How to be in a musical
How I did it: I tried out, got a small part the first year, and had so much fun. I did two musicals in elementary school and I've done 2 non-musical plays since I entered high school, and I'm going to try out for our school production of Cabaret this spring. If you get a tiny part in your first musical, don't get discouraged - the parts only get bigger! When you have a small role, make use of the time you have in rehearsals to get to know the other actors, help out the crew, and practice practice practice! This especially helps if you try out for another production with the same director, because the more helpful and determined you are, the more they will remember you and know you'll do a good job. Making good impressions and connections is a very important thing! Never be a sore sport, never be late for practice, and never complain. You will for sure get a better part next time.
Lessons & tips:
- find your niche - mine is comedic timing. Find one thing you're really good at in acting and play it up! If you can dance, this is a huge asset. Let people know! If they need a dancer, they'll give you a callback.
- Practice like no other!
- Don't be a diva. If the rest of the cast doesn't like you, things just won't mesh onstage.
- don't get jealous. This is really hard, but you have to learn not to be jealous of the lead actors - there are no small parts, just small actors.
- Become a triple threat. Sing, dance and act as much as you possibly can - take singing and dancing lessons on the side if at all possible, and work on it as much as you can.
