Tough-Love Tuesdays: There Are No Shortcuts to Memorization.

Sorry for not being sorry here, actors. If you wanna play the part, you gotta know it by heart.

I had a voice and speech teacher in college who was not a fan of the word "memorization." She preferred to talk about "learning your lines" and "knowing them by heart." This made a lot of sense to me, and it's an idea that I continue to practice as an actor, teacher, and director.

So what are some tips and tricks for learning lines and knowing them by heart?

No tips, no tricks. Sorry.*

You have to learn the play. You have to analyze the script (this is one of several reasons why college theatre programs require a script analysis course). You have to decide why your character says what they say when they say it and to whom, in response to what's being said to them, and how your body interacts with the scenery, your clothes, and the props and people on stage while saying it. And then, you have to get used to saying the words out loud.

Yes, believe it or not, as an actor, you go on stage to speak text out loud, while your body moves in specific ways. You do this in performance, in dress rehearsal, at tech rehearsals, and during most of your rehearsals. So, it stands to reason that this is the best way to practice speaking the text between rehearsals so that you are ready to rehearse and perform with confidence.

I've worked with performers who swear by writing all of their lines down a certain number of times. I also happen to know that the actors who employ this method successfully also work the lines out loud. I hate to say it, but you don't go on stage to sit down and write in a notebook.

I've met actors and acting students who think that if they record themselves saying the lines and listen to the tape over and over, they will have it all memorized. This seems to me like a lot of work for little payoff. You could spend the same amount of time practicing saying the lines out loud, and then you would actually be preparing for the end goal in a realistic way. I hate to say it, but you don't go on stage to put on headphones and listen to a recording of your lines.

What about written notes? We could probably have an entirely separate conversation about whether literally reading a letter or book inscription from a prop elicits a truthful moment of acting or not. But what if some prankster or truly mean person in your midst messes with your props? If you know your lines cold and know that having some cheat notes will boost your confidence, I say you should go for it. But isn't it easier to just know your lines cold? Won't that make you more confident?

Another thing to remember: You didn't have much choice when it came to memorizing multiplication tables in elementary school, but you have made the deliberate choice be a professional actor, an acting student, or a community theatre player. One would hope that the material you have to "memorize" in this concept is a little more satisfying, enlightening, and even fun. So if you want this to be more fun than second-grade math, recognize that you have the power to make that happen, by just learning your frickin' lines.

*There aren't tips or tricks for learning lines, but there are a lot of great techniques out there for working the text in a way that will help you know it cold (and perform it well). Consider taking a basic voice and speech class from a highly qualified professional at your local community college or acting studio. If you don't have access or are waiting for a session to start, your local library can help you find well-respected books that will get you started.