When it comes to typical acting in movies and shows, the actor is allowed several takes to get the scene right. If issues with props, settings, outfits, or even the actor mess up, these things can be reset. It is easy for an actor to just try again.
This is not the case with live theater. In live performances, the actors have to get things right on the first go. If there are any issues with props or outfits, the actor has to work around or with these issues. If an actor messes up their lines or even forgets, they have to work around this as there is a live audience.
Through live acting, there is an audience actively watching. Actors on the stage have to connect with this audience. These actors need to create a relationship with the audience through their tone, actions, facial expressions, and movements. This will keep the audience engaged in the play, and with the actors.
With recorded media, actors don’t have to connect as vividly, as they are not to look at the camera. The whole point of movies and films is for the audience to be a fly on the wall and see the story. In live theater, the audience is a sort of part of the play. They are there to feel and be in the experience, but also maintain this fly on the wall experience.
Another way actors improve through live theater is that it is live, so there are no retakes. Actors have to memorize all of their words for the entire play beforehand. There is no looking at lines or taking breaks to quickly refresh the scene. It is all a go at once. Actors must be ready with all their lines and the entire story before it starts. This memorization of lines, emotions, actions, and tones is an incredible skill for actors to learn.
Since there are no real breaks, and the entire live theater is one go, actors must also be emotionally and mentally ready to evolve consistently. Changing feelings quickly can be hard to do, and with acting, the actor has to evolve through their feelings fast for the entire play. With the live audience, the actor has to pour their all into every feeling, so this quick change can be very intense for them to jump from.
Acting is very serious work, whether live or on screen. Through live acting, actors learn more skills about emotions, range, memorization, and how to be a better actor overall. Live theater can be incredibly impactful on the overall education of an actor to be their best.
