Saying "YES!"
In theater, especially as far as improv goes, there is one rule that has withstood all others and is key to acting and reacting...saying "YES!" Let's talk about this in two aspects:
Saying "YES!" in theater
Theater asks actors to do things no one would do in everyday life: to let go completely of inhibitions, to play, to be naked and completely vulnerable. These are ideas that actors are accustomed to and they all are part of the reason of saying yes. Rejecting a person or their art is what it is to say no on stage or in a performing space. Saying yes is showing that you are willing to fully part from your inhibitions and do what my seem silly, or ridiculous, and that is what theater is all about. Saying yes in theater shows that you are not focused on you, but on your audience, your cast and crew or your partner. Theater is a team, theater is and must be a collaborative effort for it to succeed. Saying no in performing says that a person is not willing to go that far or to do that much, and therefore cannot be a whole actor themselves. In theater, you say yes. You have to say yes for success to live within the arts. Say yes to choices and ideas and criticism! That is something that can make you a great actor, something that I am only beginning to learn. And, when it comes to improvisation, saying know shuts everything and everyone down. You must say yes and learn how to if you don't know that already.
Saying "YES!" in life
As a freshman in college, opportunities are flying left and right within the theater department. No matter what age or level you may be at, opportunities will come and go quickly, and it is important to say yes to those small and big opportunities, especially earlier on in your career. Life can be scary and intimidating (especially when everyone seems so much older and so much more talented than you) but in the theater world, just as you should not let inhibitions get in your way on stage, you should not off stage either. I am learning that getting involved in what I love is going to save me in the future. In theater, you've got to get your name out there, get involved and jump at all the opportunities you can. Say yes to them! Little things like volunteering backstage or auditioning for the sake of practice is a great way to get to know those in your department and to show them what you've got, so say yes to those opportunities! When it comes to getting somewhere in life (and for me in the theater world specifically) there are countless people who can help you get there. It might be a great teacher and mentor that can help you do well, or it might be that random senior you met who put in a good word for you in the program. Whatever it is, take full advantage of those opportunities and say yes to the things that can help you become established in whatever you may want to do in life. Whatever you do, say yes and accept those things that can makes you better!
All in all, in my current position in the theater world, it is important for me to say yes to opportunity, no matter how small. Do so can get you places, if only you just take the chance.
(A follow-up of when to say "No" will come in a future post)
Saying "YES!" in theater
Theater asks actors to do things no one would do in everyday life: to let go completely of inhibitions, to play, to be naked and completely vulnerable. These are ideas that actors are accustomed to and they all are part of the reason of saying yes. Rejecting a person or their art is what it is to say no on stage or in a performing space. Saying yes is showing that you are willing to fully part from your inhibitions and do what my seem silly, or ridiculous, and that is what theater is all about. Saying yes in theater shows that you are not focused on you, but on your audience, your cast and crew or your partner. Theater is a team, theater is and must be a collaborative effort for it to succeed. Saying no in performing says that a person is not willing to go that far or to do that much, and therefore cannot be a whole actor themselves. In theater, you say yes. You have to say yes for success to live within the arts. Say yes to choices and ideas and criticism! That is something that can make you a great actor, something that I am only beginning to learn. And, when it comes to improvisation, saying know shuts everything and everyone down. You must say yes and learn how to if you don't know that already.
Saying "YES!" in life
As a freshman in college, opportunities are flying left and right within the theater department. No matter what age or level you may be at, opportunities will come and go quickly, and it is important to say yes to those small and big opportunities, especially earlier on in your career. Life can be scary and intimidating (especially when everyone seems so much older and so much more talented than you) but in the theater world, just as you should not let inhibitions get in your way on stage, you should not off stage either. I am learning that getting involved in what I love is going to save me in the future. In theater, you've got to get your name out there, get involved and jump at all the opportunities you can. Say yes to them! Little things like volunteering backstage or auditioning for the sake of practice is a great way to get to know those in your department and to show them what you've got, so say yes to those opportunities! When it comes to getting somewhere in life (and for me in the theater world specifically) there are countless people who can help you get there. It might be a great teacher and mentor that can help you do well, or it might be that random senior you met who put in a good word for you in the program. Whatever it is, take full advantage of those opportunities and say yes to the things that can help you become established in whatever you may want to do in life. Whatever you do, say yes and accept those things that can makes you better!
All in all, in my current position in the theater world, it is important for me to say yes to opportunity, no matter how small. Do so can get you places, if only you just take the chance.
(A follow-up of when to say "No" will come in a future post)
Comments
Post a Comment