Sketching Towards Character: An Actor\u27s Process of Reclaiming the Mind-Body Connection

Abstract

The human body is capable of incredible things. It completes vital functions autonomically, can instinctively protect us from harm, helps us sense, process, and respond to the world we inhabit, and can even heal itself when necessary. But what happens when an actor, who is dependent on their body to express their artistry, has lost awareness of their material? With the help of this thesis and the crafting of a personal methodology, I have developed a process that works towards healing this fracture and encourages the initial crafting of character through embodiment. This thesis details the evolution of a personal methodology that uses abstract movement to simplify the early stages of character development. This thesis then demonstrates the testing and application of this new methodology through a portrayal of William Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. With the desire to strengthen trust between the mind and body, this methodology displays how actors can unburden themselves from over-analysis and self-doubt. Rooted in the Michael Chekhov technique and inspired by visual art fundamentals, this thesis presents a character-building approach that uses physical sketches layered with the basic elements of line, color, and texture. In this thesis, I offer ways for an actor to construct richer, more nuanced performances by allowing movement to lead the creative process. Through graduate coursework and key productions, including Metamorphoses, The Cherry Orchard, and Macbeth, I examine how an actor, whose relationship to their body has recently transformed, can still find a deep connection between themselves and their character, between their artistic material and their creative imagination