I would really like to sing in a west end show, how do I go about it?

Question

I am 21, I have just finished a degree in Graphic Design, and I am working as a designer now, but I dont think I want to do that for the rest of my life. I really want to be a singer in a west end show, and I have alot of experience on stage and alot of singing experience, but I havent been to stage school.

Answer 1

Train for three years at a drama school.

If you look in the programmes of most West End shows, you will see that the vast majority of performers have had at least three years of professional training. For specialist singing training, you would be looking at a Musical Theatre course. Three year Musical Theatre courses are offerred at the following drama schools;

GSA Conservatoire
Mountview
Arts Educational
Birmingham School of Acting (Musical Theatre pathway)

And one-year post grad Musical Theatre courses at;

GSA Conservatoire
Mountview
Arts Ed
Birmingham School of Acting
RADA
Royal Academy of Music

Though an appropriate degree or comparable professional experience is usually required to be accepted for audition.

The best courses are National Council for Drama Training (NCDT) accredited and are members of the Conference of Drama Schools. Visit;

www.drama.ac.uk.

There are no quick ways to the top, I'm afraid. Just training and hard work. Despite what the BBC's Maria programme would have you believe; Connie, the winner, trained for three years at Mountview and Helena, the runner up studied Musical Theatre for three years at GSA Conservatoire (my drama school; she was the year above me.)

It's not going to happen quickly, sorry. But if you are prepared to work your backside off, enter one of the most competitive professions in the world and suffer massive amounts of rejection, then good for you. Go for it. I wish you luck.

Answer 2

No offense or anything but why ot major in Musical Theater???

go to www.theater.com - all of the london shows. You can e-mail them and ask!

But being a professional trained actor they want people who have degrees/training/expierience.

For example:

I have had singing lessons for 10 years so far
Dance Training 7 years so far
Acting Training 5 years so far!

I just turned 20! I'm getting trainnig each day!
It'sa must have!