An Actor's Preparation

Over the past few months, I’m reminded of the necessity of thoroughly preparing a character.

The craft of acting is not just the techniques we study like voice, movement, breath, character work, text analysis, given circumstances, stage orientation, and the extensive theatre vocabulary that becomes part of our shared language. I’m referring to the deeper work, the kind that lives beneath the surface of every scene.

When I worked with Beth DeVolder, she always brought incredible preparation to every production.

Every rehearsal, every moment we shared onstage, carried the unmistakable presence of her preparation.

The actor’s preparation is immense.

It is everything.

It’s the work the director doesn’t witness directly but immediately recognizes the moment the actor opens their mouth.

It is the discipline, the care, and the dedication poured not only into your own character, but into the lives of everyone who inhabits a scene with you.

I reflect on the many rehearsals during Collected Stories, a demanding two-hander that required so much memorization, emotional bravery, and trust. We discovered quickly that each of us had to bring our full selves to this process. Our dedication to one another became more than a responsibility, it became an honor, a shared commitment in order to tell a remarkable story truthfully to an audience.

And when I had the privilege of directing Beth in Doubt, A Parable, she brought that same unwavering discipline and fire. She carried Aloysius with such clarity and force, while Dean brought equal conviction to Father Flynn. Together, they made that tension electric.

I feel that as directors and actors we are always ignited with the responsibility of accountability to a script, to the playwright, to our characters, and to every moment we breathe onstage- spoken or unspoken.

Beth, thank you for allowing me to witness your gift of "The Actor's Preparation" which was elevated to an art form.

Miss you

xo

Jennifer