In 2006, Jonathan Light served as an assistant on MCC Theatre's production of Neil Labute's "Some Girl(s)," where he had the great opportunity to help Fran Drescher with her work on the play. The play was directed by Jo Bonney and also starred Eric McCormack, Brooke Smith, Judy Reyes and Maura Tierney.

Jonathan made his professional directing debut with a production of "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln," produced by TEST Theatre in New York. He previously worked as the Associate Artistic Director of Cannery Works, where he directed workshop rehearsals of an original adaptation of "Uncle Vanya." Jonathan is also available for private coaching sessions for actors.

Jonathan's work as a director is especially focused on innovative uses of light, sound and space, with close attention to the actor's freedom and comfort. He is particularly interested in ensemble-created work as well as the re-imagining of more obscure classics.

TO ACTORS:

"Many directors and coaches present a methodology or define a process when advertising their services. I am unable to do this, however, because I can't say I really do subscribe to any method or theory; at the risk of repeating a cliche, every person is different and every actor will respond to different ways of working.

If I had to pigeonhole, however, I would point to three statements:

"An actor must never know - an actor can only discover." - Barbara Houseman

"Sometimes we have to relax and let ourselves not know." - Declan Donnellan

"No one can define what good acting is. We can only give voice to what good acting isn't and proceed accordingly." - Bob Bobson

Following these tenets in my work as an actor has made me realize that the most important thing is to discover a state of physical relaxation and emotional truth, rather than inventing or conjuring "emotion" in the pursuit of saying the line well. I will help you to find the three elements that I feel are most important for actors:

• a heightened awareness of your body and voice;

• a superior ability to listen - both to yourself and those around you,

• a willingness to discard false emotion and invented actions in favor of the truth.

If these ideas interest you, and you think I might be able to help you with your work, please contact me - I would be thrilled to be given the chance to help.