ABSTRACT
Most of the qualities that make for an effective performance by an actor in a full production apply to Play Readings. But Readings require actors to adapt their approaches to accommodate limited rehearsal periods. Readings provides career opportunities. Actors who are involved in one or more Readings of a play during its development have a foot in the door of the full production. Even if they do not continue with the play, Readings provide actors with opportunities to collaborate with playwrights, producers, directors, even the literary staff, and let these people see their work. Actors should study the script in advance of rehearsal and decide on clear objectives for their character. Tentative, hesitant tactics hold back Readings. Actors bring a highlighter and a pencil to rehearsal. They note in their scripts any changes in stage directions made during rehearsal. They may also need to write the pronunciation of difficult words phonetically.
