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?
Entire cast gathers in a
Thu, 2 July 2009, 11:44 amEntire cast gathers in a circle and plays a few energing mini-theatre games or simple vocal training exercises. Maybe split into pairs and vigorously massage each others' bodies. The precise nature of the warm-up varies from company to company, but the common features seem to be:
- some vocal elements, theatricalised yawning, sustaining long "mah" sounds.
- simple stretching exercises.
- a complete inability by the cast to form an even circle.
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