Tag: young actors

Theatre, Theatre 101 Series

Theatre 101 Series: Your Starter Guide to Building a Character

Posted on by Thtrthts

The Theatre 101 Series is a set of introductory articles meant to explain theatrical concepts and situations to young actors as well as adult theatrical newcomers. View the whole series here.

As you begin your rehearsal process, you’ll likely hear a lot about the importance of building a character. What exactly does this mean, and how should you go about it?

As always in theatre, this is a highly personal process, and I won’t pretend to have all of the answers. Nonetheless, hopefully this article gives you a solid starting point.

Continue reading →
Advertisement
0
Theatre, Theatre 101 Series

Theatre 101: 5 Tips for Conquering Stage Fright

Posted on by Thtrthts

The Theatre 101 Series is a set of introductory articles meant to explain theatrical concepts and situations to young actors as well as adult theatrical newcomers. View the whole series here.

Do you get anxious thinking about being the center of attention? Does public speaking make you squirm? Is giving an oral presentation to your class or office one of your biggest fears? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you experience “stage fright.” Don’t worry– you’re in good company. Science suggests that around 73% of the population experience this phenomenon as well.

Almost everyone contends with some fear of public speaking or social anxiety. Many would-be actors cite stage fright as the reason they chicken out of performing. Yet, stage fright is a fact of life. Even most seasoned performers also experience stage fright! Though practice and experience lessens preformance-related anxieties, many agree that stage fright never completely goes away. So how to veteran actors deal with it?

Although the fight against stage fright will seemingly never truly be won, performers employ a variety of methods to help conquer their nerves and perform successfully. Here are just a few.

Continue reading →
0
Theatre, Theatre 101 Series

Theatre 101: Your Starter Guide to Memorization for Theatre

Posted on by Thtrthts

The Theatre 101 Series is a set of introductory articles meant to explain theatrical concepts and situations to young actors as well as adult theatrical newcomers. View the whole series here.

Many new actors find memorization the most daunting part of the rehearsal process. Lines, choreography, blocking, lyrics, and set and costume changes must be memorized, which proves challenging even for veteran actors. How do veteran actors conquer memorization to be prepared come showtime?

Continue reading →
5
Theatre, Theatre 101 Series

Theatre 101 Series: Decoding the Production Schedule: What Happens After Auditions?

Posted on by Thtrthts

The Theatre 101 Series is a set of introductory articles meant to explain theatrical concepts and situations to young actors as well as adult theatrical newcomers. View the whole series here.

Once auditions are over, the rest of the production process can begin. Woohoo!

Normally one of the first documents a cast receives is the production schedule, which contains all of the information on what is to come. In this article, I’ll quickly explain some unfamiliar terms you may come across.

Continue reading →

0
Theatre, Theatre 101 Series

Theatre 101 Series: A Beginner’s Guide to Audition Prep

Posted on by Thtrthts

The Theatre 101 Series is a set of introductory articles meant to explain theatrical concepts and situations to young actors as well as adult theatrical newcomers. View the whole series here.

When you are new to theatre, preparing for an audition feels like walking blindly into the unknown. While understanding what to expect in your first audition may help, learning how to prepare properly for an audition can require a lot of audition experience. To help newcomers break into auditioning and put their best foot forward, here is a beginner-friendly guide to preparing for auditions!

Continue reading →

0
Theatre, Theatre 101 Series

Theatre 101 Series: So you Want to try Theatre? 10 Things you Should Know

Posted on by Thtrthts

The Theatre 101 Series is a set of introductory articles meant to explain theatrical concepts and situations to young actors as well as adult theatrical newcomers. View the whole series here.

Getting started in theatre takes a lot of courage.

If you’ve never performed before, you inevitably have a lot of questions about theatre. What does it take to get started? What should I know? What will I learn? The questions can become so daunting that they often prevent would-be performers from ever stepping on stage at all.

In order to help more newcomers make the transition from potential actor to first-time actor, I’m going to explain ten things everyone should know about the art of theatre.

Continue reading →

0
Guides and Tips, Theatre

3 Definitive Traits That Make you an Excellent Performer

Posted on by Thtrthts

I’ve been around a lot of performers, in a lot of different settings. I’ve directed, I’ve taught, I’ve acted, I’ve watched from the audience and from the stage manager’s booth. Every performer is unique, and everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Yet, in all of the actors, dancers, and musicians I’ve worked with, I have found that there are exactly three traits every truly excellent performer has in common.

These traits are instrumental to success in the performing arts. You won’t get very far without them, and having them can put you on top in close auditions.

If you can honestly say you have these three traits, then pat yourself on the back! If you’re not so sure, read over this article closely and do what you can to pick them up immediately.

Continue reading →

0
Actor Life

“There are no Small Parts, Only Small Actors”

Posted on by Thtrthts

If you’re involved in theatre in any way, then you’ve definitely heard the phrase “there’s no small parts, only small actors” at least once– and probably far more than that. When I was younger, I figured this was just untrue. There are small parts, I thought, that’s just a fact. Some parts are on stage less, or have less lines. They’re small, but that’s not the actor’s fault.

Clearly I wasn’t alone in this sentiment and clearly I’m still not, because I constantly hear stories about actors quitting shows because they didn’t get a “good” part.

This idea among young theatre students– that there is indeed a “small part”— feeds into multiple bad behaviors that not only makes their acting worse but can make entire shows worse. In fact, I’d say that dispelling this myth is one of the most important things a director can do right off the bat to make sure their show has all the power it can have.

So let’s establish something right now– there is no such thing as a small part.

Continue reading →

3