Getting started

Orangeaholic · 02-19-2006, 06:20 PM

Alright everyone here has probably gone through this or going through this. I am a 15 year old freshman. I am very interested in the theatre! Very very. I am currently taking several theatre classes, but I am having a difficult time "breaking into the business". Now don't get me wrong on this i'm not one of those kids that sees a disney channel sitcom and says "Mommy, I wanna be like that!" And then there parents truck them to every TV audition with a top notch agent. Nope not like that at all. I love the Theatre. What advice can anyone give me that can help??

Thanks!

**LizC** · 02-19-2006, 06:59 PM

Find a couple of community theatres near you. Start seeing shows there. Volunteer to work crew or help in other ways. Audition for shows when appropriate roles are available. Get out there and get known!! Also, watch for summer shows which are typically geared for young adults when school is out. The Belfry in Noblesville is doing a young adult show this summer. Footlite always does a couple of young adult shows.

I think the advice for a young person is the same as it would be for an adult. Just get out there and get yourself known!

Orangeaholic · 02-19-2006, 09:21 PM

Great Ideas, thanks so much!

Lauren :P

GregoryJacobs · 02-20-2006, 05:41 AM

before you audition for a show read the script so you have an idea of whats gonna be read!

cylondan · 03-02-2006, 06:18 PM

Believe in yourself and be a go getter. Search the internet for audition in your near by area and submit for the roles that you feel you have the look for. Know what type of actor you are. When I was in LA, I wanted to work on "Las Vegas," and the breakdown was for a upscale person. When I talked to Robert, the casting director at Central Casting and submitted, he raised holy heck with me and said that I didn't have the looks he was looking for and quickly hung up. I use to think I was the easy going nice guy, but I kept getting weird roles like "The Strange Man" in "Death Ride," a odd role in "Blood Lake," a featured convict in the Steven Segal movie, "Today You Die," and a blind monster in a "Seven Dust" video. Everybody is type casted, and if these strange roles can get me money, I'll go for them. Try to network with people, and see what projets they've been doing. When I use to work for Target in West Hollywood, I'd run into actors like Christian Campbell from "Trick" and "The Book o Daniel" and also Roy Doytrice from "Picket Fences" and "Beauty and the Beast." They talked to me for a while and we'd trade info about what each of us are working on. I am stuck in Indiana right now, due to some bad financial deals with a manager in LA, but I am still submitting for work in Indianapolis and Chicago and I feel I'll be back in my home, LA in the near future. https://www.nowcasting.com/actor/pop...orID=danholmes is a copy of my resume. There is actorsaccess.com and in LA, you have www.nowcasting.com and lacasting.com.

Orangeaholic · 03-02-2006, 08:13 PM

Wow seems like you certainly know what your doing!!

Thanks for all the advice!! (I definately will be using it) That was some good advice about the typecasting. You may as well take advantage of something that is inevitable!

Thanks,
Orange

**Eric_Bryant** · 03-03-2006, 05:47 AM

I agree with cylondan re: film, television and commercials (that is, unless you're already a star), however theater is not quite as bad in terms of typecasting. You still need to be aware of what roles you are looking at in terms of age, body type, etc., but I've generally found directors to be a bit less rigid if they are presented with a talented person with a unique view of the character that they are auditioning for. Particularly if you are auditioning for school productions and community theater. Generally, there's not as much money involved in a theater project as there is in a film, so there's a bit more willingness to be "experimental."

If you're just starting out, I would focus on learning your chops - take classes, audition for anything you can, regardless of how "right" you are, do school and community theater, get a good headshot and submit it to some local agencies for commercial and industrial work. This will get you the most important thing - experience.

Good luck to you.

**mickeyNjudy** · 03-03-2006, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by Orangeaholic

Alright everyone here has probably gone through this or going through this. I am a 15 year old freshman. I am very interested in the theatre! Very very. I am currently taking several theatre classes, but I am having a difficult time "breaking into the business". Now don't get me wrong on this i'm not one of those kids that sees a disney channel sitcom and says "Mommy, I wanna be like that!" And then there parents truck them to every TV audition with a top notch agent. Nope not like that at all. I love the Theatre. What advice can anyone give me that can help??

Thanks!

Indianapolis Civic Theatre has a great role for a 15-yr-old male in "Brighton Beach Memoirs." Can't remember if the auditions have been held yet or not. It is worth checking out. I played that role at Buck Creek Players 16 years ago, and had a blast!

What kind of things are you interested in doing in the theatre? Primarily performing? Or are you interested in backstage work (lighting, sound, props, building) as well? I am the Director of Publicity, Marketing & Advertising at Buck Creek Players (www.buckcreekplayers.com) E-mail me at buckcreekplayers@yahoo.com and I think we can get you going!

**wadahoot** · 03-03-2006, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by mickeyNjudy

Indianapolis Civic Theatre has a great role for a 15-yr-old male in "Brighton Beach Memoirs." Can't remember if the auditions have been held yet or not.

Yep, it's already cast ... my son got a "No thank you" today

Orange,
My son started out at your age, too, and found that he never got a 'named' part to start, as he had no experience. Try out for the chorus, or as a 'townsperson' or work props backstage so that you can get to know people.
He has met some amazing people that have been very kind and mentored him a bit.
Do as much at your school as possible - again, if you don't get a role, work backstage - anything to learn. Does your school have a Comedy Sportz team? If so, try out - if you don't make it, go to the meets.

Best of luck!

Orangeaholic · 03-05-2006, 11:41 AM

Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone. Well it sounds like i'm doing everything right so far working backstage and on Speech team. Haha it would be hard for me to play Eugene considering i'm a girl. (Don't you just love gender confusing names?) lol.