Berkeley Rep Blog: "American Idiot is a high-energy show. The cast members act, they sing, they dance – as loud as they can, hard as they can, eight shows a week.
And, sometimes, they get hurt.
I’m not saying we’re carrying folks out on stretchers night after night...but this is a strenuous performance."
9 comments:
There are so many angles that you can respond to this article from. First of all, I'm glad that the organizations are getting the best care for their cast members. It really shows a lot about the focus and overall environment of the organization when they dedicate so much of their resources to their talent.
Another aspect regarding this issue is the fact that the talent needs this physical service so regularly. I understand that injuries to come with the business, but shouldn't the show realize that the demands are taking some sort of a toll on the performers? Will they respond accordingly, or just continue along the same path for the sake of "art"?
To play devil's advocate, the talent should recognize that this is a challenging show, thus not all individuals will be able to succeed in such a physically demanding show. It takes the right amount of training and psychological state to really excel in that strenuous of a situation.
I find the list of doctors, therapists, etc impressive for simply just the medical work on a show. I realize that the choreography must be strenuous, but that seems a bit much. To put actors through that seems unhealthy and somewhat irresponsible. However, disregarding whatever hesitations i have about such a production, I find it thoughtful for them to thank the physicians. Apparently it is a necessity on a show like that, but all too often even the most important jobs are forgotten in thanks. Its nice to see that they are appreciated here.
This makes my stage manager heart positively sing! My mother was a dancer turned masseuse and then chiropractor and is always advocating something she likes to call "the athletes guide to anatomy" for anyone who uses their body as a tool like dancers do. I hate having to make a medical call when an actor hurts themselves and one of the things that makes me most crazy is to have a very strenuous show and a cast who wont warm up to protect themselves. It seems here like everyone involved is looking out for the actors health and taking initiative. What a wonderful way to work!
The mandatory warmups both in rehearsal, and even now during the run, are a vital part of producing such an intense show. I, like Elize, have worked with casts on physically demanding shows who don't think they need to warm up, stretch, etc. before EVERY performance, especially towards the later part of a run. Not surprisingly, more injuries result from this lack of preparation. If we must have a required fight call before any performance with fight/weapon choreography, it's common sense to have a similar call show a show with high impact and tiring choreography. No amount of training and warming up will prevent all injuries though, so I applaud Company Management for having such a knowledgeable and accessible group of doctors on hand.
I really like that the manager is so intune with the cast's needs. Like liz, i question whether some of the show is overly demanding, but seeing a sports medicine person regularly doesn't need to be because one is hurt, but to make sure their muscles are doing what they are supposed to be, and that they don't unintentionally hurt them. I think sometimes that seeing someone regularly makes you think about your motions more, because you have to report back, and the guilt factor pulls some weight. But also the manager's response I'm sure is know to the actors, and I wonder what the person in last weeks article about going on with a dislocated shoulder would do in this show.... It doesnt mention how often they really get hurt, just thanks the support staff a lot.
I have also worked on shows that had a lot of music and physical exertion. It is a hard balancing act on one hand you want your actors to take care of themselves but on the other hand it is hard to see them not doing the things they need to do to stay healthy. In one show the actors played their own musical instruments, sang, danced and acted. It was essentially a two hour concert sometimes twice a day. We always had a mandatory band warm up, fight call and dance call but still it is hard to control what people do. One actor decided to not eat before a show and fell down onstage. This is a physically demanding business and actors have got to take responsibility for themselves and their limits.
Congrats on company management doing what they can to facilitate this but ultimately we can't take care of everyone. Actors have to take responsibility for their own health.
I've never heard of a show that required so much medical attention for the performers, but I suppose that's kind of the nature of the musical. The choreography must be absolutely intense to be earning a reputation for injuring actors, but I think that the intensity of the show must create a fantastic atmosphere for the audience, many of whom have probably heard the music before, but are experiencing it in a completely new and exciting way. I hope the performers are able to continue performing and do not get seriously injured throughout the run of the show.
I am glad that they appear to be taking care of their actors. While the physical demand is so high, I find that it is probably necessary for the show.
Audiences are coming to expect more and more theatricality in performances, and although we talk a lot about technology in design changing the meet these challenges, actors are also having to adapt. It's good that they are investing the money in doing such a thing, as it could easily be something that's forgotten.
As someone who wishes she had more time to stay physically fit...(not to mention the motivation)...it's slightly intriguing to have such a strenuous routine become a part of your life. Perhaps not to the extent of this shows workout though. If you know your limits, you should feel pretty good about yourself after giving so much energy into a show/working out for the show. I'm not sure when you would have time to relax though...and there is such a thing as working your body too hard. If there is so much medical attention needed for this show, I would say that that is a difficult choice for the actors to make in regards to how they want to live their lives, and it really is a bit much in my opinion.
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