> ... For me at least.
>
> So, I'm an actor. I've performed in over twenty plays in twenty
> years. I've been acting on and off since I was five years old. I
> have yet to be paid for it.
>
> Here in the town of Woodstock, Georgia (no, not THAT
> Woodstock- that's in New York), there is a Community Theatre
> called The
> Towne Lake Arts Center at which I have performed pretty
> much straight through for the past two years. I had three weeks
> where there was nothing going on thirteen months ago, but
> that's it.
>
> I've done musicals, I've done dramas, I've done Shakespeare, I've
> done comedy. I've done it all, pretty much, and the general
> concensus is that I'm good at what I do.
>
> Recently, I did a show called "The Star-Spangled Girl" by Neil
> SImon. Three person show. Had 283 lines. That's a pretty fair
> amount, and I was on the stage for most of the time (which is
> what happens in a three person show).
>
> That's nothing compared to what I've got going on now. I was
> just cast this morning in a show called "Catch Me If You Can,"
> which is a murder mystery. I play the part of Danny Corban.
>
> Danny Corban comes on at the beginning of the show, and then
> stays on stage THE ENTIRE TIME. No breaks, no downtime. He's
> on stage the entire time. There's one time when he's offstage:
>
> Intermission.
>
> There are only two parts where more then three lines pass
> without him talking.
>
> 424 Lines.
>
> This is what I'm facing, and I have a month to memorize them
> all. Fun stuff.
>
> Those of you so inclined, please keep me in your prayers, if you
> happen to think of it. If not, that's alright. I'll muddle through.
>
> Thanks for listening. I'm a bit concerned, cause it's the biggest
> part I've EVER had, and I desperately don't want to screw it up.
>
> -Rifty

You're and actor and I'm a writer. I also do it for free. The last time I got paid for writing was in the 50's, but I've been published in newspapers and magazines that you have never heard of, and I was the editor, publisher, janitor, and chief writer for a newsletter with a circulation of about 100. I love the internet. You can write about anything or nothing and just hit "send," and presto, you are published. Sometimes somebody will even read it.

Fortunately, I don't have to make a living anymore so not getting paid is no biggie.

Many years ago, I had some experience in sho biz, if you can call little theatre sho biz. Mostly I did stuff like scenery, props, sound effects, publicity, and lights. Once I got on stage for a couple of minutes, but fortunately I didn't have to talk.

I am a good observer and one thing I learned is that actors rely heavily on what other actors say to cue their next line. The tough part is where the actor is doing all of the talking and has to know the whole speech. The longer they talk, the more likely they are to blow a line. Sometimes you can get a visual clue about what to say next from the other actors, but it still isn't easy. You probably already know all of this, unless your earlier parts have consisted of just a few lines.

Some of the funniest stuff I remember is when an actor forgets a line, and ad libs. As a member of the crew, I often had most of the script memorized just from hearing endless rehersals while I was painting flats or something. So ad libs usually didn't slip by me even when the audience didn't catch on. A good ad libber is a relaxed actor and that makes him a good actor. Again, you probably already know this, but I have to have something to write about.

Good luck with your new part. Maybe some big producer will be in the third row.
Howard