What a Baseball Can Teach Us About Acting

Rehearsals, Realness & the Art of Listening

This month, I stepped into a new role - as the director of Dial M for Murder at Bay City Players in Bay City, Michigan. If you’re not familiar, Bay City Players is one of Michigan’s oldest continuously operating community theaters, nestled right along the Saginaw River. It’s a place with real heart - and a long legacy of bringing meaningful theatre to its community.

Dial M for Murder, originally made famous by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 film adaptation, is a tightly-wound, psychological murder mystery. It’s filled with long monologues, quick turns, and dense backstory - all delivered by just five actors. It’s the kind of play that lives or dies by nuance. The stakes are high, and every beat matters.

As I walked into our first week of rehearsals, I’ll be honest - I felt a familiar mix of excitement and nerves. Directing again is both a homecoming and a responsibility. I’m not just shaping a show; I’m shaping a process. I’m guiding people into truth. And that’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly - as a teacher, a director, or a fellow artist.

And this week, we found that truth - with a few baseballs.

🎯 The Breakthrough

On Thursday, we hit a wall. The actors were doing everything “right” - saying their lines, showing up on time, leaning into character - but something was missing. The tension, the stakes, the sense of genuine connection just weren’t landing yet.

So I did what any reasonable director might do: I brought out three baseballs.

We started simply - just tossing the balls around the room, back and forth. Then we added conversation. “Hello,” toss. “Hi there,” catch and toss back. Gradually, building the conversation around the room one toss at a time.

After comfort set in I wanted to move to our text so we started adding lines from the script - one line, then two, then three - building up bit by bit, like layers of a conversation.

What happened next was pure magic.

Suddenly, we weren’t just memorizing lines - we were engaging. Listening. Reacting. Some actors began experimenting - snatching the ball, rolling it instead of tossing it, pausing with purpose. It became a metaphor for the entire acting process: when we give a line, we must toss it - intentionally, fully. And when we receive a line, we must catch it - with presence and openness.

It wasn’t just a warm-up; it was a revelation. It reminded me - and the cast - that acting isn’t about “delivering” lines. It’s about exchanging truth. Moment by moment. Beat by beat.

🧠 Why This Matters

You don’t have to be in a full-length play to benefit from this kind of approach.

Whether in a full production or simply coaching in a voice or acting session it is possible to lead with the same belief: performance is relational. It’s not about perfection - it’s about presence. It’s possible - and in most cases, BETTER - to experience story-telling through physical connection to the work, and through play. (Yes, even with baseballs.)

Building something great is about more than just technique - it’s about using tools to unlock your own truth as a performer. Focusing on real human connection, story-driven choices, and the kind of breath and body work that makes performance feel less like “acting” and more like living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.

🧡 Closing Thoughts

As we wrapped up that rehearsal, I saw something shift - not just in the scenes, but in the cast. They were breathing together. Risking together. And most importantly: listening. That’s the foundation of every good performance. And every good rehearsal.

I believe training should always feel this way - collaborative, grounded, and joyful - and If you’re curious about the show, or Bay City Players in general you can visit https://www.baycityplayers.org

for more information.

If you’re interested in working with me one-on-one to prepare for your next big audition, college, or just to grow - Your artistry is welcome here.

Visit https://www.thirdcoaststudios.coach to book your first session.

Let’s build something beautiful — together.