Is this a full time job?
Yes. We keep very busy touring to different schools and theaters, but touring is only one aspect of our job. We also build workshops that accompany our plays, so a big part of our job is being teaching artisits, as well as actors. When we're not on the road we might be rehearsing, fixing damaged or worn down pieces of our costumes, props, or set, or doing paper work around the office at Georgia Shakespeare to make sure everything is in order for when we are on the road.
Are there more members of your group?
There are only four actors on tour, who play all of the parts, but there is an entire team of people who you never see making the plays possible. Back at Georgia Shakespeare there are people working on costumes, repairing the set, fixing the sound system, attending to props, directing the shows before they ever hit the road, and of course contacting people and booking the shows! So although you only see four people in front of you for a show, lots of people have a part in making it all possible.
Where do you all travel?
We travel to schools all over the state of Georgia and occasionally we venture into other states in the Southeast
How do you remember all of your lines?
We rehearse a show for several works before we start performing it. The constant repitition of the lines during these rehearsals helps us memorize them. We also practice our lines at home individually, and often we will get together before a performance and have a "line through". A "line through" means that we get together as a cast and literally go through the lines in the play, saying them outloud to each other to help us remember and get focused for the performance.
How do you change costumes so quickly?
Lots of practice and "quick-rigging" the costumes. "Quick-rigging" a costume means that we sew something onto the costume that allows it to be taken off and put back on with ease. For example, many of our costumes have velcro on them where a button might usually be. Sometimes we have another costume underneath. We always rehearse quick changes over and over again until we get it right.
