For Actors Who Miss Acting
7 ways to keep that Acting Muscle flexing while in Quarantine (or out of work — hey, it happens)
We’ve all been there. No work. Auditions slow to a halt, and your last pending “on avail” came back as a No. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned professional, a regional stage actor, Broadway’s go-to ensemble gal, or toughing it out in Hollywood, having little to no work is an inevitability. Especially right now.
How many times have you caught yourself whispering “I miss acting” while staring at your TV screen and stuffing as much white cheddar popcorn that can possibly fit into your mouth at one time? Just me? Ok. Yes, Netflix, I’m still watching Schitt’s Creek. A wet glimmer comes into your eye as you remember your conservatory days, doing Chekhov in a corset and wondering how you ever took for granted that you got to act Every. Single. Day. *le sigh*
Now that you may have gotten used to getting paid cold hard cash for your roles, there are still ways to keep those acting skills fresh and keep the artist blues away. Staying on top of your skillset is valuable to you as an artist and as a freelancer. Let’s do this.
1. Work on monologues
The practicality of this one can vary. If, like me, you’re doing the regional theatre gambit, then having another monologue in your back pocket couldn’t hurt. But whether you’re going out for commercials in LA, or just want to work on a dream piece, this exercise can be fun.
We always need another fresh new monologue in our back pocket. I’ve been doing the regional theatre thing for a couple of years in San Diego and I’m just now getting to the point where every theatre has seen both of my pieces.
Work on characters you’ve always wanted to play. For me, I’ve always wanted to have a crack at Hamlet’s To Be or Not To Be speech. Will I ever bust it out for a real audition at the Old Globe? Probably not. Will I ever get hired to play Hamlet for a paycheck? Truly, I have no idea. That’s not really the point of the exercise. Is there a character you’re much too young or old to play? This is the perfect time. I’m a few decades away from playing Mary Tyrone, as well as just past the point of being able to play Juliet. That doesn’t mean I can’t tackle them.
Pick a monologue and get to it. Make a self-tape or an Instagram story, post it to your timeline, recruit other actor pals to do the same. I mean, seriously, why not? Especially if you’re quarantining alone. No one is around to judge you for talking to yourself or making yourself cry.
2. Sensory recall
One of my favorite games to play with my students is one I call Surfaces. Every few minutes, the ground we are walking on changes form. Hot sand at the beach, tall brown dry grass, cold wet early morning dew grass, a frozen pond, anything else you can possibly think of. Nothing induces some much-needed laughter like pretending to slide around on an ice rink.
3. Watch the greats do their thing
Most actors know the difference between watching an episode of The Office for the millionth time, and watching a piece of cinematic glory as a way to study and be inspired. No disrespect to The Office, of course, this is more about being an active audience, and studying the craft. There is no shortage of articles out there like this one, of the supposed greatest performances of all time. Or pick a favorite actor of yours and watch all of their films. One summer a friend of mine watched every Meryl Streep film in chronological order. That same summer I became obsessed with James Dean, who, luckily for me, only has three films (due to his untimely death so that’s pretty sad). If you haven’t seen East of Eden yet, please please do.
4. Learn a new skill
I saw Once in London and thought to myself “damn, I should learn to play the fiddle.” It’s a pipe dream that may or may not happen someday. Pick a skill you’ve always wanted to learn and spend a few hours a week on it. Adding skills to the resume is incredibly valuable, and incredibly fun as well. A student of mine has picked up the guitar, an instrument he used to play, but has since neglected. Another actor friend of mine is learning to sing. Learn to juggle, pick up a second (or third) language, take a dance class.
5. Read plays
If you’re not regularly reading plays, honey, you are missing out. Not only is it a whole subsection of literature that we regularly forget to read until we are sitting at a first read-through, it’s also a great source for monologues (um, hello!). I highly recommend going to the effort to decolonize your bookshelf and read some new material. This article highlights 12 women playwrights of color you should be reading right now. Get lost in the world of the play, read it out loud, do voices! Play!
6. Host an Evening of Theatre
When I was just a year or two out of college, I hosted a couple of theatre nights in my apartment. And by apartment, I mean the 4-bedroom townhome that was inhabited by no less than 8 to 10 people at any given moment. I had friends who were still in school that I lived with and hung out with and I missed acting. A lot.
I was craving that community, connection, and creativity. So I bungled together a theatre night. The call was to bring a monologue or a scene. Most chose monologues. Material actors already have in their back pocket and don’t need another person to rehearse with. I think I also recruited a handful of dudes to do readings of selections from The Vagina Monologues. Because for some reason we thought it’d be funny? Ok, it was. Especially the orgasm one. It was low-pressure and a lot of fun.
You don’t need anything fancy. No sets, lights, costumes, props. Just cram as many of your theatre nerd friends into your living room as possible. In terms of organization, maybe make a setlist and hang it prominently. And beers all around. Afterward, hang out and talk and drink and do whatever. Sometimes we just need an excuse to get together. And sometimes, we just need a reason to perform. It’s in our blood. For the love of Goddess, someone please ask me to perform.
These days, this can be tricky. I’m not asking you to cram people into your home before it’s safe to do so. You can always do a socially distanced version in a front yard if you have one. Or a back alley or a park. Social distance, bring a blanket, some snacks and a beer or two. Jump up and have a go at that monologue that you’ve always wanted to try or a poem you wrote or a song you’ll never sing because you don’t fit the casting — the sky is the limit.
7. Get back in class
As artists, we need to be constantly working on our craft. It is my belief that if you want to be good at something, you need to always remain a student. Stay curious, stay open, stay humble. The Masterclass series offers multiple acting courses from different teachers including Helen Mirren. Look into local studios who are offering free or affordable online classes that you can attend via Zoom. Anytime work is slow, even when not in a pandemic, getting back to class can be invigorating. Being able to work on a role without the pressure of performing it in the watered-down way a director might want you to can be freeing. Push your limits, get out of your comfort zone. That’s where life is lived.