{"id":1623,"date":"2016-11-15T20:12:48","date_gmt":"2016-11-15T20:12:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/?p=1623"},"modified":"2019-06-21T19:20:04","modified_gmt":"2019-06-21T19:20:04","slug":"5-advantages-of-having-a-tertiary-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/5-advantages-of-having-a-tertiary-role\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Advantages of Having a Tertiary Role"},"content":{"rendered":"

5 Advantages of Having a Tertiary Role<\/h3>\n \"\"<\/a><\/span>

Written by Ashleigh Gardner<\/p>\n

November 14, 2016<\/p>\n<\/font>

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So you didn’t get the lead. Bummer, right? <\/span><\/p>\n

Absolutely not! Just because you aren’t the star\u00a0in your high school’s or university’s play\u00a0this\u00a0<\/em>time around doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun with your new role. Below are five ways you have the advantage when you rock your tertiary role — a\u00a0character\u00a0that isn’t a leading or supporting role, but that still\u00a0heavily influences the success of the show.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. You have more time to work on your character when the leads are busy rehearsing.<\/h4>\n
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Because you may not be onstage for as much time as other roles, you have more time to work on line memorization and character development. Activities that you can do to strengthen your character\u2019s personality and \u201crealness\u201d vary from filling out a\u00a0<\/span>character dossier<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>making a mixtape<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2.\u00a0Your relationship with other tertiary characters develops quickly.<\/h4>\n
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Have you ever had a fun, silly, made-up friendship with a fellow castmate? Time to get on that. While you\u2019re huddled together at a table or quietly gossiping next to the staircase onstage, talk with your tertiary castmates. Get to know their characters. Make friendships, scandalous relationships, and frienemies with your friends\u2019 characters. Play, and keep it fun!<\/span><\/p>\n

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3.\u00a0Your character isn\u2019t held by any rigid traits.<\/h4>\n
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Unless the playwright has specifically said your tertiary character must have specific traits, you are free to (at the discretion of your director) explore your character\u2019s true nature a little bit more. Are you a servant with a sunny or a sultry disposition? Are you a shopkeeper who likes his customers or wish they would vacate his store? How does your Chorus Girl #3 feel about the play\u2019s romantic male lead — did he betray her, or is she crushing hard?<\/span><\/p>\n

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4.\u00a0You have more time to be present.<\/h4>\n
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When you\u2019re standing stage right shouting \u201cYeah!\u201d and maybe some other single-lines peppered in for good measure, you have the opportunity to be an active listener and actor in the scene. Even though you\u2019re not in the middle of the stage, you\u2019re the center of attention to at least <\/span>one <\/span><\/i>person in the audience, and you need to make the show real for that audience member as if you <\/span>were <\/span><\/i>the lead. Your performance matters to that person.<\/span><\/p>\n

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5. You learn to react and express emotion, sometimes solely, through body language.<\/h4>\n
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If you don\u2019t have <\/span>any <\/span><\/i>lines, you can work on how your character\u2019s body language reveals how they feel about the scene and the other characters. Do they move closer to listen? Are they flirtatious with other characters while no one is watching? Do they stand with their arms crossed in protest? Decide what\u2019s best for your character, and follow through.<\/span><\/p>\n

Need some advice? We’ve got you covered.<\/h3>\n