teen – LATTE Theater

On Developing Your Stage Versatility and Persona

To thine own self be true! As you continue to succeed in acting, it is so crucial that you decide what type of mentor you one day wish to be. What influence as a leader would you like to have? Which of your directors would you want to emulate? Which ones would you not want to be? As you develop your on-stage brand in the acting industry, it is important to delve deep and ask the right questions.

What kind of versatile actresses and actors would you want to be considered like as you age? What sort of roles do you respect? Look at the versatility of Benedict Cumberbatch and Meryl Streep. They do not allow themselves to be pigeonholed into only acting one type of role but develop a multitude of skills to give them the ability to conquer within the industry.

What sort of demographics do you tend to gravitate to? Who are your stage and screen target audiences? You may think that you’re just starting your acting journey, but asking deliberate questions, in the beginning, can save you a lot of frustration in the middle. You should also reassess your progress and growth as you add more diverse roles to your acting toolbox.

And though these questions are challenging to answer, they present much motivation into what sort of characters you create on stage and what kind of character you are offstage. what emotions you gravitate to presenting on stage, and which ones you want to get more confident with.

Just as an artist paints with very broad strokes of a brush in the beginning, you need to be able to know how to start creating your artwork on the stage. As you spend more time in the industry you want to deliberately create the masterpiece that is you.

So who would you like to be? And what feedback have you been given to help you grow, stand out, self-assess, and acknowledge your weaknesses so you can develop them…. and your strengths? This is vital to your success on stage, and in life.

So, You Want to be an Actor?

The lure of the stage lights calls to us and draws us! The reaction of a live audience. is incredible. There is nothing like it! So, how do you prepare yourself for the stage? How do you start?

Go in with realistic expectations about the amount of work that stage requires. Of course, everyone wants the prestige and that gorgeous lead, but stage means memorizing not just your role, but the lines and reactions of all our scene partners.

The first year, especially the first show will be an adjustment. In a good acting program, the learning curve is high. You will be learning a whole new language and way of thinking. Just like you would train for a marathon; you must train your body, brain, and attention span to last an entire performance. Always be prepared for each and every performance. So be ready to work and prove yourself. And focus on being kind to yourself. Understand that this is a process. Pace yourself.

If you miss a rehearsal, ensure you are caught up on any stage blocking and notes you missed so YOU are not making the cast wait for you to catch up. Stay humble.

Drink in the teachable moments. Seek out every cast member that has a deeper understanding of acting. Then, listen to the director with any suggestions that are given. “Takes direction well” is one of the best compliments you can receive… and puts you in a great place for future leads. Take notes so you can step in as an understudy.

Have fun with the process. Then, when the curtain opens, the end result is pure magic, for there is truly nothing like putting on a show! And always practice, Progress, not perfection!

Something to Percolate:

Talk to a director. Find out how they mentor and train students that are new. How do they invest in their growth?

Character Building Exercises

We have one set of experiences to draw from on stage… and that is our own. In contrast, there are a lot of diverse and complex roles out there beyond our perception and knowledge. So, as you draw from your background, examine your relationships, human interactions, motivations, experiences, strength, and hope.. Be present in real life so you can also soak it in creating a character persona on stage.

Now… onto research. Choose a few places to “people watch”. A favorite park, a grocery store, a campus quad, a bookstore, or a bench at a mall. Keep a journal with the observations that really speak to you. People and situations that give you inspiration in creating characters. How they move. Their vocal tones. Facial expressions. This is a guide to help you when creating characters swiftly, and we all know in the industry that that next role if we’re lucky, is right around the corner.

Your character development journey has already started, so you can pull from these real-life examples to provide insight into future roles and how to create and bring depth to the spotlights.

Also, surround yourself with people that truly enrich your life and help you in your “safe space” to explore and create… People that challenge you to grow! These friends, family, and mentors are crucial to developing healthy wellness offstage. For If you’re only focused on acting without this insight and life balance, you will never realize your full potential.

Challenge to percolate:

Choose a role you would love to have. To gain perspective, brainstorm on people that could add nuance to this role. Do a monologue from the role using these insights.

Developing Charisma on Stage – Acting with Intent

You finally get to a Broadway show… and there is one actor who the audience loves and reacts to… the second they come on stage; you get excited. And you just “know” that in every role they have ever played, they have this special something that flows out of them. Charisma. Charisma is… well…. Magic on stage. Charisma is hard to define. Is it stage presence? Power? Warmth? Your passion and energy on stage? So, how do you develop it? This “je ne sais quoi”… this elusive pleasing quality?

On stage, you send subtle signals on stage that you are inviting the audience into your world. Your use of space, animation, energy, pushing or pulling a line for just. A second. Longer Showing your thought process on the stage makes all the difference. Your animation and authentic energy speak volumes.

I was taught that “the eyes are windows to the soul”. And any opera singer or ballet dancer will share with you the importance of using warmth and thought, through the medium of the eyes, to form a bond with the audience while not breaking the wall. While not breaking character. Being present in your moment in the character arc.

Regarding stage charisma, it is so important about bringing out the push and pull of the scene. The interrelationships, conflicts, and alliances with your fellow cast members. The more you become an active scene partner and value the action and reaction of your cast, the more charisma you have radiating from you on stage.

Challenges to Percolate:

Think back to your best past scene partners. What aspects of charisma did they bring to the stage. What did they do to heighten the scene quality?

WHAT MAKES LATTE CHICAGO’S TEEN ACTING CHOICE

The LATTE Theater Acting Program stems from the conviction that Teen Actors can be trained with similar rigor and discipline as adults. As teens establish internal stage discipline (while having fun), they also are taught emotional wellness tools to allow them a healthy self-awareness as they are developing their stage characters to protect the psyche.

This acting training technique is specifically designed for young people’s personal triumph on and off the stage. The Pfluger Empathy Movement Method focuses on spherical growth in all aspects of character building, physicality and stage interrelationships , commanding voice and speech intonations, muscle activation, micro-expressions, and improvisation… all while developing personal stamina and directing skills. Curiosity and questions are encouraged for collaborative growth. Teens are included in the dramaturgy process and given a voice from the start of the acting intensive to the final curtain call.

Coaching for healthy stage intimacy and interrelationship creates a holistic stagecraft approach where teens are not only acquainted with the core elements of acting training, but actively mentored from a cultural, historical, literary, and psychological basis. Exploration of character interrelationships allow each teen to gain healthy insight as an actor or actress – for through stage we celebrate our humanity, challenge ourselves, find comfort… create healthy opportunities to learn and make lasting memories.

For more information on our Teen Acting Program, Auditions, Acting Workshops, Summer Teen Camp, Acting School, LATTE Theater Performances, and Acting Intensives, please contact us at 708-655-0989 or email lattetheater@gmail.com.

Why Should Teens do Full-Length Plays in a Challenging Environment?

It’s all about stretching. It’s more than building your stage resume, and beyond forging friendships, self-confidence, and learning how to develop as a teen player. Not only do teens learn to value how other people think and respect diversity, but in programs like LATTE where teens who take on full-length plays as acting intensives learn how to read and learn emotional tells. They develop the emotional and physical stamina to stay actively in character for 2 hours, and, in the right program, to deal with the unexpected.

Live Theater can have a plethora of things go wrong, and the show “must go on”, so you learn to trust your wits, your team, and your contingency plan. In a challenging program, you learn as I always say in LATTE, “Prepare for the worst and expect the best”. Teens can learn healthy project management that allows them to be part of the planning process. When you involve teens in the decision-making process of developing blocking, adlibs, and looking for opportunities to use their ideas, then you get a stronger show. And when teens are empowered on stage to support other cast members as scene partners – as equals, the ego gets taken out of the equation, and what we have left is gorgeous theater worthy of standing ovations!

Challenges to Percolate for Directors … or Teens that want to be Directors:

Look at the blocking for a scene through different lenses. That of each of the characters. How would the blocking change depending on which character you would want to highlight at any given moment?

How can you strengthen the moving action of the scene?

What blocking can you add to make sure each character on stage gets to shine – while adding intrigue, suspense, and animation to the scene.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT ACTING PROGRAM FOR YOUR TEEN?

Ask yourself, what you want out of the program. And what does your teen want out of the experience? I would suggest choosing a program WITH your teen, since the teen’s voice should be part of the process, so they will feel more internally motivated for the best buy-in. Some programs are crammed as full as possible to give photo ops. This works for some, but not one that facilitates change and growth. If you are looking for a more serious and challenging program that helps teens channel their talents and master their craft, then there is much more to consider.

ACTING EDUCATION THAT FOCUSES ON THE WELL-BEING OF THE TEEN

So many programs piggyback teen programs on adult programs. Teens develop emotionally and intellectually daily on and off the stage, and the program should honor this. A Movement Method can be excellent if it includes self-awareness and empathy building. Also, beware of Method Acting as it is dangerous for teens… and many adults. Your checklist should include if the director can instill confidence, encourage collaborative creativity, and teach teamwork. Students of the craft should thrive off-stage in life and in the spotlights. The best competition is when students compete against themselves, trying to get a little better than yesterday. Make sure the student has “a safe place to fail”. For instance, in LATTE Theater, the focus is “progress, not perfection”, so that they have permission to explore what works best and enjoy the journey.

REPUTATION

Stay away from schools that sound like a pyramid scheme. Payment for different levels does not automatically mean the student is learning anything – or the lessons are internalized. Check online and word-of-mouth recommendations, and see if you can attend a rehearsal to see what it’s like behind the scenes. Acting Training actually is training, not gift wrapping.

BUILDING REALISTIC AND AUTHENTIC SKILLS

Many programs have you imagining applause and enjoying the spotlights. Yet, the best ones set you up for real life with advocates in the field who can mentor you, a realistic understanding of what it all takes, and how these skills and abilities transfer to other industries. Any director will tell you the audition begins from the moment you arrive on the property. A good program prepares you with a complete set of skills in your tool belt, resilience, assists in internal motivation, and helps the teen develop discipline.

A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

Make sure that your teen feels safe and comfortable where they are creating. Best case, the student and cast ensemble work together collaboratively to create a quality scene with the director. Teens need a nurturing, energizing environment that facilitates healthy emotional wellness at its core. It should be nonjudgemental, yet challenging and FUN! At LATTE, we focus on high-level learning… with laugh attacks and realness. Because in an environment of trust, the most incredible shows happen… and real, sustainable growth can take place.

Choosing an Acting Program with your Teen – The Developing Brain and Stage

Acting in the teen years can be an incredible experience. Otherwise, I never would have created the LATTE Theater Company or the Empathy Movement Method to help young actresses and actors thrive. So let’s take a beat and talk about why teens need additional safety around their stage experience and character creation.

Teens are exploring and defining who they are. Trying to do this hard enough in this age of tech and social media. When you are on stage you are creating a character that has its own separate emotional responses, physicality and personality. That is complex to any age, let alone when the brain has not hardwired (till the mid to late twenties).To make things all the more challenging, often acting schools teach method acting or fail to teach the teen to approach character development as a healthy exercise with aesthetic distance.

Look at the cautionary tale of Heath Ledger and how he lost himself in the character. Look at actors and actresses who fall in love – with each other’s characters, unaware in that moment that they aren’t falling in love with each other. If adults easily have fallen into these pitfalls, don’t we owe it to teens to give them a safe and nourishing framework to thrive on stage – and off?

Thoughts to percolate:

As you choose a program that will in influence your teen, ask how they help the teen grow on stage and off. How do they protect the psyche of the teen as they bring a show to the spotlights?

Emotional Wellness and the Stage

Teens have very full lives with competing responsibilities. Positive emotional framing encouraging resiliency goes a long way toward promoting emotional success. And in rehearsal and the performance spotlights, it can set a tone that can propel a teen forward with balance, self-awareness, internal motivation, and confidence. This tone affects how we think, handle stress, relate to others, our thought patterns, and much more! We especially need to respect that teens have brilliant brains that are still developing. The good? Teens thrive on challenge and engaging in creative activities like acting, which can strengthen healthy patterning and help the brain mature.

Much of that development is tied to social experiences in adolescence. And the Performing Arts are the definition of social, as we interact onstage. So it is VERY important that teens develop healthy acting skills that support their emotional wellness. We should never be “playing” for just one role or one show…. but for life! This need to protect the psyche and development is imperative until the mid to late twenties (when the prefrontal cortex is responsible for skills like planning, and healthy decision-making). So we want to nurture strong peer relationships, and social experiences. Seek out approaches that give maximum good and limit unnecessary strain. I always say, “Push yourself, but do not push yourself over”.

Because of this progressive development, it is essential to recognize possible emotional triggers (both positive and negative) and practice effective coping techniques that help teens use stress management. When you work with emotions and mental processes on stage for a character, you need to frame the material in a way that allows you to develop healthy awareness and separation from your core personality. Promoting overall well-being for teens means working consciously to develop executive functioning and project management skills, and “build in a buffer” that limits anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. This encourages emotional wellness as teens triumph and move from being overwhelmed by the plethora of responsibilities that demand their attention, to making conscious choices on balancing their time and resources to succeed best. And know, it is all about “Progress, not Perfection”!

A challenge to Percolate – Building in a Buffer!

Take a project for stage or school and build a timeline. Put in extra lead time in case of boredom, ennui, other projects, apathy, or crisis,

Choose a character from a movie or a monologue that is unlike you. Then, think how you are different than that character and how you might be similar with movement and your reactions.

The Java Jive: Depicting Trauma on Stage

It happens. You get an incredible role – with trauma in it. Thankfully, you haven’t experienced anything like this in real life. You haven’t lost a loved one. Or been trapped in a garret to avoid persecution. Or been burnt at a stake. Or walked down the street and be assaulted – or accused of something you never would do. So how do you deliver a real and authentic performance when you have no such life experience to draw from?

We’ve all seen it happen. A normally talented performer becomes wooden and emotionally-affective during a fight scene, retreats during aggressive stage conflict, or worse – “fights the part”. How do we transcend this “fight or flight” instinct? How do we keep it real and authentic on stage?

It answer is simple. What parallels have you experienced that you can draw from? Maybe, thankfully, you have never lost a spouse, parent, or sibling, but, you might have helped a friend through the pain – or know the pain of losing your pet. Think on how you would, with kindness and empathy, help them. Then, use that as your starting point.

The stages of grief are universal. The rules would definitely apply to this pandemic. As humans, we deny. We bargain. We are shell-shocked. We grieve. We become depressed and angry. And finally, we find some acceptance. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Because the stages of grief can come and go as we process these painful losses. The loss of a job and our identity. The loss of our childhood home. The loss of a child. The loss of what we thought was permanent and safe and protected.

That is what we take to the stage. That is what we give to the audience. The honesty of the emotion. The bravery of showing it through our actions. And portray hope for the future

Challenges to Percolate:

Be super brave for five minutes today.

Think about something you mourn. Remember “the emotions in the room” at that time. Think what got you through it, that you could bring to a role in healing.
“Text” a letter to a character you struggled with, showing your support for them, and then read it as that character would. Allow this to be a “moving action” to heal.

~ Felicia Pfluger