Study Smart:Brain Power!

How to Memorize Dialogue: Ace Your Lines!

Remembering your lines in a play can be pretty scary. If you have a really big part, you may feel overwhelmed! But don't worry, there's things you can do to make it easier.

What to Do First

• Read the whole play first.
  
  
• Pay special attention to your part.
  
  
• Figure out how your character moves the play along.
  
  
• What's your contribution to each scene?

Next

• Keep in mind how your lines build the scene.
  
  
• Make sure you understand the lines around your lines.
  
  
• Make up a subsitute line to your lines as you read, improvise it.
  
  
• The best way to memorize lines is one line at a time.
  
  
• Cover up each line, then repeat it.
  
  
• When you feel good about a scene, cover the lines with paper.
  
  
• Pull the paper down, showing just the cue line.
  
  
• Read the cue line, then respond with your dialogue out loud.
  
  
• You can also tape your scenes into a tape recorder.
  
  
• Read all the lines in, not just yours.
  
  
• Read your lines in a whisper.
  
  
• Say other people's lines in a much louder voice.
  
  
• Play the recording and say your lines over the whisper when it's time.
  
  
• Next, ask a friend to give you your cue lines.
  
  
• They can fill in if you miss a line.

Problem Solving

• If you forget a line, just ad lib.
  
  
• If the actor you're working with forgets a line, try to cover for them.
  
  
• If they skip pages, try to get them back on track.
  
  
• If you skip a line or pages, just keep going!
  
  
• Try to practice your lines in a mirror so you can check your expressions.

Contributed by Rachel, California