Broadway Show Reviews Part 2!

Hey guys! I’m back this week with some more reviews. This week’s shows are Something Rotten! and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I hope you enjoy!



Something Rotten!

This was a show that myself and the people I was travelling with decided to see last minute, and boy, am I glad we did! Something Rotten! was HILARIOUS. After the opening number it started out a little slow, but when the pace picked up, it really picked up! If you love shows with flashy musical numbers and huge tap routines, this is the show for you. The costumes and sets were so well done, and the little jabs at all the shows had the entire audience laughing. Actually, the audience laughed at everything. The crowd LOVED the show. After multiple numbers, the applause went on for at least a minute, and you could see that the actors were in awe as they were waiting to carry on. It was probably the best audience I have ever experienced. The entire cast is extremely talented, and their comedic timing resulted in a hilarious show, however I wish that I knew more about writers in the Renaissance. Although I got most of them, there were a few jokes that I didn’t understand, simply because I didn’t know who or what they were talking about. Even though the St. James Theatre is beautiful, it is not the best seating I have seen. The rows are so close together that it is impossible for someone to walk by without the entire row having to stand up. Also, the seats aren’t alternated, so they’re right behind each other. Everyone I was with (including me) had trouble seeing a good chunk of the stage because there was a head right in our view, which affected the overall experience. Aside from the dreadful seating, the soreness of my cheeks is just starting to fade, and Something Rotten! is a show that everyone will love. I saw the show with four adults and one fourteen year old boy, and our whole group was singing “A Musical” and “Welcome to the Renaissance” the rest of our trip!



The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

I ended off my trip by seeing the 2015 Tony winner for Best Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and boy, do I understand why this show won! First off, the set and lighting were breathtaking and so unique, I would have been captivated if there were no actors on stage the entire time and we just watched the lighting and the set being used. Nothing can come close to comparing to it. The script itself was brilliant, compelling and spot on with the book (which is also amazing, I highly recommend reading it). Alex Sharp’s acting was breathtaking and so believable, afterwards a man even said to me “Well now you know how having Autism really is” and I truly agree. Ian Barford and Enid Graham both made me feel sympathy for their characters and really hate them at times too, which added a lot of emotions to what is already an intense show. The movement and the choreography were extremely well done, and although it was very different and abstract, it definitely worked very well. And oh my goodness. The dog who played Sandy was this little tiny golden retriever who couldn’t be older than a few months, and I actually had tears in my eyes because of how completely adorable this puppy was. I literally wanted to run on stage in the middle of the scene and just hug it. It was the cutest thing ever. Although the show was amazing, I wouldn’t end off my trip with it again, simply because of how dark the storyline is, I would have much rather watched this in the middle of the trip and seen something happier like Matilda on my last night. This was another show that all of my travel companions enjoyed, despite the age and preference differences.



And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed these reviews as much as I enjoyed writing them. If you happen to have missed my first two reviews of Matilda and Fun Home, make sure to check them out.



What’s your favourite show on Broadway right now? Let me know in the comments. Mine’s definitely Fun Home, but all the shows that I saw are amazing.



Have a great week!



Sarah



Instagram: sarahvandale

Twitter: sarahvandale

College Auditions

College Auditions: Part 1

I am a firm believer in following your dreams, and picking a career path that you love and find interesting. For me, that’s acting. I am currently a senior in high school, and am planning on auditioning for multiple BFA Acting programs in these upcoming winter months. If you’re like me, the idea of auditioning for colleges is more daunting than the word “daunting” can actually describe. Applying to college is stressful enough, but auditioning for your post-high school education? I get nervous just writing about it.
    Because I think it’s important to learn from experiences--both your own, and those of others--I’m going to chronicle my experiences with the college audition process this year! Whether you plan on auditioning for an acting program, or are just interested in what goes into the process, I hope you find this informative! This is going to be the first of a few college audition posts, so keep an eye out for the rest of them during the new few months.

(Note: I plan on auditioning solely for straight acting programs, not musical theatre. Because of this, some aspects of the auditions and the preparations that go into them will be different, but I hope this is helpful for the acting part of musical theatre auditions too!

Preparation
At this point, I’ve only been doing things to prepare for the auditions, and haven’t actually auditioned anywhere yet, so this is what’s gone into that so far!

1. Look at Schools
This one is one that every person who wants to go to college has to go through! Looking at colleges is so fun! It’s important to know what you’re looking for, specifically your “Must Haves” and your “Don’t Wants”. For example, I know that I definitely want an urban campus, but I know that conservatory style programs probably aren’t what I’m looking for. There are millions of different ways to find schools online, and there’s so much to learn about each of them! If you can’t go visit a campus, most schools now have a “virtual tour” option on their website or on YouTube, so that you can get a basic look at the school and the environment!

2. Look at Audition Dates and Requirements
I recommend looking at audition dates earlier than you think you should. I started looking about halfway through my Junior year, because schools keep their audition dates usually around the same time each year, so you can pretty much figure out when you’ll have to be ready! Also: depending on the schools you’re looking at, they may have auditions in other cities besides the one in which they are located. For example, a few of the schools I’m looking at that are located in Manhattan have regional auditions in Chicago (and Los Angeles, usually), meaning that they will be able to view your audition in that city, hopefully making it more convenient for you to audition.
Audition requirements are another huge thing. Although many of them are similar, and you will most likely be able to use the same monologues for multiple auditions, it is BEYOND important that you make sure you know how many/what kind of monologues you need to audition with.

Audition Coaching
    Recently, I’ve started working with a monologue coach for my college auditions, and it’s so helpful! If this isn’t a possibility because of finances, it is not the end of the world. However, I think in my case, it will definitely bring my audition to the next level. College audition coaches will help you find and work on your monologues (and songs/dances if you’re doing MT). There are numerous ways to find a coach, and to meet with them. It took me a ridiculous amount of time to find an audition coach, because I wanted to find one close by, since I didn’t think skype coaching would be best for me. I ended up finding mine by talking to a friend in a BFA Acting program. Talking to voice/theatre teachers and theatre friends is so helpful in this process! If a coach isn’t available to you close by, there are a lot of coaches and organizations that do Skype Coaching, meaning you can do the lessons from your own home, in front of your computer!

At this point in my process, I’ve been focusing a lot on actually planning and figuring out the auditions, but the next posts in the series will be more focused on the actual audition processes. Let me know if you have any experiences/tips/questions with college auditions!

Alex Bosworth
Twitter: @alex_bozzie
Instagram: alex_boz

Show Reviews Part 1!

Hey guys!

 So this past week I went to New York, and I was lucky enough to see four Broadway shows (yay for discount ticket booths!), so I decided that I would write some reviews for the shows! The reviews turned out to be a little long, so I’m going to make two posts out of it. This week will be Matilda and Fun Home, and next week will be Something Rotten! and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time! Hope you enjoy!



Matilda

Matilda has been the musical that I have consistently been obsessed with for the past couple of years, so I knew that this was one show that I wanted to see no matter what. I’m so happy that I was able to see it before a lot of the current cast leaves (especially Lesli and Matt, who were amazing as usual). I don’t know why, but for some reason I found that Lesli sounded different, I almost didn’t think it was her during her first couple of lines in Miracle. Maybe it was the Americanized British accent, but she sounded different than other performances I’ve seen of her.

I was pleasantly surprised that Mattea was on as Matilda that show (I had a hunch and thought it was going to be Alexandra, but that hunch was obviously wrong). She is so small and adorable (I even heard an audience member say “Oh my gosh, I can’t handle how cute she is!” in the middle of the show), and very, very talented! Her voice is so strong, and you can definitely tell that she has a dance background. After Mattea imitated Miss Trunchbull during one of the stories, her hair had gotten stuck in her bobby pins and was sticking straight out, but both her and Karen Aldridge (Mrs. Phelps) didn’t miss a beat. Although she was a little hard to understand during Story 2, her accent was for the most part consistent. Some of my Mattea highlights were her “Big, Fat, Bully”, Quiet (especially the big note during “Everything everything IS”), Naughty reprise and her acting in the scenes around My House.

Alison Luff was incredible as Miss Honey, her emotions were so heart wrenching, especially during Bruce, which was a scene that I had never noticed Miss Honey in before. You could tell that she wanted to help him so badly and that she felt horrible for what was happening, but she knew that she couldn’t do anything to stop it. It was so heartbreaking to watch, as was My House. Christopher Sieber had the audience in the palm of his hands, he was hilarious! He really brought the Trunchbull to life. All the kids are so incredibly talented and high energy, it was so much fun to watch them perform, especially in Revolting Children.

By the time bows came around, I was really struggling to hold in my tears, it’s such an emotional rollercoaster of a show. It was so entertaining and uplifting, and I am extremely happy that I can say that it was my first Broadway show.





Fun Home

Okay, I’m going to be totally honest, this is my all time favourite show. I actually splurged and bought tickets to Fun Home before I left, because I knew that I couldn’t miss it. I ended up considering the ticket my high school graduation/18th birthday present because it ended up being so expensive that my parents asked me if I was crazy for spending that much money on one ticket. But it was in the second row. THE SECOND ROW. It was 100% worth it though, especially in the Circle in the Square theatre. It was so fascinating to watch the actor’s stage business when they weren’t being focused on. I even caught Beth Malone eating something out of one of those squeeze packs that little kids will eat apple sauce or something out of during one of Middle Alison’s scenes!

Being in the round and that close to the stage made it so much more personal, which I think is very important for a show that is so emotionally taxing. Every single person in that show is so talented, there isn’t one actor who’s a little bit weaker than the rest. The show runs so smoothly and seamlessly, and each new scene had me impatiently waiting for whatever was going to happen next, even though I usually knew what to expect.

Nicole Van Giesen was on as Helen, and she was spectacular, especially since her first time going on as Helen was only two days before! I almost started crying when Sydney sang her first note, and my emotions were so profound for the duration of the show. I cried during Telephone Wire, laughed during Raincoat of Love, my heart was so full during Ring of Keys and Changing My Major and then I cried again after the show when my parents asked how it was. The stage was unbelievable, and the staging of the show in The Round was so well done, I never felt like I missed anything because an actor was facing the wrong way.

After the show Sydney unfortunately had to leave right away and couldn’t stage door, but everyone else did! Zell was so adorable and outgoing, I had brought all the kids maple lollipops (because the house is on Maple Avenue) and he was SO excited, and kept on talking to me the entire time until I left. I learnt that his older sister had actually been in the Original Broadway cast of Matilda. Emily Skeggs was so sweet and friendly, and Michael Cerveris was really nice and humble. This was easily one of the best nights of my life, and Fun Home is overall an amazing show.



I hope you found my reviews both interesting and helpful, make sure to check back to read my reviews for Something Rotten! and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time!



What are some shows on Broadway that you wish you could see? Mine are Hamilton (I actually got offered a ticket to see it, but I was leaving three days before the day of the show so I couldn’t), Spring Awakening and School of Rock (even though they haven’t opened yet).



Until next time!

Sarah

Twitter: @sarahvandale

Instagram: sarahvandale

You're New To Theatre

Everybody knows the stereotypical theatre kid right? Loud, Wicked over dramatic, has a huge heart and can turn every sentence into a musical reference (notice the Wicked pun in the one you just read). You're probably smiling right now because you know all those things are so true, and if you did, congratulations you are the typical theatre kid!

But all these qualities can be a little intimidating if you aren't a typical theatre kid or you're new to the arts. You want to talk to your cast mates and have fun at rehearsal but you just might not know how to connect to them. I get that, because I have been there. I think we have all been there. So here are some ideas to help you connect.

1. Do some research- Broadway.com is a great place to start for some general information about what's going on in the theatre world. You could look at the news about shows and actors and spark up a conversation about what's going on on Broadway right now.

2. Learn some names- You should know the big names in the business because no matter what show or subject you're talking about I bet you will hear some of these names. Also, as you start to learn more and more about your favorite stars you are sure to pick up tons of information about shows. Some of my favorites: Idina Menzel, Sutton Foster, Kristin Chenoweth, Patti LuPone, Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, Matthew Morrison and Aaron Tveit

3. Don't be to basic- Please don't say your favorite movie musical is High School Musical and don't make your favorite musical The Lion King just because that's the only one you know. These things just get on theatre kids' nerves for obvious reasons. It's fine to love popular musicals, don't get me wrong, just make sure you do research on other shows as well.

4. Have a favorite show- Having a favorite show allows you to have some sort of a stance on things. Pick a show that you love the story or the actors. But make sure you love the soundtrack! My personal favorite is Wicked (but picking a second favorite is like picking a favorite child). I can listen to the soundtrack on repeat, actually that's basically all I do. Some more shows that everyone seems to love are Newsies, Pippin, Rent, A Gentleman's Guide and basically anything that has had a substantial run on Broadway.

So those are my tips to fitting in with the theatre kids! I'm sure you will be just fine. When in doubt do jazz hands (no don't). Good luck!

Nick Esposito
Instagram- nick_esposito71

Twitter- nickesposito71

So, It's your first rehearsal

Here are some of the do’s and dont’s of your first rehearsal with a new theatre company!

BE EARLY!

Being early shows the directors that you are prepared and take their production seriously.
There is a saying in theatre: “Ten minutes early is on time, on time is late”. 
Rehearsal starts promptly at the time called. If call time is 6:00, rehearsal begins AT 6:00. I cannot stress this enough.

DO NOT BE ON YOUR CELLPHONE.

Being on your phone is distracting to other actors and to yourself. You could miss important notes or your entrance. It is also very unprofessional. So, turn your cellophone off when you enter the rehearsal space.

WEAR CORRECT CLOTHING!
If you know you are going to be dancing, don’t wear your favorite pair of skin tight
jeans and a crop top. Wear something you are comfortable moving in. If you know you are going
to be doing intense dancing or acrobatics i suggest a leotard and booty shorts or leggings and a tight exercise shirt.

BRING YOUR SCRIPT AND A PENCIL!

At any rehearsal, you will most likely be given notes. Whether you like to keep your notes directly
on your script, or with sticky notes, or a notepad, ect.. 
You always need your script and a PENCIL. Blocking is often changed especially early on in rehearsal, so writing in pen would not be advised.

And the biggest tip for going into a new theatre company;
Keep and open mind!

Hope I helped some of you out! ~Elizabeth Hampton!
Twitter @paresseamant ­Instagram @mickeymousetache 
Have a lovely day! <3 

How To Be An Audience Member

Obviously a big part of being an actor is acting, but another big part is a love of theatre. This love is usually satisfied by being an audience member at other people’s shows. We’ve all seen millions of shows, whether they are professional theatre, community theatre, or school theatre. Because of this, we know that there are three rules on how to be the perfect audience member:

1. Laugh at the funny parts.
2. Clap at the parts when it’s appropriate.
3. Stay seated and quiet for all the other parts.

I know you know this, because you are a tried and true theatre patron, and as an actor you know how you would want an audience to act. So the real question is: Why does it seem like audience members have been having an especially difficult time with these rules recently? Over the past few months, the theatre world has been in a frenzy over audience members who can’t behave. First, the guy who went onstage during a performance of Hand To God, so that he could use a (fake) outlet to charge his phone (read about it). Then, Patti LuPone took an audience member’s phone as she was exiting stage, because he was using it while she was performing (Patti is the queen). And most recently, an audience member stormed the stage during a performance of The Fix at the Signature Theatre looking for a bathroom (ok seriously?). This has apparently become a really big issue.

Personally, I think that being able to experience live theatre is one of the most amazing things in the world, and I think part of being an audience member is having the utmost respect for the performers. Every person on the stage in front of you has put in so much work to be there and to do their best, and that’s the case for any type of show you go to see. They’re there for us just as much as we’re there for them, and we all have to respect each other in the theatre.

Having said that, I want to know if you have any bad audience member stories! Let me know in the comments or on twitter, I would love to hear them.

-Alex Bosworth

Twitter: @alex_bozzie

Instagram: alex_boz

Why Theatre Friends are the Best Friends

Let’s be real here, hanging around with your theatre friends is a blast. Whether it’s jamming out to show tunes, crying while watching the Tonys with a bag of popcorn or just hanging out at rehearsal, your theatre friends understand why you’re crazy, because they are too (in a good way, of course!).

Here are some of their best traits:

They understand when you can’t hangout.
Unlike some of your other friends, your theatre friends understand that you can’t hangout because you have rehearsal and that no, you can’t “Just skip it”. They get that theatre comes first for you. Because odds are, theatre comes first for them too.

They’ll (willingly) go see shows with you.
You won’t need to drag your theatre friends to The Book of Mormon tour with you, because they’ll be just as excited as you are! While other friends would probably fall asleep ten minutes into the show, your theatre friends will be having a blast right there beside you!

They’ll run lines with you anytime, anywhere.
Whether it’s in line at Starbucks, during finals week or in the middle of rehearsal, your theatre friends are there to help you memorize that scene that you just can’t get to stick in your head, and don’t mind hearing it over and over again until it’s perfectly memorized.

They make rehearsals 1000x better.
It’s not surprising that most theatre friendships are made at rehearsal- you’re constantly around each other! Whether it’s passing time during breaks or helping you survive that crazy fast quick change, they help keep you going at rehearsal- especially during tech week.

They understand your love for Broadway.
Unlike your regular friends, your theatre friends understand how emotionally exhausting being a Broadway fangirl/fanguy can be. They were your shoulder to cry on when Newsies closed, they celebrated with you when Kelli O’Hara won her Tony, and they’ll be right by your side at the stage door when you meet your Broadway idol (Hello, Queen Lesli!).

Show tunes. All. The. Time.
Your theatre friends won’t tell you to stop singing while you’re in the middle of performing Defying Gravity in your bedroom, because they’ll be the one singing Glinda’s part for you. Whether it’s in the car on the way to rehearsal, preshow jam parties or just hanging out in your room, it’s all show tunes, all day, everyday.

And if you’re really close, they might share some bobby pins with you. Maybe.

Why are your theatre friends your favourite? Let me know in the comments!

Sarah
Instagram: sarahvandale
Twitter: sarahvandale

Audition DO's and DON'Ts

DO  be on time! One of the worst things you could ever do at an audition is be late. You don't seem reliable and how will the directing team be able trust you to be on time to shows and rehearsals?

DON'T apologize if you mess up or are not as prepared as you would like to be. Directors know that sometimes your audition gets booked at the last minute.

DO  be confident. Even if you have no idea what you're doing, pretend like you do. You know what they say: Fake it 'til you make it.

DON'T  Sing a song that you've already sang for someone on the directing team.  Choose something new. They don't want to see you do the same old same old. Choose something different to show the directing team how you've grown from the last season.

DO  Look presentable. Now, you don't have to wear a ball gown or anything, but definitely don't wear sweats. Treat your audition as you would a job interview. Dress like you care about being there.

DON'T  just sing. Act while you sing. Yes, pretty voices are awesome, but in musical theatre singing and acting go hand in hand. You are trying to tell a story through song, so don't forget to act in your singing!

DO  be polite to everyone you see. You just never know who you're talking to, who knows who, etc.
And.... being a good human is always just a good thing to be.

DON'T  try to shake the director or anyone on the directing teams hand. Especially during flu season. You can probably guess why.

These are just a few Do's and Don'ts for actors when auditioning. Whether you're new to the theatre world and needed to know, or you've been doing this for a long time and needed to be reminded. I hope this helped!

Thank you for reading and following TheActorProbs.

For more from me, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or view my website!

What kind of food should I bring to rehearsal?

I love to eat, whenever I can get a chance. However, usually the food I like to eat does not last me all of rehearsal and usually makes me feel even more tired and grumpy. Here's a list of snacks I like to bring to rehearsal to keep me in tip top shape. Please let me know some of your favorite rehearsal snacks!!

SkinnyPop Popcorn

• This is the holy grail of all snacks. This popcorn tastes EXACTLY like movie theatre popcorn, and it is only 39 calories per cup. PER CUP! Seriously I can buy a Costco size bag and bring a quart size baggie of it to rehearsal, it's like I'm treating myself but it's actually natural and healthy. 

Apples and Peanut Butter(And Nutella)

• Alright apples and PB are a classic filler upper, however if you swirl a little nutella into it it makes a mediocre snack feel like a dessert! The only con to this is that it can be a little messy, and apples are better refrigerated, so pack your lunch with an ice pack. 

Cinnamon Almonds

• Okay, obviously you can now tell that I've got a sweet tooth. At your local grocery store by the nuts, there are little things called cinnamon covered almonds. If you need a pick me up with some protein, these are the things to eat. But, just pack a few in a snack size bag because these are dangerous!

Pineapple

• Pineapple juice is great for your voice if you're feeling phlegmy, and pineapples are also a little tart so they wake you up if you start to snooze off. If you have an early rehearsal after a long night of tech, bring a snack of pineapple, your tired worn out voice will sound better and you'll wake right up! 

WATER

• I shouldn't really have to say this, but water is the best thing, all the time. Drink your water kids. 

Please tell me your favorite snacks, my twitter is @Campbellalie. 

Rock on!

Alie

How to date a theatre kid

First of all we aren't as obnoxious as movies make us out to be, we don't always wear all black, and honestly most of us don't even sing all the time. We are normal beings with a passion for something, just like how someone is passionate about sports. However, being in an intimate relationship with someone who is passionate about theatre isn't a walk in the park.

We're busy people, we trek from rehearsal to dance to voice to tech to show every night. If we want to make time for someone, we will. It might not be your definition of making time and it might not be as often or as long as you would like, but we will do the best we can. Just know that it is never okay to give an ultimatum of rehearsal or you.

If you give us the aux cord we can blow your mind. The coolest thing about musical theatre is that every genre of music is represented. Want classic show tunes? Try Rodgers and Hammerstein. Want some R&B or rap? Try anything with Lin-Manuel Miranda(Bring it On, In the Heights) Want indie? Try Once. Want rock? Try Next to Normal or American Idiot. So yeah some show tunes are all about love and have a something that makes them all sound the same, but I'm sure your girlfriend/boyfriend will make you fall in love with at least one musical.

We eat. We eat a lot. You're right when you say "Are you sure you want to eat that? Isn't being in theatre all about your body?" and yeah, it definitely is. But I want you to try doing three 5 minute long tap numbers while belting G's and giving 200% and not want to stuff your face afterwards.

Please, come see our show. You don't have to come every night it's open, you don't have to sit in the front row, you really don't even have to bring flowers. Come once, spend 1-2 hours watching us do what we love, and that means the world.

We don't need you to love as much as we do, we don't need you to participate in shows with us, we just want you to understand that this is who we are and if you like it stick around.

PS- Having Aaron Tveit or Jeremy Jordan or and Broadway hunk be your lock screen, doesn't mean you're cheating.

Rock on.

Alie
@Campbellalie

The Broadway Body

If you're wondering whether or not you have the "Broadway Body", the answer is you do. Every body is a Broadway Body. Whether you're short, tall, small, large, square, hourglass or you only have one arm, you have a Broadway Body.

Let me start this off with the history of what a Broadway Bod is. It's a body, that is on Broadway. There you have it folks. The well esteemed phrase actually comes from the competition that exists between performers, since there are so many people wanting to "make it" many have resorted to making sure each aspect of them is perfect. Resulting in the "Broadway Body." A trim, muscular, fit, perfect body. For females it's supposed to be 5'7, with abs, killer leg muscles coming from dance experience, curves, long hair in a teal blue dress and nude pumps. For boys it's over 6 ft, completely built looking like a football player, and a jawline that could cut butter.

However, that's just dumb because if everyone looked like that, zero shows would be cast. Shows are written for those who overcome oppression, the people who are  real people. Not carbon copies of others.

So if the thing standing in the way of your dream is whether or not you have the right body shape, have no fear. You do. Your Broadway body is perfect the way it is.

What's Your Motivation?

      Hello, folks!  So our amazing blogger has asked me if I wanted to write a guest post this week! Naturally, I said yes! Now I will introduce myself: I am Rebecca Short. I am actor, singer, dancer, and pianist. I own the Instagram account(s) @brahdwayy, @rebeccamshort. I also have Twitter: @brahdway, @_rebeccashort. I applied for the blogging application about a month. So that's just a short introduction.

        I really wanted to do this topic for this blog because it's one of the most important things in theatre/theater–however you spell it. Something that is so important in this business is what is your motivation? and do do want it bad enough? The answer has to come straight from your heart. The people you see as professional actors and especially the ones on Broadway are people who don'twant this, but they need it. They need it more than anything. It is the hunger that stirs in your body before, during, after an audition. It is the hunger that stirs throughout your body during performances and rehearsals. It is why I sob after every audition no matter if it is regional theatre show or community theatre.

       Do you want it that badly? 

And what do you do if you want it that badly?

1.) research your craft and show

2.) do your craft all the freaking time. almost no break time

3.) no complaining. shut your mouths. rule number 1: DIRECTOR KNOWS BEST.

4.) work harder than everyone else.

5.) make it your life

6.) no matter how late it is, you stay.

7.) love yourself and be yourself

8.) don't be a diva. patti lupone has the right to be a diva; you don't.

9.) stay kind to your cast mates but be competitive 

10.) stay healthy. maintain a good weight. eat your fruits and vegetables. stay hydrated.

       I really like number four! WORK HARDER THAN EVERYONE ELSE. That should be your anthem for anything and EVERYTHING. No excuses. Look up Sutton Foster's quote about that. She says you must want it more and you must work harder. And that is the absolute truth. I might sound like Abby Lee Miller from Dance Moms, but she's right. Good is never good enough. You have to be exceptional and work hard and be passionate. This is the key to success. And always live by the keys to success.

I hope you enjoyed this blog! And I hope I can do it again! Follow my accounts if you'd like, and keep reading these blogs. Love you all!

Rebecca M. Short

Rehearsal Essentials

Starting off in theatre can be scary, and sometimes, you can feel lost. I put together a list of things that are helpful at rehearsals.

1. Duffel Bag
A strong, durable bag will come handy in a lot of situations. Anything that you would need can be put into the bag and kept in their until the end of the show. Pockets and zippers can help keep you organized and stop from carrying around a ton of bags or forgetting something.
$138--Nordstrom.com

2. Highlighters
Highlighters are super important in the rehearsal process. Highlight lines, important dates, mark out information, etc etc. I found these adorable cat highlights that could be fun and silly to keep around.
$5.69--asos.com

3. Jazz Shoes
Depending on the type of show you're in, you might not need jazz shoes. I like having them around just in case. They're flexible, breathable, and last a long time. While they come more in handy for musicals, you can wear they for other rehearsals if you haven't been told what type of shoe you would need,
$40--capezio.com

4. Binder
Always have a binder handy full of paper. When a director calls for motes, this is a great place to write them down at. You can also put the cast list, schedule, paperwork, and any show memorabilia in here.
$10--target.com

5. Script
If you don't have your script, you're in big doo-doo. You should never come to a rehearsal without a script, even if you think you won't need it.
Priceless

6. Pens and Pencils
Only even use a pencil to write in your script. Directors will make changes to blocking all the time, so a good pencil and eraser is needed. Go for mechanical, so you don't have to worry about sharpening all the time.
$24--amazon.com
Pens are good to carry if you need to sign something. Go for black or blue, because it's embarrassing to sign your paperwork in a neon green pen, let me just tell you.
$30--paperchase.co.uk

7. Sticky Notes
I love sticky notes because you can use them to write reminders, notes, and mark acts or scenes. Different colors and sizes can help keep everything in order.
$3.59--hobbylobby.com

8. Water Bottle
Water is always important during a rehearsal. Nobody is going to deny you a drink of water. It can help you cool down and relax, as well as give you energy. Plus, buying a water bottle is netter than shelling out money to a vending machine every night.
$6.90--wetseal.com


Like this post? Comment below on your thoughts or ask a question! We would love to hear from you!

Kendall
Twitter: @Kendall_Shepard
Instagram: kennynicky

Stage Kisses: Is it possible for them to be any more awkward?!

This is for all you high schoolers out there. A stage kiss can either be that one thing you've waited years for or that one thing you have dreaded ever since the cast list came out. But, are there any ways to make stage kisses more bearable? What tips are actually myths?

1) It's not awkward unless you make it awkward.

That is a true fact, another fact is you two are going to kiss. But also, your characters are going to kiss, unless your character makes it awkward, it CANNOT be awkward. If you're nervous tell your scene partner, bets are that he or she is nervous too! Just be honest and open.

2) Practicing kissing offstage will definitely make it more natural.

This can be true. Communicate to your scene partner on how you want to do the kiss, if you two need to practice, practice! Build your chemistry, become friends, there is nothing worse than seeing a show and just not seeing the chemistry on stage.

3) What if they take it a little too far?

Especially in high school, when a kid gets nervous during a stage kiss, it gets wet and fast. If there is tongue or it is way to twisty and wet, let your scene partner go. It'll a whole lot better if you stay honest and communicate however you feel, even if it's awkward to say "Hey, so during our kiss it was a little fast and I don't want to have to wipe my mouth afterwards." It is okay, your scene partner will learn and so will you!

4) What if the thought of kissing makes me want to vomit?

It happens, you're cast with your arch enemy and you have to kiss them, what could be worse? A lot could be worse actually. Just remember the fact that it is not you kissing them, it's your character. And the character you're playing wants to kiss them, so imagine it's Aaron Tveit and get through it.

5) If you really don't feel comfortable kissing someone, how do you talk to your director about it?

People, in general respect someone who is honest. If you really do feel incredibly uncomfortable in the kiss, it would be better for you to let the director know.

6) So, what do I do with my tongue?

If it is just a plain old kiss, you better keep your tongue in your mouth. However, if it is a make out then just see what is comfortable. If the chemistry is there between the two of you, it will happen naturally, I promise.

7) Is it embarrassing that my first kiss was a stage kiss?

Absolutely not. A kiss is a kiss, you are not a kissing virgin anymore. Woohoo!

So here's what you should take from this: Communication is key, and being open and honest will make it not awkward.

Pucker up, kids.


Alie
@Campbellalie - Twitter

Musical Playlist for Getting Pumped Up!

“Candy Store”- Heathers: The Musical

“Sugar Daddy”-Hedwig and the Angry Inch

“The Bitch of Living”- Spring Awakening

“It’s All Happening”-Bring It On: The Musical

“Loud”- Matilda the Musical

“Raise the Roof”-The Wild Party (Lippa’s)

“The World According to Chris”-Carrie: The Musical

“Let’s Be Bad”-SMASH

“Rock Star”- Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

“Hold Me Bat Boy”- Bat Boy: The Musical

“Hey Good Lookin’”- Dogfight

“In The Heights”- In the Heights

“Bring on the Men” – Jekyll & Hyde

“Show Me How You Burlesque”- Burlesque ( I know it’s not a musical, but it sure pumps you up)

"Strongest Suit"-  AIDA

"Forget About The Boy"- Thoroughly Modern Millie

So you want to pursue theatre in college...

You're finally an upperclassman in high school, and you spend all of your free time doing theatre whether it is at school, in a community theatre, taking acting, voice or dance classes and your parents ask the question of the year: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Suddenly thoughts flood your mind of waking up everyday and doing what you love everyday, no math, no science, and no more history. But, how do you know that you're really cut out for majoring in a theatre degree? Here are some questions you should ask yourself.

1. Can you imagine yourself doing anything else?
   Picture yourself being a nurse, could that make you happy? Try and imagine yourself being a teacher, could you be happy there? If you can see yourself doing something other than theatre, maybe pursuing theatre isn't the best idea. Why? Being in a theatre career is hard, there is no such thing as a stable job, the money is not great, it is a cut throat industry and in college your major is your life. So if you could see yourself doing something else, save yourself the time and money and try the other non-theatre thing first.
2. Do I have what it takes?
   Most people have will or they have skill. To have what it takes you'll need to have both, the will provides your motivation; to audition, to keep challenging yourself and never stop learning. The skill comes in when you have to get into college theatre programs, it is what sets you apart from the other 2000 kids auditioning. If you, and only you believe that you have both, then you have what it takes.
3. How do I start looking for college theatre programs?
   This is the hard part, there are hundreds of college theatre programs, some have only acting, some have acting and musical theatre and some have specific majors like a contemporary theatre degrees. Some are Bachelor's of Fine Arts, some are certificate programs and some are a Bachelor's degree of arts. What you need to do is research every program, just find out what the school's offerings are.

These are just the beginning questions of starting the long process. If you have any questions comment or find us on Twitter at @TheActorProbs.

Rock on.

Alie

@Campbellalie

Cast connections

There's a special relationship between a cast that is unique to any other relationship. Personally, I find that my theater friends who I do shows with are closer to me than others. There's a level of trust I give to a cast that I don't give to anyone else. 

Making friends is the first step to becoming a united cast. Often directors are really annoying and separate friends groups at the first rehearsal to force people to make new friends. This, of course, does not work. Theater people don't do well with forced interaction. We will sit around looking at each other rolling our eyes. 

The first friends you usually make in a show are those you're in a scene with. Because you will have more rehearsal together, your desire for interaction will lead you to interact with those you see often. This is good. The better friends you are with them, the better chemistry your scene will have. 

Most of the time, I find myself making the most friends during tech week. Suddenly these people I've spoken to once or twice are all gathered in a space much too small for us and sometimes most of us are half naked. This of course is another example of desire for interaction. And you'll find yourself becoming friends. 

Beyond that, you need to trust your cast to know what they're doing onstage, to not screw up, to not distract you, to make the show as great as it can be. As actors, we make ourselves so vulnerable up onstage for anyone to see, no matter the outcome. We are forced to put so much trust in these people you may not even like. And by the end of the show, the friends you went on with are even closer to you, and the ones you didn't like you have more respect for. Maybe you'll even walk out of a show with a new best friend. 

How to tell if you're too invested in community theater

Community theater cliques are nearly impossible to get into. But if you work your way in, you can make some of the best friends you'll ever have. Here's some ways to tell you're IN. 

1. You and your community theater friends have been in at least 3 shows together

You've known each other since your parents have been dropping you off at churches and middle school auditoriums every day all summer. Your friendships used to take long pauses during the school year, only to pick right back up again when you see each other at callbacks. 

2. You're friends with the accompanist for the auditions. And you totally practice with them ahead of time. 

Don't lie. we're all guilty of this. No questions asked. 

3. You can precast the show and you already know your competition. 

Auditions haven't even happened yet and they might as well post the cast list. Everyone knows who's getting cast and who is playing what. 

4. Your theater inside jokes are amazing

You glance at each other across a completely silent rehearsal and laugh because you're all thinking of the same thing. 

5. You and your friends are most likely the "trouble makers" of the company

"Where's the teenagers?"

Probably outside on the playground in the rain. For fun. 

If there's fun to be had, you're doing it. 

6. You've done way too much tech for the company. And you're not a techie. 

"I'll bring in a prop to use for now" turns into "I'll just do props for the whole show" in the blink of an eye. 

7. You've made some of your best friends. 

Yeah, you may not see them very often, but you've gotten so close to them you have no secrets. It's what doing a show does to a cast. Brings them closer together. And with the amount of shows you've been in together, you're bound to be friends for life. 

Spotlight: You Can't Take It With You

It's closing night for me, so what better way to celebrate than to talk about the show that I am in? Probably not the best way, but I'll try.

YCTIWY first opened in 1938, with a revival in the 80's, and a current revival as well. The show is zany and eccentric, with a lot of humor and heart.

The show runs in three acts, with a variation that is only two acts.

The story is based in New York. The show opens with the main family going about their daily lives. Penny Sycamore is writing plays on their typewriter, Essie Carmichael, Pennt's daughter, makes candy while practicing ballet. Paul Sycamore creates fireworks with help from a former iceman, Mr. de Pinna. Ed Carmicheal works on his printing press and plays the xylophone. The help, Rheba and Donald, who are also in love, set up for dinner. Grandpa, Penny's father, Martin Vanderhof, has just returned home from the commencements at Columbia.

Everything goes along in its strange manner until Penny's second daughter, Alice returns home from work. She informs the family that she has been called upon by a Mr. Anthony Kirby Jr., the vice president of the company she works at. She goes upstairs to get ready and tells everyone to call her when he arrives.

No sooner does the doorbell ring. Enters a man who everyone thinks is Tony, but rather a man named Henderson, who has come to collect twenty four years of income tax from Grandpa. Fustrated with his stubbornness, he leaves in a rage. The door bell rings again and this time it is Tony. Everyone oohs and awws over this new boy, and Alice cones down in a gorgeous blue gown. Just then, Boris Kolenkhov enters, a Russian who is also Essie's ballet teacher. Alice tells them they are off to the Monte Carlo ballet, and Kolenkhov proclaims he hates it. Alice and Tony leave and the rest of the family, including de Pinna and Kolenkhov sit down to dinner.

Later that night, Alice and Tony return from the show. After playful flirting, they are interrupted by different members of the family. Alice says they are the reason that they shouldn't be together, but Tony insists they are fantastic and proposes to Alice. Tony must leave but promises to spend every other moment he can with her.

In the next act, based a week later, Alice is preparing for the Kirby family, who will be coming for dinner the next night. Meanwhile, Penny is entertaining an actress who has come to tead one of her plays. After she becomes unbelievably drunk, she passed out on the couch. De Pinna come up from the basement with a painting. It is of home, in a Roman costume that Penny painted. Penny vows to finish the painting tonight. Kolenkhov enters to give Essie her ballet lesson. He discussed with Grandpa for a bit about random things and the Soviet government before Essie comes down.

Penny is painting De Pinna. Ed plays his xylophone while Essie and Kolenkhov dance. Grandpa throws darts. Rheba comes from the kitchen to answer the door. And then enters the Kirby's, who have showed up on the wrong night!

How does it all go down? Well, there's some turmoil, an innocent game turned ugly, and everyone's arrested. Oops. But it all calms down in the third act when Grandpa reminds Mr. Kirby that all the power and money he has doesn't matter because you can't take it with you. 😉

A great show that's been around since almost the start of The Great White Way, it's humorous and lighthearted, with cookiness to go around!

Comment below if you have a question, comment, or a show we can talk about next! Find us on Twitter as well!

Kendall

Voice lessons

Finding voice lessons that fit for you is a tough but important part of making a career out of performance. When finding voice lessons, remember a few things:

Recommendations. Ask friends where they take lessons and if they like their coach. Friends are always a good source for things like this. 

Style. If you want a Broadway voice, don't pick a voice teacher who specializes in opera, and vice versa. You wouldn't want a French teacher teaching you algebra, so this should be no different. 

Comfort. First thing first, never pick a teacher who makes you feel uncomfortable or you wouldn't want to embarrass yourself in front of. Because, odds are, you will. You want to get the most out of your lessons. 

Try a sample session. Maybe the way they teach just doesn't work for you. That's okay. Keep looking, don't give up. 

Scheduling. Keep in mind how much time you have. Maybe you would benefit from weekly lessons. Maybe you need to find a teacher who is okay with you only coming in when you have an audition of a show coming up. Maybe you only need 30 minute lessons or maybe you'll go with 45. Find what works best. 

Overall, find whatever you need for you. No two people are exactly the same. Best of luck! 

•do theatre, not drama•

~Sierra