im 23, i decided i want a career in musical theater, what should i do now??

Question

i have never been to an acting school or anything like that,
before i thought i couldnt do it but i wont know unless i try so im
not scared anymore, i want to go after my dream of being in a broadway play or at least just have a career in musical theater but dont know where to start, should i start by taking acting and singing lessons? is it too late because of my age?

Answer 1

23 is still young, but you should start studying with a good teacher or get in a reputable program. Training is very important if you want to compete with seasoned pros. It will help you develop a network of fellow artists too.

Dance/movement training is essential

Vocal work- accent elimination, developing audition songs

Scene study- monologues and partner work


Are there local opportunities where you can spend time building up some credits? Local, regional or dinner theatre, film schools?

Developing a foundation will be a combination of study and practicing your craft in front of audiences.

Answer 2

I agree. Since I have grown up around the performing arts and am a dancer myself, most of my friends are in college majoring in Musical Theatre and are extremely talented. Some of them have already graduated and are trying to move to NY to make it. Some have gotten national tours and one person that I went to school with is on Broadway in The Color Purple. There are people who spend their whole life working toward that very same dream and most never get it. But they love it and they'd all do anything for it. SO if you love it and that's all you can see yourself doing, then I say go for it. But not before doing a little work. You need to build your resume, start doing community theatre. Build up your theatre hours. Try for an equity card. Most NY Broadway auditions won't see you unless you're equity. Some will though. Just gotta really do your research. Take some acting lessons, voice lessons, and dance lessons. You have to have knowledge of all of these. Most people in Broadway musicals are triple threats.
I think you're dream is awesome and best of luck to you. I agree with what the others have said. Just start small and work your way up! Definitely living near a big city where there are more community theatre opportunities will help. Take a couple of trips to Chicago, LA, NYC and experience an open call audition on a big scale like that. Take some open acting classes, or dance classes in the big cities because they're usually going to be taught by someone who has been where you want to go. Also, and this is so important, you can't be thin skinned. You really have to grow a thick skin in the theatre world. You will get 100 rejections before you get what you're looking for, and everyone in those awesome shows on Broadway right now has experienced that. Merde!

Answer 3

Sign up for acting classes, find a voice teacher and sign up for dance classes (jazz, tap and ballet).

Go ahead and start auditioning for community theatre productions. You don't need experience or even training, if you can already move well and have a good voice. Getting into the ensemble would be an excellent introduction.

Start doing research - go get a bunch on soundtracks form the library and listen to them. Go to as much theatre as you can. Be aware of the different era's and styles of musical theatre and the major composers.

Start building a rep book - your voice teacher will help you with this once you identify your voice part. You can begin looking for songs on your own that you like and think you can sing well. Check out the Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology series at www.sheetmusicplus.com

While you're at the library, look at books they have on musical theatre training and auditioning.

It's never too late, but do be realistic about your expectations. Most of the people auditioning for chorus roles on broadway have had serious acting, singing and dance training for many, many years and are in their early 20's. So, just start local, as you begin getting more and more parts (leads, not ensemble) you can then start looking at the professional theatres.

Good luck!!

** At this point, do NOT waste your money on professional headshots. In NYC, they can cost upwards of $700 and if you're just starting out, you're not going to be auditioning for professional productions quite yet (first impressions are huge, you don't want to audition for the big boys if you don't have a clue what your'e doing) and you don't need headshots to audition for community theatre. Just get some experience first! You can even hold down a 9-5 to pay your bills while doing theatre in the evening and on weekends to build your resume. It would be silly to go full force right now with no experience and no training. Unless you're rich. Then go to some of the area-wide regional auditions so you can do things like summer stock where it's only for 3 months and you basically don't get paid. If you're not rich, you have to be smart about this, unless you want to be one of the thousands of wannabe's who go to NYC and leave after a year with their tail between their legs becase no Casting Director will even LOOK at them because they don't have any experience or training...again, good luck! Musical Theatre is sooooo much fun and you will meet many wonderful people whether you do it on a professional OR an amateur level!

Answer 4

It may, indeed, be too late. You should go to a good professional training school for muscial theatre. YOu have picked the most difficult kind of acting to do and the area which has fewest opportunities. Why don't you tryout for a musical in a local community theatre and see if you have enough talent to get cast? That would be a good thing to do right off. I am a retired actor who advises aspiring actors on preparing for their careers. Read my profile and write me at my aol addreess for more info.

Answer 5

First of all, pray. There are people you'll be competing against who were born and bred to do this, and have been going crazy doing it all their lives.

That being said, if you're going to go for it, don't hold anything back. Immerse yourself in it, take dance classes, voice lessons, do unpaid shows for experience and most importantly GET PROFESSIONAL HEAD SHOTS IN NYC. They are your single best selling tool, and the one that casting directors will use to gauge your seriousness.

Unless you have a whole lot of money, be prepared to wait on tables, because other jobs do not give you the flexibility to attend auditions at your will.

Good luck!!

Answer 6

well it's never too late. but the more you sit and don't do anything the more your chances evaporate. so get a serious degree in theatre, start a few years of training and it you don't get hired you can always teach with a degree. but you have a lot of catching up to do, most start in their early teens.