Tuesday, October 27, 2020 by Patti Barrow | Performance

NOV. STUDIO VOICE CLASS
Sat. Nov. 14th @ 1:00pm

VIA ZOOM

Friday, January 10, 2020 by Patti Barrow | Performance

 
I was 10 years old and the drama bug had already hit. It was also when the first devestation of not getting my "dream role" crushed me to my core.

Our director was the daughter of a previous Miss Alaska and she had theatre and pageantry in her veins…and I was in awe.
It was our class production of "A Charlie Brown’s Christmas" and it was my dream to play Peppermint Patty…well, for obvious reasons of course! She was outgoing, she had all the great lines, she got to be bossy...and her name was Patty! (different spelling, but still!).

Imagine my heartbreak when I didn’t get that role… it went to my friend instead. The red haired one. What did I get?
 
Stupid Sally.

Not Lucy.

Not Marcy.

But Sally.
Whiny-baby-few-lines-Sally.
I was devastated.
 

After school I was upset. My director took me aside and gave me wonderful counsel, as only she could give.

"Patti, have you read Sally? Let me show you something…"
 

And there we sat, she and I, as we read line by line I grew less and less sad, and more and more enamored with this Sally girl. As my teacher and I read through the script, she showed me SO many possibilities with this role…even when Sally wasn’t speaking, she was ACTING! Body language, facial movement, eye rolls, and the best part?…the art of subtlety. The art of humor! Timing! I was a class comic (surprise, I know!), and because of that, my teacher opened my eyes to the wide world of expression, and all its many forms…covert and overt. THAT… that was the game-changer that started it all. What I saw for myself was limited...what she saw was an opportunity for growth.  

This week at the Golden Globes, we saw many of our most adored actors and actresses receive awards for supporting roles, cameo appearances, voice-over acting (animation), etc. showing us that even if we do get our "dream role", there is so much more to our performance art that we can learn. When my students tell me they REALLY want "that big part", it gives me an opportunity to prepare them, encourage them in their dream and also share with them my years of experience and perspective. Regardless of any directors’ casting choices, our choice as an actor is to find ways to grow in whatever opportunities we are given
 

So, whether we are an apple or an orange, someone will want us in their show. It may not be in the role we envision, but it’s always a role we can grow from.
 
Even if it’s just whiny Sally... you may just come to love her as I did!

Tuesday, July 2, 2019 by Patti Barrow | ACTING

KIDS and TEENS!

"Tis the season!

The season for MONOLOGUES!

Many of you are coming into audition preparation for fall shows. Some of your shows will require 32-bar cuts (of songs), will have you do a "cold read", and some will even ask for something called a "monologue". A what a again?

SONG - Typically something from a musical (but NOT from the show you are auditioning for). If they don't preassign the songs, the directors will specify the length (or "cut") you will need, and you'll need to choose a "song in the style of" the show, and section of that song you will sing for your audition. As your resume grows, you will need to keep your audition book updated with songs that fit your age, voice and abilities!

COLD-READ - This is when they hand you a script, and have you read from it as if you were that character. It really helps if you have seen the show (or at the very least read the synopsis!) and know what precedes the scene and what feels and situation the character is experiencing at that time.

MONOLOGUE - A monologue can be a short snippet of a play, musical or a "stand-alone monologue", that features on a spoken delivery of a single character.  The purpose of a monologue is to give the directors an idea of how you can convey an arc of emotion, within a role you are auditioning. Monologues are typically comedic or dramatic, classic (think Shakespeare) or contemporary (think Dear Even Hansen). Be sure you know what you need for the show!

To help our students fully prepare for auditions, I am providing some great websites to explore monologues from home. I also have books here at my studio, so if there is something specific you need we have tons of resources!

For those who wish to use their lesson time in preparing monologues, I am happy to help you choose a monologue or two, then work on character development, delivery, pacing, emotional arc, etc.!

Here you go! Have fun exploring!

https://www.stagemilk.com/monologues-for-teenagers/ - StageMilk Monologues 

https://www.dramanotebook.com/monologues-kids-teenagers/ - Drama Notebook 

https://monologueblogger.com/52-effective-short-monologues-for-teens-and-kids/ - MonologueBlogger

http://freekidsmonologues.blogspot.com - Kids and Teen monologues

https://www.ace-your-audition.com/monologues-for-teens.html - Ace Your Audition Teens

https://www.backstage.com/monologues/teens/ - BackStage Monologues 

https://www.shakespeare-monologues.org/home - Shakespeare Monologues

Patricia L. Barrow 
Voice Technician and Acting Coach   
Owner, Barrow Music Studio, LLC.   
NATS National Association of Teachers of Singing   
VASTA Voice and Speech Trainers Association, International   
SECO The Speakeasy Cooperative for Independent Voice Teachers   
www.BarrowMusicStudio.com     
503-476-4223