Musical Theatre Advice - GREAT- Page 2

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/12/04 at 7:37pm

JRB'S THEORY ABOUT THEATRE AND ACTING(lol)

I do not differentiate plays from musicals from opera from ballet--it is all theatre to my mind. You are onstage telling a story. It does not matter to me if the devices used to tell the story are movement/dance or speaking/singing and to what degree of technique is being employed.

I personally dislike that we identify the triple threat by acting, singing, and dancing. I would prefer speaking, singing, and dancing. Odd? Yes, perhaps. But acting is the foundation that must be in place for all 3. And, when you perform in a musical, your acting shouldn't alter when you suddenly switch from speaking to singing or from movement to dancing. One is acting at all times--even when not speaking, singing, moving, or dancing.

Now, if I only I could perfect this myself!! =)

[MusicMan]

Posted: 3/12/04 at 7:56pm

Mr. Balladeer, the singer/actor's job is to ACT-IVATE the material, not play the emotion or "feel." EMOTING a song only renders it inert and is the most common mistake made by musical theatre performers. If emotion moves in on the performer as a RESULT of his/her intentions, that is perfectly acceptable but it must be the CONSEQUENCE of the song, not its raison d'etre. Emotion and feeling are the privilege of the audience, not the performer.
Updated On: 3/12/04 at 07:56 PM