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An Actor's Eyes
Last updated 9/16/06

Listservs, Message Boards and Other Internet Resources for Actors

An Actor's Mouth

For the performing artist, the Internet offers a vast array of resources to take advantage of to further a performing arts career. Everything from information resources of all kinds, to services (some free) to put up a webpage or website touting one’s capabilities and background. In an industry where progress and success is hard to come by, you can take part in discussion groups where actors congregate and share insights and acquired wisdom. They can be bulletin boards where people leave messages for one another, chatrooms and discussion by email or listservs. The known newsgroup for actors is <alt.acting>, and an equally viable listserv (discussion via Email) is Acting-Pro.

Some of the things an actor or performing artist can get access to by going online over the Internet include:

Newsgroups and message boards allow you to exchange information and ideas to a world of fellow humans (who share your common goals) whom you would otherwise never know.

While having you own web page as either an actor or part of a theatre company is not crucial to your success it's still a great way for you to promote yourself or your organization.

Sources for Job Information on the Internet

A listing of mostly non-profit organizations that offer information on where to find jobs can be found in the table below. Although most of these organizations may have not-for-profit status, a fee may still be required for enrollment in the service.

Actors’ Equity Association
The AEA website features "Casting Call," a section of the website with a database that allows its visitor to search by: new postings; stage manager notices; photo/resume specifications; regional auditions based on call type, or contract.
http://www.actorsequity.org/home.html

Actor Site
Leads for actors and leads for backgrounders (extras) posted via forum or messageboard. Registration may be required if you plan to post new topics or reply to existing topics (depending on the particular forum you are using). Registration is free, and you are not required to post your real name. You are required to post your actual email address, however.
http://www.actorsite.com/

American Association of Community Theatre
By clicking on the link for "job listings" you are brought to the page with those listings. Job categories like administration, managing/artistic director, technical, production, etc. can be found.
http://www.aact.org

ArtJob
Find comprehensive, up-to-date national listings of jobs, internships, fellowships and other employment opportunities in visual arts, arts non-profits, performing arts, commercial art and design firms, film, public arts agencies, academic arts positions, galleries, internships, fellowships, conferences, commissions and more.
http://www.artjob.org
ARTSLYNX
This well known website is worth noting for the wealth of links it maintains in any category. Job leads are no exception.
http://www.artslynx.org/jobs.htm; http://www.artslynx.org/theatre/jobs.htm







Useful Books

An Actor’s Guide: Making It in New York City
by Glenn Alterman
288 pages; (February 2002)
Allworth Press; ISBN: 1581152132
Theatre Sources Dot Com: A Complete Guide to Online Theatre and Dance Resources
by Louis E. Catron
232 pages (November 2001)
Heinemann; ISBN: 0325003823
How to Be a Working Actor: The Insider’s Guide to Finding Jobs in Theater, Film, and Television
by Mari Lyn Henry, Lynne Rogers
319 pages; (September 1994)
Back Stage Books; ISBN: 0823088944
The Actor’s Guide to the Internet, with CD-ROM
by Rob Kozlowski
160 pages; (December 1999)
Heinemann; ISBN: 0325001626
All You Need to Know About Music & the Internet Revolution
by Conrad Mewton
300 pages; (April 2001)
Warner Bros.; ISBN: 1860743250
Hot Stars for Kids on the Net
by Lisa Trumbauer
80 pages; (September 1999)
Millbrook Press; ISBN: 0761315624

Click the titles of the above books for their availability, or enter the title of a book not shown in the above listing in the search box below.

 

Search for magazines by entering the title or keywords in the search box below.

 

Message Boards and Listservs

These two categories are discussions among groups of people with similar interests carried on in quite different ways. To participate in a message board discussion you would surf to that area of the website and probably undergo a brief registration (if any) to allow you to make posts at the board's submission post. Listservs are discussion groups carried on via email, with running dialogs by participants arriving in your mailbox (and the mailbox of all those taking part in the group whether they are silent or active participants) as they are sent out. There is usually an option an option to receive these discussion in "digest" form, which captures the days session in one compendium. Usually to enlist yourself in a listserv discussion you would type the word "subscribe" into the subject line of your email client and send it off.

MESSAGE BOARDS

LISTSERVS

Acting Only Club at Yahoo! Clubs
A club for actors and actresses of all ages to come and swap acting ideas, tips, or anything else relating to any type of acting. Includes message board and chat room. To enroll, visit the URL link at: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/actingonlyclub.
Actor Discussion Group
Subscribe: listserv@talentnet.com
Post: actor@talentnet.com
ACTING-PRO
For theatre & film professionals, theatre educators and acting coaches. The aim is to have a place where working actors and directors can discuss all aspects of their craft, from the theoretical to the practical. Subscribe by visiting the website at http://www.thegrid.net/virg
 

American Society for Theatre Research
If you wish to be added to the ASTR listserv, Email your name and the Email address you wish to be the active address for the list to:
Peter Davis at the University of Illinois (padavis@uiuc.edu).
Likewise, to be removed from the list, notify Dr. Davis with your name and the appropriate Email address.

The Actor Site
Various discussion topics as well as Email news distribution.
http://www.actorsite.com/
ARTMGT-L
News and discussion relating to Arts management. Strong US bias, but open to all. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe artmgt-l firstname lastname to listserv@bingvmb.cc.binghamton.edu.
 
The Actor’s Checklist
Use our discussion board to find answers on the range of topics addressed by this website.
http://actorschecklist.com/phpBB2/
Arts & Business Council
Through its local and national programs the Arts & Business Council brings expertise, resources and leadership talent from the business world to the arts community. Sign up to receive Email information about ArtsMarketing.org. Subscribe to one or more of the Email lists. Each list is focused on a specific marketing topic. To enroll, visit the URL link at: http://www.artsmarketing.org/Emailsignup/listserve-view.cfm

American Association of Community Theatre (AACT)
AACT exists to enable community theatres across the country to become the cornerstones of the creative life of their communities
http://www.aact.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi

Arts Management Group
Subscribe: listserv@bingvmb.cc.binghamton.edu
post: artmgt-l@bingvmb.cc.binghamton.edu

American Dance Festival (ADF)
Dance criticism and performance.
http://www.americandancefestival.org/wwwboard/index.html

Arts Wire CURRENT
Arts Wire CURRENT features news updates on social, economic, philosophical, and political issues affecting the arts and culture. Contributions are invited. To subscribe to Arts Wire’s Current, send an Email message to majordomo@artswire.org. In the message body, type "subscribe current". Or for more information visit the link at: http://www.artswire.org/current.html#what

American Society for Theatre Research
Maintains an active online discussion list. Topics vary from specific inquires regarding theatre minutia to extended discussions about historical information or help with syllabi and course texts.
http://listserv.uiuc.edu/archives/astr-l.html

ASIANTHEATRE
Run by the Association for Asian Performance, based at the University of San Francisco, this list is a great way to communicate with theatre artists, dancers, musicians, and scholars from around the world who have an interest in Asian performance. It is also a great way to gather information for use in your theatre history courses or creative productions, or to participate in interesting on-line discussions on world theatre topics. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe asiantheatre to majordomo@lovelace.usfca.edu.
 

American Theatre Web
Forum topics include strategies for landing a role in a production; playwriting; on-line marketing; fundraising.
http://www.americantheatreweb.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

Association for Theatre in Higher Education
http://www.hawaii.edu/athe/resources/online.html
send an Email message consisting ONLY of the following to LISTSERV@lists.wayne.edu
http://www.bsu.edu/web/cfa/ATHE/

Arts International
Arts organization dedicated to the development and support of global cultural interchange in the arts.
http://www.artsinternational.org/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi

ASTR-L
Discussion list devoted to theatre history run by the American Society for Theatre Research. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe ASTR-L firstname lastname to listserv@postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu.
 

Association of Independents in Radio (AIR)
Interact@AIR at http://interact.airmedia.org/ is open to community discussion, while questions about AIR can be posed at Ask AIR, at
http://interact.airmedia.org/WebX?50@133.Wah2axhgank.0@.ee7bce5

COLLAB-L
Discussion group for theatre writers, musicians, artists, etc., who are interested in using online access to develop collaborative works. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe COLLAB-L firstname lastname to listserv@psuvm.psu.edu.

Auditioning for the Musical Theater
Ask a question about auditioning, and you will benefit from the expert advice of Steve Alper, the author of Next!, a book all about the subject. More a "leave your question" sort of spot than a web forum.
http://hollywoodnetwork.com/Alper/chat/board.html

COMEDIA
Discussion group devoted to theatre of the Spanish Golden Age. Subscribe by sending the message Subscribe COMEDIA firstname lastname to listserv@listserv.arizona.edu. The group also maintains a useful web access page to back postings, and an important collection of Golden Age drama online

CastingYou In 2002
Web board forum.
http://www.castingyou.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html

CrewList.Net
http://www.industrycentral.net/links_index1.html
 

Christians in Theatre Arts
This internet discussion forum seeks to encourage Christians involved in all aspects of the theatre arts to engage in conversation about their work.
http://www.cita.org/disc1_frm.htm

 

Digital Technology and the Performing Arts Group
Subscribe: listproc@frank.mtsu.edu
post: ars-digit-l@frank.mtsu.edu

Community Theater Green Room
A place where anyone can come and exchange ideas, information and advice about community theater.
http://www.communitytheater.org/asp/forum/thread-it/default.asp

 

DigiTheatre
Listserv for discussing the use of technology in theatre. The Digital Guerilla Video. To join, go to http://www.egrouame is inspired by the term Diguerillas, in Avi Hoffer's book ops.com/group/DigiTheatre, and follow the instructions.

Definitive Musical Theatre Website
U.K. based website with serious area to discuss, debate, ask or answer questions, write a review or post information about musicals. Click on ‘Message Forum’ link.
http://www.dmtw.co.uk/

DRAMA UK
For anyone teaching Drama at any level. The list seeks to promote communication among Drama educators. Subscribe on the web page at http://www.eGroups.com/list/drama_uk/.

Dramaturg’s Network Online Forum
Aims to stimulate debate, not only about what dramaturgy and the role of a Dramaturg is but also to encourage discussion on different theatre productions, working modes, resources, and issues pertinent to dramaturgy.
http://www.adriantoll.com/dramaturgy/forum/

FICINO
International electronic seminar and bulletin board for the circulation and exchange of information about the Renaissance and Reformation (culture of the period 1350-1700) and the decades which precede and follow. For subscription details, see http://citd.scar.utoronto.ca/crrs/FICINO.html.

Educational Theatre Association
Focusing on theatre festivals for students, professional development programs for theatre teachers.
http://www.edta.org/connections/discussion_boards.asp

Historic Costume
subscribe: h-costume-request@andrew.cmu.edu
post: h-costume@andrew.cmu.edu

Film/Video Arts
Communicate with others and the industry at large through this organization's Bulletin Board service, including the following areas: Crew Calls/Jobs; Freelance/Available Crew; For Sale/Rent; Services; Call for Entries; Funding; Screenings.
http://www.fva.com/bulletinboard/subform_body.htm

ICWP-L
A place for women working in theatre (playwrights in particular) may discuss any issue that has a bearing on their work. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe icwp-l to listadmin@internationalwomenplaywrights.org.

FOCAL Forum
The forum of this Swiss based foundation which is devoted to information exchange and the sharing of knowledge on the subject of training for the cinematic and audiovisual industry.
http://www.focal.ch/cgi-bin/cf/f_forum/HomePage.cfm

LIST-SOCIODRAMA
This list is primarily intended to serve the needs of those who use theater as a tool for change -- community, social, or personal -- but recognizes the overlap of these improvisatory and non-scripted forms with arts or entertainment goals and welcomes those interested in exploring this interface. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe list-sociodrama your-Email-address to majordomo@sunyit.edu.

Fox Searchlight Pictures
Searchlight has endeavored to find and foster new cinematic voices by creating Fox Searchlab. Searchlab provides aspiring filmmakers with resources and mentoring as they write, direct and produce digital shorts while serving as a production unit supplying content to Fox Searchlight’s web site.
http://forum.foxsearchlight.com/; or http://www.foxsearchlight.com/messageboard/

LONDON THEATRE LISTINGS
Monthly mailing list which distributes details of what is showing in London's major theatres. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe listings to listings@londontheatre.co.uk.

The Hollywood Reporter
A very diverse offering of topics from this well regarded industry publication, including a forum to post press release and promotional information.
http://bbs.hollywoodreporter.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi

LONDON THEATRE NEWS
Weekly newsletter devoted to London's major theatres. It complements the WWW site at www.londontheatre.co.uk/online/index.html. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe newsletter to newsletter@londontheatre.co.uk.

IFP Forums
An online community bulletin board where site members can discuss any and all topics relevant to the independent filmmaker.
http://www.ifp.org/forum/

Maryland Community Theater auditions and performances announcements list.
To Join: send an Email to mdtheater-subscribe@topica.com
To Post: Send mail to mdtheater@topica.com
or URL: http://www.topica.com/lists/mdtheater

IndustrialCentral Discussion Board
http://www.industrycentral.net/links_index1.html

NATIVE THEATER
For the discussion of academic and production news and topics in Native theater. Sponsored by the Native American Women's Playwrights Archive at Miami University. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe nativetheater to petidomo@staff.lib.muohio.edu.

Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association
The goal of the Association is to provide a marketplace for ideas, strategies, and original concepts in education to meet the professional challenges for the music industry of the 21st century.
http://216.116.171.70/meieaboard/guestbook.asp

North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance
Hosts a discussion list serve for its members and other interested people. To join the list, send an Email message to majordomo@lists.his.com and write: subscribe folk-alliance by itself in the message body. There is a web-accessible archive of the messages from this list at http://archives.his.com/folk-alliance

theMUSICEDGE.com
A place where you can go for information on up and coming bands, learn of current stars, view a comprehensive guide to finding the right instrument for you to express yourself with, and especially for the person who has dreamt of playing but never had any idea that the easiest way to get started is to pick up an instrument.
http://www.themusicedge.com/phpBB2/

PERFORM
Medieval performance studies (not to be confused with the PERFORM-L list, below). Subscribe by sending the message subscribe PERFORM firstname lastname to listserv@listserv.indiana.edu.
 

Photo Contest Message Board.
Come here to discuss photo contests and pageants for your children or yourself. Contest kept strictly on a PG rated level.
http://pub24.ezboard.com/bphotocontestmessageboard

PERFORM-L
Performance studies (not to be confused with the PERFORM list,above, which is devoted to medieval performance studies). Subscribe by sending the message subscribe PERFORM-L firstname lastname to listserv@iubvm.ucs.indiana.edu.
 

Playbill Online
This institution known for its program guides to Broadway and Off-Broadway stage productions also has a website geared toward aspiring actors and actresses. Access the chat and message board facilities at the URL link: http://209.25.224.112.

PSYCHODRAMA
Devoted to Moreno's psychodrama, role-playing and other types of drama-like interaction. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe PSYCHODRAMA firstname lastname to LISTSERV@maelstrom.stjohns.edu. See also the website at http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/psychodrama.html
The Scriptwriters Network Bulletin Board
http://scriptwritersnetwork.com/discus/index.html
PUPTCRIT
The aesthetics, history, experience, theory and praxis of puppet theatre. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe puptcrit to Majordomo@lists.village.virginia.edu.
Shakespeare High & Surfing With the Bard
Discussion focused on Shakespeare
http://www.shakespearehigh.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi
QUEATRE
French language discussion group devoted to theatre of all types. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe QUEATRE firstname lastname to listproc@uqam.ca.
SIBMAS, the International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts
http://www.theatrelibrary.org/bbs/index.sht
REED-L
Records of Early English Drama. Subscribe by visiting the web site at http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~reed/reed-l.html
Stage Directions Magazine
http://stage-directions.com/
RELIGION AND THEATRE (ATHE)
Forum for exploring culture at the crossroads of theatre, world religions and spirituality, past and present. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe athe-rt-l yourEmailaddress to majordomo@mtu.edu.
Stunt Directory Forum
http://www.stuntplayers.com/forum/
RENAIS-L
Early modern history list - not exclusively theatre but frequently features theatrical topics. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe RENAIS-L firstname lastname to listserv@ulkyvm.louisville.edu.
Talk to HBO
Post here any questions related to HBO.com, HBO or any subscriber-related issues. Be sure to check our HBO.com FAQ first, or send us your question directly from our website.
http://boards.hbo.com/index.jsp
RUSSTHEA-L
For the study of Slavic and Eastern European theatre. Subscribe by sending the message SUBSCRIBE RUSSTHEA-L firstname lastname to listproc@hawaii.edu.
Theatre Communications Group (TCG)
Offers American Theatre Forum to discuss topics from this month's issue of American Theatre magazine with a cross sections of TCG members and the general public; a member forum and an open forum. A new use registration area is at: http://www.tcg.org/frames/b_boards/fs_boards.htm
SCOTTISH THEATRE
Mailing list for the discussion of Scottish theatre. Subscribe by writing to scottish_theatre-subscribe@egroups.com
UCLA Center for Intercultural Performance
Post messages here for all intercultural performance activities including the Asia Pacific Performance Exchange, National Dance/ Media Project, as well as any other intercultural activities happening in your part of the world you think would be of interest to our community. Post at: http://forums.cda.ucla.edu/scripts/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum
=UCLA+Center+for+Intercultural+Performance&number=2&DaysPrune=1000&LastLogin=
SHAKSPEARE
International electronic conference for Shakespearean researchers, instructors, students, and those who share their academic interests and concerns. Subscribe by sending the message SUB SHAKSPER firstname lastname to LISTSERV@ws.BowieState.edu, and you will be sent further details (subscriptions are not automatic).
 VASTAVOX
Established in 1994 under the auspices of the Voice & Speech Trainers Association (VASTA) to promote discussion of voice, speech, dialect, and classical text issues for actors, singers, and other professional voice users.
http://maillists.uci.edu/mailman/public/vastavox/
STAGE AND SCREEN
Online forum for theatre professionals. Check it out at http://www.stageandscreen.org/
 
The Stage Combat Mailing List
To subscribe to the mailing list, send Email to majordomo@mattress.atww.org with the phrase "subscribe stage-combat" in the body of the message (no quotes).
 
Stage Combat Mailing List
A forum discussing theatrical stage combat and the various aspects of the art.
To subscribe to the mailing list, send Email to majordomo@reichertech.com with the phrase "subscribe stage-combat" in the body of the message (no quotes). Once you subscribe, you will receive another message showing the Email address for the actual list, and other instructions on how to use the list server.
http://www.stagecombat.com/resources/info_maillist.shtml
 
 
STAGECRAFT
Discussion group devoted to all aspects of stage work, design, production and management. Subscribe by sending an Email to subscribe-stagecraft@theatre.mtsu.edu. See also the website at http://www.theprices.net/lists/stagecraft/.
 
THEATERWISSENSCHAFT
Discussion list for German-speaking theatre students. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe firstname lastname to forumTW-subscribe@listbot.com.
 
THEATRE
Discussion group devoted to theatre. Relaxed and informal. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe theatre firstname lastname to listproc@pucc.princeton.edu.
 
THEATREOZ
Discussion group on specific issues raised from the list related to research and development in the area of performance. Open to all. Also carries notices of Australian and international conferences, etc. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe theatreoz firstname lastname to Majordomo@ob1.uws.EDU.AU. See also the web page at http://www.nepean.uws.edu.au/arts/theatre/theatreoz.html
 
THEATRE-SOUND
Discussion group for people working in sound for live theatre. Subscribe by sending the message subscribe theatre-sound to listserv@listserv.aol.com.
 
VASTAVOX
Established in 1994 under the auspices of the Voice & Speech Trainers Association (VASTA) to promote discussion of voice, speech, dialect, and classical text issues for actors, singers, and other professional voice users.
To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the Vastavox Archives at: http://maillists.uci.edu/mailman/public/vastavox/
To post a message to all the list members, send Email to vastavox@uci.edu.

ARTS SEARCH ENGINES

Arts to Zoo
http://www.artstozoo.org/

CultureFinder Inc.
http://www.culturefinder.com/

Find-Arts.com
http://www.find-arts.com/

Wolfesden Actors Exchange
http://www.wolfesden.net/

Actors' Newsgroups

rec.arts.theatre.musicals
rec.arts.theatre.misc
rec.arts.theatre.plays
rec.arts.theatre.stagecraft
alt.stagecraft
alt.comedy.vaudeville
alt.acting
humanities.lit.authors.shakespeare







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