Making the Most Out of a Small Role

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 8:56pm

I still find it sad that so many young actors nowadays don't realize that when they don't get cast as the lead or when they get a miniscule part, that doesn't mean that they weren't good, it just means they were right for Townsperson #27. It's not a contest at all, it's more of a match-up. That's why I don't get discouraged at all.

This is why it makes no difference to me whether I get the lead (Which I have never gotten and I do not worry about this fact) or the guy who comes on and says one line and leaves. You seriously have to make the most out of a role, no matter how small. Besides, just remember that movie A History of Violence. The best performance did not come from Viggo Mortensen who had the lead role, but instead from William Hurt who had about 5 minutes of screentime.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 9:38pm

I'm 14 and I like havign bigger parts, but not so I can say I'm a lead. It's a lot easier and more fun to delve into a big part than a small part. My biggest part has been Mrs. Harcourt in Anything Goes, and I'm currently playing Miss Jones, and while neither part is HUGE, they're both really fun.

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 9:47pm

I'm the queen of small parts.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 9:48pm

"There are no small parts; only small actors"

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 10:06pm

That's one of those lines people always say to me.

AKA: You suck.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 10:42pm

Having worked in a theatre where I performed 9 DIFFERENT shows in 10 weeks I was always jumping back and forth between lead roles and ensemble roles as well as those fun little character-acting roles that are thrown in to make the play great. I treat every role equally when I am on stage and I try to encourage my fellow actors to do the same.

[leap_of_moo]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 10:45pm

I love being on the stage, no matter the size of the role.

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 11:39pm

While big roles are quite awesome, I find it so much fun to be townsperson #27. You can put so much more into your character, you know... really make it your own. Yay.

[Dre2387]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 11:53pm

i had a small part in a musical we did in middle school called "Kilroy is Here." I had 23 lines, no solo song, but one small group song and all of the ensemble songs. supposedly, in the small group song, i did a certain dance that EVERYONE liked. I hated the song, but it was everyone's favorite cause it was just hilarious. and i loved the part i had. Never had a bigger part than that. But I also had a part where I played a Russian male tattoo artist (and I'm a girl). and everyone thought that part was hilarious too. my theatre teacher said she wouldn;t look at me the same way again (but in a good way. lol.)

So, small parts are what you make them, whether you want to have fun with them or be depressed and not get noticed.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 1:11am

My current role has ten lines! I am very happy with it. I have the BEST line(which is also the most awkwardly placed line in the play or in any play for that matter);"Follow me into that house over there." I have played both big and small parts, and I agree that it doesnt matter how big the part is. You can have one line and be told how wonderful you did delivering it. If you are the person with the one line, Give it all you got! Dont have anything left after the show, make it an unforgetable line/character; Make it yours.

I love my ten lines!
~~EM~~

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 5:54am

I love the story of Caroline Quentin being in the original cast of Les Mis when it opened in London. She was ensemble and all ensemble were given the book to read and told to base their character on a minor character in the book. She chose a blind beggar woman. Several months into the run and bored to tears with it all, she decided to liven things up and one night spontaneously got her sight back, screaming "I CAN SEE. OH GOD, I CAN SEE!"

[roquat]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 3:43pm

I once worked on a summer-stock production of "Guys and Dolls" with an extremely talented actress who was cast as Salvation Army Girl #2. She had no lines and no solos. She created as full a character as anyone else on that stage. She came up with a shy-girl body language (head down, arms clamped to sides) and dealt with the problem of no lines by reacting intently to everything other people said. Sometimes she even opened her mouth to respond, then lost courage and withdrew into herself. She never pulled focus, but anyone in the audience whose attention wandered to her would have found her fully immersed in her character. The result of this was that, later in the season, she was given leading roles she would never have gotten otherwise (and performed brilliantly in them).

I sometimes give seminars on auditions and acting, and I use this story often. It's the reason why I never want to hear anyone complain about how small their role is. If you're any good, you'll make something memorable out of whatever role you get.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 3:46pm

My very first musical, my junior year of college, was a split ensemble/minor character track. I was various ensemble folk and had one scene as a "character" complete with solo song. I guess, not knowing any better, I jumped right in and consequently made such an impression that, three years later, I was still noted as "that guy" around campus and people I didn't even know would launch into my solo.
Drove my friend, who had one of the three main roles, insane.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 5:20pm

My first musical role was a chorus member in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolur Dreamcoat. In reahersals I immpressed the director and musical director so much that they made the understudy to Jacob and all the soloist brothers. The next year I got Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors.

For my first paying acting gig, I played Rusty Charlie in a big out door version of Guys and Dolls. The next year I was playing Motel in Fiddler on the Roof in an even bigger production, and then Tommy Keeler in Annie Get Your Gun the next yearm for the same company. They have offered me Tony in West Side Story this year, but I had to decline.

My point it is, no matter how small your role is, as long as you impress with your talent, work ethic and personality, you have a chance of being noticed, and next time a show comes around, they will remember you. Dont turn down a role, or do it half-assed, just because its not as big as you'd like. If you put your all into it, you are bound to move on to bigger and better things.

Akiva

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 5:49pm

I never have to audition.

And since I usually remain backstage - except when I get pulled onstage because "I'm the only who can play the role" (stupid mutha****as I didn't wanna be in the show, but I did it...grating...anyway)...

Yes, I love playing a small role with one or two FUNNY lines. Those are the things remembered.

Like what's his face in Sly Fox...who was in one scene, in the trial. You know, the old guy....

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 6:04pm

As Vera Charles once said, 'I was NEVER in the chorus.'

But I'm sure I could be perfectly happy there as well.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 6:11pm

Let's hope so, dear.

[justagirl2]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 6:17pm

From a self-proclaimed attention whore, being the lead IS fun. I won't lie. However, I've had, what, 2 lead parts out of over 10 shows? Therefore, I know ALL ABOUT being in the ensemble/having a small part.

It's so much fun to have a little part or be in the chorus...your lines aren't written out for you, so you can totally create the character yourself. It's a lot less pressure, too. Often, the small roles are the comedic relief, and the ones people ultimately remember.

Currently, I have a 15-line part as Mrs. Palmer in Sense and Sensibility, and I am SO excited to milk it for all it's worth. :)