How to Act in a Play

Co-authored by Lesly Kahn, MFA and Sophia Bell

Last Updated: July 25, 2024 Approved

The thought of acting in a play may seem overwhelming or even frightening. Though there’s a lot to do, there’s no need to worry—if you read and understand the entire play you’re already halfway there! Spend time crafting your character so you can play the role convincingly. Attend every rehearsal, practice stage blocking, and work hard to memorize all of your lines. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself, too.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Crafting Your Character

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1
Read the entire script. Even if you only have one line or are only in one scene, you should still read the entire script. ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Lesly Kahn, MFA
Acting Teacher & Coach

Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.} To help you determine how to best approach your own role, study the genre, plot, conflicts, and character developments.
- If you have questions, talk to the writer or director and get more information about the script. ^{[2]
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  Lesly Kahn, MFA
  Acting Teacher & Coach
  
  Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.}
2
Get into character . Familiarize yourself with your character’s role in the play and pay attention to everything you are told about the character, including their age, upbringing, social status, likes and dislikes, and political or religious viewpoints. Think about what motivates your character to say and do what they do, what they are afraid of, and what they are hoping for.
- Make up the information you are not given to fully round out the character. For instance, think about what their childhood was like, which relationships are most important in their life, how they’ve handled adversity or disappointment, and so on.
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3
Connect with your character emotionally. Even if you don’t like the character’s behavior, you’ll need to connect with them to play the role as well as possible. Work to understand where the character is at in their life and what crossroads they are facing. Think about what they want and why. Then, find similar emotional experiences in your own life that you can use to play the character believably. ^{[3]
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- For example, you may find it hard to relate to the death of your character’s spouse if you aren’t a widow. However, think about another loss you’ve experienced, like the death of a grandparent, to help you connect with the character’s emotions.
Meryl Streep, Actor

Genuine curiosity in others grounds your performance. "I'm curious about other people. That's the essence of my acting. I'm interested in what it would be like to be you."
4
Speak like your character. If your character has an accent, take the time to learn how to emulate it properly. Watch movies, TV shows, or video clips of people speaking with the accent you need to learn. Also, adjust the tone and speaking speed of your voice to make your character come alive. ^{[4]
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- For instance, if playing the CEO of a major company, you may want to speak quickly and forcefully to show that the character is both busy and important.
- Conversely, if playing a young child, you may want to speak in a sing-song voice to show the character’s innocence and imagination.
5
Use body language to show personality. It’s not enough to simply say the lines in a certain tone of voice. You must also use your body to demonstrate your character’s personality. Think about the way your character would move (e.g., a young person may move quickly and have lots of energy, while an older character has slower, more halted motions). Make your motions slightly larger than you normally would so they can be seen from anywhere in the audience.
- For instance, make eye contact if your character is assertive, or avert your gaze if they are shy.
- If your character is anxious, for example, show that by playing with the hem of your shirt or biting your lip. Alternatively, if your character is elated, smile brightly and act energized.

Part 2

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Preparing for the Stage

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It’s important to develop a good relationship with other people in the play, especially if your character is close with their character. Spend time together outside of rehearsal—see another show, go out to eat, visit an art gallery or a museum, or go on a nature walk or hike. If you feel comfortable around them it will be apparent to the audience and make your on-stage relationships more believable. ^{[5]
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2
Attend every rehearsal. Your first rehearsal may actually be a table read, where everyone attends and reads through the entire play. You should have read the play and have a basic understanding of your character and their lines at this point. ^{[6]
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Research source} There will be many rehearsals before your first performance and you should attend each one, even if you aren’t in the scenes being rehearsed.
- Use the time to watch the play so that you have a strong understanding of what happens and why, or practice your lines until it’s your turn on stage.
3
Practice stage blocking. During technical rehearsals, you’ll focus on stage blocking, or how and when characters move around the stage and utilize the space. Sometimes, markers in the form of masking tape will be placed on the floor to help characters find their spots. Remember to think about how the character you are playing would walk and move in real life. Practice your entrances and exits from the stage as well. ^{[7]
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- For example, if the character you are playing is clumsy, bump into a table or other piece of furniture, or pretend to trip while moving across the stage.
Memorize your lines . It’s critical that you know all of your lines before the play is performed. Highlight your lines and practice them every day outside of rehearsals. Read the lines out loud so you can experiment with tone and delivery. Ask a friend or family member to help you practice tricky scenes. ^{[8]
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Refrain from arguing with the director or ignoring their advice. The director has taken the time to make notes on your performance to ensure that the play is the best it can be. Ask questions or get clarification if you don’t understand something they tell you. Take their advice to heart and do your best to incorporate it into your role. ^{[9]
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Expert Source

Lesly Kahn, MFA
Acting Teacher & Coach

Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.}

Part 3

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Performing the Play

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The last thing your castmates and director need is someone who is late and/or not ready for the performance. Get to the stage early to iron out any last-minute wrinkles and to give yourself time to warm up. If you need to bring anything, do so, and follow any directives given from the wardrobe or makeup department (e.g., wear a strapless bra or refrain from cutting your hair before the show). ^{[10]
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Calm yourself before the show. Nerves can sometimes get the best of even the most seasoned actors. Before the play begins, take some time to participate in calming activities . Practice deep breathing , meditate for a few minutes, or write in your journal. ^{[11]
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Don’t think about the audience or about previous or future performances. Let go of everything that has happened in rehearsal and focus only on the performance. Allow yourself to get caught up in the play as though the events were actually taking place in real time. Become your character and do your best to experience emotions as they would. ^{[12]
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Project your voice and enunciate your words. It’s crucial that everyone in the audience can hear and understand you. ^{[13]
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Expert Source

Lesly Kahn, MFA
Acting Teacher & Coach

Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.} Take deep breaths from your belly so that you have enough air to deliver your lines loudly and clearly. Make sure to clearly speak each syllable of each word you say so that there is no confusion. Don’t forget to vary your speaking speed and tone based on the lines you are saying. ^{[14]
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5
Deal with mistakes in character. If something goes wrong, don’t just ignore the problem. Think about how your character would face that challenge, and act accordingly. ^{[15]
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- For instance, if the knife you need to cut a rope is missing from the set, don’t just pretend to cut the rope. Say something like, “My knife is gone!” and look around for another prop from the set to use in its place, like a fire poker.
- Alternatively, if you drop and break something that your character is supposed to give as a gift, show the audience that you are upset about the accident. Say something like, “I can’t believe I broke that 400-year-old vase. What am I going to give Grandma for her birthday, now?”
All your hard work and the time you’ve put into the play is finally paying off. Enjoy yourself as you watch the magic of the play unfold. Compliment your castmates and crew after the performance and congratulate yourselves on a job well done.

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How do I get into acting with no experience?

Lesly Kahn, MFA
Acting Teacher & Coach
Lesly Kahn is an acting teacher and coach based in Los Angeles, California. She is the founder and owner of Lesly Kahn & Company, Actor Training, which focuses on preparing actors for employment in film, television and theatre. With well over 30 years of experience, Ms. Kahn has coached hundreds of actors who have become household names. She also ran the BFA Program in Acting at Marymount Manhattan College, and worked in television as well as New York and regional theatre. Lesly holds a BFA from New York University and an MFA from The Yale School of Drama.

Lesly Kahn, MFA

Acting Teacher & Coach

Expert Answer

Practice! To memorize lines more effectively, it helps to visualize what's happening when you say them. Imagine what the stage and other actors will look like as you practice your lines.

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How is stage acting different from screen acting?

Lesly Kahn, MFA
Acting Teacher & Coach
Lesly Kahn is an acting teacher and coach based in Los Angeles, California. She is the founder and owner of Lesly Kahn & Company, Actor Training, which focuses on preparing actors for employment in film, television and theatre. With well over 30 years of experience, Ms. Kahn has coached hundreds of actors who have become household names. She also ran the BFA Program in Acting at Marymount Manhattan College, and worked in television as well as New York and regional theatre. Lesly holds a BFA from New York University and an MFA from The Yale School of Drama.

Lesly Kahn, MFA

Acting Teacher & Coach

Expert Answer

When you're acting on stage, you have to be aware of the entire audience and making sure that everybody can hear you and see you.

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Why are voices so important while performing in a play?

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Voices help add depth to a character, and make a play seem more realistic.

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Don't talk backstage. Anything more than a whisper can be heard in the crowd. Save the sillies for intermission or break. Silence backstage, outside-voice onstage.

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When getting dressed, be fast, but make sure that everything is correct. If possible, get a fellow cast member to help you make sure everything's okay.

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A good rule to work by is the three second rule. This is when if someone forgets their lines and can't remember them within three seconds, another actor takes over. If you are the one who forgets their line, don't get sour at the one who filled in for you, and never repeat the line.

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How to Act in a Play

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Crafting Your Character

Preparing for the Stage

Performing the Play

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