"People that excel in the arts understand that the journey is the reward...the result an added bonus. Every day I act or train is a blessing and a dream come true. If Broadway beckons so be it. I have a personal definition of success that is unshakable by a possibly unobtainable goal." -HamletWasBipolar
I like to arrive at the theatre 45 minutes before curtain, have a bourbon and Coke in my dressing room, then down a can of V and go on. Not a warm up kind of person. As the Merm said, thats what the opening number is for.
"I will join this conversation on the proviso that we stop bitching about people. Wigs, dresses, bust sizes, penises, nightclubs and bloody Kylie!" - Bernadette, Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
I'm with you Diva, a line always helps give the show that extra spark. That and kicking other cast members while they are kneeled over praying...
"I will join this conversation on the proviso that we stop bitching about people. Wigs, dresses, bust sizes, penises, nightclubs and bloody Kylie!" - Bernadette, Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical
Vocalization and stretching are key. I always pray, both in groups and alone another interesting quirk is throwing up a tape ball back stage. A duct tape roll is pulled by each member of the cast and crew each night and thrown up onto a ledge backstage before house opens superstition says if the ball does not make it up on the ledge before house opens the show won't be successful.
"I'm that one in a million chance when the director says 'you', the small town boy who makes it big, the one that little children and grown men and women will adore, I'm that shot in the dark everyone talks about, you may not know my name yet, but you will, everyone will, someday."- Me
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
my "warmup" used to make the "actor" types (you know the ones i mean) scream. I'd drink a bottle of water and eat a Watchamacallit bar. It never much bothered my singing voice, now i've moved onto the same ritual but with diet coke
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
Stretch. Vocalize. Think about character. I do the electric-slide too! Or at least, I did once for an entire run. And I like to say "Hi" to everyone and to walk the stage a little.
The praying thing is something I've never seen before. In all my years, I've never seen anyone pray before a show. I'd consider it strange if someone did. Then again, I live in Australia, and no-one here particularly gives a rats a*s about that kind of thing. I do know a number of people that like to get down on their knees before a show, though it sure as hell ain't to pray...
"I will join this conversation on the proviso that we stop bitching about people. Wigs, dresses, bust sizes, penises, nightclubs and bloody Kylie!" - Bernadette, Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical
This is weird but I love lying down on the stage. It's just this thing that I do that helps me get into the world of the play, and I always feel most grounded after I've done it.
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
Get to the theatre about 2 hours prior to curtain...sit on stage, or walk on it, and then do warm-ups, costume/make-up, et cetera...
Then about 15 minutes before the show, I'll vocalize a little more and look in the mirror to see myself as the character to get myself into the right mindset.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
ThankstoPhantom you're the only other person I know of! It's also really peaceful...
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
Short but thorough physical and vocal warm-up. If it's a musical, then slightly more vocalizing than if it's not a musical. Fight call and notes, if the show calls for it. Occassionally will listen to music in the dressing room, depending on the show, who else is in the dressing room, etc. I also make it a point to say hello to all the other actors in the show before curtain. I don't like it when the first time I've seen someone that day is on stage.
I remember before a perf, we all did the whole spiritual circle from the movie "Glory," when we were all, "OH MY LOOOOOOOOOORD LOOOORD LOOORD LOOOOOOOOOOOOOORD!!" And we did that for four times, and then we got softer and vamped on an encouraging "Mm-hmm" underneath the stage manager's speech to all of us. And when the SM said all that needed to be said, we cranked it up one more time with one more "OH MY LOOOOOOOOOOOOORD LOOOORD LOORD" etc.
I know what you're thinking: That Josh Freilich is one silly B@#$%#@%. "MMM-HMM..." ah Christ.
"How could she just suddenly, completely disappear into thin water?" - The Little Mermaid
Recently before I head to the theatre, I blast Aida and sing it in the shower to warm my voice up....My Strongest, My Strongest, My Strongest, My Strongest, My Strongest Suit...Hahaha I know it's a woman's song, but it's very catchy and gets me pumped...when I am at the theatre before and after warm ups is basically Ipod time.