#actor | Theresa Donahoe

Today I had a Zoom rehearsal with my fellow solo performers for an upcoming performance on February 25th at the Marsh Berkeley.

7:00 p.m., at The Marsh Berkeley cabaret

Collage of performer headshots: Theresa Donahoe, Steve Budd, Tylon T-Boogie Sizemore, Mark Adams

I haven’t had a Zoom rehearsal since 2021 probably, and I have to tell you, I do not miss it. Staring into the tiny little camera on my laptop drains me as I emote for the lens. And no, it’s not the same as being on a movie set. Not by a long shot. The part that makes it draining is being able to see my image staring back at me as I say my lines. I know that younger generations have gotten used to staring at themselves when doing a YouTube clip or Reel or whatever, but as an actor, being aware of what you look like actually pulls you out of the moment. When you are on stage or on camera doing a scene, you are supposed to be listening to your partner, not caring about what you look like as you talk to them. Whenever I see an actor or influencer constantly touching their hair as they talk, I just know there is a monitor where they can see their image and it’s making them self-conscious. The minute that happens-the moment is ruined, in my opinion. So yeah, I hate Zoom.

But these are the times we are living in and even though I don’t like it, I have gotten pretty good at learning some camera tricks when having to use Zoom in regard to playing multiple characters. I have learned how far out of frame I can be, I have learned where to look off camera (directionally speaking) and when to address the camera as the narrator. I have learned those things, begrudgingly. And today it all came back to me.

I also think using the computer for rehearsal makes me feel like I am at work, rather than at play. I am a tactile person and need to be moving around and in my body. But there is another part of me that loves to write and do research and that is done on the computer. It didn’t use to be though.

I remember going to the library in high school and college for research. I would scroll through microfiche and dig through books. I am not saying that method is better, but I found it less draining. It definitely took longer though. If younger generations asked me the question –is life better now in 2025 than when I was growing up, I would say “yes and no”. I think the answer is always “yes and no”. Yes, in that the internet has saved me so much time in doing things like research or booking travel or finding a long-lost childhood friend- it’s amazing that way. But then No, it’s worse because in all this convenience, nobody wants to wait for anything anymore. People have lost patience and character and maturity. Instant gratification definitely delays maturity. I know I sound like a Boomer, but I am 100% Gen X. The official “Slacker Generation.”

We had fun though.