For all those aspiring actors on the ISU campus, there are two thing you must do. First, make sure you hone your waitering skills. Second, attend the lecture/workshop entitled “So You Want to Be an Actor?”

Tonight the Maintenance Shop will host Al Onorato, personal manager for actors, writers and directors. Starting at 7:30 p.m., Onorato will lecture and provide his personal insights into the world of performing.

“It’s much more than a lecture,” Pat Miller, programs coordinator of the ISU lectures program said. “People can bring material to perform or that they wrote and have Mr. Onorato critique it. He has an extensive history in this business. He’s very direct and knows what he’s doing.”

Onorato’s “extensive history” includes being a founding member of the Casting Society of America. Before resigning from the CSA, he served as Treasurer and as a member of the Board of Directors since the organization’s inception.

Formerly of Onorato/Franks Independent Casting, he is now partner and principal owner in Onorato/Guillod Entertainment. Just some of Onorato/Guillod’s clients are Trenton Knight of the Fox series “Models INC,” J. Madison Wright of the NBC series “Earth II” and Christine Taylor who plays Marcia Brady in “The Brady Bunch Movie.”

Prior to Onorato/Franks, he was Vice-President in charge of talent and casting at Columbia pictures Television. He has worked on staff at Universal, CBS, and MGM. Before becoming an independent casting director, some of the many projects that he was involved in include: “Bewitched,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “Police Story,” as well as the daytime soaps, “Days of Our Lives” and “The Young and the Restless.”

As independent casting directors, some of the projects that Onorato/Franks have cast are: “Fame,” “CHiPs,” “Trauma Center,” “General Hospital” and “Freddy’s Nightmares.” Some of the numerous people Onorato has been instrumental in the careers of include: Mark Harmon, David Hasselhoff, Cheryl Ladd, Gregory Harrison and Kevin Spacey.

Onorato does seminars and teaching around the country and on the University level at Cal State in Los Angeles, UCL, and the University of Southern California. He has served as a judge on “Star Search” and around the country at numerous model and talent conventions. He also utilizes his directorial abilities by being one of the managing directors of a theatrical group, “The Actors Gym.”

“So You Want to Be an Actor?” starts at 7:30 in the M-Shop. Anyone hoping to achieve the star stature that David Hasselhoff has attained is encouraged to attend.