Swan River Letters Volume 1

Acting Outside The Box(tm) is the perfect pocket companion for every stage of an actor's career. These 45 motivational cards trigger your imagination and provide instant connections to your own natural instincts. This compact coach will help keep your mind and spirit focused, resulting in a stronger audition and performance. The cards explore three important elements in creating a memorable performance - preparation, story and expression. At auditions, on the set, or wherever needed, these cards are a winning hand in your pocket.

Julie Stevens began performing at age nine when she was cast as one of the orphans in the in the hit Broadway musical, ANNIE . She played Pepper in the final cast when Annie closed on Broadway after 2,377 performances.

Julie went on to earn a BFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and a Masters Degree in Education from Bank Street College . Julie was able to utilize her acting skills and teaching degree as a teaching artist for many well-known theatre companies in New York, including The Roundabout, National Actor's Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club. Julie also became an on-set Studio Teacher for professional children working in commercials, studio films, and independent films.

After moving to Los Angeles, Julie once again combined her acting and teaching skills, along with an entrepreneurial spirit, to create a motivational deck of cards for performing artists, called ACTING OUTSIDE THE BOX(tm) , available online and in specialty stores nationwide.

In 2000, Julie launched a website, ANNIEORPHANS.COM , hoping to re-connect with her fellow cast members online. The website quickly became the premiere ANNIE site for fans worldwide and has succeeded in creating a "sisterhood" of young women who appeared in the show. The website was the inspiration for Julie's documentary feature film, LIFE AFTER TOMORROW , which reunites over 40 women who played orphans in the show's original run on Broadway, from 1977-1983. It reveals many of the seldom-discussed aspects of professional children, including the impact on families, friendships, schooling and the search for a "normal" childhood when the acting career stalls. The film premiered on Showtime, won many prestigious film festival awards, and is now available on DVD.

Currently, Julie is developing and directing other documentary projects. As a performer, her singing voice can be heard as Barbie in the animated feature film, THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER , Cheer Bear in CARE BEAR LIVE , and MY LITTLE PONY LIVE . Julie continues to perform in theatre, film and television in Los Angeles. She is a member of the Director s Guild, Screen Actor s Guild, AFTRA, and Actor s Equity Association.