high school and future
high school and future
Musicaltheatrefan5
Swing Joined: 7/24/19
#1high school and future
Posted: 7/29/19 at 5:35pm
Can someone who was never a lead in high school only ensemble roles all his/her/theyre life still be successful on broadway or make it as a professional musical theatre performer? Thats me to be honest I was never a lead I was only ensemble inside and outside of school. And also any books that will make people better actors?
Updated On: 7/29/19 at 05:35 PM
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#2High school and future
Posted: 7/29/19 at 6:06pm
There are many stories of people who have been told all their life that they would “never make it” or that they should “give up” yet went on to highly successful careers. Believe in yourself and keep trying, even when it gets tough. The arts are a difficult line of work to be in - as an actor myself who has had some moderate success (nothing that anyone here would be likely to know me for, but I’m doing okay), I can tell you that a career in the performing arts is not for the weak of heart or the unmotivated. You need thick skin to get by in this industry.
Reading a certain book won’t automatically make you a better actor. There are some phenomenal books on acting, however you must be willing to put in the work and effort and practice what you are learning and be able to carry it into your performances. Some books that I’d recommend:
-Konstantin Stanislavski’s three books on acting: Building A Character, Creating A Role, and what I consider to be the Bible of acting, An Actor Prepares.
-Sanford Meisner on Acting
-The Sanford Meisner Approach (workbooks one, two, three, and four)
UncleCharlie
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/26/16
#3High school and future
Posted: 7/29/19 at 6:11pm
As you get older and experience more of life, you will come to realize as most of us do, what you did or did not do in high school doesn't mean a damn thing other than getting good grades to get into a good college and developing some social skills. Just keep following your dream and stop worrying about it.
Having said that, if you were given thoughtful feedback about why you weren't selected for any lead roles and can address what they told you you can improve upon, you should do so.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#4High school and future
Posted: 7/29/19 at 7:11pm
The above responses are spot on. My big joke has always been something like: with my luck, I'll have a former student win a Tony award and it'll be a kid whose promise I didnt see.
More correctly, it could be their talent or confidence wasnt established yet. There is no knowing when something will click for you. Or who sees it.
Another book you could look at would be Uta Hagen's Respect for Acting. But acting is about doing.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#5High school and future
Posted: 7/29/19 at 7:32pm^^ I’m almost ashamed of myself that I forgot to mention Respect for Acting. Another brilliant piece of writing.
#6High school and future
Posted: 7/29/19 at 10:54pm
There are freak exceptions, but most voices don't mature until some time in one's 20s (and even later for some people). So who's to say you won't be lead material in a few years?!
While you're studying acting, learn the other skills that go into a production. In almost all shows, more people worked off-stage than on.
#7High school and future
Posted: 7/29/19 at 11:09pm
Always try to have a clear picture of the context of your education - I went to a high school for the arts and it was simultaneously the greatest and worst thing that happened to me. The air was oppressive, with the same chosen few students getting wonderful opportunities to fill out their resumes before college (this was a school where most students in the theatre program applied to audition-based schools to study drama) and the other 45 students stood in the ensemble and moved the set. The productions were glorious and hard work, but it was oppressive. Not to mention the requisite assignments were we would sing a song or perform a monologue of scene in front of the class and at the end of the day each student would have to hand in a sheet scoring each other's performance.
Plus there are certain other factors. Our professor had some deeply internalized homophobia (n several frank discussions he would say to me "well, you know you're going to play Billy Bigelow"
and clear favoritism, often casting his favorite actos who couldn't carry a tune in roles like Cornelius in Hello, Dolly! and George/Lucky in Little Me. So that was all rather disappointing.
But the program helped because if you can get through those four years without your hopes and dreams getting crushed, you're prepared for a life in the theatre. It's tough and you gotta have thick skin to have a chance. And sometimes you get into NYU early decision based on the fact you weren't cast in the fall musical and get to rub that in his face for the entire spring semester.
Uta Hagen's books are both incredible for the mental work and practice what she writes. Patti LuPone's book is one I read whenever I feel like giving up. Read plays you love and read the lines outloud. Score roles you aren't cast in to get into the skin of the character. And if you have the chance, work on the production side of things - you might find you like something as much as acting.
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#8High school and future
Posted: 7/29/19 at 11:22pm
Also - read plays. Read as many as you can. Familiarize yourself with the great playwrights - Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Shakespeare, Eugene O’Neill, Henrik Ibsen, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett - just to name a few off the top of my head - but there are so many more. Also familiarize yourself with newer, more contemporary playwrights - Annie Baker, Sarah Ruhl, David Adjmi, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, etc. The more knowledge you have about your craft, the more successful you’re setting yourself up to become.
In addition to reading plays, listen to musical cast albums. Not just the popular ones of the day like Be More Chill, Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, etc - learn about the classics. Sondheim, Rodgers & Hart, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Comden & Greene, Jerry Herman, Marvin Hamlisch, etc. Listen to flops - they often are unappreciated gems. Listen to off-broadway shows that don’t have as much of a following.
Know what’s playing. Know who’s starring. Know who’s writing. Notice the trends. Not just on Broadway, but off, and in regional theatres across the country. Know what casting directors and producers are looking for right now.
The more you can learn about theatre, the better.
#9High school and future
Posted: 7/29/19 at 11:42pm
Try to be as self-aware as possible. To people that have seen you perform - try to get their opinion. Their honest opinion. Don't take each one as gospel, but notice the trends, what people keep repeating. No yourself - what roles you can and what roles you can't play. In general, know your "type." That doesn't mean you can't play outside of that but sometimes it's best to find what you're good at, work to become great, then one of the best around and then move outwards. What do you need to work on to be a good actor? Learning lines? Taking direction? Crafting a character? It's a very individual business. You have to be able to do the work outside of rehearsal. Your director can't do everything. Do you want to be a musical theatre actor? If you can afford it, take voice lessons regularly. And practice daily, for at least 30 minutes. This is your craft. Dedicate yourself. If this is truly what you love, put in serious time and effort.
This is a deeply personal job. Keep in contact with yourself. Know the difference between being frustrated you're not working and being deeply unhappy. It's not the end all be all and many former actors have wonderful jobs outside of the arts. Know yourself. And above all else, don't take everything personally. Rejection is part of the gig. It's important to be aware of that at the start.
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir
#10High school and future
Posted: 7/29/19 at 11:51pm
'Respect For Acting' is a great starting point. I think you should think of yourself as an actor first and not just a Broadway singer. Any chance on any stage will depend on whether or not you can sustain a character. There are many acting schools and universities that offer programs for theater arts, musical theater performance, etc. so look them up and talk to people who know the drill. You should also be prepared for disappointment as a stepping stone and not an end-all because that's what it is.
