1. Don't think about internal things going on inside your own mind (thoughts, worries, feelings, etc). Concentrate on external things, what you are saying and who you are speaking to.
2. In a play, you are usually talking to one other character. Imagine the whole audience is that single person. Talk to them as if they were that person.
At home, before your performance, get into character and think... Who is it you are talking to? Someone older or more senior than you that you need to be respectful to? A child? A lover? An enemy? How does your character feel right now? What just happened in the play before this line that makes you feel the way you do? What just happend to the character you are talking to and what mood are they in? Is your line conveying the appropriate emotion and emphasis for that line? Would your character be affraid of the way the other character will react?
That's a lot of thinking. Do that at home until its second nature and you're happy you're saying the line the right way. Don't do all that thinking during the performance.
3. Talk at the right volume for the audience to hear you at the back. Not too loudly and not too quietly.
Notice, I've said 'talk to' the other character, not 'speak', which implies you're just launching words into space.
Make brief eye-contact with audience members. With no eye-contact at all, they feel you're not talking to them. Too much and they feel uncomfortable, like you're staring. Look at different people in the audience by all means, but generally look in the same sort of direction all the time. Don't noticably keep moving the direction you are looking left and right.
Think about how much eye-contact you feel comfortable with in real life, when talking to people you know well and people you've just met. Try to achieve the same amount when acting.
This guide which is not to do with acting, but on the subject of dating, has some info on how much eye-contact people feel comfortable with.
2007-01-08 07:55:13
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answer #1
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answered by ricochet 5
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Spend some time really getting into your character. Becoming that character and following their emotions will help you forget about the audience.
If you are thinking about the audience then you are not dedicated to your character. When you become your character, the audience will not matter. Feel your characters thoughts, laugh their laughs, cry their tears, and dream their dreams. If you can commit yourself this deeply to a character then you are sure to succeed.
2007-01-08 10:33:19
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answer #2
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answered by nhrideordie 2
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Get one of your best friends to sit in the audience and just watch them as you recite your lines-unless you have to make eye contact to another character- then in that case, just pretend like the audience isn't there. It helps me.
2007-01-08 07:41:32
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answer #3
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answered by Morgan 2
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Breath deeply and try not to think about the audience or your grade. Just concentrate on performing well.
2007-01-08 07:37:28
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Have Altoids (the curiously strong mint), that always works for me.
2007-01-08 07:33:24
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answer #5
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answered by gilbert 2
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Forget yourself and get completely into your character.
Good Luck!
2007-01-08 13:20:46
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answer #6
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answered by Music Man 2
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