Here are a few steps on how you can get into theatre acting:

Take a few acting classes

You will want to boost your skills up. If you have never done any acting before, then you definitely want to sign up for at least two or three acting classes before even considering auditioning for a local play. Acting classes are going to cost you anywhere for $20 to $250 depending on how deeply you want to get involved with the class, how much you need to learn, and how many days you need to be trained.

Find shows you know very well and act them out at home

You want to make sure that you are acting out all the scenes that you know and love. Make sure that you copy everything, in your own style, that your favorite characters are doing on screen. You want to have the same emotion, the same tone, and the same body language. Once you know how to act out your favorite scenes, move on to something a little less known so you can challenge your skill.

Start with emotion and voice before working on body language

Body language is a complicated skill to act out, and it usually comes with the emotion on your face and in your voice. If you work on body language before anything else, you might not notice any progress in this situation. This can make you doubt yourself and lose your confidence. No one wins from that battle, so make sure to focus on emotion and voice first.

Try out at your local theater

One of the important things to remember when you are trying out for theater acting is that you aren’t going to end up in one of Broadway’s hit shows on day number one. You need a lot of practice. You need to make sure that you have the skills, the experience, and the confidence to pull off even the most complicated scripts that the directors throw at you.

All of these steps are necessary if you want to see your face under all the spotlights of big time theatre. And don’t doubt yourself when you don’t get a part. You are new. A lot of people worry about getting someone new to play such an important role. Accept any roll that comes your way, that you are comfortable with playing, and you will soon find the success that you are seeking with theatre, both local and big time.

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But let’s pause for a minute and consider an alternative stage for acting. I am of course discussing acting on television in front of a camera on a set. This is a much different kind of performance that will require different subtleties and skills.

Projection!

Whenever you are performing on stage in a theatre you need to express largely. When I say express largely, I mean you will need to very boisterously project your voice and make large facial expressions. Because of your distance from your audience you will very much need to be loud and proud with your performance.

However, whenever you are performing on television the camera is your lens for your audience and you will need to very quietly and more subtly perform. Your expressions and your voice will need to be toned down and much more realistic as if your audience was in the room with you. These are 2 very different styles of performance and they require different degrees of finesse and attention. However, both can be learned.

Harry treads the boards

Take for instance, the prolific Actor Daniel Radcliffe. While iconic with his performance in Harry Potter on the silver screen that is spanning numerous movies, he has now branched out to different franchises on his own. He has also done numerous plays on Broadway atop the gilded stage, as Shakespeare intended most performances to be.

Returning to performing on stage, you need a crazy and loud costume and you need very exaggerated movements. Rather than when you are on camera for a television set , depending on the setting of the show, you may very well have a dull and muted kind of performance with a limited color palette and a more subdued approach to performance.

Nevertheless, the 2 acting styles can live in tandem of one another and an actor is more than encouraged to become proficient in both styles of performing, whether that be onstage or on camera.

Voice Acting

Or take for example the illustrious profession of voice acting. This is a wonderful medium, however, there is little to be desired if performed on stage. While in the world of film, this is an applicable style of performance. However, if one should choose between film and stage, one should stray far away from the trappings of becoming an actor of voice alone. As alluring as it may seem, this will undoubtedly hinder one’s ability to truly express themselves on both stage and in front of a camera on a set.

In conclusion, performing is something that both styles of above mentioned acting can thrive in. These two settings are both to be appreciated and both are to be revered as disciplines of skill and mastery over one’s own body and ego.

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The Portland Center Stage at The Armory

The Armory is one of the largest theaters in Oregon. This modern contemporary theater offers a wide range of both touring and local theater to theater lovers of all ages. Visitors to the Center Stage can expect to see a wide variety of contemporary Broadway plays and Tony award winners alongside lesser-known but critically acclaimed works. Also newer plays that are just beginning to get attention on the national stage.

Hand 2 Mouth Theater

This small experimental theater is focused on creating original works since 2000. This talented group of performers has become known for their wild movements and outlandish, attention-catching costumes. In addition to their regular season of works, they also have created a number of touring productions that can bring the magic of theater around the state of Oregon. In 2017 they began their student voices program. This is a theatrical program and ensemble dedicated to introducing young people to the world of theater and artistic expression.

Portland Experimental Theater Ensemble

This experimental theater is based in Portland and is one of the favorites of the fringe festival season. The ensemble-based theater company is known for creating dynamic, hyper realistic theatrical works in an intimate space.

Enchanted Forest

While not strictly a “theatre”, this unique amusement park is an immersive experience where many young Oregonians get their first taste of theater. Many of these same young people, now aspiring actors, get their first chance professional acting gig. In addition to the many attractions and rides that offer a chance for young people to interact with their favorite fairytale creatures and characters come to life, there is also a dedicated comedy theater. Full-length musical adaptations of everyone’s favorite fairy tales are staged with a modern, comical twist.

In addition to these major theatres, Oregon also is home to a wide variety of mainstream and regional theaters. There’s also small storefront theatres and theatrical festivals. Theatre lovers can watch actors interpret the Bard’s immortal words under the stars. They can see master improvisers create scenes out of thin air, watch the world’s greatest musicals, and just about any other kind of theatre that your heart and mind can imagine and desire. No matter your interest in theatre there is sure to be a show that you will enjoy.

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Camelot Theater Company

Celebrating 39 seasons comes the Camelot Theatre Company in Talent, Oregon. This southern Oregon theatre offers an intimate experience with seating available for 164 patrons. The theatre offers a variety of shows, including a wide showcasing of musicals. In 2020 some of their titles included; Annie, You Can’t Take It with You, and Godspell among others.

Craterian Theater at the Collier Theater for the Performing Arts

For that big stage and theatre experience, the Craterian Theater has a lot to offer. Located in Medford, OR, the Craterian offers Broadway-type shows and caters to an audience of 750 people. The theater was renovated in the 1990s as it was showing its age from the original construction date of 1924. The building is listed on the state’s historic register and is an iconic building in town.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

For those seeking the “Bard”, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival offers a theater complex with a lot of options. But along with Shakespeare, there are other entertainment options at both the outdoor and inside theater venues. The Allen Elizabethan Theatre is their outdoor venue and one of the oldest Elizabethan theaters around, you will find all sorts of Shakespearean stagings. The theater seats 1,190 guests in a lively outside venue. The complex also has two indoor theaters, the Thomas Theatre seating a maximum of 360 people, and the Angus Bowmer Theatre which seats 600 guests. The theatre complex also has concessions that can be brought into any of the three theaters.

Oregon Cabaret Theater

The Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland offers guests a wide range of entertainment options. From musicals like the cheeky The Great American Trailer Park to The Buddy Holly Story there’s probably a show for all tastes. You can enjoy a full menu, serving brunch, dinner, and a dessert shop with tempting options. The theater is housed in an old Baptist church that was built in 1911 and has over the years built up an audience and a selection of productions. Oregon Cabaret theater currently does 270 productions of five different shows over the course of a year. This theatre has also put on original shows and continues to develop original productions. Their capacity is 140 and the shows sell out for most productions.

Oregon offers a lot of theater options throughout the state. From large theatres to small intimate spaces there is something to satisfy even the most particular theater patron. Large scale Broadway-type productions can be found at the larger venues and even Shakespeare plays can be seen under the stars. And if you want dinner with your show, that’s possible as well.

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The Show Must Go On

Long before the actors take the stage on opening night, the stagehands are hard at work. Stagehands are responsible for putting up scenery, setting up lighting and sound equipment, and staging areas for props, and for actors to change costumes. A stagehand has to be a master of all trades! They have to employ technical skill and creative spirit to ensure a smooth performance.

Stagehands help the stage manager in determining how the behind the scenes process should work during the performance. Stagehands help to create a smooth, seamless system that will ensure that the actors can do their jobs with as little chaos as possible.

During the Performance

Stagehands are the jack of all trades during a performance. They arrive hours before a performance to make sure that everything is set up and working perfectly. By the time the actors arrive to start warming up, the stagehands have been hard at work for awhile. Despite how hard they work, a good stagehand tries to make themself as unobtrusive as possible. If everything runs smoothly, then the stagehand may go unnoticed entirely!

There are stagehands available in the wings to take on whatever task is needed. They are responsible for scenery changes between scenes. Occasionally, a stagehand may need to move in the background of the stage to facilitate dynamic scenery changes during the scene itself.

Stagehands also troubleshoot lighting and sound problems. They help to fix costume malfunctions. They help to make sure that the right props are in the right hands at the right time. If any problem comes up during a performance, a stagehand is on hand to help fix it!

After the Final Curtain

After the final curtain is called and the actors have long since left the stage, the stagehands’ job is far from done. Just like they were responsible for setting up, they now have to take down scenery, lighting and sound equipment, and anything else on stage. They will gather up discarded costumes and props and return them to their rightful place.

Stagehands are also responsible for making sure the back of the theatre is as neat and clean as it was before the performance. This means picking up trash and refuse left behind and making sure that it gets into the trash. It can also mean sweeping and other cleaning.

A stagehand’s work is never done. So next time you are out and about enjoying your favorite productions in Oregon, think of the hard working stagehands operating behind the scenes and give them their own round of applause.

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Willamette River Greenway Festival

The famous Willamette River Greenway Festival is set to run from mid-July to mid-September. This outdoor walking event includes camping, rafting, kayaking, wildlife watching, and bicycling. Other events include the Willamette River Family Weekend, featuring entertainment and free live music on the weekend. The Willamette River Conservatory and Museum are the perfect place to go if you’re looking for great food and souvenirs. On the other end of the spectrum, the Historic Downtown Portland Restaurant in the center of the historic district is the place to go for Portland’s signature food and beverages.

Just west of the Willamette Valley is the small town of Gresham, Ore., a quaint, charming city that makes a great summer home just in the north Oregon area. Visitors to the area have come to watch a colorful airshow called Silver Star Racing, then visit Gresham’s Historic Gaslight District, which is filled with old movie theaters, Victorian buildings, and lovely gardens. The colorful International Cherry Blossom Airshow happens every year, as does the annual Spirit of the West Airshow. In addition to all the funfairs, festivals, and concerts, the Willamette Valley boasts a few family attractions.

The Annual Willamette River Rafting and Spectacular Dockyards Summer Festival take place in early May. This two and one-day festival features live music, craft vendors, great food, and fabulous water activities. The traditional Willamette River Derby takes place in mid-September, with live racing and fireworks. Every year in late July or early August, the Willamette Fall Classic Car Rally is a spectacular outdoor family event. The rally features horse competitions, funfairs, camping, and delicious food.

Ride the waves

In addition to these festivals, Oregon has many other festivals, events, and celebrations. The Willamette River Amateur Surfers Association holds the annual Round-Up Surf Tournament. This is one of the best places to enjoy Oregon’s beautiful coastline. The Willamette River offers guided tours through dams and other waterfalls along the way. If you love Oregon’s historic railroad history, you will love the Willamette Weekend Railroad Tour.

Music lovers have plenty of reasons to celebrate in Oregon. There are numerous Oregon festivals every year in the spring, summer, and fall. You should plan your vacation to Oregon in advance to see all of these amazing festivals. If you have never visited Oregon before, you should consider booking your plane tickets to Oregon early to get the best selection of cities and attractions. This article only includes some of the popular and beautiful Oregon festivals every year.

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