YOUR FIRST ACTING JOB

Well, you landed the audition great.!! Now what do you do? Keep in mind now the REAL WORK begins.

As in any theatre production, the first step is for you to be given your script.

Place the script in a binder because it should be a part of your daily reading and will be. Purchase a highlighter pen and highlight all of your parts. Highlighting the script will assist you for what is known as THE READING. The Reading is the first step in getting to hear the other actors voices , reading styles and character analysis in the play. Place your name on your script and keep your script clean. If you have the resources, make a second copy.

I was instructed by the great Whitman B. Mayo (1930-2001), who as you know played Grady from NBC's Sandford and Son, to read my script every day. Try to extract a new nuance about your character daily and don’t wait to develop your character during rehearsals. The act of repetition will give you that edge to FEEL the lines, learn the before and after lines (lines preceding your lines and lines that come after your lines). Remember improvising may be necessary if an actor forgets their lines. The repeat process gives you incentive to get in touch with the character’s feelings and do what would come natural, thus giving your performance an appearance of reality.

Always remember, THEATRE IS ART THAT IS THE IMITATION OF LIFE!

Karen

THE ART OF IMPROVISATION

Singing in the car to your favorite ipod tunes and not knowing the words, playing a jazz piece and really feeling the music without a written structured composition,  or acting in a play and oops one of the actors goes blank..(Somebody say something please.) Models strolling down the runway and slipping on the catwalk,.What do you do.? Using props on stage and the props fail.. What do you do??

The art form that is encompassed under the theatre umbrella is known as IMPROVISATION. To improvise is the staple of theatre and some forms of musical art. You make it up as you go along. Some teachers do it, some preachers do it, lawyers do it. Do you see where I am going with this? There is a structured beginning but sometimes, you never know where your art form is going to take you. If you learn the art of improvisation and allow your creative juices to flow, you can go really far in the business. Never be at a lost for words or thoughts are the rule of thumb.

One book I highly recommend is Violin Spolin’s, “Improvisation for the Theatre.” It has been in my library for years and is one resource in which to refer to. Some of my favorite improv actors are Steve Harvey, Tina Fey, Bill Cosby, Larry David , Jerry Seinfeld, Joan Rivers just to name a few. Listen to some radio personalities; Jay Anthony and Sybil from 104.1 FM in Atlanta are hilarious on a daily basis. What makes one successful at this is being a great listener. Start by listening to everyone intently and responding with word or action, funny, sad or questioning. You will see that you get better and better as you go along.

As I began with this article I will reiterterate that we all do it, just be aware when you do it and begin to hone your craft.