Hi Tom,

I realize it's been awhile since the last post, but I just wanted to add in some tips that worked for me. I was Trina in "I Remember Mama" (the musical version), and I have always had a hard time crying "on cue." I have to say - the trick of trying not to cry really worked for me, along with pulling my lips together (another post-er mentioned "making [your] crying face").

The one thing the make-up person found out - (at least for women): waterproof, smudgeproof, outlast, long last, infinity - all those kinds of eye make-up - did not cut it - they all smudged & otherwise gave me 'racoon eyes'. She ended up using short fake eyelashes to help bring out my eyes (much easier than having to get made up again after every scene!).

Anyway - hope that helps.

Why a serious role? Fair question.

I would do it because it's there. I would do it BECAUSE I'm either not good at it, or inexperienced. I would do it for the challenge. I would do it to find another way to effect an audience.

A lot of people I know, and audience members assume that I'm just naturally talented in the theatre arts. I'm not. About the only natural proclivity I have is probably for mathematics. What I do have, is a passion for theatre. I love working on a show, and I want it to be good. Not just acceptable, but really, really good.

I'm a decent techie and stage manager, but acting wasn't that easy (and still isn't). I spent a long time learning how to open up as an actor, and to learn the quirks of timing and delivery because I wasn't good at them. I want to look like someone more talented than I am because I worked harder. Over time, I improved, and became a decent comedic character actor.

I also ended up only being able to try out for musicals in my area, because of my schedule. The problem was, I couldn't sing well, couldn't dance, can't read music, and have a hard time keeping a beat. So I made sure I got singing and dancing roles, and just worked tirelessly on it until it looked and sounded good. A new dance step might take me a week (or so) to figure out, but I'll do my best to make it look natural by the time the curtain opens. I worked on singing enough over the "off seasons" that I end up landing solo parts now. One practice, a music director who knows me well actually asked, "What happened? You sound... good! I mean, really good."

The same thing happened in other aspects of theatre, and I find them all rewarding. The goal, whether it's tech work, set design, acting, etc., is to make the audience suspend their disbelief, and really lose themselves in watching your show. That's something I feel they deserve, on any show I'm on. I'd want to perform a serious role to be able to make an audience feel in a way that's different than for a comedic role. I'd want to know that I can do that, because I believe I can.

That's one thing that I enjoy about community theatre: I get to do the things I normally wouldn't be allowed to do otherwise. I wouldn't have learned how to do many things well if I hadn't been allowed to do them poorly at first. Community theatre offers a great place to learn, to teach, and to grow. I love it all, and always look for new places to improve. And I can always be better.

-Tom