Conquering the Fear of Memorization

For actors, “memorization” is probably one of the most terrifying words in the English language. Performers have been known to break out in a cold sweat at the mere mention of the word.

On April 8, more than 25 SAG-AFTRA members gathered at the Kaufherr Center to conquer the fear of memorization with a special seminar presented by multifaceted performer and member Janelle Snow.

Snow pulled no punches and was frank with members, reminding them that, as actors, part of their job is to memorize lines. During the two-hour intensive seminar, Snow shared her memorization tips and tools for handling next-day or last-minute auditions. She also injected humor into the event by including stories from her varied and successful career.

Photo: Janelle Snow responds to a member’s question.