Listening...and also the "small part"

This week I want to talk about listening. Acting is all about listening. However, it is not just the actors that need to listen, the director should be listening to. I have a friend who is a theatre teacher and she will tell you that this is true. Case in point: When "Into The Woods" first went into rehearsals on Broadway in 1987, the director had this grand idea for the choreography for the top of "Last Midnight" which is the witch's big song in act 2. The director envisioned this intricate cape work but Bernadette Peters felt the song was more powerful if she sang the top just standing still. There was a huge disagreement. The director wanted her to at least try the choreography. She finally did. The next day the director scrapped the choreography and went with the idea of standing still and that has become the choreography for most productions. The lesson? Actors need to listen to their directors but directors also need to listen to their actors and be open to receiving their input.

Also, there are no small parts. Only small actors. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard, "I have a small part. How do I keep it fresh every night?" My answer? You do not have a small part. You are equally as important as everybody else in telling the story. How do you keep it fresh? Change one thing every night. One line delivery, one look, one something. This is so important because it helps you to not become complacent and "phone it in."

Also, you may ask yourself, how do I give it my all 8 times a week and ensure that audiences have a good time. In the immortal words of Ashley Brown, who originated Mary Poppins on Broadway, you need to remember one thing. There is someone in your audience where it is their first Broadway show. There is someone in your audience where (sadly) it is their last Broadway show and you want to make sure that they have the time of their life. That's how you get excited to tell the story every night.

Next week...how to deal with onstage mishaps...and a little wisdom from Elle Woods.