BWW Blog: Tara Folio - Multiple Character Disorder

Currently seeking a therapist that specializes in multiple personality disorder, or maybe multiple character disorder. This week I am facing one of the most challenging tasks that I have come across during my time as a performer; I am currently performing in one show twice a day (in which I play four parts), while learning an entirely new show in the morning (in which I play three parts), while understudying the lead character in that same show. Did you catch that? Me neither, let me break it down. Currently, I am rehearsing for My Fair Lady in the morning, where I am learning my ensemble parts while understudying "Eliza Doolittle" and learning all of her songs, lines, and blocking. After rehearsing for My Fair Lady, I go straight into two back-to-back shows of The Producers. The constant switching of characters is enough to make my head spin, and one of the only things getting me through it is the Ben and Jerry's I'm snacking on as I write this (fresh out of the last show of the day, eating Half Baked icecream while still wearing my stage makeup. I lead a glamourous life). With all this new information constantly being thrown at our company, it's an understatement to say our brains have reached their capacities, and sometimes tired brains tend to make silly mistakes. It's so easy to get caught up in the little things that go wrong either on or off stage when your dealing with a large group of people running on little sleep and a lot of coffee. This summer, one of the biggest skills I am learning is the ability to let go of little mistakes and keep moving forward. This cast performs The Producers nine times a week, and it's impossible to expect every show to be perfect. In order to keep sane, it's important to acknowledge the mistake, and then let it go and get on with the show. Did someone forget to move a set piece? Did your headdress fall off? Did you completely forget all the words to "I Want to be a Producer"? I have done all of that and more, but if I stopped and stewed about it, I would be hurting the rest of my performance that night. Sometimes we all just need to take a step back and realize that we are not perfect and that mistakes will happen. We're only human...well, unless you're Tara Folio...then this week you are actually five humans. SOS.