Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 9/13/2009

Question
Hi Wendy!
Thank you for your time.
I am a high school senior and I recently landed the role "Reno" in the musical Anything Goes and I am so excited about it. I am a good dancer and an even better singer, but acting is my weakest area. This is my last high school musical, and I want it to be absolutely incredible, so I am planning on doing everything I can to reach my peak when performance time comes. My question is how to completely become Reno. I want to do everything she does, use all the expressions, gesticulations, and actions that she does; however, I've had trouble with coming up with these kinds of things in the past for other characters. I can never seem to completely define my interpretation of the character, so it ends up lacking that element of depth and believability. What kind of character studies, research, and/or observation can I do to completely connect with Reno?

Answer
Hi there, Emily...And thanks for writing.  (BTW my name is Wanda. I get Wendy all the time.  It's the risk you take when you name someone Wanda. :))

Congrats on the role in the musical.  

It sounds like you are trying to put on the character rather than letting the character flow out of you.  There is obviously something about you that the Director wants to see in Reno and so I would suggest that you look at ways that you can define the character through your own experiences and your own discoveries.

You are asking a really good question - one that I wish I could spend more time on with you.  Unfortunately, I am going to be taking a break here from being an expert.  So let me see if I can help you quickly.

1.  Characters are created not by putting everything together right away but by adding layers.  So first, look at the script and music and study it.  What does that say about Reno?  There should be clues there.

2.  The next layer is to find out why they are where they are.  This is also in the script and music.  What you want to do is read the script over and over until you understand what the main goal of Reno is in the story.  What do they ultimately want?  Describe it in a verb form  - e.g. to blame or to win over or to revenge - always people focused - always focused on the other person in the story that is the major obstacle or represents the major obstacle.

3.  The next layer is to divide the script into smaller parts. Now that you know what they ultimately want, find out what they want in each smaller unit (divided by entries or by a different subject coming up in the story).  Each of these small units will have verbs of their own.  Determine them.  Again, make sure they are people focused - you want something from someone.

4.  Once you know the verb in #2 above and the sm