Acting lessons

It's been just a little over three weeks since the last show I was in, "Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type," closed. Even though I've still felt pretty crazed trying to catch up on all the stuff I let slide while being involved with that show, I've had a chance to do some ruminating on the take-aways I've gained in the last six or so years since I got involved in community theater. It would be awesome if I could apply (most) of these nuggets of wisdom to the rest of my non-theater life.

• Be present, be aware, be in the moment. Listen. Acting isn't just about standing around until it's your turn to talk.
• Be prepared.
• Obviously, you have to know your lines, but there is so much more you have to know...cues, blocking, entrances, where you props are, what costume you need. Until you get a handle on this, you can't even start acting.
• Blocking (know where you are supposed to be and what actions you are supposed to be doing) is really hard, but really important.
• I think blocking is harder for me than the average bear, since I'm not usually that conscious of my body and don't pay attention to my physical surroundings. Blocking seems to involve the directional gene/sense that I find tedious.
• Ticks (physical and vocal) are hard to squish.
• We all have these unconscious movements and sounds we make, and sometimes these can really get in the way of a character.
• Make a choice and own it. (See previous post of being ass-pirational).
• You have to be willing to look foolish. You have to be brave and shameless.

Relishing in shameless. "Late" from last year's Eden Prairie One Acts

• Small parts matter. If you're not doing your best, you can really mess things up for everyone else.
• Acting is physical.
• Stretching and breathing are important.
• I have energy that I can bring to the stage. People also think I have energy because I can have a ridiculously full schedule, but I don't think that's energy. I think that's just stamina and stubbornness, and ignoring things like housework.
• Emotions are experienced in the body. (Also learned that in therapy and am still puzzling that one out. It doesn't compute well with my German Lutheran upbringing).
• You have to trust yourself and trust others.
• You have to be patient, patient, patient (especially during tech week, when all the little moving parts need to be ironed out.)
• Fun is not the same as worthwhile or meaningful. Acting is often not at all fun, and is tremendously hard work, but so worth it.
• I can relish living in crisis mode. I don't mean real crisis (like dealing with serious illness), but just running from one deadline and must-do to the next. I must like the excitement and rush, and the excuse not to do laundry.
• You’re only as good as you’re next role. I laugh and cringe when people say I'm "taking a break." I wish that was true, but I'm really just worrying and obsessing until I can get something else lined up.
• Acting raises the question: do you need to really feel emotions or just portray them? I know there are various schools of thought on this that I can study, but as an amateur I just like to ponder.
• Friends that come to see your shows are amazing. I never thank all of you who have come to see me enough.
• You can get a lot better. Even if your performance falls short of what you hoped, just think of where you started.
• You can experience a profound connection with people you won’t necessarily see again, or don’t necessarily have much in common with.
• Thank the heavens for Facebook.
• Performing and rehearsal spaces become imbued with meaning. These are the spaces (sometimes dumpy and crappy) where you have shared so much with others and created something unique.
• Warm ups could make great drinking games.
• It would be wonderful if I appreciated rehearsals and the process as much as the performance.
• I like working on something tangible.
• It’s sad and wonderful that every show has an end.