BWW Blog: Sarah Osman - Robot Babies and Responsibilities [As An Actor]

I'm still in high school and as a junior we just learned about the perils of sex and parenting. As a health class project, we were assigned electronic babies to care for over the course of two days. So how does this correlate to performing? ... Responsibility!

Looking after my baby Arnie-Gilbert Grape Norman Bates (the third) was quite a journey with his whining and distant stare. But the responsibility of caring for the 'baby' made me think of the duties of actor, therefore I am writing this! I honestly cannot believe that I have come up with this correlation between my high school and performance life, but here I go!

An actor has many responsibilities even before attending a single rehearsal. Whether it be researching the show and character or familiarizing yourself with the world you are about to be apart of; every step we take contributes to the performance and to the actor.

Performers are to learn lines and familiarize themself with the playwright's words. Not memorize, but know the words they are saying and be able to apply their acting skill to the text. Not only this, but actors are to remember their blocking, work on their physicality, and maintain their onstage / onscreen presence. All the while making sure their performance is believable and accurate to the idea that is to be portrayed.

Actually getting to rehearsals is a responsibility as well. Showing up on time and maintaining attendance is important not only to the performer, but also to the production as a whole. If you are working on a show, there are other people involved. You might have only one person, or one million people you interact with in a show! Your character might even be flying solo and interact with no one. But even if that is the case, there is always a big picture and every person contributes to the image. There are actors and a tech crew; if someone is not doing their part, then the picture starts to fall apart.

Working on the production "after-hours" shows dedication. It is an actor's responsibility to continue working on the show even when rehearsal is over. If a performer puts away their script the second rehearsal is over, and doesn't work on it out of rehearsal they are only hurting themselves. Scheduling 'out-of-rehearsal' rehearsals with scene partners and further familiarizing yourself with the show can only help a performer, so why not take the extra step?

Along with all of that however, you are expected to "leave your troubles outside". (Whoo! Cabaret reference!) Drop your stress and relax! You have responsibilities, but taking care of yourself comes before it all. When you are working on a production you can really make some great relationships and wonderful memories. Make friends, create relationships, and stay connected- it is up to you! So don't make it a job, have fun! After all, you could be cleaning diapers or listening to a robot baby cry at 2 in the morning.

Special thanks to: My electronic robot baby Arnie-Gilbert Grape Norman Bates III, whom I named after two characters from one of my favorite movies What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (Arnie and Gilbert) and Norman Bates which I derived from the 1960 film Psycho- so I would know that my son loved his mother.

-Sarah Osman

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