What it feels like… 60 seconds before you go on for a performance
Henry Olsen steps into the shoes of characters he’s played.
By Haley Seurer | Freelancer
When Henry Olsen is a commanding officer in Bethel University’s production of My Boy Jack, he doesn’t high five his co-stars or raise his arms for a trust fall before the show. When he is Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, he will not be found hanging out in Capulet dressing rooms before curtain call. Instead, Olsen spends these moments deciphering what it feels like to fight in World War Two. He wonders where his best friend Romeo might be, and how devastating it would be for him to fall in love with a Capulet. Whoever Olsen will be on stage; it is that person he becomes in the hours preceding a show.
“I create a playlist for each character and listen to it before the show,” Olsen said.
“Remember everything you’ve done, forget it all, and just be your character.” — Henry Olsen, actor
These playlists are carefully constructed in light of each given character, their goals, motivators and personality.
“The last character I played wasn’t a great person so I listened to Wait For It from Hamilton to remind myself that my character is the number two who wants to be the number one,” Olsen said.
To those looking to get involved in theatre, but are crippled by stage anxiety or nerves, Olsen advises, “Remember everything you’ve done, forget it all, and just be your character.”
