The Art of Dramatic Living

Posting My First Script: The Yellow Rose

Kirsten Olson — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:29:08 +0000

Okay. Some of my friends have been asking, “When are you going to let us read your play?” Well, I am not ready to share the full-length yet, but I have a 10-minute play that I hope you will enjoy. This is called The Yellow Rose. It was an assignment in my playwriting class. We had [...]

As if these things are true…

Kirsten Olson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:57:13 +0000

Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good. That honor, courage and virtue mean everything; that power and money…money and power mean nothing. That good always triumphs over evil. And I want you to remember this..that love…true [...]

Again, with a Body Image Post

Kirsten Olson — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:32:08 +0000

Many of my posts are spontaneous. I think of something I want to write about, I happen to have access to the tools I need and I write. I was planning on writing something else today about my disintegrated organization and priority system and the re-imagining of a new system, but that excitement will have [...]

Summing up the December Theme: You Don’t Have to Prove Anything to Anybody

Kirsten Olson — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:28:39 +0000

“You don’t have to prove anything to anybody” has now become one of my mantras for decision making. When an audition opportunity presents itself, I’ll ask, “Do you want to go for it? Remember, you don’t have to prove anything to anybody.” Because I am a chronic people-pleaser I’m hoping this routine will become second [...]

People Pleasing Part II: The Blessing

Kirsten Olson — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:27:10 +0000

In Part I, I confessed to a lifelong struggle with my compulsion to make everyone “like” me. This is my curse. Before I get to the flipside of the curse, however, I would like to share with you the words of a very wise woman (to whom I am eternally grateful and will always love). [...]

You Don’t Have to Prove Anything to Anybody: People Pleasing Part I: The Curse

Kirsten Olson — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:26:27 +0000

This is an article I wrote a couple of years ago. It fits very neatly into the December Theme: You Don’t Have to Prove Anything to Anybody so I thought I would republish it here. People Pleasing Part I: The Curse I’ll speak in the first person because I know this role so well. Being a chronic [...]

December Theme: Nothing to Prove to Anybody: Joanna Macy at the 2009 Boineers Conference on Uncertainty

Kirsten Olson — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:45:56 +0000

I’ve been thinking a lot about purpose. My drive to prove myself to others and to please others – I couldn’t even identify who – so many – has lead to a constant pursuit of opportunity and a glut of activity that in some ways has lost meaning for me. I say “in some ways” [...]

New Acting Classes Begin January 30

Kirsten Olson — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:16:24 +0000

Registration is open for classes that will begin on January 30. More information about classes and contact information can be found here. This session we will offer a Foundations Class and a Scene Study class. The Scene Study class is open to students who have completed the Foundations Class. Both groups will run for a 12 week [...]

Bette Davis: Nothing to Prove to Anybody

Kirsten Olson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:32:44 +0000

“My passions were all gathered together like fingers that made a fist. Drive is considered aggression today; I knew it then as purpose.” ~Bette Davis I love the words in this quote: Passions: Desires, longings, mission, loves. Drive: Momentum, action, movement, pulse, breath. Purpose: Reason, Being, Living. Purpose without anything to prove. That sounds good. It feels like freedom. It’s more [...]

How does your desire to prove yourself manifest itself?

Kirsten Olson — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:17:07 +0000

For me the most obvious answer to this question is over-commitment. I don’t draw boundaries around my time when confronted with theatrical opportunities. I believe this tendency to over-commit is fear based. I am afraid that every opportunity to perform will be my last. There is a common saying in the theatrical community, “You are only [...]