Camelot
Katie Goan attaches the beard she wears to play Merlin in the Mary Moody Northen Theatre production of Camelot. The St. Edward’s University senior reports that the production inspired its own particular pre-show routines. The women in the cast “had a ritual of listening to oldies every night,” she says. “We would do our vocal warm-ups to what music was playing. It really gave us a lot of energy.” In addition, she did about 10 minutes of yoga before each show. “This was my first time to play a man,” she says, “so it was a challenge for me to get into that male state of mind. Plus, Merlin is this embodiment of wisdom. A lot of breath work, exercises, helped me get in touch with that.”Goan notes that theatrical superstitions are still very much alive for young theatre artists. Students learn early on not to mention a certain Shakespearean tragedy by name. Tradition holds that it’s bad luck to actually say Macbeth. “No one at St. Edward’s University will say that in the theatre,” insists Goan. “Even freshmen know to call it “the Scottish play.’ And we never say “Good luck,’ we always say, “Break a leg.'”
This article appears in December 3 • 1999.