The Art Of Villainy: How To Play The Bad Guy

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Villains are often construed as unimportant, flat characters but that shouldn't be the case. There is more to an antagonist than just wanting to conquer the world and do bad things. Not everyone can appreciate a well-portrayed villain, but here are some tips on the art of villainy: 

Understand the character's story

In every role, it is essential to understand a character's backstory. Knowing where the character is coming from and why he acts the way he does can help in the acting process. This is even more important when playing a villain because it's the villain who usually suffers the most. 

Watch how villains act in other plays and/or movies

A good way to learn how to be a villain is to watch one in action. Whether it's a movie or play, you can learn a lot by observing the mannerisms, quirks, and psyche of any villain. From learning how to do an authentic evil laugh or how to look menacing without saying a word – there is a lot to be gained through research and practice.

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Have a redeeming quality

Taking over the world and destroying mankind are not, by any standards, noble ambitions. However, there should always be at least one redeeming quality about the villain to make him or her more realistic. Villains should be diverse characters: intelligent, charismatic, and even vulnerable. 

Hello there! I am Joshua B. Eaves and I love Broadway shows and the Blue Man Group. Subscribe to this for more about theater, acting and other related articles.

Let Them Sing: The Return Of Acapella

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Ever since the blockbuster movie “Pitch Perfect” came out, more interest has been given to acapella. Many theater productions are now incorporating this form of performance in their repertoire. But what exactly is acapella and why has it become a trend again?

The term originated from an Italian term that translates to "in the manner of the church;" meaning that voices were the sole instruments in music. This allowed singers to use their whole range and forced groups of singers to listen to one another. It is this particular characteristic that proves to be a key reason why theater schools are now incorporating a form of acapella in their various classes and workshops.

Theater acting is not only about individual expression and confidence building but about group dynamics as well. Excellent performances are based on how well actors can interact with each other while delivering their lines impeccably. All theater actors are aware that reading lines well requires establishing a connection with the fellow artists. This is the difference between hearing and listening, seeing and understanding.

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Acapella is an excellent and fun way to teach budding actors the nuances of performing. Acapella groups have specific roles (e.g. tenors, sopranos, altos, etc.), yet have to adjust to one another to create a singular sound. Similarly, acting involves different people coming together to convey a story. When actors listen to each other and are engaged, the result is usually a fluid and seamless production.

Joshua B. Eaves lives in Chicago and loves watching different and all forms of theater productions, with Blue Man Group his favorite show. He shares many behind-the-scenes insights on Twitter.

Anastasia is Headed to the Great White Way Soon

Good news to all theater fans out there! Anastasia, a well-loved animated film from 1997 by Fox Animation Studios directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman will officially be hitting the Broadway scene after its successful run in Hartford earlier this spring. The Broadway premier is scheduled on April 24, 2017 at the Broadhurst Theatre. The show will be featuring Tony Award Winners Lynn Ahrens' and Stephen Flaherty' songs. The producers, Stage Entertainment USA, Bill Taylor, and Tom Kihardy, announced that numerous songs from the 1997 animated film will be featured in its Broadway adaptation but will also include new tracks. Another Tony Award Winner, Darko Tresnjak, is Anastasia's director and Peggy Hickey is the choreographer. The creative team comprises of talented artists: Alexander Dodge, Linda Cho, Donal Holder, Peter Hylenski, Aaron Rhyme, Charles LaPointe, Thomas Murray, and Doug Besterman.

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Mamma Mia's Christy Altomare stars as Anya, the musical's heroine, with Derek Klena from Dogfight as Dmitry. The show also includes Broadway veterans such as Vlad Popov and Caroline O' Connor as Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch, from A Christmas Story: The Musical and Chicago respectively. They were also the stars from the Hartford Stage cast. Producers said that other cast members will be declared soon.

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Hello there! I’mJoshua B. Eaves. I'm currently a technical support expert for local theatrical productions. I enjoy performances from the Blue Man Group the most. If you want to read more updates on theater, Broadway, and musicals, follow me onTwitter.

Kabuki: The Japanese Art Of Song, Dance, And Skill

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On a recent trip to Japan, I finally had the chance to witness a Kabuki play. Clearly, it was the highlight of my trip and I couldn’t have spent the holiday any other way than watching a good cultural performance.

I learned a lot about Kabuki through books and the net, but witnessing the performance first hand was a totally different experience. Here’s what I can share about Kabuki, from what one of my Japanese friends told me.

Kabuki is one of the three major classic theater performances in Japan, alongside noh and bunraku. Kabuki means song (ka), dance (bu), and skill (ki). The performance is designed to showcase dramatic and spectacular artistry, unlike the solemn and ritual-like noh.

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Kabuki performances are accompanied by musical instruments like shamisen, chanting, drums, and flutes. The stage is often set in green, black, and reddish stripes. Actors wear jidaimono or sewamono, which were famous in the Edo period. Traditional kabuki plays ban female artists on-stage because back in the day, prostitution was a wide side business in some kabuki troupes. Since then, male actors do “onnagata” or female impersonation, which requires them to train for years. Common themes of kabuki include filial piety, giri-ninjo (love and duty conflicts), and Confucian thought.

The performance was undoubtedly long (five hours with intermissions), but I enjoyed every part of it. Luckily, I had an English ear-piece so I had an idea of what was happening during the long display of talents.

Hi, Joshua B. Eaves here! I’m a big fan of the Blue Man Group and all things related to theater. Let’s explore the colorful world of performance arts together when you follow me on Twitter.

Forgive And Forget: What To Do When You Mess Up Your Lines

One of the worst things an actor can do is to forget his or her lines. However, it's not as uncommon as some may be led to believe. Forgetting your lines is fine, as long as you keep your composure. As they say, the show must go on! Here are some tips in order to handle these situations:

Practice regularly

To address the problem before it arises, practice is key. Rehearse your lines alone or with a partner so you can be confident about knowing your lines. Sometimes, confidence is all you need to overcome stage fright and help you deliver your lines smoothly.

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Keep calm and don't panic

Obviously, this is easier said than done but it's sound advice. Panicking will get you nowhere and will only alert the audience of your blunder. Instead, take a deep breath and think about your next line.

Ad lib

A good habit to practice is ad lib. You don't have to say the lines in your script verbatim, especially in cases where you forget them. If you find yourself struggling for the exact words, c0nsider rephrasing your lines or doing an ad lib to avoid dead air on stage.

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Move

Find an excuse to walk around or do something on stage while thinking of the lines you've forgotten. Walking on stage will give the illusion that you know what you're doing rather than forgetting what your lines are.

Hell there! I am Joshua B. Eaves, a big fan of theater and the Blue Man Group. Subscribe to my blog for more stories about stage plays and other related topics.

Conquering the Stage: How to Deal with Stage Fright

Performance anxiety, or better known as stage fright, is a very common phobia in acting. Many people find it hard to talk or to appear before an audience or crowd. Here are a few ways to get over your fear of the stage:

Be prepared Being ill prepared for a speech or performance can cause you to feel anxious about making mistakes. When you’re fully prepared and you practiced as much as you can, you don’t need to be afraid to mess up or make blunders. This will make you feel more confident about your performance.

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Breathe One way to relieve your body from stress and anxiety is by doing breathing exercises. Repetitive breathing helps calm you down and relaxes you.

Think happy thoughts If you’re thinking about the countless ways you can make blunders on stage, stop. The more you think about the negatives, the more likely it is that you will make mistakes. Thinking positively will put your mind at ease.

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Make eye contact Making eye contact can help you think that you’re talking to one person instead of a big crowd. Focusing on one person can make you forget about the others who are also watching you.

Hello! I’m Joshua B. Eaves and I love the theater, especially the Blue Man Group. Subscribe to my blog to learn more about acting and performing on stage.

From Hollywood to Broadway: Stories I Enjoyed Onscreen and Onstage

Just like my love for theatre, I have also fostered a fondness for movies. With their similar way of storytelling, it’s not difficult to be a fan of both. Here are some of the musicals I enjoyed onscreen and onstage.

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Legally Blonde

“Oh my god, you guys!” This high-pitched entrance will always belong to the great Elle Woods, the sorority girl who entered law school to win back her ex-boyfriend. As the story unfolds, Elle finds great friends, faces challenges, and realizes her true calling. Don’t fret, rom-com lovers— the dorky Emmett is a darling.

The Producers

Did you know that this record-breaking Tony awardee was originally a movie? The story is about two producers who plan a get-rich-quick scheme by overselling interests in Broadway that backfires. The hilarious turn on Leo, Max and Ulla as they organize Broadway’s biggest flop is surely fun to watch whichever the form.

The Lion King

This Disney classic is just as magical onstage. With songs crafted by Elton John, Tim Rice and Hans Zimmer, it is undoubtedly one of the best bets to transition from screen to the stage. The wonderful animation turned into colorful costumes that will bring audiences to the Pride Land. “Circle of Life” live is always a breathtaking performance.

Do you have other suggestions on movies that transitioned to theatre? Tell me your suggestions so I could check them out.

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Hi! Joshua B. Eaves (my friends call me Josh) here, a technical operations specialist for local theatrical productions and an aficionado of the performing arts and experimental music. I’m true-blue Chicagoan. To know more about me, follow this page.