3 of 33

Write now Article Tools

Simplistic as it may sound, the most critical aspect of learning lines - or lyrics - is to have a good memory.

I got my first professional acting gig back in the mid-'70s. I did some typical school stuff before that. And I've been singing for as long as I can remember. I've known so many people over the years who freak or panic about learning lines. They lose sleep and literally make themselves sick with worry, because, let's face it, there's NOTHING worse than drawing a blank on a line or a lyric in the middle of a performance.

Now, I'm blessed, I suppose, with a nearly eidetic memory. I can still remember the words to songs I learned in kindergarten back in 1960 and the lines from just about every character I've ever played still roll around in the back of my head somewhere. But the key to learning those lines and lyrics has always been simple repetition. Here are a few of the techniques I've employed:

1. Read your script. All the way through. Get the feel of the context. I've never had much use for "sides." To me, knowing what's going on throughout the production helps me find my place in it better that just picking my part out of nowhere and trying to learn it with no other points of reference.

2. Mark your lines. If you've got a copy of a script that's yours to keep, buy a highlighter and have at it. If you have to turn your script in, underline lightly in pencil. I know people who have made personal copies of their rented scripts, but this can border on some legal issues, so be careful. Once you've marked your lines, study them. Begin to develop your character. Think about your delivery, inflection, accent. Internalize the words as if they were your own.

3. Run your lines. If you've got a spouse, a friend, a family member or a cast mate you can get together with to run lines, do it. Speaking your lines aloud and hearing your cues coming from someone else is the best way to absorb those lines. Simple repetition is key. You'll hear with your ears what you've been playing with in your mind, and once you see how the words work, you'll gain more self-confidence about using them. Soon, it will become more like a conversation and less like words on a page.

4. Record your lines. Current technology is SO advanced over the reel-to-reel recorder I started out with and even better than my venerable old cassette recorder. Point is, record your lines and cues and play them back as often as possible. Have you got a long drive ahead of you? Listen to your lines in your car.

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Acting: How to learn lines?
We want to hear your view. Write now!