Question from an Actor... Keeping it new!

• I saw your post on making the lines new to you every time. What would you recommend if you are in a play? You have been rehearsing everyday and your performance will be a lot of days. How do you keep it new? Do you just think of your objective, goal, and obstacle. With changing your tactic?
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  1:04pm

  Dean West

  Keeping it new and natural for plays isn't always an easy job. You get stuck in rehearsals and blocking every day; so I recommend really trying new things all the way through rehearsals. The same for actors in tv/film, our wide shot is when we get to explore and play. You may find something new every day you work for the stage, see how the emotions of your cast affect you. You cannot know what is going to happen, you have to forget that you know the story. I don't like to commit to any one type of method, as I feel like there are certain things that work for certain people. I do however enjoy playing with some of Sandy's work. Meisner technique can work wonderful work for the stage. It keeps you living without focusing on what you think you should do. It puts a lot of your focus on the other actor. Watch them, listen to them. You may hear or feel something different than what you feel the script meant. Also, making sure you are talking and listening and not going into auto pilot is a big key. It's ok if some things end up being the same if it is because you are truly living in the moment and that is what happens; but not if it is because you always make sure that the scene is exactly what you want it to be.