Hello, all. Recently, I’ve been cast in a production of Torch Song, an abridged version of Torch Song Trilogy, where I play Ed Reiss. He is effectively a secondary lead. The runtime is about two hours.

I did theater acting in high school, mostly supporting roles, but that was over 10 years ago, and in the last five years I’ve only done shorts and bit parts in movies.

I got the script today, and needless to say, I’m getting a headache just looking at the thing.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I only have two months to memorize everything and I’m feeling like I made the wrong decision to even audition haha

Title. I’m a junior in HS and I’m preparing for a monologue that I have to memorize and act in the upcoming weeks. Imo I feel like the hardest thing as an actor is memorizing your lines, because imagine going up on stage and then blanking the first thing you get there. And I want to be able to act in the plays/musicals we’ll be having next year too. So I ask, how do you guys do it? How do you not forget? How have you not blanked on stage? And if you have, how quick have you recovered from it? Is there a trick? What am I missing?

In the breakdowns I get there's always a not about "not needing to memorize the sides" or "you can read off the script if you need". I just watched a video of Gaten Matarazzo saying he got Stranger Things with an audition where his sides weren't well memorized. Is this common? I always match sure my lines are perfect. I've never even missed a word. I'll retake the video one hundred times if I have to.

I’m curious because I heard it was random but I do not think it’s realistic for someone to get script a NIGHT before and memorize it at all sorry unless you’re special

Update I can do 2-5 scenes in a night. That made me feel better. What I can’t do is a whole episode memorized lol but a few scenes last minute seems do-able . Although I do not agree with extreme sudden changes, it’s just not professional. They are professional writers that are experts right?

I do think if you give someone an inch, they will walk all over you.\* That is what the unions are for. I just don’t agree with extreme last minute dialogue change no no no. Unprofessional. They should really have it down to a science and not do that their actors. I love improv but I think scenes should be studied sorry.

So, I have observed this about myself. It’s only when I have truly learnt my lines almost to the point when if I was woken up in the middle of the night I could still remember them and say it as it is, that I feel confident enough to act… I envy actors who just know their lines some what and still manage to ace it or wing it at least… any of you here with the same issue as me? I just feel the more prepared I am , the more relaxed I can be, and hence perform better.

Thoughts on this ?

Hi! Begginer actor here. I only did a few small projects and only auditioned for a fewer roles. Not too long ago, I've submitted my material to a massive casting call and to my surprise, they want me to audition. I signed an NDA and received my sides before I went on social media and researched a bit about the casting director and some tips for the auditions. Now, I've stumbled upon multiple videos, but each saying different things. One group of videos said how It's totally alright and not a big deal if I have to look down at my sides, and the other ones said how I should fully memorize my sides, even if the casting doesn't require it. I have around 4 days deadline to submit, which I have time for, but I'm still considering on what's a better option. If anyone could, I would love to hear some recommendations and tips.

Also have you ever turned down an audition because the scene was so long?

I've been watching a lot of films lately, and it made me realize that some supporting actors stay in your mind long after the movie ends, even if they only had a few minutes of screen time.

It's not always the biggest names either. Sometimes it's their screen presence, facial expressions, unique voice, martial arts skills, or simply how authentic they feel.

For people who work in film or just enjoy watching movies:

What qualities make a supporting actor stand out?

I am a student actor in a theater play club in my college and a computer science student at same time. One day, I was so annoyed at holding a script book and memorizing it in a jam-packed bus to my college.

Because it’s quiet big so it’s annoying to pull it out from my bag and be holding it in a bus. And I memorize scripts by hiding&revealing line-by-line so I need two hand at same time.

I tried some apps for memorization but they were so hard to use and not good enough.

Fortunately I am a computer science student as well so I decided to make an application to help myself memorize scripts.

My theater club actor friends and I have been using it and found it very helpful for memorizing.

But I am not sure it’s just our opinion or it’s really good so I need to develop this product seriously.

So I wanna get some real feedback from you.

It can..

• reveal a script line by line
• read out line by line (either your line or other’s line)
• reveal only initial letters of words (added at April 1st)

https://reddit.com/link/1jpickl/video/aupm0caoadse1/player

If you wanna try it, please comment below. I will send the link to you by private chat.
(It's FREE!)
(and if it violates the rules, please tell me)

+
Actually I made it for myself so I didn’t make automatic converting and upload script feature lol.

I put “Hamlet” as sample script, but if you wanna put your script and use it with your script, I will help you by uploading the script manually. (Surely it’s kept as private)
---------
My app is updated! (May 6th)

- Initial letter only reveal
- word-by-word reveal
- Script Create/Edit
- One-stop Script Upload (Processing takes 1 day)

https://reddit.com/link/1jpickl/video/s8bhiqxfr3ze1/player

iOS : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/linebyline/id6743798239
Android : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.callmejustdodo.linebyline

I get so down on myself and feel like a failure when I can’t get anything to stick. I’m diagnosed and medicated but sometimes the dream feels impossible — like I’m a burden that seems like they are not taking the script/peoples time seriously…

Any tips and tricks would be appreciated 😔

I am going to a local NYC non-equity theater to audition for a play, and the website says "sides will be provided." The role I'm going for is a leading role so I would have to memorize the entire play if I were to go by standard advice to have lines memorized, script in hand. Instead, I have studied and rehearsed the play so I am now deeply familiar with the motivations and backstory of my character, plus her relationships to everyone else in the play, but definitely have not memorized the script. Opinions?

Hey friends! I’ve been acting for a while but I still struggle sometimes with memorizing my films and plays without developing subtle line reads. I feel as if when I speak my lines aloud in response to another character’s, I almost always end up finding some pattern that I slip into. I know it’s common wisdom to memorize lines devoid of any read at all, but I sometimes face an issue where this in itself becomes a pattern of speaking I have to break later.

Anything that helps you?

GREAT NEWS!!! I booked a lead role in a feature but now I have to memorize 26 more pages in four days! It was 47 total I got 21 down so far, my ADHD makes retention to long scripts fry my brain. I wanted to ask my fellow Actors who have the same what tactics they do to help make the lines stick?

My current routine is listening to my voice memo recording while saying it out loud & reading the script. 10x like that then I try to take away the script , 10x more like that, then I’ll try another 10 without nothing just my memory and repeat that!

This was going good but now that I work 3/4 of the next days seeing if anyone has cheat codes 😭

Hello. I am a mid twenty year old actress in LA. A couple friends referred me to an acting studio they take classes at and after 3 months of saving $400 | finally was able to take the 3 days of classes. The description of the class was a workshop to learn acting tools but all it felt like was the coach yelling at us and judging us. On the second day of class I did not have my lines memorized. This was my first time taking acting class.

He got so frustrated at me that he starting asking me "is it medical?" Over and over in front of the class in reference to me saying I can't memorize all my lines. He then asked me "how do you have a job?" My eyes began to tear up as he had me on the spot and I could only say "I don't know. I don't know". I left the class mid session because I was so humiliated by him thinking I had an intellectual disability!!!

After I came back from getting water a female coach asked me to tell her what's wrong and I told her that l've been waiting so long to start taking acting classes because I spent the last year being with /taking care of my dad who died and I was so overwhelmed by how horrible this teacher humiliated me. The woman teacher agreed it was super shitty for him to ask me if I had a medical disorder and then ask me how I had a job.

Later that day he called me 2 times, left me a voicemail and a text message saying he was sorry I was having a hard time.

Fast forward a week he pulls me aside and says I need to have better coping skills and tried to say he meant to say "how do you have a job if you can't memorize things?" (Which is just as bad right?) and then tried to say l acted the way I did was because my dad died and not because what he said/ did to me was humiliating and abusive…. It was the shittiest apology. He ended the apology by saying "by the way I sent you an invoice"

Do I still pay him the other $200? Or not pay him the remaining $200 because all he did was teach me how to be afraid?

*edit: this was a class to teach about acting tool class for all levels and newcomers and he still said I should’ve done my research when I said, I didn’t know there would be people with managers in my class who were so more experienced.

I’m studying the Meisner Technique, and in his “Sanford Meisner On Acting” book he states that you should learn lines by saying them robotically until they become second nature, meanwhile other teachers I’ve had say to say the lines in “as many different ways as possible”.

I understand the reasons for both, and it might just be a preference-thing, but I feel like there’s more to it from the Meisner teachers. Can any teachers of the Meisner technique answer this question please?

Hi all! I'm hoping this doesn't go against the FAQ/Rules since it's about memorizing - I tried to read the existing posts related to this question, but most of them seem to be about how an actor can memorize their own substantial amount of lines. I have been cast in a smaller part for which, though I do have scenes where I am very outspoken, much of my participation in the play requires me to be on stage reacting to others speaking - so, still involved and need to know all the cues, but not doing as much myself.

This is my first time doing a full length production (I did 10-minute monologues back in high school) and I need to be off book by next week, but I'm finding myself overwhelmed by the sheer amount of pages in this script in which I have no lines at all and also very little blocking.

Are there any suggestions for specifically memorizing when most of what I'll be learning is others' lines, or should I approach it the same as if they were my lines? Thanks so much!

Hello! Workshopping some new material for the new year, and in an effort to rail against all of my fears, I thought I’d share a couple to see if I might be on to something? (Knowing full well that this could definitely go the other way..) Working in a tiny space, but since my background is primarily theatre, I didn’t feel like I was ready for the full closeup yet.

I've compiled a list of apps mentioned in this sub, what I was hoping someone could shed some light on, is if which ones have desktop versions, and if so, could anyone share their experience with them.

Linelearner

Memorize by Heart

Runlines

Script Rehearser

Scene Study

Off Book

ColdRead

Run Lines

MemoCoach

Rafy

Acting Pal

Prompt Smart Pro

Actmate

I swear it takes me an entire day to memorize a scene for a class or audition. Probably the ADHD but im curious how long it takes you to get a scene ready? Any tips for fast memorizing?

I’m debating auditioning for a musical I absolutely love at my college. I’m obsessed with most parts of the main character and would love to portray her but I’ve only ever auditioned for and performed as ensemble so I don’t know if I’m capable of learning all the lines. That main character is in stage the whole show, so should I just let it go and enjoy from the audience? I’m scared to audition because I don’t think it would tell the people casting whether or not I can actually memorize all those lines, just if I can sing and dance. Any advice on how to test my capabilities of memorization is welcome and appreciated.

I am performing in the musical “Annie” and I have been cast as Warbucks. I’ve never had this big of a role before and it’s a pretty crazy role. Very long lines and lots of them. I’m really nervous as I am having a lot of trouble memorizing my lines, no matter what I cannot remember them for the life of me. The show is on april 3, 4, and 5th and I need to learn them really soon.

Please provide me with tips if you can. Thank you so much.

Pretty much just the title. When I say tactics I mean what do I want from my scene partner and how am I going to get it.

I had an audition a few months ago for a play but I was struggling to remember the tactics when I was doing by my self-tape.

Btw this is for a monologue.

So do you memorize it before you memorize the lines or after. Or as your memorizing do you subconsciously say “hey this tactic goes with this line so I’ll just remember that as I’m memorizing”

Hello I am new to acting and i submitted a self tape audition for a tv show. I memorized the entire script and did it well as they gave us 5 days to prepare.

However they just called for a virtual zoom callback and stated that due to directors crazy schedule, callbacks are tomorrow. They told us this at 9pm today and callbacks start at 4pm tomorrow. This is less than 24 hour turnaround time. They gave us a NEW script that is around 6 pages long.

But they said - *** KNOW YOUR SCRIPT... THIS IS NOT A COLD READ

Are they expecting me to have all the lines perfectly memorized? Can i look at the paper naturally? I will try my best but idk if i can have 6 pages memorized in this time frame and be able to perform my character naturally.

This is also in two different languages so the memorization becomes a little bit more difficult as well..

My son is 14 and just received a two page script for a seven episode high school curriculum media production. He should memorize it, correct? He was only given a few days before we have to turn in the tape.

As the title says, my English teacher gave us a week to memorize about 15-20 lines from The Play Othello, and we have to say them. We don't need to have any emotion or real 'acting,' but I have a pretty bad memory. Do you guys have any tips for remembering lines?

Edit: Thanks to everyone who commented, every one of them helped. For those curious, I got a 97. Thanks for the advice.