A fellow actress I met at a workshop reached out to me earlier this year with an idea. If I were willing, we could meet twice a week to practice being word-perfect with our lines without sacrificing being present in the moment during a scene. I'm so glad she reached out, and I'm so glad I said yes!
We are not perfect, but it's great to have an accountability buddy to stay committed to the little things we can do every day to master our craft. It's also been incredibly helpful when auditions come up—I have a great reader who loves analyzing text and character with me. There are things she sees or things we discover together that add beautifully to the homework I had done on my own. And of course, when she needs support, I genuinely enjoy being there for her as well.
For the next few weeks, I've committed to learning a Shakespeare monologue that I've had on the back burner for a while. I was drawn to this piece during a workshop with Tim Carroll, artistic director of the Shaw Festival, who began his career with the English Shakespeare Company. I'm still in awe that I even had the chance to work with him! If you haven't already, I encourage you to watch the recording of his incredible, award-winning production of Twelfth Night at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Tim was the one who suggested this monologue to me, and I'd love to perform it for him someday. Honestly, it would mean the world to work with him again—not just in a workshop setting, but as director-actor on something amazing, whether it’s Shaw, Shakespeare, or something entirely new.
You know what else I enjoyed about working with Tim? With all the accomplishments he's had, he had no airs. He was generous and honest and kind but also firm and real. His love for theatre was so obvious, and it was oh so wonderful to be around.
For now, I must admit I'm feeling a little protective of this monologue and don't want to reveal what it is—it's silly and maybe even embarrassing to admit, but it feels personal in a way I can’t quite explain. Lol.
I'm trying not to get too carried away with all the other pieces I want to learn in the future. 😄 Truly thankful to have this space to grow and celebrate these little victories—one word-perfect moment at a time. Yay!