Rehearsal For A Show example essay topic

Winkler Works Cited " An Acting Career". 1 February 2005. ". Actors". Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-2005 Edition. 27 January 2005...

"Careers in Acting" 1 February 2005... Moore, Dick. Opportunities in Acting Careers. Chicago: Career Horizons, 1999.6-7. Yehling, Carol. Careers in Focus: Performing Arts.

Chicago: Ferguson, 2003.5-13. Paul Winkler Academic English February 10, 2005 McArthur 10-8 Acting - Research Paper " OPENING NIGHT... IT'S OPENING NIGHT! IT'S MAX BIALYSTOCK'S LATEST SHOW. WILL IT FLOP OR WILL IT GO? THE HOUSE LIGHTS ARE DIMMING, THE FOOTLIGHTS ARE BRIGHT, THE TOAST OF SOCIETY'S BURNING TONIGHT!

WE " RE SO EXCITED WE CAN'T SIT DOWN... ", the Usherettes sing in the Broadway Musical, The Producers, written by Mel Brooks and Tom Meehan. With every new show, there is always competition to be the best show. Since the tender age of six-years-old, I have performed in over fifty stage productions. Out of those productions, I have done a New York City World Premier, tours, regional theatre and many other types of theatrical demonstrations. I would like to continue my hobby as an occupation. To continue with my thespian career, what do I need to make this goal come true?

An actor is a person who performs on a stage or on the screen. To be a thespian takes time, patience and talent. (Actors; Yehling) Several people believe the misconception that acting is not a respectable profession. Where in fact, apart of being a thespian is understanding that people won't give them the full respect they deserve. Another important part of being an actor is to feel good about what their doing. In addition, to feeling good about yourself you need to, "interpret life through the window of your own life experiences".

(Yehling) Although jobs are very scarce, it helps to do a show that has good material. To increase the chances of getting employed professional training is imperative. According to Careers in Acting eighty-six percent of non-equity actors receive training of some kind. Before a production begins, an actor must memorize all lines and cues for the first rehearsal. Once in rehearsal for a show, it is now even more critical to spend numerous hours on their own time to go over blocking and songs.

"EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS ONLY FOR NOW". (Avenue Q) Unlike regular jobs that you can stay in for a lifetime, acting jobs are usually short-term. The average chorus job could last for around five months. Lead roles however could last for sometimes years. For most jobs you go to interviews for the job, for acting you attend an audition in a very nerve-racking environment. According to Careers in Focus: Performing Arts, a great deal of an actor's time is spent at auditions.

This business is very competitive - even for low-paying chorus roles. In 1975, Michael Bennett, James Kirkwood, Nicholas Dante, Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kle ban wrote a musical titled A Chorus Line. This show is about the lives and misfortunes of actors, set in an audition for a Broadway chorus. In the opening of the show they sing, "GOD, I HOPE I GET IT! I'VE COME SO FAR BUT EVEN SO - IT COULD BE YES, IT COULD BE NO.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES HE NEED? HOW MANY BOYS? -HOW MANY GIRLS? I'VE GOT TO GET THIS SHOW!" Once in rehearsal, everything becomes very tedious and stressful. The typical Broadway play or musical rehearses six days a week for eight to ten hours. Each show has a technical week or what actors like to call a "hell week".

During this time, the entire cast and crew rehearse for seven days straight with little or no break time. When a show opens for he public, the lead actors and actresses sometimes do not perform on Wednesdays and Thursdays so that they call rest their voice. Their replacements are called swings or understudies. A swing actor knows all of the roles in the show, usually an ensemble member, and can fill in at any moment.