In 5 minutes or less, you can create a memorable,
unique performance, without panicking.
Once upon a time, as a young actor in New York, I walked into an audition and was handed a monologue that I had never seen before. The director said, "Look that over, and we'll see you in about five minutes."
The piece was thick with wild imagery and non-sequiturs, and repetition at the beginning of almost every sentence. I looked at it and thought, "5 minutes?" But I pulled out my pencil and got to work.
5 minutes later, I was able to wow the director with a unique, memorable, confident performance... and I got the job.
And now I'll teach you the techniques I used, so you can do it, too!
I always tell people my last name is, "Penning... like writing things down." How fitting, then, that this method would be all about "Penning" your unique marks to shape your script so you'll never lose your place, you'll always know exactly what you mean, and you'll wow them with your confidence!
All from a little "Penning."
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I started performing onstage when I was 8 years old. My family will tell you I was performing long before that. I had a wonderful fourth grade teacher who introduced me to Shakespeare and changed my life. So since that time, I've always used Shakespearean notation to mark my scripts for clarity and stresses.
It dawned on me that this kind of notation, with a little tweaking, would work well on contemporary scripts, too, and then, if I were to give a presentation in front of a group of people, I'd mark those scripts, too.
Soon, I began teaching this "Penning" method to all my students, and they've relied on it to book them work in theatre, film, and television, and to get them into college and grad school. I have always wanted to write a book describing the technique, but now, with the availability of online learning, I can teach far more people than I ever could individually, and help actors all over the world create confident, memorable performances in minutes.
I can't wait to share with you the technique I've been honing for decades, which has led me to a successful career as an award-winning actress and audiobook narrator.
"booked a role on Bull, in New York theatre, and commercials as a result of Marni's amazing method - it really works for me!"
"got into graduate school thanks to Marni's "Penning" method and now I use it for everything"
"booked a film and several theatre gigs and now uses the method for quick turnaround auditions"
Me too! I freeze up when I rely on my memory and don't commit my choices to the script. But as soon as I began using this method to quickly notate my choices, I was able to perform freely, without self-doubt, knowing I made the best, most unique choices I could in the time I was allotted. And then I go out and get myself a cup of tea to celebrate, and move on to the next thing. You can, too! Let the marks guide you so you can just PLAY!