tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8016615739934662116..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: How to memorize scripts part 2By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87481840745006753182016-10-10T12:31:06.213-07:002016-10-10T12:31:06.213-07:00The director of the show I'm in now had a real...The director of the show I'm in now had a really unusual method that I've found works pretty well:<br /><br />Read each sentence multiple times in a row, each time emphasizing a different word. Not only does the repetition really help, but you get the chance of experimenting with deliveries as you do, and it helps learn the line more exactly as each time you're focusing on a specific word.<br /><br />I don't know if he made it up himself or got it from somewhere else, but I do know that's what I used for my current show and it's worked quite well.Covarrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05512077437345823232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79720567742893133092016-10-09T12:00:33.933-07:002016-10-09T12:00:33.933-07:00My question is, Ken, have you ever been on stage? ...My question is, Ken, have you ever been on stage? I know many producers and directors insert themselves into a show. Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86993948926512480432016-10-09T11:58:03.059-07:002016-10-09T11:58:03.059-07:00Thank you for bringing up this topic, because it h...Thank you for bringing up this topic, because it has always been on my mind. On a smaller scale, my dad starred in some productions at the Walla Walla Little Theatre. I remember him rehearsing lines with my Mom (who was never in a play). My guess is that professional actors are just gifted with that ability. <br />I'm sure that in a live play, everyone fears going blank at a crucial time. I've heard that many actors just make up a line at the time. Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31041583381635250382016-10-09T11:40:39.072-07:002016-10-09T11:40:39.072-07:00I don't even understand what actor 1 was sayin...I don't even understand what actor 1 was saying.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11777496001166356949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79919255051521064992016-10-09T10:30:32.341-07:002016-10-09T10:30:32.341-07:00Hi Ken, sorry this is off topic to the blog post o...Hi Ken, sorry this is off topic to the blog post of the day. Took my brother to see your play last night and we both had a great time. It was funny and heartfelt and a thoroughly professional production -- you got a great cast. Just curious, did the people in the theater next door rip off your book for "Generation Me"? For a minute there I thought you had two shows running at once. Anyway many thanks for a fun night out. A home run!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14501680200985869033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77243389851464524042016-10-09T09:40:47.313-07:002016-10-09T09:40:47.313-07:00Jack Klugman was touring in the live stage version...Jack Klugman was touring in the live stage version of "On Golden Pond", Spring of 2003. This would put him in his early 80s. His throat cancer surgery was common knowledge at the time, replacing his Oscar Madison/Quincy voice with something of a raspy, hoarse whisper. Being well mic'd however, his delivery, timing, and attitude were still forceful, and he, cast, and crew carried on for just over two hours. Klugman did not miss a beat. Whatever memorizing system he used worked for him - at 81! He was amazing. I am lucky if I can memorize where the car keys are placed.John Hammesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36248624330946746462016-10-09T08:47:38.932-07:002016-10-09T08:47:38.932-07:00My favorite story here in the blog was of Nick Col...My favorite story here in the blog was of Nick Colasanto as Coach in early Cheers episodes who would tape his lines around the set. Somehow I think it helped him create that halting, brain-beaned delivery that made us all love him more...Barefoot Billy Alohahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04586870309250699505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39780026588397862302016-10-09T06:23:17.181-07:002016-10-09T06:23:17.181-07:00Something similar applies to the process of learni...Something similar applies to the process of learning songs, though one good thing is you don't have to deal with remembering cues. I have a friend who has to write out the lyrics in order to learn them. I've never done that; I used to practice new songs while driving to gigs - repetition is big for me, partly because singing it out loud I also *hear* the words, which is part of it for me. As the actors say, logical/good lyrics are easier to learn than ones lacking clear connections/story. Traditional ballads are relatively easy because there's action and characters; the hardest are more lyrical contemporary songs. Playing an instrument provides physical actions and aural cues, like the actors talk about, and helps remember the words - the hardest are unaccompanied songs, where a break in your memory means radio silence.<br /><br />But I find the biggest thing that helps me remember lyrics is performing the song in front of an audience. There's something about the occasion, the adrenaline, etc., that helps fix it. <br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.com