The Corona Virus has caused a ripple effect around the world. Nearly everything has closed down or is currently shutting down operations indefinitely. One of these gems being lost to COVID-19 is broadway. New York City has been home to the iconic Broadway for as long as most can remember. Unfortunately due to the pandemic, all broadway shows have come to a halt until April 12 due to concerns for the performers’ health. The size of audiences that attend each show would put hundreds at risk each night. Although difficult, the decision to pause all shows performances is necessary for the safety and wellbeing of the members of the theater community. This shutdown came following multiple sports league shutdowns along with the implementation of international travel restrictions. New York City is a hub for business, travel, and Entertainment making shutting down crowded, high traffic areas necessary during this ongoing pandemic. In this case, the show must not go on.
Why Warm-Ups Matter
For many people, the life of an actor is one that appears glamorous and exciting, but there is often a fear that inhibits people from pursuing this lifestyle. This fear is, unfortunately, one that cannot be avoided by an actor as simply as a claustrophobe might avoid small spaces. Performance anxiety is a very real and very limiting fear that often confronts people and deters them from following their passion for performing. Though it can be incredibly fun and cathartic to perform, it can also be very hard at times for actors to overcome the anxiety that comes with bearing one’s emotions and actions to an audience. Thankfully though, there is a way to work through this roadblock. By spending enough time warming up before a performance, actors may soothe their anxiety enough for them to put on a show. The physicality and social aspects of acting warm-ups make warm-ups a well-suited weapon for combating performance anxiety and thus putting on a better show.
