington, DC.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Television Academy of Arts and Sciences Emmy Awards
The Golden Globe Awards
The Tony Awards
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD
News on Auditions and Casting Calls for Actors in New York and LA
Actors Equity Association
National Film Preservation Foundation
AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE
Top 100 Movies
RADIO HALL OF FAME and BROADCAST HISTORY MUSEUM IN CHICAGO
The People's Choice Awards
British Commonwealth
International Indian Film Academy
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)
BBC-TV Acting Tips for students of Shakespeare.
Austrailan Film Institute
L’Académie canadienne du cinéma et de la télévision
Academy of Canadian Film and Television
BBC Masterpiece Theater broacast on PBS in USA
Emma by Jane Austen coming in Spring 2010
John Truby is an author, screenwriter, director, script consultant, and screenwriting teacher who has been a pioneer developer of screenwriting software, videos, and other tools to help students of screenwriting. The first step in writing is to read books by John Truby and other experts and learn the craft of writing for movies and televsion and stage plays. Then become familiar with the benefits of the Writers' Guild of America and learn about the art of marketing your property and finding a literary agent. These sources can help in that search.
GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS-Editor's Blog When you have written your story, in order to find someone who can help you sell the idea to a television or movie production company, you need to locate a literary agent, often an attorney at law, who can market and protect your intellectual property with copyright advice. You will also want to register your property with the Writer's Guild of America see link at top left of this blog under Helpful links for Acting Students.
The Writers Store offers screen writing software and many books on how to write stories for movies and television.
Over more than 40 years, the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon has raised about $1.5 billion for research to find a cure for muscular dystrophy.
TV star and producer Danny Thomas (1912-1991)founded the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in 1962 and his work is carried on by Marlo Thomas, other Thomas children, and many movie and TV celebrities today.
United Press wire service reporter and short story writer Damon Runyon (1884-1946) was a pal to the actors of Broadway who wrote stories, quotes, dialogue, and created memorable characters that inspired the musical "Guys and Dolls." It was Damon Runyon who first called fighter Jim Braddock the "Cinderlla Man." Runyon's friend and columnist Walter Winchell was one of the driving forces in setting up the Damon Runyon Cancer Resarch Foundation as a show busiess charity in New York.
Humorist and film star Will Rogers (1879-1935) was the founder of The Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund of the Will Rogers Motion Pictures Pioneers Foundation.
Motion Picture and Television Fund benefits retired actors who need assisted living support.
Purchase of Broadway tickets to benefit the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fund.
Official Fan Site for the late Daws Butler (Charles Dawson Butler; November 16, 1916 – May 18, 1988) was a voice actor born in Toledo, Ohio. Afer his radio days, Daws originated the voices of many famous animated cartoon characters for TV in the 1950s, including Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, and Huckleberry Hound. Daws also trained many voice actors including Nancy Cartright, who is the voice of Bart Simpson. Daws was also a good friend and mentor to Cheryl Rhoads. Daws often collaborated with TV and radio commercial producer legend Stan Freeburg on programs such as "Beenie and Cecil."
With their proud teacher, Cheryl Felicia Rhoads joining her students in the center, from left to right Virginia Tucker, Ty Sheedlo, Emily Adler, and B.J. Odom show off their Cappie Awards following the annual awards gala at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Former student Sloane Siegel who previously starred in the Amazon TV series Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street then starred in a series called Dwight in Shining Armor.
Sloane says,"I studied with Cheryl for six months, and with the foundation I was able to build with her has stood me well in Hollywood. She introduced me to my present manager, got me seen for my first three voice over roles, and helped me work in my very first film. You can’t ask much more than that from a great acting coach. I have the utmost respect for her and her acting program."
Cheryl with her student Matthew Espinosa when she coached him on his dialogue for his film, Be Somebody in that he starred in. Matthew gained a huge following for his vine videos. He also starred in series,The Text Committee.
Cheryl Felicia Rhoads student, David Henrie is a former star of Wizards of Waverly Place with co-star Selena Gomez,David's mother is talent agent Linda Henrie who says"We met Cheryl when we first came to LA. David took her classes and she gave him a great foundation....and look where he is now! I always know I can find great talent from her kids."
Actress Ashley Rose Orr says:"I highly recommend Cheryl as an acting coach. When I arrived in Los Angeles from NYC, I had many questions about the business and coaching. Meeting Cheryl was a blessing. "Not only did she help me book numerous roles, but she helped me learn about the business and the techniques that helped build my confidence because she sent me in for auditions feeling very prepared. She always does her research on the role, film, director, and producer so that by the time I went to see her for my coaching lesson, she knew more about the project than I did! Thank you so much Cheryl for all of your help."
Josh Murray, Star of Christmas at the Greenbrier and the films, Killing Lincoln and The Reliant says: "Cheryl Felicia Rhoads has a diverse and approachable technique for acting but brings so much to students beyond just technique. With her varied background all over the industry she provides students a great perspective on all aspects of the business and what it means to be a working performer. Not least of which is the need for character and good work ethics. Going above and beyond the classroom, Cheryl also endeavors to help springboard students' careers with exposure and contacts to get started in the industry. I highly recommend this generous and experienced teacher to developing actors young and old."
Christina Nicole Carrera was a student of
Cheryl Felicia Rhoads when she was asked to join the national touring company of the Broadway revival of South Pacific! "I love to work with Ms. Cheryl. She has taught me so many great acting techniques that have really helped me so much with my auditions. She’s always there for me when I need help with an accent or a script in a foreign language. She always encourages me to follow my dreams and to work hard. She is an amazing acting coach and person!"
Actor Tony Williams says, "Cheryl is one of the most positive people I have ever met which is so important in this industry. The best thing about her teaching style is that you leave with something tangible that will help you find work immediately as an actor. She knows exactly what actors need to make it to the next level due to her experience in the business. I’ve been able to find work and audition all over the country thanks to Cheryl including in LA. I have been taking classes for 6 months and it has made a world of a difference."
Actress and talk show host Kristine Cornils says, "Every class with Cheryl teaches me new techniques to incorporate into my work for television, film and stage. Recently, she helped me to prepare for hosting a public service announcement for TV. She quickly helped me to identify my strengths, learn to make the most of them, and gave me new ways to improve. I was able to walk into the studio better prepared and confident." Click here to see Kristine's show.
Nikki Estridge says: There are two guarantees when you take Cheryl's class:
1- You will have fun 2- You will walk away a better actor.
With her diverse background and wide range of skill sets, Cheryl will equip you with various tools to incorporate into your routine as you develop your craft. She appropriately challenges you to think differently in order to separate yourself from other actors - all done in a safe learning environment. Above all, she has a kind heart and truly wants to see you succeed. Nikki has been seen on Law and Order: SVU and national commercials and will be seen in 2017 in Season 5 of the Netflix series House of Cards.
Darren Allford plays Cicero in AMC Turn. Darren says: "I just want to say thank you to Miss Cheryl for allowing me to take her class. It really opened my eyes to the different way to morph your character with things like their dialects. I really enjoyed her improvisation classes as well. They taught me so much about how to not think too hard about my character and how to add my dialect into it. I also enjoyed learning how to relate my character to someone that I know, it really has helped me become a better actor and I appreciate it."
Jacob Sartorius: "I was an acting student of Cheryl Felicia Rhoads in 2015 and back then I enjoyed many of her classes including improv, monologue development, and character study." Jacob has developed into an all-around entertainer, musician, actor and social media force. And at age 14, he had two RIAA Gold Records under his belt and multiple headlining world-wide music tours featuring his original music. According to Jacob, “Ms. Rhoads’ students learn not only about the acting craft, but also about the entertainment industry, practical skills on how to prepare for and conduct an audition, and much more.”
Click on photos to see CFR favorite scenes
Karl Malden, Marlon Brando, and Eva Marie-Saint in "On the Waterfront" (1954). The film won 8 Oscars including Best Director for Elia Kazan.
Only 7 percent of communication comes from words. The rest is gestures and facial expressions sometimes called nonverbal communications. In this commercial for Keebler Cookies, watch carefully as two sisters wonder who will get the last cookie. They speak no words but just communicate by facial expressions.
Tom Selleck in Lionel Chetwynd's movie "IKE: Countdown to D-Day." (2004) The film was nominated for six Emmy Awards.
Namrata Singh Gural in Americanizing Shelley (2007). Cheryl Felicia Rhoads made an appearance in this independent film produced by American Pride Films.
Cheryl Rhoads is a member of the entertainment advisory committee for the annual GI Film Festival in Washington, DC. In May, 2008, Cheryl is pictured above with her favorite actor, Academy-Award winner Robert Duvall at a Congressional reception. Click on the photo above to see Duvall talk about his acting career with drama students at his alma mater, Principia College near Grafton, Illinois.
Alan Richman and Juliet Stevenson with Jenny Howe in the 1990 BAFTA Award-winning movie directed by Anthony Minghella.
Jimmy Stewart and Claude Rains in the Senate filibuster scene from "Mr.Smith Goes to Washington" (1939)
Cheryl's personal favorite role from her own acting career was her starring role as Mother Goose in four half-hour videos for children that were part of "The Mother Goose Video Treasury" (1987 J-2 Communications). Sometimes, rare copies of the VHS tapes or DVDs can be found on Amazon or Ebay. Here is a short scene with Cheryl telling the children a story in a song about Mary and her little lamb.
On Aug. 12, 2009, President Barack Obama presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Oscar-winng actor Sidney Poitier. Racial bias in the deep South of fifty years ago is the backdrop for this Oscar-winning film with Poitier in the role of a Philadelphia police homicide detective who is forced by unusual circumstances to help a local Mississippi police chief (played by Rod Steiger) to solve a murder. "In the Heat of the Night" (1967).
Chicago Cubs radio announcer Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) signed with Warner Brothers Studio as a contract player in 1937. He appeared in 50 films over the next 30 years. Reagan served two terms as Governor of California (1967-1975) and two terms as President of the United States (1981-1989), During his acting career, Reagan also served eight one-year terms as President of the Screen Actors Guild between 1941 and 1960 and was the host of "General Electric Theater" on CBS-TV. Under Reagan's leadership, SAG won the first residual payments for actors in filmed television programs; the first residuals for films sold to television; and created the SAG pension and health plan. Click on picture above to see Reagan, Ann Sheridan, and Robert Young in the final scene of "Kings Row." (1941).
Actor and director Gary Sinise is an example of someone who gives back to his community and country. He is shown above making a personal appearance at the annual GI Film Festival in DC. Cheryl Rhoads serves on the advisory board for the festival. Gary was nominated for an Oscar and won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and two Cable ACE Awards. Click on the photo above to see Gary talk about his gratitude for the service of Americans in uniform.
Mary Tyler Moore also co-starred on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" on CBS from 1961 to 1966. To read more about this funny show now offered on Hulu.com, click on the photo above to see the show's profile from the Museum of Broadcast Commuications.
Long before HBO and premium cable channels existed, the early years of network TV in the 1950s were a Golden Age of live dramas. High-quality shows included Playhouse 90, Philco Television Playhouse,
The United States Steel Hour, The Armstrong Circle Theatre, The Kraft Music Hall, Lux Video Theatre, Four Star Playhouse The Alcoa Hour, and Ford Theater. The most enduring anthology with 79 Emmy Awards over 58 years that still remains today is "The Hallmark Hall of Fame" sponsored by Hallmark Cards. Click on Hallmark logo above for more information on that series.
Playhouse 90 was one of the most popular dramatic anthology series programs of the 1950s.
Kenneth Branagh as Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt on St. Crispin's Day, Oct. 25, 1415
Halle Berry as Dorothy Dandridge in HBO Special
Spencer Tracy in "Judgment at Nuremburg" (1961)
Author and actress Janine Turner won an Emmy Award for her part as a bush pilot on the CBS-TV comedy series about life in Alaska called "Northern Exposure" (1990-1995). Click on photo above to read the rules for Janine's essay contet for schools.
Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2010 for her starring role in "The Blind Side." Scene at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agidYAqGOl8
She has also won an American Comedy Award and four Golden Globe Awards for different films. Bullock graduated from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Va. in 1982. She is pictured above in a scene with Bill Pullman from the 1995 romantic comedy "While You Were Sleeping."
Bonnie Hunt, Producer, Actress, Writer, Director, TV Host, in "Return to Me." (2000)
Ian Charleson plays Olympics Bronze Medal runner and Scottish Christian missionary Eric Liddell in "Chariots of Fire" (1982).
Judy Garland in "Meet Me In St. Louis." (1948)
Danny DeVito and cast in Renaissance Man (1994). Mr. Bill teaches Shakespeare on an Army base.
Jean Marsh in the Emmy Award-winning series "Upstairs Downstairs" (1971-1975).
Orson Welles in "Citizen Kane" (1941)
Katherine Hepburn in "Philadelphia Story" (1940)
Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh in "Gone With The Wind" (1939). The film won ten Oscars.
Nina Foch and William Holden in "Executive Suite" (1954)
Movie, TV, and stage legend Angela Lansbury has won an Oscar and 18 Emmy Awards. In 2009 she won her 5th Tony Award for her role as Madame Arkati in the Broadway revival of "Blithe Spirit" first written by Noel Coward in 1941.
The late Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) as a young man was a drama student before he decided to study to be a priest. Josef Karol Wojtyla once wanted to be an actor. At the age of 18 in 1938, he enrolled at Jagiellonian University in Crackow, Poland where he studied drama until the Nazis occupied Poland and closed all university classes in 1939. Wojtyla worked at a hard labor job to survive and he also later joined Rhapsodic Theatre Company, which was an underground theatre group that secretly performed Polish patriotic plays. Click on the picture to hear the late Pope refer to his student days and his lifelong interest in the theater.
Penelope Ann Miller Final Scene from The Lincoln Center Production of "Our Town" Act 3, Part 1
Jennifer Jones won the Oscar for her performance in "The Song of Bernadette" (1943)
Charlton Heston as Judah Ben Hur suffers as a Roman slave (1959).
JOHN ADAMS MEETS KING GEORGE, III From the John Adams series on HBO, John Adams is the first American ambassador to meet King George, III.
Cheryl and Robert Duvall Cheryl Rhoads had a chance to pose with her favorite Academy Award winner Robert Duvall at the annual GI Film Festival in Washington, DC. Both Cheryl and Duvall serve on the advisory committee for the festival.