What Does it Take to Become a Broadway Star?
Acting is an extremely competitive field. To even get a small part on Broadway, a performer must train for years. Acting is an obvious essential ability to land a role in a play, and singing and dancing talent are necessary to get into one of the many big production musicals on the Great White Way. Rejection is a natural part of any actor's life. As much as talent, becoming a Broadway actor, much less a star, takes perseverance and a big break.
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Training
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Many performers get bitten by the acting bug at a very young age and grow up doing youth and community theater. Someone young who wishes to become an actor should start as early as possible. Audition for high school and community plays to learn the craft by doing it.
When it is time for college, choose a school with a strong theater department. Many universities offer specific programs for musical theater, if that is desired. For those looking strictly for performance training without the other requirements of a university, conservatories exist that only teach the performing arts. These schools sometimes offer either two- or four-year programs.
Getting Professional Experience
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An aspiring Broadway actor will obviously need to live where the Broadway stages are, which is in New York City. Once an actor has received some training, he should move to New York and begin performing anywhere he can. Many off-off-off-Broadway theaters will accept actors who are not in Equity, the stage actor's union.
Building up a resume of New York theater experience is crucial. Every time an actor gets cast in a New York production, even a non-paying one, it makes the next director more likely to cast him again. He must get his foot in the door and get known in the theater community. Trade magazines and on-line acting forums, such as "Backstage" post non-union auditions and offer assistance and advice.
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The Business of Show Business
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An actor is a salesperson and she, herself, is the product. She will get out of her career exactly what she puts into it. The first steps in taking New York by storm lie in organization and motivation. An actor needs head shots taken by a professional photographer. She will also need an acting resume, listing all experience and training.
Send the head shots and resume to every talent agent in New York. Then follow up with an email or phone call to see if the agent received it and is accepting clients. Once an actor has an agent, it is the agent's job to send the actor on auditions, taking a percentage if she gets the part.
Auditioning and Landing Roles
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By the time an actor gets an audition for a starring role on Broadway, he has usually put in years playing smaller roles. Most actors work another job, doing theater at night for little or no pay in order to gain experience and a good reputation. Even once he reaches Broadway, he may well play small parts, waiting for a chance at a starring role.
It is extremely rare that lead Broadway roles are cast in an open audition, or what's known as a cattle call. Usually, an actor is sent to audition for a lead role by his agent. An actor must go to every audition and not become discouraged. With hard work, he may just fulfill his dream.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit theater image by Luisafer from Fotolia.com
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