Prepare For a Stage Performance

In these steps you will learn a few ways to prepare you for the stage. With this information you will be ready for anything with singing, dancing, and dialogue.

Steps

  1. Learn your lines. Practice makes perfect, so think of learning your lines as studying for a test that if you fail everyone knows and you can not take it again. Use a highlighter to make your lines jump off the page. When studying, say the words out loud. Have a friend run your lines with you when you're not in rehearsal.
  2. Learn your song. Singing memorization is just as important as dialogue. Lyrics can be tricky. Study and go over them as much as possible. Sing in the mirror so you can see what you look like while singing, this helps correct any mistakes you may or may not have made.
    • Learn your notes and harmonies as well. Even if you know your lyrics, it won't sound as good unless you get the notes right.
  3. Practice any dancing. You must have the patience and time' to work at it everyday. Take your time and learn the steps the right way first so you do not have to go back and slow everyone else down.
  4. Decide how you want to affect the person you are talking to (or singing to) with your lines. Do you want to charm them, offend them, destroy them, etc.? This is called an objective and may change as you go through the rehearsal process and discover new things about the piece.
  5. Always make a strong choice about your character. In other words, I "kind of" love the other person is a weak choice. I'm crazy about the other person is a strong choice. Ambiguity does not work on stage. Remember to exaggerate all character choices so that the story and your character come across clearly.
  6. Next is blocking. This means learning where you are and where you have to go during a scene. In any play you've got to know what's going on around you so you can hear your cue to give a line or move in the scene.
  7. Drink a lot of fluids and (most importantly) have fun! Acting is work, but you can let loose, and have fun.
  8. On the night of the performance everyone is always nervous - it's a sign of sanity! Besides, being too relaxed can hurt your performance.
  9. It is best to get into character at least 10 minutes before the first scene, even if you aren't in it.



Tips

  • Speak loud and clear so that the people in the last row of the theatre can hear you.
  • If your stage partner messes up, do not react. This will make yourself and your stage partner panicked - so just continue the show.
  • If you mess up, just keep going or say something similar to it. After all, the audience doesn't know what your lines are supposed to be and if you do mess up and they hear you clearly, just laugh it off and say the correct one! Improve.
  • If you mess up a line or a move keep going. When you stop or freeze up is when the audience notices something is not right.
  • Own your character.
  • Listen to the song you have choreographed so you know which steps match which lyrics or musical cues.
  • Keep a positive attitude.
  • Have lots and lots of energy, you don't want to lose your audience.
  • "There are no small parts, only small actors", so don't be down if you "Get a small part".
  • If your heart is not in it, you shouldn't be either.
  • Turn a small maybe boring line into your creation and make it yours.
  • Practice and memorize your cues, lines, and songs. That way, when you get up to the stage, it will seem like second nature to you.
  • For choreography, it helps to know the meaning of the song (especially if it is in a different language) so you can express the emotion of the music.
  • The only way to look like a fool is worrying about it.
  • "Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art".
  • Own your lines.
  • Try to have a character close to your personality. May be this can't be helped but ask the director for a similar role to yourself.
  • If you're going to Ad-lib, be sure to do it during rehearsal and get the director's approval. You don't want to do it on show night without approval first.
  • Breathe! It is a good way to get rid of nerves. Try counting to ten and breathing slow, deep breathes to calm down and focus on the task at hand.

Warnings

  • Don't let yourself be directed by other actors. That's the director's job.
  • Never underestimate others and do not be over-confident.
  • If you drink a lot of fluids, be sure you have access to a restroom before you go onstage (this is especially important if you are very nervous). We don't want any "accidents" onstage...
  • Don't think negatively.

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