If a high schooler were to make a list of the worst things they have to do in class, the top three would be pretty universal; writing essays and reading for class would take up second or third place, depending on the person, but No. 1 would almost definitely be giving a speech. For many, getting in front of a room of people and presenting information is the scariest thing possible, but for others, speeches are nothing compared to the challenge of memorizing lines for a show. Instead of just memorizing bullet points, memorizing lines means every word has to be absolutely perfect and that can sound intimidating to a lot of people. However, if you’re thinking of doing a school show or just curious of how people are able to learn hundreds of lines, here’s a guide on how to make this difficult process a little bit more bearable.

One of the most widely used and simple methods of memorization is repeatedly reading the script. After you’re done, read it again. Then, do it again. The idea behind this is that if you read the script over and over again, eventually all of the lines will stick in your head. This is one of the most common methods because it’s a very obvious solution, many people use this the first time they have to memorize lines. If this sounds mind-numbingly boring to you, that’s because it is. There are many methods that can work better, while also being a lot less boring.   

When struggling with memorizing long paragraphs or monologues, another helpful method is writing lines down. According to the New York Film Academy,  this method connects your lines with the action of writing them down, making it easier to remember those long passages of text. While this method is more active than just reading lines, it does take a lot longer since you need to write out every word of every line.

While giving a speech or having a conversation in real life, you typically don’t have a script that you need to follow word by word. In theater, however, every word of every line needs to be exact. Many people have a problem with this since it’s not ever experienced in daily life. Even senior Cole Connelly, after being in six shows, has problems with this concept.

“Monologues can sometimes be difficult,” Connelly said. “There’ll just be one line that doesn’t work and you just got to spend extra time on it, but some lines just come right away.”

To help combat this issue, a great strategy is to use mnemonic devices. This method is very personalized, since the information you can connect to is different for every person. Some common mnemonic devices used in memorization are writing down the first letter of every word of your lines, which allows you to have to remember each individual word while also having a crutch to fall back on if needed; similarly, connecting particularly difficult lines with an image in your head can help if you struggle with remembering some words because you can think of the image tied with the words and have a better chance at remembering.

For others, the most helpful method of learning lines is by running them with another person. By turning the lines into a conversation, you can work on learning your own lines, while also learning the lines before and after your own, which is an essential part of a smooth performance. Sophomore Elijah Ruano, who’s done shows since he was in fifth grade, has used this method extensively throughout the years ever since his first show.

“In class, we would spend time going over lines and I remember doing it with my partner who was the other lead in the show,” Ruano said. “We would run lines back and forth throughout class to help each other get them down. I [still] do the same thing with a partner or someone else frequently.”

If memorizing lines is such a difficult process, then what’s the draw of doing an actual show? Why would anyone want to put themselves through this process? Fine arts department teacher Wanda Teddy thinks that the process itself helps bring people together, and the real payoff is showing your hours of effort in front of a live audience.

“When it comes to performance, you [have to] embrace the fear,” Teddy said. “I think the enjoyment on stage, when you’re in that community and you’re doing what you want to do, there’s something powerful about that and that high you can’t get any other way.”