Does anyone have any tricks for memorizing a part in a script?

Question

I only have 2 weeks and about 5 pages of dialogue and the Directors wants us off book by the first rehearsal

Answer 1

The trick that I used was to write down the first letter of every word, breaking for paragraphs. Then to learn to read it that way. Then slowly mark out the letters a few at a time until I could recite it without any props.

Answer 2

This is slightly counter-intuitive, but...in order to memorize a ROLE, don't concentrate on the role. Instead, read and re-read the entire script; as often as you can. The more familiar you become with the sequence of actions in the script, and the better your understanding of the function of each individual character in the play, the easier it will be to learn your lines. Ultimately, you'll know the PLAY so well that any given character's words will seem inevitable, given who they are and what they're doing at the time.

Answer 3

Anthony Hopkins says that he just reads the script 40 times and that does it. Also, don't record your lines and listen to them - you get locked into line readings that way and destroy the sponaeity and ability to stay flexible in performance. You also don't say if you want to be good or just remember your lines. If you want to be good, then find a reason that you have to say every word, every line in exactly the way it's written. If you make it important enough, you'll remember. Then you can start working on all the things you want to say while the other characters are talking and that you decide not to say.

Answer 4

1st figure out the actions, by which I mean the desires the character goes through -- what does she want out of each moment and how does that change? She might start out wanting one thing, then it changes somehow (if it's a good script, there are your character's actions and they will change as she gets more information or is met with resistance). This will give you a good overall map of where the character is heading.

If you have problems with the actual words, make up a little movie in your head that involves the images of things she talks about. For instance, one of my audition pieces is this (Aaron the Moor from Titus Andronicus -- this is just part of it):

Even now I curse the day--and yet, I think,
Few come within the compass of my curse,--
Wherein I did not some notorious ill,
As kill a man, or else devise his death,
Ravish a maid, or plot the way to do it,
Accuse some innocent and forswear myself,
Set deadly enmity between two friends,
Make poor men's cattle break their necks;
Set fire on barns and hay-stacks in the night,
And bid the owners quench them with their tears.

My movie is a witch placing a curse on a calendar date, on the calendar is a compass, with the Notorious BIG with a thermometer, he gets killed. A French maid dusts him, then his grave-plot. One the gravestone is a poster for the movie 'J'accuse!' (which I love) with a halo over it. I picture myself putting a lit bomb between two of my friends, and the rest are more concrete images from the script.

I repeat the "movie" enough times to remember the words. It's a technique you can actually use on stage, too, if you get stuck. You will appear to be thinking about what you're saying (it's a little heretical, but it works). As I said with the poster of "J'accuse!," I choose images that have a personal meaning for me. For instance, the "compass" I picture is the onee from science and mathematics, not one that shows directions.

Personally, I object to learning lines before I have movment to associate with them, but we don't always have that luxury.

Answer 5

Start by just reading through the lines over and over again, then have a friend come over and start from the top and say everything you remember, if you mess up she will tell you what the line is and then you will continue, that way you will not be dependent on your script!

Answer 6

I'm no actor but my kid is and he told me something about memorizing a script. He was taught to read the whole thing...then cover up the last line...then read it again...and try to remember the covered line. When you have this done, do it again...covering the last two lines...and so on.

It works! I've always tried to memorize lines from the beginning...but doing it from the end works much better.

Answer 7

Hi !!!! This has worked for me in the past...record everything on tape/cd!!!Seriously !!! You rehearse normally on your own time but then you play the tape/cd all through the night while you sleep...I'm willing to bet ANYTHING that you'll learn the whole thing in no time.I've done lots of plays and that's how I do it.The only work you'll go through would be recording the script...other than that you're all set.

Answer 8

i kno exactly how u feel ! here are some things that helped me:

wenever i had a long script, i would color-code my lines (using a highlighter)
Sometimes its okay to 'adlib' (if u havent tried that already).
umm, i remember the best thing that worked for me was using a tape-recorder...if u have a tape recorder, record your lines. listen to the tape when you are very relaxed...a good time to do this is bedtime. listen to your lines as you go to sleep. i remember wen i did this, my lines 'mysteriously' showed up in my dreams ! lol. i hope that helps.

Best of Luck !

Answer 9

Record it and play it on a cd/tape player all the time (in the car, at home, etc)

Answer 10

I used to be in a lot of plays when I was in school.......and whenever I would forget a line I would improvise. Next time they had a new play I would have to sit it out....................ha ha! I guess I wasn't good at acting.