How Do YOU Get Into Character?

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 3:39pm

Whenever you're acting, what's your ritual for getting in character? Do you go the Method acting route? Or can you just magically snap into character on a dime? Or do you go the Daniel Day-Lewis route and stay in character when you're not acting?

[Broadwayluva]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 3:56pm

personally, sometimes just looking at what I'm wearing can put me in character mode. Also, some group warm-ups before a show sometimes help me get into character.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 4:06pm

I always read the books, cliffnotes, whatever other source material I can to get as deep into my characters as I can. I sing and/or play my characters music and think about how I myself would feel in my characters shoes and let it happen

[broadwaybaby221]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 4:12pm

I'm doing a show right now and I just seem to get pick up on every one else's energy and put that into my character. Usually, I just think about what my character is like and just switch before I go onstage and stay like that during the whole show.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 4:14pm

Usually, I write in the subtext on the script or what not, and then when I get in costume and such it all comes together.

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 4:25pm

I can usually snap into character pretty quickly, and it takes much for me to break it. I definetely play off of the energy of my castmates, and when I'm offstage, I stay focused and around the people who are in my scenes to help me be able to jump back into character. I'm not the kind of person who has to stay in character the whole time.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 4:55pm

When I'm working on a new character I go the Method way. Meisner to be exact. After playing a character for a few months I can snap into it pretty easily.

[teh_pretty]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 4:56pm

I tend to watch any films associated with the role/ show (ie, West Side Story or the filmed version of Into the Woods) because I like to see how the role has been played. I know it's controversial, but I find it helps me and it lets me have an idea of how other people have interpreted the role. I usually have a different interpretation anyway, and I like to really get into the mindset of the character... why she's doing what she's doing, what led her to it, that kind of stuff.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:02pm

I try to just completely clear my mind so that I can live in the moment when I'm on stage, and pick up the energy and react to the situations presented to me by the actors opposite me.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:05pm

I just snap in and out. Once I'm on stage I'm on and off I'm off. As long as I'm in the right mindset and prepared to do the show.

Updated On: 6/3/06 at 05:05 PM

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:09pm

I think that it's a good idea to have a back story for your character. In your own mind, at least. It helps to get into the character, quickly. I've never been much for carrying the character around with me, though. When I'm done the show, I'm done!

[thez914]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:11pm

One trick that I've adhered to is to find a song (often without words or lyrics) that evokes in me the emotional and psychological mindset of the character I'm playing. A lot of the time I'll use music from the period of the play that reminds me of my character. I'll just shut myself up in the dressing room or green room about 20 minutes before curtain, and from there on out I'm in the head of the character.

This doesn't necessarily mean I'm "in character" until the show is over, but I see and react to things more like my character would. People always tell me it's a little weird to be around me between scenes, because I don't stay in character, but it's a different version of myself. Whatever works, I guess...

[MissElphie]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:17pm

I don't really have a method. I'm on the stage and I'm the character. There's really no process for me.

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:18pm

I can usually snap into character, but sometimes it takes awhile for me to get into it. We usually have to be at the theatre 2 hours before opening and feeding off of everyone else's energy and perparing for the show usually gets me into it.

[wickedobsessed]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:22pm

I always seem to get into character when I see my costume. I think that is the first step to seeing the whole big picture.

[sicetergo]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:34pm

For me it's the costume - on the night putting on the costume gets me there. I subscribe to the Beryl Reid method of thinking about the shoes the character would wear and even in rehearsal I'll wear those shoes.

[Chenofan #1]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:43pm

I listen to either Kristin Chenoweth (most of the time) or Olivia Newton-John. I don't know why, but it just always outs me in character. I usually think about how and what my character would be feeling while listening to that song, and it really helps.

I also read my script over and over, but I think that is mainly for a last minutes "go-over" thing.

[Kgshrauder]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:50pm

Well I've never really had a MAJOR part that I had to get into character before, but the overture makes magic happen, at least to me it does. Also before the shows (at least in high school) we listened to Tenacious D (kind of a ritual thing), which would get us pumped up for the show.

[wackjack132]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:58pm

Well for one thing I talk with the director and try to get all the info/backstory on the character I can. Read other plays by the playright to see if their are any other character's he rights that have simmilar characteristics (works REALLY well for anything by Tennesse Williams lol).

Recently my school did Spoon River Anthology so everyone played at least 5 characters...wow! At one point I had to play an old man who got so mad he had an anurism(sp? I meant the thing where you pop a blood vessel in your brain lol), run off stage, change costumes, and become a doctor who was a gentel soul that fell madly in love with a black woman...all in 5 minutes. For that, as I was changing, I would clear my head, re-center myself, then go into the mindset of a lover.

I also LOVE to be in character all performance day, and especially backstage (works like a charm in my opinion ).

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:59pm

I usually do a lot of physical work before the rehearsal process. I find my character's walk, stance and voice and just hone into it during the rehearsal time so that it's perfect by the show. And I'm one of those people who tend to stay in character throughout, even when I'm offstage. If it's a highly emotional role, I usually have a hard time getting out of character afterwards and take some time to "warm-down".

Group warm-ups and stuff also before the performance. And then I usually go and let myself into a state of nothingness for 15 minutes to release everything so that when I come out of it, I've entered my character's being.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 5:59pm

I can snap in and out pretty quickly about a week before the show opens, but for the rest of the rehearsal period I'm always creating backstories, ect.

I like the shoes idea.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:17pm

I have done the shoe thing.

Also, this is going to sound really crazy. Pick a place your character would go. Park? Mall? bar?

Go there... and go in costume. It doesn't matter how stupid your costime is. Let people stare at you. It's you. Do this like 4 times within 2 weeks of the show.

It should help for when you need to get into character. It sounds really corny but- try it.

[MOXIEINTHECITY]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:28pm

One thing I used to do when I did theatre in college was write out a whole backstory about my character. Their likes and dislikes. Music they listen to, favorite childhood memories. Create a whole history for them to better understand them.

Find something - a piece of jewelery, or clothing,a stuffed animal - anythign that you can use that represents your character. Then write, as yoru character, why that article means so much to you and what it represents.

Good Luck!

Ever Have a Fling With Another Actor? Updated On: 6/3/06 at 06:28 PM

[luvliza89]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 6:30pm

Well, not really getting into character, but before every show I listen to Barbra Streisand's Second Album on LP alone in my room. It just gets me in the mood to be onstage and I feel odd if I don't do it.

[Horton]

Posted: 6/3/06 at 8:42pm

I disengage before the show, for the 10 minutes before I go on, I just sit backstage alone, mapping out my track, making sure everything is in its right place and then I just clear my head, that way I have no other thoughts during a show.