- Step 1-Know your lines. This is important for any kind of theatre. Not only do you need to know them, but the other actors need to know that you know them. Repeat your lines as many times as you need. Over and over and over until you can say them backwards and upside down. This is the most boring step of all, so get it out of the way as soon as you can. Note: Highlighters are fun - take advantage of them.
- Step 2-Procrastinate on Step One until about half an hour before rehearsal. A good way to further procrastinate during that half hour is to take some unnecessary script selfies.
- Step 3- Community theatre is a lot different than homeschool or any other school theatre. First of all, if there is a character that's middle-aged, it's played by an actual middle-aged person and not a poor high schooler in five pounds of make-up. While getting to be a completely different age can be an incredible amount of fun, it's much easier to get into your character when you're the same age. Getting into your character is -the- best part of acting. It's becoming someone you aren't for a few hours. Warning: This step may include walking in countless circles around your kitchen saying your lines in as many different ways as you can until you find the way that feels right. Your family members may think you're going crazy, but it'll all be worth it. I promise.
- Step 4- Relax. Things will go wrong and freaking out doesn't help. One night the truck wouldn't start and I was home alone. I tried waiting for a few minutes. Still nothing. I started freaking out and called my dad. The conversation went a little like this:
'The truck won't start!'
'Did you wait a few minutes and try again?'
'Yes!'
'Did you wait a full ten minutes?'
'...well, no...'
'I'll come pick you up. Wait the full ten minutes and get back to me.'
After exactly ten minutes it started right up. Thank you, Lord! I shamefully hit my dad's number on my phone to tell him to turn around.
- Step 5- Have your directors and your dad on speed dial. It makes Step 4 easier.
- Step 6- Once you're in character, this means staying in character. When you're in a show, especially a funny show, this can be the hardest part. At least it is for me. Over half the time I can't control my onstage giggles. If anything goes wrong, or someone makes a funny face, it takes all of the strength that I have to keep it together. Seriously. I'm awful. Take a moment to pity the poor souls who have to be onstage with me whenever something doesn't go as planned. And that happens a lot.
- Step 7- Be prepared for anything and everything. When you're on a tight schedule, say, two months or less, things will go terribly, horribly, wonderfully wrong. Cast members will drop out last minute, leading to quick role changes or doubling up on characters. The set that the director planned won't work out and everything will have to be put together by wonderful cast members and relatives. Practices will go an hour and a half over. Walls will fall apart when doors are slammed. Lines will get jumbled, mixed up, and forgotten completely. And to be honest? It's sort of awesome. If everyone is prepared and ready for the worst to happen, you're no longer a cast, you're a team.
- Step 8- Have fun and don't be scared to actually talk to your fellow cast members. When I walked into the theater for the first practice of my first ever community theatre show, I didn't know anyone. The room was full of people of all different ages and backgrounds, none of whom I was related to! For the first few practices, I didn't talk to anyone offstage. I just felt so awkward. I was the only homeschooler there! It was a huge wake-up call once I started to actually acknowledge the people around me. Wait...why was I so scared to talk to these people? As an introvert, I'm usually not a huge fan of meeting new people. Until I actually step out of my little comfort zone and do it. Then I realize how silly I was to want to stay home and how great it is to be surrounded by new people. Seriously. It's pretty awesome.
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