Quick Audition Tip

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been updating in a while I have been really busy!

Today I just want to talk a little bit about auditioning. This is just a quick tip that I have started doing recently and it is so worth it.

The tip is........to go early!

I know that sounds sooooo scary, as it did to me before I tried it, but it really helps. If there is a sign up sheet I try to go closer to the beginning of the list. I am not saying first, but maybe fourth and down. If you go closer the beginning you have less time to fret about it. You go over your material quickly, have time to take a couple deep breaths, and then just DO IT! If you go towards the end then all you are doing is giving yourself more time to stress and doubt yourself.

If you don't believe me or are skeptical, just try it and tell me how it goes! Leave a comment and tell me if this tip works for you. I would love to hear from you!

Until next time,
Samantha

Memory Movements

Today I am going to give a tip that I have found very useful. I think that one of the most tedious and stressful parts about being in shows is memorizing lines. Your brain can only hold so much, and I know that my brain just doesn't want to make room for the endless flow of lines that I have to remember. When I have short lines to memorize, maybe one or two sentences, I can often remember them once I hear the context of the scene. But what about when I have to remember paragraphs? Often times paragraphs cover multiple topics, which often don't even seem to flow together. So what do I do? I make up movements. Not a dance just simple hand gestures on key words. It is easier for me to remember the flow of the movements rather than the flow of the words. I have found this to work extremely well. If you repeat the gestures, they will eventually get stuck in your brain, and they are easier to pull back out rather than jumbled words and sentences.

For example if I had to memorize:

"The cat jumped over the fence and landed on its feet. "

I might make an arching motion with my hand to remember the word "jumped," then I might make a fist for the word "landed," and then point two of my fingers downward to remember "legs."

I have found this simple trick to be very helpful, and I hope you do too.

Until next time,
Samantha

My Best Kept Secret

Since I love to perform, it only seems fitting that I would continue over the summer. It is true that I do musicals over the summer, but I do them at somewhat of an inhuman speed. I participate in a workshop called Lovewell. Lovewell is an amazing program like nothing else I have ever heard of or come in contact with. The thing that sets Lovewell apart is the fact that the students write the show.

Yes I am serious.

In three weeks teenagers ages 14-18 will write, rehearse, and perform a full length musical. I know that sounds insane, as it did to me before I tried it. There is also a junior program in which kids ages 9-13 will write, rehearse, and perform a full length musical in four weeks. I have been going to Lovewell for four years and have participated in eight original productions. This year was my first year in the teen group and it was incredible.

At Lovewell the students have help from staff members who assist the writing and rehearsing process. Most of the staff members are past Lovewell students, but some are just people who want to get in on the wonderment that is Lovewell. This year I had the privilege of working with Kait Kerrigan, a very well known playwright on and off Broadway; Nathan Tysen, a former Lovewell student whose   musical Tuck Everlasting is coming to Broadway; and Jacob Jeffries, another former Lovewell student, the lead singer/pianist of the up-incoming Jacob Jeffries Band.

Let me take you through a typical teen (3 week) process. The first week is spent brainstorming an idea for our original musical. We usually sit in a huge circle and just say any ideas, no matter how out there, that we have thought of. It is hard at first to come up with an idea or concept that everyone agrees on, but usually by Thursday or Friday of the first week we have a concept and characters that most everyone is happy with. The next step is to come up with an out line, or basic plot points, for the show. During a quick process you may be able to start or even finish your opening number on Friday. The second week is simple: We write. We break up into character groups and write scenes and songs. As the end of the second week roles around you are usually done with Act One of the show, have learned about half of the songs you will be performing, and are either beginning or are in the middle of Act Two. Week Three is hectic but fantastic. It is the week we put the show on its feet. You are simultaneously writing, learning, and staging songs or scenes. Sometimes (not very uncommon) we will finish writing the show the day before or even the day of our opening night!

As I was writing this I realized how incredibly impossible and crazy it sounds, but I assure you that it is completely true. You may be thinking that there is no way that the musicals could be good, and you are right. They aren't good....they are outstanding. You would never know that these musicals were written in three weeks by high school students, and even when you do know it is hard to believe.

Even though the shows turn out amazing, the whole experience is about the process. The friends and memories that I have made at Lovewell will last a lifetime. It just goes to show you that with the power of creativity, everything is possible.

Until next time,
Samantha

Competition

My name is Samantha and I live to perform. The excitement I feel when I am on stage is like none other. I love sharing my passion with others and getting feedback. On this blog I'll post about shows I've been in, shows I've seen, and other performance stories. Enjoy!

This year I was part of my schools Jr. Thespians Troupe. If you aren't familiar with Jr. Thespians, it is a theatre competition in which middle schoolers compete in events such as duet music, solo music, monologue, small group scene, and pantomime.

After I auditioned this year I was assigned to duet and solo musical. For my duet musical song my teacher chose the song Residuals.....No one had ever heard of it before. It wasn't a common theatre song like most people in Thespians do, nor a very musical theatre type of song. I hated it.

After our first rehearsal I was already tired of the song. I was upset and feeling annoyed, but as time passed it grew on me. I became more comfortable with the piece and I began to get excited.

Then the day came. We stood in front of the table of judges and my hands were shaking. We introduce ourselves and the music started. My nerves all channeled into performance energy and we were doing amazing. As we finished I saw the judges beaming back at us and one even started clapping.

At the end of the day we were waiting for all of the Critics Choice(best act in the category) winners to be announced. The list was up and the duet musical winner was.....not on the list. What? All of the other categories besides us were up. Five minutes....Fifteen minutes..... Forty minutes.....nothing.

Then it was posted and.....we won! We screamed like our hair was on fire and I even started crying. I was so overjoyed. It was one of the proudest moments of my life. Until....we won again at States!

It just shows you that with dedication, practice, and passion you can accomplish anything.


If anyone has any performance stories, tips, or comments that they would like to share, I would LOVE to hear them!

Until next time,
Samantha