Acting Lessons – Observe Others

Director Scott McDade gives the first instructions to our cast of High School Musical. “Observe others and what they do, and be CONSCIOUS of that fact.” That is the artists special blessing and curse. To watch others not just as in a passing Parisian cafe, but to dissect what they do and embody elements of those actions into your own expression.

High School Musical takes place at a current-day high school. Actions need to be natural as if really at school, not as if on a stage. The facade of the juvenile nature of the show is betrayed in the challenge to preserve it’s simplicity.

First assignment of cast members:

1) Observe ten things people do while walking down the hall at school. Be prepared to demonstrate, or act, those ten things with realism.

2) Observe ten things people do while sitting in class. Be prepared to demonstrate, or act those ten things with realism.

3) Observe ten things people do while talking to each othe rat school. Be prepared to act and demonstrate.

Cast will not be allowed to explain what they are doing or to make noise. They just have to do it.

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