What Part Do I Want to Play?

For many high school students the new school year is here, and many school have already announced their fall and spring musicals. Now it’s time to gear up for auditions, but before auditions, it’s time to look within yourself and decide what part you want to play.

Where to begin? Why studying that upcoming musical of course. If you’re not familiar with the score, that’s step one. Download the score and really listen to each song. Is there a particular song that speaks to you? Perhaps you want to use it for your audition piece.

Check out the various high school productions of your show on You Tube. There are tons and you can see what other high schools have done with your upcoming musical. I guarantee they will all have a quality all their own as each school always adds their own personal touch to their musical.

Don’t limit yourself to one part, especially if it’s a musical with multiple supporting roles, such as Hello Dolly, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Sound of Music… I could go on. 

Yes, the lead would be wonderful but there are many fun supporting roles and you could make that part your own and maybe even steal the show. Be open to many roles, and trust your director. He or she is going to put you in the role that suits you best. PS- It’s sometimes fun to play a role that is the complete opposite of you. My favorite role I ever played was Gooch in Mame.

If you you’re dancer you may decide to be part of the dance ensemble and that’s fine. The same is true for ensemble player, especially if you’re new to high school musical. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be a part of the ensemble and for first timers I would actually encourage it. Ensemble is the heart of the musical. That show stopping production number? It couldn’t exist without the ensemble.

Once you are familiar with the musical, choose a song from the score that fits your voice and personality. If your director has a particular song they would like you to use for audition, make sure you have that down to perfection. Don’t forget the monologues. Again watch particular scenes in the high school videos on You Tube to get a feel for the scene you’ll be reading.

Excited yet? You should be. Once you become familiar with your musical, the songs, the choreo possibilities and best of all spending time with your theater fam, you will be ready and excited for auditions.

They’re coming up soon. Musical season is here. Break a leg everyone.

Look for That Different Character

Summer vacation is here, and right now thoughts of back to school may be far and away. However, it’s not too early to be thinking about next year’s musical. Yes, next year’s musical.

Many schools announce the following year’s production at the end of the school year, so you might already know what your musical will be. Other schools don’t announce until early or late fall. Still it is not too early to plan for that special role.

Whether you know your musical, or not, this blog is about getting you to reach outside your comfort zone and maybe try for that very different role. A role that is so unlike anything you’ve ever done.

An example. I once tried out for a production of “Grease”. Instead of the Sandy or Frenchy role, I wanted to try out for Rizzo. Yes, she was totally different from me, the quiet little shy high school student, but I have to tell you I had more fun preparing for that audition, and more fun trying out for that role. I didn’t get the part, but I did get the part of Cha-cha, and that was another fun and different role and I had a blast playing that part.

Over the years I branched out to community theater and played such fun roles as Agnes in Gypsy and Agnes Gooch in Mame, all because I took that Rizzo chance. Never, ever would have done it if I didn’t say, “What the heck, I’ll give it a try.”

So, here are some suggestions guys and gals. Doing a production of the Sound of Music? Go for the Baroness instead of Maria. Other great fun female roles Ermengarde in Hello Dolly, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Eulalie Shinn, the Mayor’s wife in The Music Man or Bloody Mary in South Pacific.

Horace Vandergelder in Dolly is a fun role with a great comedic reach. Les Mis? How about Javert or the innkeeper Thenardier. I’ve seen many young actors bring down the house with that one. Doing Disney? There’s the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, or another fun role, Shrek. I also love The King in the King and I. What a stretch that is.

If you see a part, and it looks like fun, or you get that little nudge that says “this might be fun to play”, run with it. Watch the musical. Study the character, and listen to the soundtrack. Note, make sure to study high school versions of the show on You Tube. Movie adaptations are ok, but they don’t always follow the stage script.

Now, decide what YOU can bring to this character. I guarantee you’ll have fun exploring, and if you don’t get the part, you will still show your director that you can reach inside and tackle any part. Who knows? You just might get that quirky lead or supporting role.

So high school musical peeps, start prepping!

Best Place on Earth

It's Friday night in the middle of February. Snow is falling, a cold wind is blowing and I am in week two as a high school musical awards adjudicator. I’m arriving at another high school, in another brightly lit parking lot, scanning for a building I've never been in, looking for the auditorium entrance.

It turns out it’s not hard to find. I follow a group of parents and grandparents carrying huge bouquets of flowers and balloons, no doubt, for special cast members. Once inside, everyone clamors for the ticket table. Parents are selling flowers nearby (for those who may have forgot them at home) candy grams, raffle tickets for the drama club (please send us to NYC so we can see a Broadway show) and a host of delicious snacks and baked goods. There is so much excitement in the air, and although most people would choose to hunker down at home on a cold winter's night, with their favorite TV show, for me, a high school musical is the BEST place to be.

During the past three months, I spent my Fridays in numerous high school auditoriums and gym/auditoriums across New York State. I've sat on elegant velvet seats, cushy chairs and tin folding chairs, and yes even gym bleachers when the gym doubles as the aud. I watched more high school musicals then I care to count. And you know what? I would do it all again in a heartbeat. For me, late winter and early spring means spending time with the greatest kids ever. The high school musical kids.  You might call them theater geeks. I do, but like the wonderful Lin Manuel Miranda I'm proud to be a former theater geek kid.

I've seen some musicals that I would have to admit needed some work. I watched kids who could barely sing to kids with voices ready for the Met. I saw some rather basic scenery and costumes I saw some you could call Broadway worthy, but what I saw in each and every performance, in each and every school was a true love of theater. Every musical large or small good or bad had one genuine element across the board. These kids love what they are doing and they wanted to be on that stage!

I saw the smiles and squeals when they met parents and friends after the show.  I saw the proud directors hugging them. Not everyone will win a theater award or scholarship but on my score sheet they all won for their genuine enthusiasm.

Some of these kids will go on and pursue musical careers. Many won't. But what they learned in their theater years will speak volumes in the real world. They know how to present themselves, know how to feel comfortable in a group and know disappointments and rejection. Remember those auditions? If I were to interview a former theater kids for a job, you bet your bottom buns I'd hire them. Theater kids are the whole package.

So everyone, enjoy your fireplace, popcorn and Netflix on a Friday night. Let it snow. I'll just bundle up a little warmer and hunker down in a seat next to two grandparents who proudly tell me Nathan Detroit is their Grandson, or a crying dad who tells me his Elle Woods is going off to one of the biggest musical theater colleges in the fall, and he's going to miss her like heck.

Yep, just give me a good old fashioned high school auditorium in mid winter, and I am one happy camper. Or should I say proud card carrying theater geek kid! 

No Vacation from Theater

If you’re anything like me the saddest day for my theater peeps and me was closing day of our shows. After that final bow we usually celebrated with an awesome cast party…but then…it was all over. All the weeks of after school practice, the nightly practice and eating cold pizza while the early evening hours went into late night hours. I remember the Monday after the show as being the longest day of the year. No more show. Now what?

If you really love theater and think that maybe next year you would love to try for that lead or a supporting role that you didn’t get this year, think ahead to summer vacation. Look into voice lessons, dance lessons, acting classes. Many community colleges offer fun programs in singing and acting for teens and young adults.

Look into one of the many summer musical theater camps throughout the country. Many even prepare a musical production at the conclusion of the camp session.

Some Communities also present summer theater productions. If you can audition for one of them, go for it. It’s a wonderful way to hone your skills and many times, you’ll be working with local amateur actors. They truly are a wealth of information and inspiration, as many have been performing in Community Theater for years, starting with their own high school musicals.  You can learn a lot and gather experience, too.

If you get a chance to travel and see a show, do so. Obviously, Broadway is great, but local community or nearby towns offer many touring shows, and local theater productions. Observe the show, the leads and supporting players. What draws you to their characters? What skills are you noticing that perhaps you can bring to your production next year?

Summer vacation presents a myriad of activities for high school musical theater performers. Take everything in that you possibly can and I guarantee when fall rolls around you’ll be ready for that big audition.

I hope the few words I’ve left here will help you with future productions. I hope they will inspire you to get that “wow”! I hope, most of all you will continue on this wonderful high school musical journey. I can promise you it will be the time of your life, shared with special people making special memories. I can promise you will remember your high school musical days forever.

We'll be back next month with lots of theater subjects to ponder before school rolls around again this fall.

Another Opening...

Weeks of musical rehearsals. Hours of choreography rehearsals until you couldn’t move. Hours of studying scripts each night. Now every song, step and line is committed to memory. Heck, you can probably recite your fellow cast mate’s lines as well. Opening night is here, and it’s time to show the world the very special show you 

and your fellow cast mates spent so many hours preparing.

While opening nights can be exciting-I can remember not being able to sleep a wink during mine-they can also be a little terrifying for a newbie. I don’t have a magic cure for nerves. Certainly, your directors are a wealth of information in this department. They have been dealing with students and opening nights for years.

Tell yourself you are ready. You know your lines and people have told you you’re good. You know your songs and can do a mean showstopper, and your dance steps are perfect. Being well prepared is half the battle to conquering nerves. You’ve got this. Now show the audience.

I once had a wise director tell us that the people coming to our musicals want to see us succeed- yep that includes the judges.  Many schools have “reputations” in their hometowns for fantastic musicals. So, if you’re a part of this great show you’re about to perform, congratulations.

Some tips for opening night. Your director and choreographer will bring you in for warm-ups. General vocal warm ups with ensemble. Leads may do a separate warm up. Choreographers will give you some stretching exercises. Then it’s costume and makeup. Some schools have you do your own make up, but usually there is a makeup crew so let them do their thing. Most directors’ call for casts to report about two hours before curtain.

I often have kids ask if they should eat. Absolutely, yes. I would not have a ten course meal but a nice light meal about an hour before you have to report is good. Also, you want to keep your voice hydrated but keep in mind once curtain goes up bathroom breaks are going to be limited. So know your body and your system. Generally, intermittent sips of water are a good idea. Keep a bottle handy (often schools keep them backstage for their casts, bless the 

stage moms).

Now, you are ready. Curtain up. It's showtime!

Show Week is Here

It seems an eternity, and you wondered if show week would ever come around. Well, surprise. It’s finally here, and here are some tips to get you through that final push

Because rehearsals take such a dramatic turn (no pun intended) during show week, we’re going to deal with this important week and what to expect, right here.

Scenes are blocked, choreography is down and so is the music. Your director will tell you, “we’ve got a show”. Now it’s time to put those finishing touches the week before, and get the show audience ready.

The weekend before, it’s time to “move into the aud.” From early afternoon on the weekend before expect complete run through, but now with tech (the lighting and prop people will begin doing their thing) and pit. Piano will be gone and orchestra will be in. This is why rehearsals are so long. Details. Details.

Is the curtain closing at the right moment in a particular scene? Are the sound effects coming through? Are leads under lit in that all important love song? Your director will work on minor details. Again, patience guys. You will be doing a lot of sitting in between.

Some schools bring the stage door moms in for that final week push, wonderful parents who cook meals and bring them to hungry actors. God love them. I can still remember Mrs. Robinson’s awesome Mac and cheese. It hit the spot. Check to see if there will be a meal brake, if meals will be provided or if you should pack a lunch. Sounds crazy but weekend before show means hours at school and you need to eat. No skipping meals. Pack a few snacks in a back pack as well-and a bottle of water. Hydration is important.

I would also bring stuff to do-hint- school work. Even though you’re performing for your high school, schools rarely like to see you slack off from school work. Reading works well too. I know it’s hard to keep you from phones and tablets. I would just suggest if you are going to be on your phone put it on manor mode so your friend’s texts don’t ring in while someone is on stage during dialogue. If you must use your phone make sure that it's silent, and  if you need to make a call, go out in the hallway. Simple theater etiquette we suggest for our audiences goes for actors too.

It’s also time to iron out any problems you're experiencing. Can’t get from stage left to stage right in time for your big switch? Let your director know. Need help in a quick costume change? Again let back stage crew know so someone will be there to help. One of your costumes not fitting right? Reach out to the costume head and get it addressed before opening night.

This is the week that everyone who is anyone involved with the show will be there from beginning to end. Even your ticket ladies. So if Uncle Henry and Aunt Sally are coming in from Albany just to see you in that all important lead, you can get tickets for them as well.

There is no set schedule for show week and directors are going to run show week in a way that fits them best, and what has worked for them over the years.

However, in some form or order you will do a tech rehearsal, or full tech. You’ll do a pit rehearsal-some even begin working with orchestra weeks before if it is a school orchestra. You will then do full dress with makeup- some schools choosing to do one night of costumes only and one night of costumes and makeup. Many schools open their dress rehearsals to local senior homes or schools. This gives you a chance to work with an audience before opening weekend, and a chance for groups that wouldn’t ordinarily see a show a chance to enjoy.

Will you perform two weekends in a row? Your director may schedule a run through or two in between to keep everyone fresh and on their toes.

I am going to touch briefly on the subject of makeup. You’re going to need to wear it, guys. Simply because of the lighting. You will wash out under the spots and no one will see you and that would be a shame with Uncle Henry and Aunt Sally coming all the way from Albany.

Theater makeup has come a long way since I was in my musicals in the late 70s.Gone are those horrendous cake sticks and the breakouts you suffered for weeks afterward. There is actually makeup for every skin type so if you do have allergies please let your costume person or makeup person know so they can suggest makeup that you can buy or have it there for you.

Your director may also choose to “go dark” one night of show week. Usually at the beginning. So for instance, you may have a big push on Saturday and Sunday, go dark on Monday (translation no rehearsal) and resume on Tuesday night with full dress, tech and pit. Many directors choose a “go dark” for one particular reason. It’s a rest time for their actors. So, my advice to you is, take it as such.

Catch up on your sleep. With the growing popularity of high school musicals, many schools do double weekend performances now.If you've been this route before you also know show week can be EXHAUSTING! Extra sleep and rest can only help. 

Also, please, please, please rest those voices. Keep cheering at high school games until after the show is over. Sip a lot on warm drinks. Be wary of too much caffeine. Eat as healthy as possible- one of the reasons the stage moms have become popular-kids get decent meals instead of potato chips and cold pizza.

I touched on this a bit earlier but musicals come in the heart of cold and flu season and if you’ve ever been a part of a group event before, you know that germs can run rampant and people in the cast can start dropping like flies. Boosting your immune system can help- I always dosed on extra vitamin c during show-helped me feel good and kept the colds at bay. Wash your hands often and REST as much as you can.

Go With the Flow

It’s getting close to show week. Just a little reminder that no matter how well your cast is prepared, crazy things can happen. Here are some tips how to “go with the flow” if the uncontrollable happens on stage.

True stories, guys. Story number one. One year ago, I was sitting in a high school auditorium in a small city in Upstate, New York on a cold rainy night in early April waiting for a production of Les Miz. We were literally just seconds from opening curtain. In fact, the director welcomed everyone and asked us to silence our cell phones. Then it happened. A fire alarm. Everyone grabbed their stuff and headed for the door.

That meant cast and crew too. There we were, outside in the pouring rain waiting for the fire department to give the all clear. We at least had our coats on and if lucky, umbrellas. Cast was in costume and make up. Turned out a smoke machine used in the opening number set off the alarm. Probably twenty minutes passed before allowed back in and the show resumed.

The first thing that came to mind was the many skating performances I’ve witnessed over the years. A bad fall at the beginning of a program can take a skater in two directions. They will either get up or continue with an over the top phenomenal performance, or they will literally fall apart and the program will continue with fall after fall.

I felt the same that night. These kids would come back in cold, wet and rattled and the production would sink. Or, they would perform the musical of their lives.

You guessed it. They knocked it out of the park In fact, they won best musical that year.

Fast forward one year later. A cast of Addams family was nailing their first act. All of a sudden, silence. The orchestra stopped playing. The orchestra leader took off her head phones and signaled all the actors on stage to leave the stage. The curtain closed with an announcement of a technical failure. Returning shortly.

Turns out all their sounds system suddenly went down including special effects sounds. We waited what seemed to be forever but actually just five minutes. Then the curtain opened, the orchestra began playing and the players literally picked up from where they left off. Did not skip a beat. Fantastic rest of the show.

I mention these two shows for a reason. Crapola happens. It’s going to happen. Missed lines. Forgotten lyrics. Scenery falls. Drops don’t work. Curtains stick. Props break, and wardrobes (yikes) malfunction. It’s all how you handle it. If it’s a small mistake, you will need to cover. I will tell you now, most audience members don’t notice a missed lyric here or there, a line or dance step.

If it’s something big, sound or lights go down, power failure, scenery or major malfunction, just listen to your director. They will give directions on what to do. Remember the audience wants to see you do well and perform a great musical, so when you do return to the stage after a major malfunction, smile, take a deep breath and continue.