Okay, let's face it. When it's all said and done, you're the ones being put in the line of fire. You're the ones that the audience will see, and inevitably the success or failure of the writing and direction of the show falls squarely on your shoulders.
And you wouldn't have it any other way.
But still, let's not kid ourselves here. You've got an uphill climb, and here's a few of the reasons why:
Flying Blind
You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. Literally, that is. Your first chance to see a script will be the morning that you show up to work on it. Unlike a normal audition, you're pretty much getting placed into a show blind. They'll be no extra time to read the show early. No opportunity to Wiki a synopsis of the show. It's you and whoever else gets picked for ten minutes.
But on the bright side, it's just ten minutes. It feels a lot longer than it acutally will be. And ibefore you know it, it will be all over. But until then...
Manage Your Stress
One could argue that the ticking clock will impact the actors the most. Yes, your director will feel for you, but in the end you'll be the one feeling the pressure of being off book by the 8PM deadline.
The easiest way to wreck your fun and ruin your day is to get into a panic over time. Try to find moments to relax and unwind. Take a break from your script and just hang out. Not for hours on end, mind you. But take breaks to keep your head screwed on straight. Your brain will be better prepared to memorize and function if you do.
Get the Gist of It
The end goal is to have a perfectly learned and executed script. Believe me when I say that the goal is rarely met, and even then roughly so. The ultimate survival tactic is one of last resort. If you can't hack all of the lines word for word, then try your best to keep the spirit of them intact. Work with your fellow actors to prevent the one thing that will derail any stage performance: getting lost in the woods.
So long as one person on stage has an idea of what's going on, all is not lost. No matter how badly you think that things might turn out, there's always someone that thinks that things will be worse.
Manage Your Nerves
Last summer, everyone was on edge. Every single performer. Not one person was calm, and if they say they were, then they're a liar. I'm usually as cool as a cucumber, and I was edgy. It's probably the most on edge I've ever been before taking a stage, and (God willing) I will never be that on edge again.
But the entire cast and crew are pulling for you. Not just from your show, but from every single show going on. Every single person in every single show, every single writer, every single director, every single techie and stage manager, and (most importantly) every single audience member.
They're a forgiving group that will respect you giving your best effort and appreciate the work that you put into it. So worry less about your performance being perfect and focus on doing your best to get the show at its best. Everything else will work itself out.
So that's it. Everything is about to live in a few hours. I'll be no doubt stressing over it in short order, and the rest of the group will be under the gun soon enough. Godspeed and broken legs to everyone participating, and please remember to come out and support the effort by seeing the performances Saturday, Feb. 4th at 8PM.
