A thing I will never comprehend is the actor–and there are lots of them out there–who doesn’t read. Truly, it boggles my mind. It’s not that I dislike anyone that doesn’t like to read, I’m not passing judgement here. Several of my actor friends don’t read. But I feel it’s akin to a sculptor who won’t wield any clay. Or a swimmer who doesn’t get in the water. It doesn’t make sense to me. Language, story, character is, well, what we DO. And it all comes from the text. While I feel it’s elemental to our craft, it’s also a matter of practicality. First rules of auditioning: Read the sides. Read the script. Read the notes. Reading! It’s what’s for dinner!
Myself, I go on play-reading binges. And every audition season I kick myself because it always goes something like this: Seasons are announced. I have no monologue in my repertoire suited for any of the plays. And/Or, I’ve never heard of the plays so I wouldn’t know what to perform anyway. I PANIC and start scouring the internet, the library, the used bookstores and do nothing but read for about 6 days straight. That’s before I start memorizing anything. And then there are those rare theatre companies that throw a curve ball and want adapted literature as a monologue. And that’s really when I go, Fuck Me, I haven’t made time to read a real book in at least eight months!
I kick myself because that is a stupid amount of stress in a one-to-four-week period that could have been avoided had I picked up a play or two instead of watching a couple more episodes of whatever, three weeks prior. When I work long weeks, be it a show or the day job, sometimes the last thing I want to do is have to concentrate on anything. But really, it probably wouldn’t have killed me to take a half an hour out of each day.
…I say “every.” The binges only started recently, when I moved to Seattle. I used to be smart. I chose to be proactive about this aspect of my career, and I used to read in what is called “Spare Time.” (It’s a magical, elusive thing.) I’d check out three or four anthologies of assorted playwrights and genres from the New York and Brooklyn Public Libraries which would keep me going for about a month. Though, NYC helps foster reading when one spends at least 35% of one’s time on a train underground with nothing to do and no control over the vehicle.
I started a collection of notes and photocopied selections which I could potentially use in the future. It was a great system for me.
Then I got busy. Non-stop projects for a solid year, in the midst of moving, breaking up, moving again, getting together, breaking up again, moving again, drama drama drama, and oh yeah MOVING. AGAIN. By the time A Chorus Line was in production, I was pooped. BRING ON THE PAJAMAS AND NETFLIX, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Enter Arrested Development, The Tudors and most recently/obsessively Battlestar Galactica. And I felt suitably distracted and entertained. But I haven’t read a new book or a new script in my spare time since March. It’s time for that to be remedied.
I also want to say, I get high from education. Reading feels good. My vocabulary flourishes, my mind engages, I feel more focused. I feel inspired. It enriches my perspective on literature, history, philosophy, life, art, love, humanity–all that BIG GOOD STUFF. And I come away cultivated. Brightened. Connected to that BIG GOOD STUFF.
So, go pick up a script. Or a book on poetry. Or a short story. Enrich your perspective. It could do something for your career. It could do something for your soul. It has for me!
x Jennifer
About Jennifer Ewing
Actor - Jennifer is a tri-coastal actress with credits and training in Great Britain, New York and Los Angeles. In 2007 she chased her dreams to New York City to study theatre, live, act and learn. It went well. In 2012, in a fit of what must have been either madness or great clarity, she relocated to Seattle WA, where her dreams seem to be chasing her. She aspires to be successful enough to never have to write a bio for herself ever again. Oh, and to make great theatre, film, art, earn a living, travel the world, adopt a cat, help others, and stay healthy. It's a start.