NYtimes interview with Alice Ripley

A very nice interview. That said:

"Singers have a leg up because of their breathing," [Greif] said. "The act of singing opens up the actor's instrument so extraordinarily that the access to emotion is freed."

What the F*CK does THAT mean?

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Updated On: 6/6/09 at 02:39 AM

Scott, Greif is referring to specific acting techniques. Certain methods, like Linklater's approach to voice work, encourages an actor to "free the natural voice" through breath, and that makes an actor more free and in touch with his or her emotional connection to material or sense memory or whatever.

~Steven

I think he meant because musical theatre actors are trained to utilize their breath in a certain way, it allows them to be emotionally open and vulnerable. Breathing and breath work is already inherent to a musical theatre actor's training and it is important to incorporate that when preparing for a musical performance since you have to breathe in certain places and for certain reasons that an actor in a straight play wouldn't necessarily have to consider. I've taken acting classes where a deep sigh or loosening one's jaw would make a fellow student break down sobbing. Once the instrument is free, the possibilities are endless. This is not to say that it's not possible for an actor in a straight play; it totally is. But Greif is saying that since musical theatre performers use breath as one of their primary tools, they can easily and frequently make sure their instrument is free and they can access their emotions. I'm sorry if this is not making too much sense... it makes sense in my head since I've had acting training that was based on this idea, but I don't know if I'm explaining it well.

~Steven