A Reframe on Starting With Yourself

What is the number one thing musical theatre actors hear from casting directors?

Be yourself.

Bring yourself to the material. We are looking to see ​YOU​.

Actors often misinterpret this note.

Here is what happens:

In the name of making a song their own, actors disregard the story in which the song sits and reframe the song in the context of their own life. They become so invested in their own story that they forget the character’s given circumstances.

Sure, the work is “personal.” But we haven’t done our job: to put the story first.

If we have done our homework and do the work we know we are capable of, bringing ourselves to the material takes care of itself.

Our job is to hold the story up, excavate all of the context, and get out of the way.

How can we get better at this?

When adding a musical theatre song to your book, give the libretto a few good reads. You may be presenting a 16-bar cut, but everyone can tell if you have a general understanding of why the character is singing.

Find the score. Feel it in your hands. Cast albums were created for people to enjoy and access musicals, not for actors to use as a decision making tool. Let those go for a while. Same goes for the Youtube wormhole. Style and tone are cool, but your understanding of the musical and textual information is always more important.

The most powerful artists start with viewing the text with objectivity. Prioritize this. Work slowly.

Write down every fact you know about your character and every question you have. Read through your findings carefully. I promise your process will be stronger for it.