The stage was set and costumes were donned. The audience waited with eager anticipation for the show to begin. But opening time came and went. The crowd grew restless. The show’s producer beckoned a woman from the crowd. It became clear that there was a problem backstage.
The “problem” was me. It was my daycare’s summer production of The Lion King and I was cast as Simba. At 7 years old, it was my first performance and, as it turned out, my first experience with performance anxiety. I was excited for the show until I saw the large crowd assembled in the auditorium and realized that all of those eyes would be on me. Panic descended upon me and I began to hyperventilate. My heart beat wildly in my chest and my hands trembled like a low-magnitude earthquake. I thought I would pass out or throw up, or both. There was no way I was going out on that stage. My director attempted to calm me, but I resisted. Eventually he called my mom from the audience to help. Together, they were able to coax me onto the stage. However, in my angst, I was unable to remember my lines and had to rely on prompts from the director. Embarrassed and ashamed, I vowed never to do another
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Recognizing my love of music, the choir director encouraged me to audition for the school musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie. The thought of returning to the stage was both exciting and terrifying. I summoned the courage to audition only after realizing that I could request an ensemble role. This allowed me the opportunity to perform without being directly in the spotlight. On opening night, the familiar pang of nerves threatened to overcome me. I managed to make it to the stage on rubber legs with bile rising in my throat. “Deep breath in, deep breath out”, I reminded myself. As the show progressed, I felt myself responding positively to the audience’s enthusiasm. By the last curtain call, I knew that I was ready to tackle a larger role in the next
Ever heard of a story that sings of the “Angel of Music” and the “Phantom of the Opera”? A tale that once you have listened to the sweet melody that you will realized that you've pasted the “Point of No Return”? This love triangle has captivated multitudes ever since the 1910 original Phantom of the Opera was published in France by Monsieur Leroux, although most story lovers recall the musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber or the motion picture adaption. Although this story has been entertaining people for over a century, in this new era have prerecorded voices and movements begun to overshadow the talented performers of live theater? Although “The lavish screen adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera (2005) only deepened the damage” of the dislike of musicals made into film “with non-stars in the leads and an unimaginative production,”(Musical),which version, the live performance or the film, makes the story more attractive? To answer these questions, permit this essay to analyze two methods of storytelling: 2011 live performance Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall and the 2005 film, and decide if music and story lovers everywhere have too “turned from true beauty”.
The Hero’s Journey is a basic template utilized by writers everywhere. Joseph Campbell, an American scholar, analyzed an abundance of myths and literature and decided that almost all of them followed a template that has around twelve steps. He would call these steps the Hero’s Journey. The steps to the Hero’s Journey are a hero is born into ordinary circumstances, call to adventure/action, refusal of call, a push to go on the journey, aid by mentor, a crossing of the threshold, the hero is tested, defeat of a villain, possible prize, hero goes home. The Hero’s Journey is more or less the same journey every time. It is a circular pattern used in stories or myths.
Although the movie The Lion King is often times viewed as nothing more than a child-based movie, in actuality, it contains a much deeper meaning. It is a movie that not only displays the hardships of maturation, and the perplexities associated with growing, but it is also a movie that deals with the search for one's identity and responsibility. As said by director Julie Taymor, "In addition to being a tale about a boy's personal growth, the `Lion King' dramatizes the ritual of the `Circle of Life'." Throughout The Lion King, Simba must endeavor through the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth to take his place in the circle of life, as king of the pridelands.
In addition to this, during a certain part of my monologue, the audience laughed and I did not expect that. As an actor I need to be aware that there will be moments like these and still be able to stay in character and continue on with the same dedication. After my performance, I was surprised by the feedback that I got from the class. The comments lifted my spirits about my performance and prompted me to trust the choices that I make in future performances. Yes, there is definitely room for improvement, but overall, I am pleased with
On a Wednesday night I saw Texas State Theatre and Dance Department's performance of A Chorus Line. The main plot of the musical entails the audition of 17 dancers for several Broadway roles on the chorus line. However, during their auditions the director Zach asks for personal stories of each dancer's life. Though the plot of this musical is seemingly simple in its twist on the traditional audition, it explores themes that reveal the human experience, the search for individuality, and the sense of self.
In the world of theatre, auditions are critical in order to have an exquisite show. However, auditions can be tricky and demanding, especially if it is for a musical. A regular theatrical audition is different in comparison to a musical audition; the steps may look more complicated, and it can seem convoluted for a first time auditionee. For this reason, it is difficult to get into a show without prior experience. So, this guide can benefit a majority of people who wants to undergo an audition, especially if it is their first time auditioning. Furthermore, the age can range from 13 to 30 years-old. This guide may benefit the first
“It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime”- Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
In that moment, I knew I was going to become a theater nerd, not fully immersed but I’m getting there. After “Wicked”, I then saw what till this day is my favorite musical, “The Lion King”. And then to my surprise, not even half a year later, because of my love of the show and how much it changed my views of art, my dad said we would see it again in December. He realized how much musicals affected me, both my parents had. In seeing it the first time I had chosen that I wanted a future in the arts because of how much this musical influenced
From the audition process to enjoying everyone’s company one last time at The Cottage, this experience was amazing and eye-opening. I would say that there were no bad memories, but that would be a lie. All rehearsal processes have their slumps, nights when the cast and director just aren’t clicking properly to bring something alive on stage and this show was no different. However, years from now when I look at the framed poster hanging on my wall and think back to this show I believe that those nights where we seemed to take steps back rather than forward will be forgotten. In place of those will be the memories of the friendships that I formed, the wonderful feeling of being a part of my first non-musical performance, and the sight of Miles the Gelatinous Cube dancing across the
Once I let my thoughts return to the music, I knew what lie ahead of me. I tapped the nearest "big guy" on the shoulder and pointed towards the ceiling; the universal signal on the concert floor. He nodded, grabbed my foot, and pushed me on top of the crowd. Once I was up there was no turning back. Soon strong hands were surfing me towards the stage. I had the best view in the house and reveled in the moment. I was fueled by an adrenaline rush that was only heightened by the fusion of the music and the energy of the crowd.
As i put my suitcase full of multicolored clothes down on the couch furthest from the door, i see a table full of small square microphones with numbers from one to twenty-five. Less than an hour till the theatre will be fill with people ages three to eighty-three waiting impatiently for the high schoolers to come on the stage sing and dancing. But until then, we wait as the clock tick tocks down the
That’s not exactly comforting. However, I’ve had to learn how to deal with it and now, I can walk into an audition room confident and proud. Preparation is another huge skill acting taught me. You can’t walk into an audition room hoping to do your best, if you haven’t even prepared. Preparation is key, and has also helped with my level of determination.
The time for our big scene came. We waited in the wings for our cue and finally we were pushed out on stage.
Often, when writing a stage production, a stage director needs to fully place himself in the position of their audience; though the director is often the creator of the production they are directing, the audience normally determines whether the production is an overall success or failure or whether certain parts of the production are working in the overall composition. When crafting a stage production, a director tends to take one aspect of the audience into deep consideration: the audience’s reactions to certain scenes or events. It is a common goal for stage directors or creators of all types to try get the audience to feel a certain way about a certain scene, characters, or settings; this is done through mainly the power and strength of a stage performance and can leave the audience feeling a variety of emotions. Overall, in this manner, the stage director is attempting to somewhat manipulate the emotions and overall feelings of the audience or, in other words, bring the audience under his
A roaring applause erupted from the seating area of the Hard Rock Cafe as the performing band walked off stage. That meant one thing; we were next. My stomach felt like it was jumping up and down on a trampoline. I had only been playing guitar for two years at this point and this was my first time ever performing live. My bandmates and I were standing in the lobby waiting on the call for us to come on stage.