All stories by Kerry Hishon on BroadwayStars

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Exploring Different Voices Using Puppets, Masks, and Props by Kerry Hishon

Student actors often find it challenging to create a character with a unique-sounding voice – that is, to make their character not sound just like they do themselves. Whether students are …

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, March 10, 2018

3 Tips for Keeping Your Voice Healthy by Kerry Hishon

Vocal health and hygiene are crucial for drama students. Whether students are working on monologues, group scenes, or musical numbers, having a healthy voice is a must. It’s important for …

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, March 3, 2018

Exercise: Same Lines, Different Meanings by Kerry Hishon

One of the exciting aspects of rehearsal is experimenting with the text of the script and figuring out what the characters are saying and how they should say it. Each approach to the text wi…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, February 24, 2018

Practice How You’d Like to Perform by Kerry Hishon

Teachers and directors – have you ever watched a run of your show, noticed a particular student, and wondered, “Now where did that performance come from?!” I’m talking about the stud…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, February 17, 2018

Dancing in the Drama Classroom: 3 Ways to Get Started by Kerry Hishon

For those students who love dancing, simply mentioning the word “dance” gets them up on their feet and immediately moving. For other students, the idea of pirouettes, step-touches, and f…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, February 10, 2018

Stage Combat 101: Before You Even Begin by Kerry Hishon

Stage combat is always one of the most eagerly anticipated lessons in drama class. Stage combat is fun to do and it’s a great workout. And when it’s done well it looks spectacular onstag…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, February 3, 2018

3 Fitness Tips for Drama Students by Kerry Hishon

Fitness? Hey, this is supposed to be drama class, not gym class! I’m not a jock! I’m terrible at sports! Are you telling me I need to lose weight? Fitness is so important for drama stude…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, January 27, 2018

Exercise: Approaching Random Tasks in Character by Kerry Hishon

A common question that is asked of student actors when they’re analyzing their character is: “What was your character doing before this scene?” Or “What is your character going to do…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, January 20, 2018

What’s Your Character’s Signature Gesture? by Kerry Hishon

What is a signature gesture? It’s a nonverbal, repeated movement your character is known for, that you perform in a particular way that is unique and identifiable. Common, well-known gestu…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, January 13, 2018

Why You Need to Rehearse in Your Character’s Shoes by Kerry Hishon

There are so many approaches to developing a character and making them fascinating and engaging. Some methods are more analytical, some are emotional, and some are physical. In this case, th…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, January 6, 2018

Exercise: Thinking of Your Character as an Animal by Kerry Hishon

What do the musicals The Little Mermaid, Honk!, and Cats all have in common? They’re all shows that feature actors playing animals. It’s a lot of fun to play non-human characters, but th…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, December 23, 2017

Reflection: Looking Back and Looking Forward by Kerry Hishon

After a production closes, reflecting on your process and thinking about the future are the natural next steps. They’re definitely an important part of the process, for you as a teacher an…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, December 16, 2017

The Great Storage Struggle: What to Do With All That Stuff by Kerry Hishon

After a show closes, there is often a ton of stuff left over – set pieces and flats, furniture, costume items, props, makeup and hair products… the list goes on and on! Ideally, your sch…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, December 9, 2017

How to Deal with Post-Show Blues by Kerry Hishon

Once a show has finished, the “post-show blues” often hit students. This can have a number of symptoms, including obsessively quoting lines and song lyrics from the show, starting every …

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, December 2, 2017

Four Tips for an Effective Strike by Kerry Hishon

Once the final performance of a show is completed, what comes next? It’s time to tear down the set, clean the theatre from top to bottom, and return the space back to its regular, unadorne…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, November 25, 2017

How to Be a Great Audience Member by Kerry Hishon

I’m a stickler for theatre etiquette, and that includes being great audience members. No matter what performance you are watching, whether it be a classroom presentation, a school show, or…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, November 18, 2017

Dealing With Emergencies: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly by Kerry Hishon

In my nearly ten years as a youth theatre director, I have experienced what seems like every emergency situation under the sun. From misplaced costume items and broken props, to skipping CDs…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, November 11, 2017

Dealing With Nerves by Kerry Hishon

Performing onstage with friends, family, peers, and even strangers watching can be extremely nerve-wracking. Putting yourself out there, being vulnerable, and taking risks onstage takes a lo…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, November 4, 2017

Creating Pre-Show Routines and Rituals by Kerry Hishon

Creating pre-show rituals and routines is so helpful for students. It clears their minds and gets them into their “theatre brains” – the mindset needed to leave their personal issues a…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, October 28, 2017

Creating Atmosphere Using Music by Kerry Hishon

When creating a theatrical piece, it’s important to engage as many of the five senses as possible, including sound. It’s easy when you’re working on a musical; the sounds of the show a…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, October 21, 2017

The Running List: What It Is and Why You Need It by Kerry Hishon

An organized backstage is a calm backstage, and a running list can help keep things running smoothly during a production. What is a running list? It’s a scene-by-scene breakdown of scene c…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, October 14, 2017

Tips & Tricks for a Less Stressed Tech Week by Kerry Hishon

Tech week…the phrase alone can send shivers down the spine of the most calm and unflappable theatre professionals. Tech week has the reputation of being long and taxing. But it doesn’t h…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, October 7, 2017

Backstage Blues: How to Deal With a Messy Cast by Kerry Hishon

Cleaning up anybody else’s mess is no fun. Cleaning up a messy backstage after a show is especially disheartening – it takes away any good feelings that were cultivated during a good per…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, September 30, 2017

Using One Item to Show Character by Kerry Hishon

Sometimes we get caught up in all the bells and whistles of a theatrical production. Sumptuous sets, elaborate costumes, piles of props, mountains of furniture – they’re all wonderful, b…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, September 23, 2017

How Costumes Affect Your Character by Kerry Hishon

Costumes are such a fabulous part of theatre – they help tell the story, they help actors get into character, and they immediately tell the audience something about what’s going on. For …

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, September 16, 2017

5 Props Challenges and How to Overcome Them by Kerry Hishon

Props can add so much to a production, but they can also be challenging to work with. Here are five common props challenges, rapid-fire style, with suggestions about how to deal with them! 1…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, September 9, 2017

Rehearsing in Layers by Kerry Hishon

Creating a theatrical piece is a bit like baking a cake – choose your recipe (the show), add ingredients (cast and crew), stir together and bake (practice and rehearse). At the end, you’…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, September 2, 2017

The Curtain Call… Already?! by Kerry Hishon

A colleague of mine once told me that he always waits until the technical or dress rehearsal to choreograph the curtain call. His reasoning was that the curtain call should be the absolute l…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, August 26, 2017

All About Transitions: 5 Tips for Success by Kerry Hishon

In theatre, a transition refers to the process of moving from one scene or set to the next. It seems simple enough–grab “all the stuff” at the end of one scene and take it offstage, wh…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, August 19, 2017

How to Recruit Crew Members by Kerry Hishon

It takes a community to create a great production, and theatrical performances would not exist without the time, skills, and talents of dedicated crew members. From costumes and props to sou…

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM
Saturday, August 12, 2017

Keeping Up Morale (or, Dealing With “Rehearsal Blahs”) by Kerry Hishon

There comes a point in every rehearsal process when the dreaded “rehearsal blahs” start to set in. This tends to be mid-way through the rehearsal process, when the initial excitement of …

SOURCE: Theatrefolk at 01:00AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic
TBA: Ragtime