Some Favorite Coaching Lines

1.  An actor's work is never done.  In other words, don't coast through a performance -- beware

    of operating on auto-pilot because you will lose believability.

2.  A definition of theatre:  It's all about meeting deadlines while you are continually making big

   messes then cleaning them up.  Can be used to describe the rehearsal period and

   all aspects of technical theatre.

3.  Project your voice so the hard-of-hearing grandmother in the back row can hear every word.

4.  An actor's face, like a flower, likes to feel the warmth of the light.

   (Useful coaching for students who hide from the audience.)

5.   Your posterior is not interesting.

     (For students who continually play to upstage rather than the audience.)

6.  You can't begin to act until you've learned your lines.

7.  The ever popular and continually repeated:  QUIET IN THE WINGS!

8.  Please remove the gum from your mouth.

9.  Give and Take!  (From Spolin, and alwys useful when trying to get the actors to

    listen and respond to each other rather than trying to compete for the audience's attention.)

10.   Use the invisible fourth wall for that action.  (Often beginners will pantomime objects/actions

      with their back to the audience.  For example, if painting a wall, they will turn from

      the audience and:paint the upstage wall.)

11.  Those shoes (or skirt, pants, etc)  are not appropriate for acting class.  You want to wear

      shoes and clothing that allow you freedom of movement.

12.  When you enter the space prepare to work by seeking your center of physical and emotional

      balance, and doing so silently.

13.  Wait quietly for instructions wihtout distracting the other actors in the group.

14.  Give all actors in the space your positive attention while they are working.

      Be prepared to give constructive feedback when asked.

And Finally -- It's Thes-P-ian.  From the ancient Greek theatre.  Thespis was the first actor to step out of the chorus and speak solo lines. A Thespian is one who is devoted to the art of theatre.  Let's have no more Thes-B-ians on our stage, please!