Name Title of Song
Worksheet: Action Score, Part One
Instructions: Answer these Acting Questions for your song. Be specific.
Acting Questions Answers
Who am I talking to?
What do I want?
What are the stakes:
How badly do I want it?
What are the stakes:
What happens if I don’t get it?
Next, divide your paper into two columns. (You may need extra sheets of paper.) In the left column, divide the lyrics into “beats” or thoughts.
Now, think about what different verbs could be applied to each thought. Your goal is to think of an action that will move you closer to achieving your want. Choose the most active words: Ones that make you “do” something, rather than “feel” or “think” something. An example would be “To shake them,” rather than “To make them afraid.” Avoid general verbs like “to inform,” or “to tell.” Write your verbs (actions) in the right column near the corresponding lyric. Stay flexible, because you may discover some great actions while singing and working on the song. Your Action Score will go through lots of revisions.
An example from Into the Woods is below.
Beats/Lyrics Actions/Verbs
1st Beat
There are giants in the sky! To wake them
There are big tall terrible giants in the sky.