Professional Broadway/Theater Actor at All Level
Acting is not an easy craft, it takes a lot of time, effort, rehearsal, practicing, learning blocking plus choreography, getting in character - how your character talks, think, walk, nonverbal movements, expression, and whatnot. All of this sometimes isn't enough unless you bring that character to life.
Here are some tips and trick to help you be a professional theater actor:
1. Always come early, if not then be on time.
In theater, if you arrive on time then you are expected to Start Acting right that very moment, that is why it is recommended to be early, to give yourself some time to warm up. You can't expect everyone to wait for you to warm up.
Here are some rituals Theater Actors do before the show starts:
Vocal warm-up :- Vocalization, strange as it sounds to non-actors is completely normal in this context. If the show involves different dialects, it requires warm-up to switch from your natural accent to someone else.
Physical warm-up :- If you are performing a dance intensive show, then just like jogging where it requires warm-up so you don't strain your muscle is the same as dancing for a longer hour put a strain on your muscle and warm-up is necessary to avoid this from happening.
Shift from your daily mindset to your character's space :- Coming early before the show starts gives an actor space they need to shift from their regular day to the character they play, sounds easy? think not. This process is different for all as it depends on your own personality and the personality of the character you will play. A good example is an introvert playing an extrovert, being an introvert myself, putting my shoe in an extrovert mindset is confusing and stressful, let alone live, think, and move like on.
2. Your lines, memorize it, learn it, live it - ahead of time.
Go the extra mile and memorize your lines even before the rehearsal starts and for one good reason, to get you to start working on your craft - acting, and stop worrying about the technical aspect of it all. Same goes if it's a musical - learn your lyrics, know the meaning, and enjoy your craft.
3. Wear professional clothes during rehearsal - rehearsal clothes is a good way to go.
Your own comfortable clothes on the go sounds great especially if it makes you feel comfortable and confident, but work is work and there are appropriate clothes to wear depending on the work you do, in this case then it is rehearsal clothes - neutral colors, shoes, and comfortable functional pieces you can confidently move easily even if that means you are sweating.
4. You are open to making your choices, and also open to sudden changes.
As an actor, it is your job to interpret the script, but it is also your job to take direction and play along accordingly. That means It is your creativity you need to rely on, not what the director tells you to do. The director is there to guide you, not dictate what you have to do.
5. It is all about commitment.
Theater or as it is commonly known as Broadway show means eight hours a day, six days a week of commitment. Now, as yourself, are you ready to put aside other important things in your life for this career? if you are, prepare and embrace this life!
Think of each performance, practice or not, as your last show. Always bring your best foot forward even if the production is small.
If you feel you need help in this journey, there are a lot of LA acting school you can check out, make sure to do your research and enroll to what you think is the Best Acting School in Los Angeles or wherever you are located.
