Before you read: If you are reading this andahoy are working on either of the plays mentioned DO NOT BE OFFENDED! The advice I give is not directed toward anyone individual. It is simply advice that comes from my expereince as both a member of stage crew and as an actor.
So I have done it! I have successfully memorized all my lines and my first actual performance is less than 2 days away. This performance is at the North Carolina Theater Conference regional competition, and it will be a cut of my school's play, Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge, by Christopher Durang. I will admit that I have my worries about how well we will do. It seems that our tech crew is a little behind on their knowledge of the play and changes, and a good amount of our stuff is still missing. Still there is one day left of practice, and this gives us just a little more time to get things in order. So what is the moral of the story? Well, it depends whether you crew or an actor?
ACTORS: DON'T WORRY!!! or at least try not to. If you're like me, then well you can't help it, but do your best. If your director has any sense then he or she will be just as worried as you, probably more so. Just try and let the director take care of anything, you just need to focus on the acting. I know that this can be difficult at school because it happens around you, and you could be called on to do crew for other school productions. A director once told me, any good actor does not need all of the costumes or sets or anything else to put on the show. As long as you and the rest of the ensemble can work together to create the characters and the world around you and you believe it and truly see it, then the audience will follow you and take the journey, even if they can't totally see the world. If you can create it they'll see it.
CREW: Do your best to know the play you are working on. If you can get a hold of a script early on, and read it, this way you can become acquainted with the play. It will also help you in anticipating any scene changes. Also if you are placed on the crew that is in charge of moving any scenic pieces, talk to the director or designer bout what the set looks like, this way you have a semi-visual, or idea, of what you will be moving. Now in most community theater, if you have the ability to sit in on early practices or run throughs, do and see if you can obtain a script. If you can't and are only present for the tech rehearsals, which is the common practice of most directors and crew, stay focused throughout the entire rehearsals. Stay quiet, listen to the scenes being performed, do your best to understand what is happening around you. Normally you will only have one week to know when changes come, how long you have, and where each piece goes. Focus on your part will relieve any stress on your director, the actors around you, and most importantly YOU!
So there you go, two lessons worth learning in the theater.
Oh hey, I also start tech for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels very soon,which also means we OPEN soon! Legs will be broken... I HOPE!
