In these steps you will learn a few ways to prepare you for the stage. With this information you will be ready for anything with singing, dancing, and dialogue.

Steps

  1. 1
    Learn your lines. Practice makes perfect, so think of learning your lines as studying for a test that if you fail everyone knows and you can not take it again. Use a highlighter to make your lines jump off the page. When studying, say the words out loud. Have a friend run your lines with you when you're not in rehearsal.[1]
  2. 2
    Learn your song. Singing memorization is just as important as dialogue. Lyrics can be tricky. Study and go over them as much as possible. Sing in the mirror so you can see what you look like while singing, this helps correct any mistakes you may or may not have made.[3]
    • Learn your notes and harmonies as well. Even if you know your lyrics, it won't sound as good unless you get the notes right.
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  3. 3
    Practice any dancing. You must have the patience and time' to work at it everyday. Take your time and learn the steps the right way first so you do not have to go back and slow everyone else down.
  4. 4
    Decide how you want to affect the person you are talking to (or singing to) with your lines. Do you want to charm them, offend them, destroy them, etc.? This is called an objective and may change as you go through the rehearsal process and discover new things about the piece.[4]
  5. 5
    Always make a strong choice about your character. In other words, I "kind of" love the other person is a weak choice. I'm crazy about the other person is a strong choice. Ambiguity does not work on stage. Remember to exaggerate all character choices so that the story and your character come across clearly.
  6. 6
    Next is blocking. This means learning where you are and where you have to go during a scene. In any play you've got to know what's going on around you so you can hear your cue to give a line or move in the scene.
  7. 7
    Drink a lot of fluids and (most importantly) have fun! Acting is work, but you can let loose, and have fun.[5]
  8. 8
    On the night of the performance everyone is always nervous - it's a sign of sanity! Besides, being too relaxed and over-confident can hurt your performance.[6]
  9. 9
    It is best to get into character at least 10 minutes before the first scene, even if you aren't in it.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    When I'm singing, I often lose my breath from nerves, is there any way to stop this?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It happens to me too and I often notice that my legs are stiff and tense. It's best to try to get in a relaxed position, whether it's sitting or even letting your body hang loose. Next, remember to breathe from your diaphragm and in through your nose, out through your mouth. Finally, know where your notes are being held in your body, such as your head voice, chest voice, and the overall body voice. Try not to focus on the audience when you're performing, just pick a spot at the back of the room and stare at it.
  • Question
    What should I do before opening night?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Get everything ready and prepare yourself for an amazing night. Go to bed early and sleep well if possible and just try to stay calm.
  • Question
    What do I do if I forget my lines on stage?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you know roughly what the line is, find a way to weave in the basic idea. Otherwise, if you know that one of your fellow cast members has a line to say soon after the one you forgot, find a way to prompt them to say that to get past it. Standing there silent for any longer than a few seconds will tip the audience off that something was missed, so you want to resurrect the situation one way or another quickly so the audience does not realize anything was off. Learn your cues - it's all well and good knowing your lines, but if you don't know where to say them, there's no point.
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Warnings

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About This Article

Lesly Kahn, MFA
Co-authored by:
Acting Teacher & Coach
This article was co-authored by Lesly Kahn, MFA. Lesly Kahn is an acting teacher and coach based in Los Angeles, California. She is the founder and owner of Lesly Kahn & Company, Actor Training, which focuses on preparing actors for employment in film, television and theatre. With well over 30 years of experience, Ms. Kahn has coached hundreds of actors who have become household names. She also ran the BFA Program in Acting at Marymount Manhattan College, and worked in television as well as New York and regional theatre. Lesly holds a BFA from New York University and an MFA from The Yale School of Drama. This article has been viewed 181,564 times.
9 votes - 85%
Co-authors: 44
Updated: December 1, 2021
Views: 181,564
Categories: Performing Arts
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