how do you prepare for the evening's performance?

Wed, 1 July 2009, 11:36 pm

Lisa Skryp45 posts in thread

OK - my turn to ask a question of actors, directors & techies of all varieties - how do you prepare for the evening's performance? I tend to have a light, not too garlicky dinner, then prepare my ever-present travel mug of coffee & head to the theatre as early as practicable. I find music that suits my character - often look for a "theme song" to get me in the right mood for my character. This time it might be something by the Kinks, but still deciding. Singing in the car is warmup part one. If the show is a musical, there will of course be a fair bit more vocal exercises. Get to theatre; dump my gear; check/set my props/costume. Tooth brushing, enough costume for decency, warmup (see below) then makeup/hair, if I can do it in that order. I like to be ready early enough for last-minute disasters. Then I go around stashing my water bottle(s) here & there for easy access backstage. I enjoy group warmups that are to do with pace/group intuition, but on my own I like to do at least a little light stretching/relaxing excercises & go through my moves onstage, walking my way into character. I like to do a familiar speech (not necessarily from the current show) & work on projection & breathing. Depending on the physicality of my role I might get into a bit more of a physical warmup as well. Think that's roughly it. Might change a bit this time - we'll see... What's your routine?

The Kinks, Lisa? Now you're

Thu, 2 July 2009, 02:07 am

Tim Prosser

The Kinks, Lisa? Now you're talking! But surely you can't be as old as me!

Anyway, all this talk of warm-ups and vocal preparation and 'focus' and imbibing repeated doses of er...shall we say 'tonic solutions'...makes me feel very slap-dash in my own approach to the evening's proceedings.

First of all I turn up, most likely after a journey by public transport and during which I've done both of the crosswords in the day's edition of the West Australian, immediately put the kettle on and make a mug of tea, roll a cigarette (yes, I know...please don't get on my back about it!) and then slink off somewhere quiet outside the stage door to smoke it and gather my thoughts before the rest of the cast arrives and the lively dressing-room banter begins.

I'll get myself togged-up, made-up (if I absolutely must), make another mug of tea, roll another fag and slink off again...perhaps to be joined by one or more other cast members who understand the satisfaction of the evil blue vapour and its ability to calmly focus the mind. I don't practice lines or think about the script at all. If I don't know it by now, then I have no business being there pretending to be an actor.

I keep an ear out for the bell, the two minute warning, the call for "beginners on stage please!" and...away we go!

When it's all over I go home, don't think about it again until the following night, and then go through the whole process again.

No doubt all who read this will be horrified, but...it works for me!

Per Ardua Ad Astra

Thread (45 posts)

Threaded Flat

how do you prepare for the evening's performance?— Lisa Skryp1 July 2009

You did ask....— jmuzz2 July 2009
- You're bringing up all the good old Cosi times again— Lisa Skryp2 July 2009
  - Of course not— jmuzz2 July 2009
    - Stand-out performance— stinger14 July 2009
Generally - a fairly early— jeffhansen2 July 2009
- I like my space..— Lunamynx2214 July 2009
Ahh...remind me never to work with Murray....erm...— jessmess2 July 2009
I generally arrive— Garreth2 July 2009
The Kinks, Lisa? Now you're— Tim Prosser2 July 2009
- the Kinks are legends!— Lisa Skryp2 July 2009
  - You missed the best one— jmuzz2 July 2009
    - it were luvly, weren't it?— Lisa Skryp2 July 2009
  - Good thinking, Ninety-nine!— Tim Prosser2 July 2009
Tim Tam— Labrug2 July 2009
- Hmmmusical— Labrug2 July 2009
I rarely eat dinner before— grantwatson2 July 2009
These days I'm usually a— Logos2 July 2009
Panic— Lee Sheppard2 July 2009
Pre-show Preparations— DazzaB2 July 2009
Pfft— Freddie Badgery2 July 2009
- You're reminding me of the— grantwatson2 July 2009
Also should add that I— grantwatson2 July 2009
- Group warm-up?— Lee Sheppard2 July 2009
  - My understanding— DazzaB2 July 2009
  - Entire cast gathers in a— grantwatson2 July 2009
    - I definitely agree with— Freddie Badgery2 July 2009
      - ···
        Even at the Ellenbrook— grantwatson2 July 2009
        ···
        ESPECIALLY at Ellenbrook,— Garreth3 July 2009
- warm ups— mike raine3 July 2009
how could I forget the last-minute pee-break!— Lisa Skryp2 July 2009
My Thoughts— Robert Whyte2 July 2009
- I think it depends on the— grantwatson2 July 2009
  - Ahh, memories...— Freddie Badgery2 July 2009
Dedicated Follower of Fashion— danni_skye2 July 2009
- Dedicated Follower of Fashion— Lisa Skryp2 July 2009
My typical preparation before a performance:— crgwllms3 July 2009
- Kinky PS— crgwllms3 July 2009
Just read Pontius Kak— Skybe3 July 2009
Okay seriously...— jessmess3 July 2009
Depends what it is, the— Rebecca Jo3 July 2009
My goodness, all these— Tim Prosser3 July 2009
I saw The Kinks early— Logos14 July 2009
Bathe— Walter Plinge27 Aug 2009
Banana Puddin'— ozzieparker28 Aug 2009

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