Does Anyone Else Have This Problem?

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 5:08pm

I am not extroverted or outgoing whatsoever at all. This causes me problems in musical theater which requires you to be big and broad at all times.

[leap_of_moo]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 5:24pm

I don't find I have that problem. I'm fairly introverted, but when I'm on stage I can drop that and be as big and bold as I have to be. And that's what I love about it.

[dramatothemax]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 5:57pm

Not all musical theatre is smiles, jazz hands and timesteps!...just...most of it...BUT! As long as you can transform to the character when the time comes, it shouldn't matter how you act on a personal level. When show time comes, you change your physicality, mind set and objectives...you become your character, then you're good to go

[wishinguweresomehow]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 6:16pm

Drama is right...even though you may be typically "shy"...you're typically not playing yourself. You're playing a CHARACTER. Become the character(as generic as that sounds) and you may have an easier time than you think!

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 10:17pm

When ever this happens I tell myself. "Liz, when you step on that stage the audience doesn't want to see you. They want to see your character. So give them the character. The character is big and bold and brave and doesn't hold back so be that."

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 12:24am

This reminds me of the once upon a mattress song 'Shy'

[deardarling]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 12:45pm

That's what I thought =P

But I agree with what Drama said. I used to have that problem in my first couple shows...but now I've gotten so used to it I sort of shed my shyness.

[kenmarksnj]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:41pm

drama-

you don't become the character. the character becomes you.

[broadway_baby_17]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:49pm

well somthin my vocal coach told me which was very usefull is and i quote "you have to put some feeling into it dont worry about looking stupid because if you act like a complete idiot on stage and its perfect for your character people will think you were brilliant not weird" that always helps me and its true just look at little sally in urinetown if someone that old acted that way you would think they deserved to be in a funny farm but you dont think that because you know its just their protration(sp) of the character and the more stupid they act the better you think they are.....well i hope i helped you

[SarahBeth]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 6:38pm

A few years ago a classmate said this to me.
"You're always quiet in class. But when it comes to the stage WOW its like you're a whole different person!"

Which is exactly it. You're not you. You're whoever your character is. Just let loose and pretend its just you goofing off in your room. That's what I do since I can't typically see the audience because of the lights anyway.

[smashingasian]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 7:29pm

This is what I love about theatre. For that period of time I'm playing a character, I'm not myself. I'm what the playwright wrote on paper. I get to be someone completely different than who I am in real life, and it's a thrill to portray that.

Another thing is, sometimes I come off as a shy person and tend to keep my feelings to myself. My thoughts, ideas, whatever. But when I play a character with whom I relate to, it's almost as if I'm telling the audience how *I* feel even though I'm playing someone that is not me. The audience doesn't have to know I'm revealing things about myself. Shhhhh