Does anybody work as an actor for a dinner theater?

Question

Do you get sick of doing the same show every single night?

Answer 1

Of course it gets grueling after awhile -- that's why it's called "work."

The wise actor tries to find new things as the run progresses -- tightening up a monologue, trying lines different ways, refining reactions, etc etc etc.

By the way, it's not just dinner theatre where longer runs are found.  There's regional theatres [6-12 week runs] and of course Broadway, where standard contracts are 5-6 months.

Answer 2

If you think it is the same show every night, you don't know much about live theatre.

There is no repetition in live theatre. Your attitude is what makes it a chore.  You can always be replaced. I ought to know. I get these phone calls occasionally.......

Think about this:

In the middle of a run, one of your actors could not be there for the show . That night this "guy" shows up, in a costume, and does the role. Different actor, different timing, different nuances, different voice, same role. You have never seen this guy before.  He is polite, attentive, and very respectful of the cast. He works with you, listens to you, and pulls off a respectable, if not particularly brilliant, performance.

After bows, he smiles politely, congratulates the cast for a fine performance, gets in his car, and leaves.

How would you react?

Does that still seem like " the same show every single night"?

That scenario can, and does, happen quite frequently.

If you don't want to be there, why are you there? A regular restaurant server job likely pays more, and you don't have to bother with all that "pretending to act, night after night" stuff.

Answer 3

Sometimes it can tiresome, but for the most part you love the show so much and you love your cast and what you get to do that you don't notice. And sometimes things happen and inside jokes get going. Like at my theatre, my friend had to wear a hat with a bird on it, and during a performance it fell off, so she kept it on her finger and talked to it, and every performance after that she tried to find a way of getting Snow Pink into some scene in the show. Things like that keep you loving the show, too.

But also staying in character and just having fun with the show and acting like every night is the first you've heard, it gets funny. So, no, usually people don't get bored with the show.

Answer 4

Whether it's a dinner  theatre or regular show you do the same performance over and over.  If the play isn't very challenging or fun and you don't get along with the other actors it can be grueling and tiring.  But when you enjoy the play and have fun with the other actors it doesn't get annoying.  Every show is different and you can always evolve your character.