Theatre: Art in Action

Chapter 7: Acting

Overview

Actors go through a series of preparations before opening night. They begin by reading (often aloud) and analyzing the script, studying their characters' objectives and obstacles, and thinking about subtext and transformation. It is a good idea for actors to explore the literary background and historical context of the play. Actors need to think about whether their acting style will be presentational, in which performers look at the audience and speak to them directly, or representational, in which actors are supposed to be living real lives and the audience watches through a fourth wall. The style of the play factors into this decision. During a farce, actors generally use a presentational style, while during a realistic drama, actors use a representational style.

What the rehearsal process consists of is the director's choice, but most school plays have six to eight weeks of rehearsals, including a read-through, a blocking rehearsal, a working rehearsal, a polishing rehearsal, and a dress rehearsal. During rehearsals, actors should stay positive, energetic, and empathetic, and they should follow etiquette. During the performance, actors need to stay focused, stay in character, and speak their lines as if they were speaking them for the first time.