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?
My Thoughts
Thu, 2 July 2009, 11:44 amI am of the school of "just get up there and do it!"
I think group warm ups are really wanky and I also think their enhancement of a performance is negligble.
As Humphrey Bogart once said.
"I learn my lines and try not to bump into people or furniture".
I think people micro manage to the point of ridiculousness in this day and age, I like the KISS principle.
Keep It Super Simple.
Barbra Streisand never took a single voice lesson, she just knew how, as is the way with natural talent, it just happens, it doesnt need to be worked at.
We all have our ways of getting prepared to do anything, not only acting, I think its a case of finding out what works for you.
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