Act Out!

When it comes to acting, The Galinsky Brothers—Robert and Philip—believe that the barriers between talent and industry are manufactured, that actors don’t have to be self-promoting egomaniacs and agents and directors can be approachable if everyone chooses to support the craft. And with their monthly actor showcase, The Manhattan Monologue Slam, they are working to replace those barriers with actor camaraderie, audience participation and a little healthy competition.

The first of two acts is devoted to eight, three-minute monologues, most of which are original, and performed by its author, but the pre-existing material from plays and movies can be the most interesting, depending on the interpretation. No stand-up comedy, no poetry and no singing, everything is rehearsed and workshopped before the show begins, with costumes and props strongly encouraged. If you’re unable to be pre-booked through a referral or an audition, you can try for the second act, when audience members get the opportunity to take the mic for a 30-second performance. It’s recommended that everyone treat their stage time as a real career-building opportunity—especially considering the attention the show has received from audience turnout, industry professionals and celebrity big shots.

They’ve even successfully carried the show over to Los Angeles as well, despite the relative unfamiliarity of live performance in L.A. When asked about the differences between the shows on the two Coasts, the Galinskys claim that the spirit and energy runs just as high in either city, but the participants in the East tend to bring a grittier reality-based humor that the West isn’t used to seeing. Regardless of where you see it, it’s a varied show with a diverse group of performers and unexpected results. On one occasion, the audience was so riveted by the performance of a woman in her seventies that, when she accidentally fell off the stage, no one moved to her aid, believing it to be part of her act.

The judges—who range professionally from directors, to celebrities, to agents and writers—are expected to give constructive criticism, and The Galinsky Brothers, determined to make this a learning experience for all involved, are not afraid to take the judges to task for flimsy feedback. And neither does the audience, because even as the barrier comes down between the industry and talent, the connection from the audience remains as strong as ever.

May 7, Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery (at Bleecker), 212-614-0505; 7, $6.