Acting Values in Rock Theatre Songs

Abstract

This chapter begins with a discussion of the general techniques of acting a song, then turns to the specifics of acting rock songs. The aesthetics of rock-era music and drama and the characters in modern drama are the basis for the guidance of technique. Specific rock character archetypes and emotional content are discussed in terms of their appearance in songs and stories. Crucial to the discussion of creating characters in the theatre are the notions of understanding, ability, conveyance, and rightness, which take on new meaning in a rock context. The chapter concludes with a transcript of the author’s interview with noted rock theatre actor Michael Cerveris.