An Actor's Day?

[Therese]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 11:31am

So, for those in the know: What's the typical schedule for a Broadway actor's day? When would you get up, go to bed, eat breakfast, lunch, dinner...? Someone on the Broadway Show League thread made a comment about the 11:30 am games being 'early.' I'm so used to getting up at 6 am and working a regular 8-5 day job - what's "normal life" for your typical "8-shows-a-week" person?

[ikmbway]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 12:14pm

well I know ive read stuff about Idina's and Cheno's

for one Idina's was like i sleep go the theater and stuff. Well its what she does after the show. If she goes to meet someone she does that if not she goes home checks email orders food and watches TV

and i read kristins was sleeping til 12 and then going to the theater. I am nto sure much about her.

Ok well that wasnt very detailed or interesting. Someone can do better, sorry. Its a simple way of putting those peoples.

[Nina]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 12:27pm

It varies according to what else, beside the show, you need to tend to. Typically you are at the theater one hour prior to curtain, do the show, which, let's say, ends sometime near ten thirty. After that you get out of the make up and costume and meet with any friends, family or fans who are waiting to see you. This puts dinner time at around midnight. You're in bed at about two or later, then get up when you are able to drag yourself out of bed. For me, meals during the day are whenever I have the time or need to eat.

During those few hours in the afternoon, you have all the little day to day errands and tasks that everyone has to attend to but, you may also have to schedule in time for buisness related phone calls, meetings, interviews, that sort of thing.

Two show days are a little different, of course. I tend to have food brought in between shows and try to catch a nap in my dressing room before the second show.

It's not easy but, you get used to it and fall into a pattern that becomes normal. I couldn't imagine doing anything else at this point. The rewards far outweight the negative aspects.
For some, life is made easier by managers and assistants who can take on some of the responsibility. However, not everyone has that, so the energy level and organizational skills have to be high in order to manage your life. I imagine that is the case with anyone who has a job that carries a certain amount of responsibility whether or not it is show buisness.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 12:30pm

You forgot to mention read/post on BWW! HAHA

[Nina]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 12:35pm

Yes, that too.

BWW.com is one of my guilty pleasures. Unfortunately, when you are actually doing a show, the opportunity to post and keep up with people here lessens a great deal. That's why there are periods of time when I'm here frequently and other periods when I pop in from time to time.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 12:38pm

Rehearsal periods are the worst.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 1:01pm

Don't a lot of shows rehearse during the day?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 1:24pm

Yes, Broadway/professional shows rehearse during the day. That's because that is your job - you are being paid.

I just did a show here in the city where, although it was in a theater on 42nd Street, there was no pay so the rehearsals were nights and weekends because we all had to work survival jobs during the day. That's very tiring. I'm a night person so would love someday to be a professional theater actor - it is much more suited to my biological clock. Two decades and change of going against my own nature has been plenty.

Updated On: 4/16/05 at 01:24 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 1:29pm

I would say that a lot of people who work in theatre (on or off stage) are night owls. I never get to bed before 3 a.m. And, if I don't HAVE to wake up before 11 or noon--I don't. I wish I could adjust it some, but it's just in my bones that way.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:16pm

I meant previews where you have to rehearse during the day and do the show at night. Killer.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 7:34pm

That was the one thing that I always had trouble with as a professional performer - I'm a morning person - the rest of the cast would all want to eat and party or join friends after the show - but I was always rushing home to grab a quick bite and get in bed - I'm one of those people who feels like if I sleep til ten in the morning, I've missed half the day. Hell, even on weekends I rarely get out of bed any later than 7:30, maybe 8 at the max - I love mornings, and breakfast is one of my favorite meals of the day - I doubt that will ever change, even when I do get my Broadway show!

[Aigoo]

Posted: 4/16/05 at 9:28pm

I can sleep at any ungodly hour in the early morning. But I'm always comfortable with waking up around 10AM.

For example...I can go to sleep at about 5-6 AM..but if I wake up at 10, I'll feel the best. If I go to sleep at around 10PM, and wake up at 6AM, I'll feel horrible. It's just because if I sleep at nightnight...I'm sort of forcing myself to sleep, instead of falling asleep naturally. Hope that makes sense...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:12am

redhot, the beauty of breakfast is you can have it ANY TIME. I've never cottoned to that "missed half the day" thing. Day, night, time is time. You only miss half the day if you actually sleep 18 or so hours, is my feeling.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:22am

Actors are VERY busy. Heck, i can't pass a Starbucks without seeing a few inside!
But seriously, my actor friends are incredibly stressed auditioning, memorizing lines, juggling several part-time jobs, dealing with agents and managers, etc

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:25am

"juggling several part-time jobs"

I think this thread refers to the actors who make a full living from their theater job.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:40am

i don't know any of those!

Updated On: 4/17/05 at 12:40 AM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:41am

I do. Lucky them!

[Plum]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 1:01am

Day, night, time is time.

The sun disagrees. Not to mention businesses that aren't open 24 hours a day. :)

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 8:54am

I respectfully disagree about the missed half day thing - I need to see the sun - light is a great refresher of my mind and spirit. If I spend too much time in the dark I shrivel up and die like a rose on the vine...I needs me some sunshine! (that's why winters in NY can be so painfully depressing to me - all those grey, overcast days - YUCK)

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 9:09am

I'm going back to bed. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Therese]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 10:16am

redhot, I'm a morning person, too, and feel the same way about 'missing half the day' if I sleep too late. LOL, I would never make it in "show biz." Thanks, everybody, for your interesting replies!

[ElTico68]

Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:04pm

Hm... I'm sort'a both. I love to sleep, and I can't seem to get myself to bed before midnight on most nights. BUT if I sleep too late then I feel like I missed all that sunshine! (though I've been known to sleep until noon on occassion)