Dennis is proud to announce that the book Objectives, Obstacles and Tactics in Practice, edited by Valerie Clayman Pye and Hilary Haft Bucs, which features his chapter "Money in Your Pocket: Meisner, Objectives, and the First Six Lines" is now available, published by Routledge. You can purchase a copy of the book directly on Amazon.

Objectives, Obstacles, and Tactics in Practice is the first book that compiles practical approaches of the best practices from a range of practitioners on the subject of working with Stanislavski’s "objectives," "obstacles," and "tactics."

The book offers instructors and directors a variety of tools from leading acting teachers, who bring their own individual perspectives to the challenge of working with Stanislavski’s principles for today’s actors, in one volume. Each essay addresses its own theoretical and practical approach and offers concrete instructions for implementing new explorations both in the classroom and in the rehearsal studio.

In "Money in your Pocket", Dennis takes  Meisner’s famous Repetition exercise further, connectingimprovisation to the first six lines of scene work. By having students approach their scene as “an improvisation with text,” he takes the pressure off the student perfecting the character objective, and focuses on play, which in this case is throwing “snowballs.” Schebetta explores William Esper’s perspective, “a good objective is like money in your pocket,” which means “objectives are not something you can act … but actions are the specific building blocks of behavior upon which you achieve (or don’t achieve) your objective.”

Dennis is excited to make his acting debut with the Northeast Theatre Ensemble in their site specific and immersive production of An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde, playing the witty Lord Goring.  Directed by Dr. Krysta Dennis, the production runs three weekends, Thursdays through Sundays, from April 11-28. Thursday through Saturday performances take place at 7:30 pm; Sunday shows are at 3 pm. Performances are inside the historic Ten Broeck Mansion in Albany, built in the 1790s.

Guests will arrive for Sir Robert Chiltern's evening party, be handed champagne and then move from room to room as the play progresses.

Seating and tickets are limited due to the nature of the performance venue, so purchasing tickets in advance is required. Tickets can be purchased online here.

According to Oscar Wilde, "Sooner or later, we shall all have to pay for what we do." But, he adds,  "No one should be entirely judged by their past."

If a young man makes a mistake early on in his political career, should he be held accountable for it twenty years later? Wilde tackles this question with his trademark wit and style in "An Ideal Husband." NorthEast Theatre Ensemble will be bringing this delightful 1893 play to life in an immersive site-specific performance at Ten Broeck Mansion in Albany. This environmental production will take place in various spaces throughout the mansion, so come prepared to move around and enjoy cocktails, a party at the Chilterns' house, and tea with some formidable (even ruthless) women.

Ten Broeck Mansion is located at 9 Ten Broeck Place in Albany. Parking is available in the mansion's lot. The performance space is ADA accessible, but please notify us in advance so we can make sure you are properly accommodated.

Dennis is performing as Black Stache in the UP Stages production of Peter and the Starcatcher by Ricke Elice based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, i n the Charity Randall Theater, from March 30 to April 9th. This fun, rollicking prequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan has been wowing audiences since its debut on Broadway many years ago. 
For tickets and more information, please click here.
From the website: "When starcatcher-in-training Molly meets an orphan boy longing for a home, they embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Based on the novel by comedian Dave Barry and author Ridley Pearson, Peter and the Starcatcher is a swashbuckling, grownup prequel to Peter Pan that will hook you from the beginning with its action and humor, and soon your imagination will take flight all the way past the second star on the right and straight on till morning."

Dennis has begun filming for the movie ALL-SIGHT, written and directed by Talia Levin. Dennis has been cast as the lead, Jordan Anders, a grieving father and husband who retreats into a virtual reality simulator and must learn to re-connect to the world, and to his young daughter. 

The film also features Talia Akiva (THE IDES OF MARCH with George Clooney), Jess Paul (THE IMMACULATE RECEPTION) and Renee Rabenold.

For more information, check out the indiegogo page here.

The script was selected as part of the 2014 Steeltown Film Factory Community Showcase. 

Dennis is proud to announce that beginning in the fall of 2014, he will be joining the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh as Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre Arts.

His new role will include being Head of the MFA Pedagogy Performance program, teaching acting and other performance classes, as well as directing productions on the Pitt Stages main stage.  

He is scheduled to direct DOG IN THE MANGER by Lope de Vega for the 2014-2015 season.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 24, the principal photography ended on the short film MY DATE WITH ADAM.  The last shot was our leads on a romantic walk through Highland Park, a fitting end to this little romantic comedy. 

With many thanks to the generous support of the Pittsburgh community, including our locations at Tazza d'Oro, Grandview Bakery, Carnegie Mellon University, Celebrity Bridal! 

Dennis enjoyed his first experience helming a movie and begins the post-production process.

The film will debut in the Three Rivers Film Festival in November.  For more information about the movie, check out the website (mydatewithadam.com) and the facebook page.

Last month, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published their "Best of" list and named the Pittsburgh Playhouse production of AUGUST:OSAGE COUNTY as number one (tying with Bricolage's production STRATA and Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre's Chekhov festival.  The P-G said, "This is gothic comedy on a grand scale, but deeply moving as well, with a fine cast led by Mary Rawson". Dennis was honored to be part of this amazing ensemble, playing the part of "Little Charles".

Read the list here.

The short film ROSES ARE RED had its premiere on Saturday, December 8th.  

For a look at the trailer, check out the website.

On Friday, Dennis begins filming for the short film ROSES ARE RED, directed by Emily Westfield.  This 1950's drama is the story of a ballet director and his lead dancer (and love interest) being subjected to McCarthyism.  Dennis will play the lead role of Albert (based loosely on the real choreographer George Balanchine).  

The run of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY at The Pittsburgh Playhouse was a tremendous success, playing to nearly sold out houses.  Dennis played "Little Charles" in this production directed by John Shepard and featuring local Pittsburgh talent like Mary Rawson and David Whalen.

Dennis' character is described as "sweetly hapless" by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Read this great review in the Pittsburgh City Paper.