When you are a featured player, this is to say that you are not a principal and not ensemble, you have a lot of time on your hands. You can run your lines and read a magazine... A lot of times though, I watch people.
The director's method is always of interest to me. This director likes to run the scene and stop. He then gives notes and works all the kinks. This is very effective for this group... They need the immediate feedback. It makes for slow going.
At first I really didn't want to have to sit around ... I have social anxiety and I am afraid of new people. Now, I realize this time is giving me an opportunity to analyse the characters I interact with. I am able to create sone back stories based on what they are doing and what the director is saying to them. I guess it also generates commeraderie because I am here with them.
Anyway, that's all from the rehearsal hall...
Smooches!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Mama Morton research
So my first dig came up with some background on the show, the time period and who my character was designed after.
I went with the last clue because I had actually heard of the woman before and wanted to know more. She was based on Sophie Tucker - a brassy vaudevillean from the 1930's. She initially performed in blackface ( if you dont know what that is, it is a style of minstrel show done with white people painting thier faces black and doing clownish "coon" songs - hugely popular - HUGELY offensive... but it does give some context) Sophie went so far as to hire black performers to teach her to "be black". Hmm.
I was taken aback by this a bit and I still dont quite know what to do with that information. Is Mama a nasty "coon" character? I suppose I could play it that way and people would enjoy it. But maybe there is more to it.
Looking at Sophie Tucker, her history and choices... I think she might actually be a good place to dig deeper. I think I am going to get a biography of her. How does a Russian Immigrant become a vaudeville star? How does that influence Mama Morton. Stay tuned...
I went with the last clue because I had actually heard of the woman before and wanted to know more. She was based on Sophie Tucker - a brassy vaudevillean from the 1930's. She initially performed in blackface ( if you dont know what that is, it is a style of minstrel show done with white people painting thier faces black and doing clownish "coon" songs - hugely popular - HUGELY offensive... but it does give some context) Sophie went so far as to hire black performers to teach her to "be black". Hmm.
I was taken aback by this a bit and I still dont quite know what to do with that information. Is Mama a nasty "coon" character? I suppose I could play it that way and people would enjoy it. But maybe there is more to it.
Looking at Sophie Tucker, her history and choices... I think she might actually be a good place to dig deeper. I think I am going to get a biography of her. How does a Russian Immigrant become a vaudeville star? How does that influence Mama Morton. Stay tuned...
Being intentional about art
I am an artist. This is true. I am often unintentionally so. I do it cuz I can.
I am trying something new in my journey. It's inspired by my small group THE ARTIST'S WAY. It is important to be intentional and to do what I do on purpose.
To this end, I begin blogging about my process for developing the character of Mama Morton in CHICAGO. This is one of my favorite kind of roles.... one that is more of a cameo than anything else. Two songs, two scenes be fabulous and I'm out! The risk in that is I can easily zone out and not put any effort into my process.
That is why I am doing this. If I claim to be an artist, and I long to encourage and teach others to honor thier process, I should actually be intentional about my process.
Today, I am thinking about how to go about developing a character. The writer and the composer have given me the skeleton, the outline of the character. I bring my own nuances and personality to the mix. To start with I am going to write a biography for my character. I'll take the information that I have been given - the clues that lie in the script and in the words of the other characters and develop an idea of how and why she is who she is.
One of the challenges of doing this process for a musical theatre piece is that the potential for one dimensionality is so high. You have to make a choice to be real on stage. I think it is the difference between the performer and the actor/artist. I have to be truthful, I have been known to perform. Just go out there and do "my thing". Realistically, I dont think most of the audience will know the difference or care - especially if I sing the heck out of the numbers. But I will know. And for the first time in a long time, it actually matters.
Stay tuned.
I am trying something new in my journey. It's inspired by my small group THE ARTIST'S WAY. It is important to be intentional and to do what I do on purpose.
To this end, I begin blogging about my process for developing the character of Mama Morton in CHICAGO. This is one of my favorite kind of roles.... one that is more of a cameo than anything else. Two songs, two scenes be fabulous and I'm out! The risk in that is I can easily zone out and not put any effort into my process.
That is why I am doing this. If I claim to be an artist, and I long to encourage and teach others to honor thier process, I should actually be intentional about my process.
Today, I am thinking about how to go about developing a character. The writer and the composer have given me the skeleton, the outline of the character. I bring my own nuances and personality to the mix. To start with I am going to write a biography for my character. I'll take the information that I have been given - the clues that lie in the script and in the words of the other characters and develop an idea of how and why she is who she is.
One of the challenges of doing this process for a musical theatre piece is that the potential for one dimensionality is so high. You have to make a choice to be real on stage. I think it is the difference between the performer and the actor/artist. I have to be truthful, I have been known to perform. Just go out there and do "my thing". Realistically, I dont think most of the audience will know the difference or care - especially if I sing the heck out of the numbers. But I will know. And for the first time in a long time, it actually matters.
Stay tuned.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Spending time
I'm once again moving into a new place in life. It isn't a dramatic move... It's more like when you're on stage and they tell you to move a little to the left or to the right. Thus is usually so you are in your light. That's what this feels like. Like I am
making adjustments and each one places me more in my light.
I don't know how I feel about it. Some days it's all good and I'm like,awwwww yeah spotlight baby! Somedays I feel like I am getting a sunburn from the heat of the light. Today I feel a little toasty, but not burnt.
I think it may be how I spend my time. I can be very very busy. When I get that way I neglect myself unmercifully. I don't eat.... Then I eat too much, or I eat the wrong things. I don't do laundry, I don't clean, I don't count my money, I don't count my blessings.
When the busyness stops for whatever reason, I am left empty, ill and often very depressed. I have bankrupted my body and soul and have to rebuild. This time, in the middle of the busyness, I have been doing things like a little laundry... Staying on program... Well for this week . We'll see how I spend my time next week.
making adjustments and each one places me more in my light.
I don't know how I feel about it. Some days it's all good and I'm like,awwwww yeah spotlight baby! Somedays I feel like I am getting a sunburn from the heat of the light. Today I feel a little toasty, but not burnt.
I think it may be how I spend my time. I can be very very busy. When I get that way I neglect myself unmercifully. I don't eat.... Then I eat too much, or I eat the wrong things. I don't do laundry, I don't clean, I don't count my money, I don't count my blessings.
When the busyness stops for whatever reason, I am left empty, ill and often very depressed. I have bankrupted my body and soul and have to rebuild. This time, in the middle of the busyness, I have been doing things like a little laundry... Staying on program... Well for this week . We'll see how I spend my time next week.
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