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?
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.
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.
"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
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.
"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
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
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.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
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.
I meant previews where you have to rehearse during the day and do the show at night. Killer.
"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
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!
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
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...
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.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
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
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)
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
"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
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!
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)
Happy, smile! Sad, frown! Use the corresponding face with the corresponding emotion! - Kate (Meg Ryan), French Kiss
