S
hadow Box has the luxury of having seven showings split over two weekends. This is very rare in high school theatre as most shows use only one weekend and usually have only four performances. I have always had a problem with this plan. With a four performance plan, young actors are barely figuring out what they are doing until the third or so performance and then it is time for strike and the pizza party. I have often seen these actors sit there at the post-show, pizza-on-the-loading-dock-party turning to each other to say, “Oh, I guess the play was a comedy.” But now too late. . .
The downside of this two week plan of performances is that the magic and newness of the play pales a bit over the Sunday, Monday, Tuesday off days. How to get back into the game? How do you get reeved up when you have ALREADY received the bouquet of cheap flowers from the grocery store. Why do it now?
This is where it becomes a business. Now you are there because that is your job! You show up because the story must be told and that is what you agreed to do. Now, truly, I have never had actors make a fuss of over this second week of performances, but I do use it as a lesson for them. Theatre, in the “real world” is not about the flowers or the teary parents. It is a commitment to the the story and the “job” of acting.
Eight shows a week my friends. Get ready for it! But even that is only for the VERY lucky and the VERY talented.
One comment on “It Looks Like Business”
This is where being connected to your “why” is SO valuable.
It’s similar in the health and fitness industry.
People start to lose their motivation once a reward has been earned or a goal has been achieved. Like a business, it’s a full-time thing.
The accolades and trinkets are great. That’s part of what makes it fun.
But the why is more than that. It’s that connection to the big picture. That’s what keeps you going when you’ve already gotten (what you think) you want out of it.
It’s cool that you recognize this and instill this in your students. They’ll be better off for it, regardless of where life takes them.