Student Blog: Theatre Tips and Tricks

So, you successfully landed a part in your first show; congrats! Now that the stress of song singing, monologue reading, and waiting for the auditions is over—what comes next?

Preparing for a show is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I’ve had. Whether you’re a lead or an ensemble member, all roles are critical, and all roles come with their fair share of challenges. As someone who has had the privilege to act before, I find myself understanding some of the various things one would encounter during show preparation. I will be sharing my experience and input on line memorization, song learning, and most important all things surviving tech week. 

Lines are interesting. Everyone deals with memorization differently, and some are better at it than others. I’m somewhere in the middle when it comes to line memorization. I can memorize oral dialogue or songs better than I can by just reading them. When it comes down to it I think repetition is the best solution. Something silly I do that works well for me is to read my lines in various accents. In between breaks throughout the week when the actors would go over lines, my friends were always amused by the voices I used while reading but it does help! Another helpful tip is recording yourself reading your scene partner's lines and giving breaks in between dialogue for your own lines. For example, say your partner says “Hello. How are you today?” You reply with “Fine. How are you?” When recording it you would just say “Hello. How are you today?” and take the necessary amount of time it would take you to personally read your lines, then continue reading your partners. When you listen to it back it’s really helpful because you get the practice of rehearsing a scene, but without the hassle of finding someone to read with you. You can play it while you’re driving, or just pop earbuds in and repeat your lines in your head. In cases where you need extreme help, I suggest recording all your personal lines and listening to them before and even during sleep. The script for one of the shows I was in was particularly hard, and when the off-book time had come I was far from ready. I have found it beneficial to just listen to those lines before bed and just fall asleep listening to them. By the time I got up, it was all I could think about and the margin for error became smaller.

Before I started acting I was singing. Song is where my true passions lie, and that’s why musicals are particularly enjoyable for me. I like discussing warm-up and singing tips for shows since I partook in vocal contests and concerts before I joined the theatre. The first and most simple piece of advice is to simply understand your range. There are so many different ways to sing in musicals, and it can be difficult to find where your voice fits in with everything. A lot of Broadway songs have that classic belt but not all voices can do that, and forcing your voice to do that will only damage it. For me, I know I’m a soprano, but I’m also comfortable in my lower chest range. By knowing that I can understand what parts and songs will fit me better and enhance my voice. When tech week comes around do not overuse your voice, I can’t stress that enough. Project your voice with lines and songs when needed, but no excessive talking or raising your voice outside of rehearsal. Vocal warmups are also your friend. Whatever your director, voice teacher, or whoever tells you how to warm up just make sure you’re staying consistent in vocal prep and never sing before properly warming up. Every person who has been in choir or theatre knows of the no dairy rule. Don’t load up on milk and other dairy products before performing to prevent mucus buildup and irritated vocal cords. Warm salt gargles, hot tea with lemon and honey, and drinking lots of water also works wonders for your voice. 

Now, let’s talk about tech week. Tech week is the glorious time when everything comes together and you work like you’ve never worked before for hours on end, fun! When trying to survive try to keep in mind the “yes, and” attitude. This time is stressful for everyone, especially your director, and having a positive mindset when being talked to or corrected makes a difference. As hard as it might be at times, attempt to get as much sleep as you can. Between long rehearsals and getting up early to go do it all over again, there’s not much time for sleep. Try to prioritize your post-rehearsal schedule and put rest at the top of your list, there will be plenty of time for your phone another day. Staying consistent with eating healthy meals is important. You need energy and protein that comes from food, and on top of that, you’ll be burning calories like crazy. Stick with fruits and vegetables, and eat as well as you can the week before and the week of. Sickness is also a threat to tech week. I’ve had mild cold-like symptoms for every show I’ve done and was completely sick for another show. Be sure you are staying on top of taking your vitamin C everyday, and keep cough drops on hand. 

I hope these tips are beneficial and you feel a little more confident in taking the stage. Getting to perform is so much fun, and getting to be in a theatre family is a very cool experience. Try your best and break a leg!