Student Blog: 18 Shows?! Finding Energy in a Long Run

It is no secret that Broadway performers do 8 shows a week with 2-show days on weekends.  I always hear my favorite actors talking about finding a continuous appreciation for performing the same show many times, but I never actually got it.  I believed that it would be hard to grow tired of a show such as Moulin Rouge! or The Outsiders, but now I am starting to understand.  Currently, I am performing in Oklahoma! over the summer where we are conquering 18 performances over 4 weeks.  The show is 3 hours long, so it has tested my endurance, but I am thankful to have such a different experience.  I am learning how to appreciate every performance, so I thought I would share a few helpful tips I have gathered along the way.

First off, imagining who is in the audience is huge for me.  Sometimes it is for real, like when my family or friends are there.  Knowing that someone is present and cheering me on really pushes me to give them my best performance.  However, this is not always the case with all of the shows.  When no one I know is in the audience, I imagine a casting director or agent is sitting in the audience not even to specifically watch me but rather just to see what the show is about.  This pushes me to not only do my best, but also stretch my moments in the ensemble.  I really do not have any explicit "stand out" moments, so I try to find moments while I am just reacting on stage to make it more entertaining or different (not in a distracting way of course).  I even imagine a specific character they may be casting for so I can approach my ensemble role differently every night.  One show I may take a more bubbly, Glinda-like approach and the next time I will be more head-strong like Velma Kelly.

Another thing I have learned is that I need a solid routine to follow so I feel fresh for every show.  I must shower every morning so I feel clean, I must warm up my body and voice every time, I must blast my "Nighttime in NYC" playlist, and I must always eat a protein packed breakfast.  This way I assure I am not giving half effort for one show, everyone is valued in the same way.

Finally, I constantly remind myself that I am not sure when I will be able to perform again.  This could be my last time ever or it could be this upcoming semester.  Either way, the future is uncertain and so each show in this run is a gift.  I use my downtime to converse with my cast mates or even to watch some of the scenes 18 times because I know there is much I can learn from the other actors.

This feels like a skill I will continue to improve on, even if not for a show.  School days, jobs, and just ordinary routines can be taken for granted if you do not stop and appreciate the small moments.  I am learning to be thankful for every opportunity and am learning not to rush into finding the next one!