how do you prepare for the evening's performance?
Wed, 1 July 2009, 11:36 pmLisa Skryp45 posts in thread
how do you prepare for the evening's performance?
Wed, 1 July 2009, 11:36 pmOK - 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?
Panic
Thu, 2 July 2009, 10:38 amHave only a few dry crackers for dinner.
Go to toilet.
Abuse poor family who don't understand "I'm in the zone, man".
Pack costume and props three times.
Check lists.
Go to toilet.
Drive to theatre, either listening to "happy place" music or repeating lines, stopping on way to go to toilet.
Arrive, unpack and abuse poor fellow actors who don't understand "I'm in the zone, man."
Go to toilet.
Make up.
Dress in costume.
Go to toilet.
Find quiet place in corner to pace and freak out.
Go to toilet.
Walk on stage and spend the next 90 minutes wishing I could go to the toilet.
Seriously, the only real routines I have are listening to some favourite music (to get me into whichever particular mood my character requires) and finding some quiet time to calm the nerves before I go on.
And going to the toilet.
Music this time around - Status Quo, Sweet, Rolling Stones & KISS. And I'm taking a week off work to make sure I'm properly rested for the opening week, and have easy access to a toilet.
Lee "86" Sheppard
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