Process .. How Do You Approach a Role?

[mrdreamjeans]

My friend deebee is having a wonderful run of work at various theatres in the Houston area. He's performing in one show, "On Golden Pond" and is beginning rehearsals for a second at the same time. All of this plus his day job! Daunting, but David's up to it! The director of David's second show is encouraging the actors to begin memorizing their scripts now, though rehearsals don't begin for another month. David's thoughts on starting that process now brought up thoughts of a recent discussion of which I was part.

I was a member of a panel who spoke at a Spring Break Theatre Camp in Seattle sponsored by the 5th Avenue Theatre. This happened just before I returned to Texas three weeks ago. The four of us ... the two leading actresses from "Wonderful Town", an experienced actress who does straight plays and myself ... the resident touring expert *grin* ... discussed a variety of issues in achieving and maintaining a long-term career in the theatre before a group of hand-selected and wildly- motivated teens.

One of the moderator's questions was about "process" ... Three out of four of us said we deliberately do not memorize our lines before rehearsals begin. We agreed, that particularly in musicals, vocal parts are not assigned until the first day of rehearsals (and yes, you're expected then to know both your part and lyrics the next day from memory); choreography is often an essential tool in shaping a performance and knowing your lines before actually beginning a production can be a hindrance. Once I'm given blocking, then the next time/day we rehearse the scene, I'm off book. The other factor is that producers cannot require you to do any work on a script before the first day of the union contract, unless they are willing to pay you for your time.

The person with the dissenting view point was the actor who seldom does musicals. She goes into rehearsals knowing her part cold. I found the discussion fascinating. The difference may be in our expertise and the very difference of doing a musical versus a play. I know I don't memorize until I hear the rhythms of the other actors' voices, till I have my blocking and till I know where I am heading musically per the musical director's instructions. My performance doesn't fully come to life until I am wearing the shoes and costumes I will actually wear in the show. That ... and make-up and hair ... are the final shaping elements. For instance, the muttonchops for Officer Lonigan were my entry into that character. I think unlearning something is harder than waiting till rehearsals begin.

Other parts of process discussed were: how we research a role; the mechanics of memorization; work ethic and work ethics (a favorite subject of mine) and preparation. Whether someone is a professional actor, semi-professional or volunteers their time, we are all part of "the theatre community" and can learn from each other. I'd like to hear from my theatre, singer, dancer and musician friends here on live journal about process ... What's your "process"? If you're not a theatre person, what process do you use to do your work successfully?