Artwork or Wallpaper-What Type of Actor Are You?

Recently, my friend and fellow director, actor, Steve Schultz, gave me permission to share his thoughts about the theatre and actors in particular. Steve is presently teaching acting classes at the Fine Arts Center of Easley. A new class in adult acting begins Monday, Jan. 30 for 8 weeks. 7-8 pm. (864-442-6027 to enroll) Steve also works with corporations to develop creativity in the workplace.

Enjoy!

-Anna

By Steven Schultz

It's the first day of rehearsal. Every show has two basic types of actors...artwork and wallpaper. Here's how to tell the difference:

Artwork Brings:
Pencil, comfortable shoes and clothes


Wallpaper Brings:
Gum, fast food drink, your best friend, resume/headshot for the rest of the cast

In case you hadn't noticed...here's the difference. Wallpaper is something you use to cover up the walls...something you have to have, but, unless it's really awful or loud, isn't remembered after you leave the room. Artwork is something you chose for your walls...it is remembered...it stands out, and it adds to the experience. 

Does that make sense? Actors want to be artwork, but in community theatre, you end up with a lot of wallpaper. So, let's avoid being wallpaper. 

It's the first day of rehearsal, and you want to give off a good impression. Right? The first day of rehearsal is a feeling out period. The director wants to know what kind of workers he/she has. Let's face it...directors have a pretty good idea of what they WANT to do with the production. Today is the day they find out what they CAN do with it. If they don't think you're going to work hard, you're character suddenly drifts into the background. If they see some kind of spark in you, they'll spend extra time working on getting your character into the foreground. It's true.


See, all that time we spend answering your questions about motivation, or reviewing your blocking because you forgot to write it down, or feeding you lines because you decided to try and show off and be off-book a week early but instead are making the stage manager read your entire part from the audience...that time could be spent working bits into the show...or bringing your character to the forefront...or working through scenes that just aren't working. 

And we know (or at least we think we know, and that's even more dangerous) exactly what kind of actor you are on the first day of rehearsal. If you are giggling or gossiping while the director is talking...if you're drinking from a Burger King cup on stage...if you laugh openly about not understanding the play or a certain word...if you sit there and do the bare minimum, reading your lines as if you were Charles Kuralt...we're going to assume you're wallpaper material. So don't do any of those things.

Okay, so we're a few days into rehearsal, and we're not sure if we're wallpaper or artwork. Then this scenario happens: Let's say you've rehearsed a scene about five or six times. It's not working. You just want to get through the scene and get off stage. The director says "Edna" (cuz your name's Edna now) "how about you stand by the wall and look out the window for the next four pages...and say all your lines from there". You are wallpaper (and yes, I've given that direction before). 

Nobody gets into theatre to be wallpaper. Everyone thinks they'll be a work of art on display. But then there's all that work you gotta do. So, to avoid being wallpaper, or to peel yourself off the wall and into a frame, simply make choices...care about the play....work on characterization...don't ask the director questions about whether or not your character ate waffles for breakfast or Froot Loops (that's your decision to make, unless the director is more Prince John than Hal Prince).

Simply put...theatre needs more artwork. And you need to be in this as more than background noise. Do the work, and you will be rewarded. Do the bare minimum, and you'll be duly rewarded for that as well.

Come check out his classes at Fine Arts Center of Easley for ages 4-6, 7-12 and adult classes.

www.fineartscenterofeasley.com

info@fineartscenterofeasley.com

864-442-6027