I am sure that most people would think that the most exciting part of theatre in high school are those opening nights with all of those approving parents filling up the front rows with their overwhelming cheers and approval – – approval even before the curtain rises. Easy audience . . . I get it!
But the true joy of theatre – especially theatre in high school – is what happens in the rehearsal room.
When side coaching for the monologue works it resembles a dance. The world shrinks down to the actor, the coach, and the music being played by the text. When I first started out coaching, I thought that I was leading the dance – – that I was to prepare all of the steps on my own time and apply them to the actor, bending their body and their sensibility to how I see the monologue. I was the one in charge. My success lay in how correctly they could follow my steps and their success lay in how quickly they could get it right.
But age has changed all of this for me. I now see my place as following their lead. The actor is in charge of the dance, the music is the same, but my role is to now to follow. I read the play and monologue, obviously, but I work to be free of any plan. I wait till the actor enters the space, invites me to the dance, starts the music and presses me into response. My success now lives in my ability to respond and reflect – – stepping back as you move forward – – stepping to the front as the music pulls you back. Working together we make the most sense of the music. I accentuate and amplify. I can cover the steps when you are unsure – ready to suggest some clever footwork when we need to command the dance floor.
As an acting coach I realize that my goal is to put myself out of work. If successful, I will be able to step back to the side and become your fan. I enjoy watching the performance, but nothing – nothing beats the dance!