Directorial words of wisdom?

**Amphitryon38** · 07-21-2006, 07:45 AM

What do you like to hear when the actors and crew gather minutes before the curtain goes up?

As the director of a show that opens tonight, I have to say something inspirational and motivating.

Several cast members are tired of hearing me talk at all.

What do you think would be the best advice as they prepare to board the boards?

Gus

**RyanMetzger** · 07-21-2006, 08:07 AM

I don't have any good answers to your question, as I believe that every director has their own style and every pre-show pep-talk has to be specific to the cast. In lieu of actual advice, I'm gonna post some doozies I've actually heard in the pre-show pep-talk...both from shows I've been in and shows I've stage managed...

• "Now don't suck tonight."

• "Be careful...the paint's still wet on that statue. And if you bump it, it may fall over."

• "Is everybody comfortable with the changes?"

• "Let's get this over with so we can go drink and forget this ever happened."

And Gus, for you, a special one. In my Shakespeare class at Michigan, a classmate did a rather painful rendition of the prologue from Troilus and Cressida. Our instructor, who naturally speaks in a slow, soft, almost anticipatory rate, said:

"Now Jake, there are some people who doubt that Shakespeare ever wrote his plays. I do believe that you could provide the crucial evidence to prove the authorship. If you were to go to Stratford upon Avon, where the Bard is buried, and find his grave, and perform that piece just--JUST--as you did here, and if you were to lay your head upon the cold earth over his grave...you would hear him...turning."

and no, "Jake" is not code for "Ryan."

**Eric_Bryant** · 07-21-2006, 08:50 AM

In the words of a famed, wonderful director -

"No new shit."

**thestuntman** · 07-21-2006, 08:57 AM

My job is done. It's your show now. Do your best for every audience. Have fun!

**mickeyNjudy** · 07-21-2006, 09:20 AM

Please concentrate and focus.
Listen to your fellow actors.
Energy, energy, energy!
Do it for YOU and have fun.
Kick 'em in the butt!!!!

Well...not really profound words, but you get the picture. I try to focus on getting the energy level where it needs to be. Energy is so important when performing. If it isn't there, the show kinds creeps along until the final curtain. My profound words usually come in the closing night thank you speech when we do circle in green room.

**MrAntrobus** · 07-21-2006, 09:23 AM

I think this is inspiring.

"Now. . . some of you boys I know are wondering whether or not you'll chicken out under fire. Don't worry about it. I can assure you that you will all do your duty. Wade into them! Spill their blood! Shoot them in the belly! When you put your hand . . . . into a bunch of goo. . . . that a moment before was your best friend's face. . . . you'll know what to do."

It works best if you have an enormous American flag behind you.

**Randy** · 07-21-2006, 09:58 AM

I only hope that when you say "minutes before the curtain" you really mean "before the house opens."

Because anytime after that, they don't need a director pulling them out of character and filling thier brains with anything other than getting where they need to be to open their (possibly) first Shakespeare.

My fav. Shakespeare pep talk was: "don't worry, I know for a fact you guys know (insert title) better than they do. They will only know you messed up if you show them."

My fav. non-Shakespeare was: "volume, f___ing volume!"

**Joe** · 07-21-2006, 10:04 AM

My favorite words of inspiration during circle are...

"Don't suck"

"Your fly is open"

"Don't let me down or I will never cast you again"

"I know you were all mis-cast, but lets go out there and have fun anyway"

"Luckily we have a no-refund rule at the box-office"

"We have two people in the audience and one of them is my mom so let's go out there and give them the best show ever."

**kries** · 07-21-2006, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Randy

I only hope that when you say "minutes before the curtain" you really mean "before the house opens."

Because anytime after that, they don't need a director pulling them out of character and filling thier brains with anything other than getting where they need to be...

Sorry Randy - my circle comes "minutes before curtain". I actually circle my cast and crew at 15 til curtain. I use this time to focus, to thank and to get the cast directed to that performance. OH, yeah and to state one last time (nightly) "No new shit". (Thanks Eric - you made me laugh this morning).