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[post_content] => With June 11 rapidly approaching, theatre nerds are getting ready to celebrate a sacred day in the performing arts world: the Tony Awards! As we prepare for the 71st iteration of this beautiful ceremony, it’s only fitting to look back on some of the event’s most magical moments.
“Avenue Q” has a great collection of songs that usually make you cry with laughter, but this piece is sure to make you cry your biggest, saddest tears. Everyone has experienced the fine, fine line between a relationship and friendship and the yearning you feel to be more than just a friend. For those who need to put it into words, this is a great song to let you express what the fine line is all about.
One of the most heartbreaking musicals of our time, “The Last Five Years” really pulls on the heartstrings with this opening ballad. When you’re going through a breakup, it’s pretty easy to pretend you are OK and go on with your life. It’s even harder to recognize you need time to hurt and heal. If you aren’t crying out all of your feelings by the end of this one, you’re doing it wrong.
Ever experienced unrequited love? Eponine can teach you a thing or two about that feeling. This song is perfect for the breakup that totally ruins you and leaves you thinking you are on your own. It helps you recognize those emotions are real and it’s totally OK.
You have a lot of regrets and things that went wrong with your past relationship, but hey, maybe next time, things will be better. Liza Minnelli couldn’t put it any better in this classic “Cabaret” song. Keep your chin up — maybe things will look up!
There’s nothing like singing your sorrows away while wailing on a little guitar. This song will have you feeling the rock power you need to get over that terrible gigolo, anyway. Embrace your inner rocker (high boots and sparkly eyeshadow included) and sing your feelings all out.
So, maybe you are done with the crying stage and are so ready to move on. This song is sure to help you move past the relationship BS and start fresh. Just like washing your hair, you can rinse all those feelings away and have a clean outlook.
No one wants to be that person that mopes around after a relationship, just like no one wants to break up with their long-term partner after a romantic night when they think they’re getting proposed to! Don’t worry about moping around, and be better than they ever thought you could be. Elle knows best — you are so much better than that!
We all have our quirks. Sometimes even your partner can’t handle who you really are or even accept it. Post-breakup you may realize they maybe just couldn’t handle all of you, and that’s fine. “Take Me or Leave Me” is the song that helps you embrace who you are and learn to walk away when it’s not the right fit.
We all reach a point where we know things aren’t meant to be and that’s just the way it is. This song from a classic Sondheim musical help you realize the imperfections and get over things.
Getting cheated on by a partner is tragic. Fortunately, you have tragic “Hamilton” songs to help you deal with the cheater in your life. It’s time to sing along and burn those love letters (or delete those texts) that remind you of your ex.
Alan Cumming couldn’t have sung it better. Stay or go, you are going to be just fine without that person in your life. You could care less, go or stay!
Perhaps you are at the point of the breakup where reality has set in. You aren’t the type to usually get caught in romantic whims, so you need a little reminder that you are strong. You aren’t going to lose sight of yourself in the relationship, and Idina can help you sing your way back into confidence again.
Yeah, you can admit it — breakups suck, and you are allowed to be sad. But ultimately, you learn a lot from a failed relationship. You learn about yourself and what you’re looking for in a partner. Though you may be a bit sad, you are that much stronger for it!
Besides being chock-full of animated audiences and sparkling performances, Broadway theatres are infested with ghoulish histories. Each night, after the curtain falls and everyone goes home, the Broadway spirits come out to play, illuminated by their respective theatre’s ghostlight. However, some phantoms also strut their stuff during the lively hours, playing tricks on current Broadway stars and theatre employees. From vaudeville acrobats flying across the house to former theatre owners dropping by to check up on things, we’d like to introduce you to some of Broadway’s most famous ghosts.
As the current house manager of the Belasco tirelessly works in her office, she’ll occasionally hear the man above stirring in his own wood-paneled space. The company comforts her on late nights, but it probably shouldn’t — especially considering that the office above is kept under tight lock and key, motion detectors and all, and has been empty for decades.
Legendary theatre owner David Belasco built the theatre that still stands in his name on West 44th Street. He spent his life there, writing, directing and managing all sorts of plays. In fact, he spent so much of his time there that he dwelled in an apartment above. So, it comes as no shock that Belasco remains in the space even after passing on in 1931.
Dubbed by Playbill as “one of the most solid theatre ghosts,” Belasco began to appear almost immediately after his death. Actors began to notice a lone, dark shadow watching their performances from the balcony. He wasn’t shy, either, going right up to the performers and shaking their hands afterward and saying they had done a fabulous job. Many actresses reportedly complained about an older man in a priest ensemble pinching their bottoms. Considering Belasco was known in his day as a flirt and “The Bishop of Broadway,” this makes sense.
In death, Belasco remains a flirt, holding a relationship with a ghost known as “The Blue Lady.” An anonymous celebrity who appeared in a show at the Belasco recently reported hearing the locked door of her dressing room open while she was taking a shower. She frantically ran out, only to find the door still securely shut. But when she went back to the bathroom, it was bathed with a strange blue glow.
Like his lover, the former theatre owner is not against manifesting himself in stereotypical ghost forms, either. He swings closed doors open, raises the curtain magically and sends out puffs of cigar smoke into the atmosphere when no one alive is smoking. He has also been known to throw wild parties with other spirits, with late-night workers hearing the noise. Despite being sealed up and shut down for years, Belasco’s private elevator has also been heard puttering up to his private office.
Playbill reported that an usher was closing up the lobby one night at the Belasco and playfully called out, “Goodnight, Mr. Belasco.” And, even though the exterior doors were pulled shut and there was no wind, all the lobby doors swung open in unison. Needless to say, the usher transferred to another theatre. It looks like Belasco doesn’t ever want the theatre to close.
Aladdin’s Genie isn’t the only mystical creature soaring through Disney’s 42nd Street house. The New Amsterdam Theatre is home to one of Broadway’s most active ghosts: Olive Thomas.
This former Ziegfeld Follies girl has been haunting the theatre since she died of accidental poisoning in 1920. Known by her signature outfit (a green-beaded Follies dress, beaded headpiece and a sash), Thomas has been seen wandering with a big blue pill bottle. This is said to be the container that carries the mercury pills she used to poison herself.
Thomas reportedly manifests so frequently that photographs of her have been placed at every entrance of the New Amsterdam so staff can say hello and goodbye to her each day. They believe doing so has kept her mischief at bay, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t still around. In fact, every time there is a malfunction during a performance of the highly technical “Aladdin,” her name immediately comes to mind.
Shortly after the opening of “Aladdin” in 2014, Thomas made an appearance. An audience member in the orchestra asked one of the ushers for a booster seat for her child.
“We don’t like to interrupt a show,” Dana Amendola, vice president of operations at Disney Theatrical Group, told Playbill, “so we waited until the intermission and came to her with a booster. But we found she already had one. When we asked her where she had gotten it, she said a ‘lady at the back of the theatre’ had gestured to where they were. Now, we don’t have a woman at the back of the house who does that in the middle of a show. We checked, and none of the staff had done it. So you can take that how you like, but it was kind of freaky.”
The occurrence seems rare, as Thomas mainly reveals herself to men and acts flirtatious toward them.
Her spirit also recently appeared when Disney employees were talking about the movie “The Artist,” which is set in the era of silent films. After someone mentioned Thomas became a silent film star, someone made the mistake of saying the real silent-era star was actually Mary Pickford (Thomas’ sister-in-law). At that moment, a tall stack of DVDs on a nearby table flew across the room, crashing onto the floor. The group was stunned.
“They didn’t fall straight down as CDs would have done,” Amendola said. “They went flying about three feet across the room and hit a wall. This was witnessed by several people.”
Amendola went on to say ushers and overnight security have felt a presence sneak up on them and touch their back, only to find no one there. Apparently crazed fans hope for that same feeling, some trying to hide in the New Amsterdam overnight with the intention of spotting Thomas. According to Amendola, security does a special sweep each night to catch them.
Now here is a ghost you don’t want to see. The Palace Theatre staff will warn you of the tale of Louis Borsalino. In the days of vaudeville, Borsalino had a tightrope-walking act at the Palace. Unfortunately, the acrobat fell to his death during one performance. As years passed, actors saw his ghost walking a tightrope from the house-left box up to the mezzanine. However, these stories can’t be verified. Legend has it that anyone who sees this particular ghost dies within a year.
However, don’t be alarmed if you just happened to see a ghost at the Palace. There are many other spirits in residency, including a cellist dressed all in white who was last seen during the run of “Beauty and the Beast,” a man in a brown suit who is known for haunting the offices at the theatre nightly, a young boy who will play with his toy trucks in the mezzanine and even Judy Garland. That’s right, the presence of the legend herself is palpable near a door that the theatre had constructed especially for her at the back of the house.
Of course, there are a multitude of other ghosts on Broadway. So, the next time you go to the theatre, pay attention — because the stars aren’t just on the stage and they’re dying to be in the spotlight again (*insert maniacal laughter here*).
At 71, Bette Midler proved there is no age limit on dreams and achievements after being nominated for her first Tony Award for her role in “Hello, Dolly!”
“I’m actually thrilled,” Midler told CBS News. “And I think the crowd is thrilled, too. Because a lot of people my age are coming. And they see me skipping, and they flip out. I skip — a step that they haven’t done since they were seven. And they feel like, ‘Wow. If she’s doing it, maybe I can do it, too.’ And I love that.”
While the Tony’s recognized her with a special award in 1974 for “Adding lustre to the Broadway season,” this is her first nomination for a performance. Winning would be a real full-circle moment for Midler, who began her career in theatre about 50 years ago.
Nominated for Best Original Score for their work on Broadway smash “Dear Evan Hansen,” Benj Pasek and Justin Paul scored their Oscar-winning “La La Land” gig by being persistent. Even after a phone interview, director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz still weren’t sold on the duo. Pasek and Paul were prepared to wait, but their management had other ideas and suggested an arranged spontaneous meeting in Los Angeles.
Pasek told Deadline their management suggested dropping the pair a line with, “‘We just happen to be here, do you guys happen to be free for dinner?’ We were like, ‘This is crazy. This is insane, and we like, are really poor and we don’t have money for flights.’ He’s like, ‘You have enough money to fly yourselves economy across the country to be there on Monday to ask them to go to dinner with you.’”
Crazy as it sounded, the idea worked, and the rest is Oscar history. The moral of the story is there is no formula for success, and you can’t always wait for opportunities to fall into your lap.
“Falsettos” actor and Tony nominee Andrew Rannells went to one of his first auditions in New York for “Rent,” but he didn’t get cast. However, he did meet Bernard Telsey, a casting director who later cast him in his first Broadway role in “Hairspray.” This set him on a path toward his major Broadway break, “The Book of Mormon,” which saw his first Tony nomination.
Rannells told the Hollywood Reporter that his work on that show opened the door to another opportunity when “Lena [Dunham] and Jenni Konner came to opening night of ‘The Book of Mormon.’ They had shot the pilot of ‘Girls,’ they got their pickup and they were just about to start filming the first season. And a couple of weeks later, I got a phone call about coming in and reading for this new TV show.”
He won the part of Elijah, who became a series regular in the second season and remained on the show for all seven seasons. You never know which connections will lead you to success.
Surprisingly, Linda Cho, who was nominated for a Tony for Costume Design, studied psychology in college, not art or design. While some would say it’s unrelated to her current field and therefore a waste now, Cho would disagree.
She told Mochi Magazine, “You’re working with temperamental, artistic people, whether they’re directors or designers or people in the shops, so you have to think about how to best deal with them in different situations.” Cho also uses her background knowledge when designing for each character by delving into their minds in each scene.
Like Cho, treat your background and experience as an asset instead of a mistake.
Stage and screen actor Corey Hawkins, nominated for his role in the play “Six Degrees of Separation” always goes back to what he learned at Juilliard about the duty of the artist to society.
Hawkins told NPR, “It wasn’t about the sort of fame and the legendary alumni, which can be a little intimidating, but it became about the work and what we’re trying to say with our art.”
Watching his mother, a police officer, serve the community showed Hawkins he could use his gifts as an artist and make a difference. His nominated role is no exception, shining a light on the current racial issues, especially those involving the criminal justice system.
These are just five of the incredible nominees up for recognition at the June 11 awards ceremony. It’s a night when youth everywhere will watch with excitement and dream of the day they will be onstage, blubbering their way through an emotional acceptance speech before a band plays them off. Take heart; your day will come.
Lint rollers keep the costumes clean of any dust, dander, feathers, glitter and/or anything else that may collect both onstage and offstage.
These are the answer to most costume emergencies, since you can use them to hold almost anything together. Keep a full box on hand.
These are needed for immediate repairs involving most of the items on this list. You can even use them if a zipper gets stuck or you can’t untie a shoelace. Use the scissor to cut the zipper open or the laces off so you can get the actor out of the piece of costume that is causing the issue. This may sound extreme, but it this happens in the middle of a quick change, it may be the only way to remedy the issue. Don’t worry — the costume shop can fix all cut things once the show is over so they’re as as good as new for the next performance.
You can use this handy tool to gently rip open stitches or a hem on any garment. Keep this on hand when scissors will do too much damage.
This is a must-have no matter what! Use these to sew up rips, tears, holes or any other clothing pieces that need some TLC.
These handy wipes aren’t just for babies. Use them to take the stains out of the costumes. Keep a little jug or box on hand, and when you see a stain, grab one and scrub gently.
Duct tape is probably one of the greatest inventions ever made. Keep a roll on hand, especially some that has a bit of a smaller width. This way, if a hem falls out and you don’t have time to repair it, you can quickly duct tape it from the inside to get through the scene or show and then fix it when it’s over.
Extra buttons, snaps and hooks are good to have on hand in a tin or storage container to replace any that break during a show. Having them at the ready sure beats having to find them in the costume shop when you’re in a pinch during a performance.
Yes, vodka, the alcoholic beverage, except you won’t drink it. Instead, place in a spray bottle and use to spray any stinky costumes. It fights bacteria, keeps odors away and is way gentler on clothes and the environment than ready-made clothes refresher sprays. No one wants to be close to a cast member who smells, so keep this trick in mind to help keep odors away.
This invention works great on those hot and humid days when static cling is running amok backstage. Spray on clothing that might need it to prevent your dancers’ flowy costumes from clinging to them and others during the big dance number.
Not only does it help to keep hair in place, but it can also help you solve a stocking run. Spray a little on the run, and you’re good to go. It’s also another way to stop static cling. Just be sure to spray on legs/tights and not on the garment itself, as it can stain. This little trick prevents skirts and pants from clinging to your legs.
Similar to hairspray, nail polish can solve runs in stockings or garments with a netting texture. Just paint some on, and all will be remedied. Of course, make sure to use clear polish. In addition, you can paint clear polish on any costume jewelry (especially fake gold and silver) to give them a nice shine and keep it from turning an awful tarnished color after coming in contact with skin.
Have some extra on hand in case a performer gets a run or hole and needs a quick replacement. You certainly don’t want to have to go digging in the costume shop when you need an emergency pair.
Shoelaces break, so be prepared and have extra pairs on hand in case you need them. In an emergency, they can also be used to replace similar closures for other garments, such as corset ties, and to replace belts in a pinch.
It’s a good idea for both your actors and dressers to have these on hand. If someone cuts themselves, you can prevent him or her from bleeding all over the costume.
This is another amazing invention that is basically scotch tape but much stickier and sticky on both sides. Usually, it’s used to apply fake facial hair, but with costumes, it can be used to keep them in place by adhering parts of the costumes to the actors’ skin. If you have ever wondered how movie stars keep their gowns in place when there is nothing to hold them up in the appropriate places, this is it.
For anyone who has tight-fitting shoes, have a shoe horn on hand to help them slip them on and off. This is especially helpful during a quick change when you have to change the performer’s shoes.
A great site to visit for breaking theatre news and show information, Playbill is a trusted source of news for the theatre community. My motto has always been, “If it’s not on Playbill, it’s not real.” And besides the latest news from the Rialto, Playbill.com is a great place to find information on current or future shows. Also, sign up for a Playbill Club membership to access discount codes to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, as well as hotels and attractions in New York City.
An absolutely essential site for theatre lovers, the Internet Broadway Database (IBDB) has listings for every Broadway show that ever happened. Want to know who was in the original production of “Porgy and Bess” in 1935 or who replaced Patti Lupone in “Evita?” IBDB.com is the place to find out.
Lortel.org is the homepage for the Lucille Lortel Foundation. Besides offering excellent information on the foundation’s work and lots of history of the Lucille Lortel Theatre, one of Off-Broadway’s best theatres, Lortel.org contains the Internet Off-Broadway Database (IOBDB).
A great new website, Show-Score is kind of like Yelp, but for theatre. Browse all the shows to see how actual theatre-going people feel about the shows playing in New York and beyond. And, the benefits of membership are incredible and totally free. Members can rate any show they see, and once you rate enough, you earn different badges to show others just how influential you are. Members also frequently get offered free tickets to shows and events, as well as discounted tickets to Broadway shows and events where you can not only see great theatre, but also meet fellow enthusiasts and make lasting friendships.
Broadway.org is the main website of The Broadway League, which is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. It’s basically a big group of all the theatre owners and such from all across the country. It’s a great source of information on Broadway and touring shows as well as events such as Kids Night on Broadway.
Similar to the IBDB, the Playbill Vault gives show information for almost every Broadway show ever. The biggest advantage of the Playbill Vault is unsurprisingly the playbills! You can search full playbills for shows going back to the 1920s.
The website of the Theatre Development Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to making theatre affordable for all, TDF is the awesome organization behind the famous TKTS booths located in NYC that offer day-of, half-priced tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. In addition, if eligible, you can join and receive access to heavily discounted tickets to shows in advance. Other resources you can find on the website include the TDF Costume Collection and real-time updates on what can be expected to be at TKTS booths.
A hugely popular website for theatre fans, Broadway.com is a great place for news and features on all the currently running Broadway fare. Top features include video series “Side By Side by Susan Blackwell,” “Broadway Ink,” featuring the amazing artwork of Justin “Squigs” Robertson and the Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards.
Another amazing source of Broadway breaking news, BroadwayWorld.com is great not only for NYC news and features, but for all cities across the country. Some of the amazing features are “Chewing the Scenery with Randy Rainbow,” “Backstage with Richard Ridge,” exclusive early access to some of the best theatre podcast episodes and the infamous BroadwayWorld message boards. Side note, it’s also the only theatre website with an Apple TV app.
Triton Gallery is the only art gallery in the world devoted solely to Broadway posters, known as window cards. While it has all the latest posters from current hits, it also has hundreds of window cards from seasons past. You can also get high-quality reproductions of classic hits, such as the original “Oklahoma!” or “My Fair Lady” posters, and some of the biggest flops, such as the musical version of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” It also sells signed posters, frames and even three-sheets (giant-sized posters like the ones in Shubert Alley). It’s a great site to go shopping or just spend hours browsing!
OK, so this isn't technically a theatre-specific site, but who among us hasn’t fallen into a blissful Broadway-themed video hole of Tony Awards clips or Broadway commercials from the 1980s? YouTube is a treasure trove of videos from Broadway’s past and present. Here, we’ll get you started on another one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o98FxOza6-s
Talkin’ Broadway is a site with many different facets. Probably best known as the home of the “All That Chat” message boards, Talkin’ Broadway also features a weekly roundup of all the soon-to-be-released CDs, books and DVDs, and a Shoppin’ Broadway board where users post tickets, memorabilia and other theatre-related things for sale.
A website with a great and surprisingly novel idea, Did He Like It curates all the different major reviews for Broadway and Off-Broadway shows and answers the question, “Did he (or she) like it?”
Masterworks Broadway is one of the biggest makers of cast recordings in the world, and its website is a great place to shop for more than 100 different original cast recordings and solo artists. However, it’s so much more than that. The website features tons of amazing photos from Broadway’s past, videos of exclusive interviews with the likes of Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince and Angela Lansbury and a weekly column by one of the best musical theatre historians out there, Peter Filichia.
Theatre books are the best, right? But they can be difficult to find, especially older ones. AbeBooks is an amazing website for cheap, hard-to-find books, with tons of theatre books to explore. There’s no better way to spend time than starting to build a theatre library of your own!
Another great site powered by The Broadway League, Spotlight On Broadway focuses not on shows, but the Broadway theatres. Get the history on all 40 of the Broadway theatres with awesome videos, interviews and photos.
*With the opening (or reopening, rather) of the Hudson Theatre, currently home to the revival of “Sunday in the Park With George,” there are now 41 Broadway theatres. Here’s hoping they’ll update the site in the future to include the beautiful Hudson.
BroadwayGreen.com is the homepage for the Broadway Green Alliance (BGA), an amazing resource for how the Broadway community and all theatre communities around the country can help protect the planet and go green. It’s full of great information such as how to recycle costumes and props, what to do with old batteries and computers and other ways to lessen your carbon footprint in the theatre. College students can also sign up to become their college’s green captain to help revitalize their school’s green efforts with the full support of the alliance.
BlueGobo.com is a YouTube-like site dedicated solely to theatre. Ovrtur is an online catalogue with thousands of listings for theatre productions from Broadway, London and beyond. Recently, they combined forces to become a theatre super-site!
Between Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all the other social media sites, it can be difficult to keep track of just the theatre-related posts. Enter Bway Zone! Powered by the Broadway League, Bway Zone brings all the social media sites together and shows you all the theatre posts in real-time.
Whether your a Broadway fan or a theatre kid (adults welcome too) looking to get your swag on, this is the place for you. ThespianSwag.com is ran by the same wonderful (biased) folks here at TheatreNerds.com. This is your one-stop shop for theatre themed merchandise including: clothing, tote bags, jewelry, mugs, & more.
Okay, we might be a bit biased (again), but TheatreNerds.com is one of the best sites out there for, well, theatre nerds! Besides inspiring (and often hilarious) memes featured on the site and on the TheatreNerds Facebook page and an incredible Swag Shop, a new article every day makes it an essential website to visit daily. And, there are big things coming, too, such as an audition song database, a musical web series, a theatre history of the day column and so much more. Stick with us, fellow theatre nerds — we’ve got you covered.
Open calls, both union (known as Equity Principal Auditions and Equity Chorus Calls) and non-union cattle calls are the most popular ways for those new to NYC to get seen for all the auditioning theatre jobs. Being that these are the most easily accessible to actors at any level, they are also the most crowded and sometimes require many hours of waiting all day to be seen to strut your stuff. Make sure you are prepared to wait and keep your mind busy by bringing a good book, iPad to watch movies or television and or busywork. It will make you much happier if you can keep your mind and spirit positively occupied during long waits.
Lining up for auditions and guaranteeing you’ll be seen requires waking up at the crack of dawn. Depending on how the audition will be, you may need to get in line as early as 5:30 a.m. (and yes, there are people who show up even earlier). If you show up any later than 7 a.m., don’t be surprised if there is a line around the block and hundreds of people in front of you.
You may or may not be used to harsh winters, but NYC does have them, and a good bulk of auditions happens during those months. This means you’ll be waiting in lines outside in the cold until those audition studios open up for the day. Be sure to wear layers of winter clothes and buy portable hand warmers so you’ll stay cozy and warm.
During busy audition season, multiple auditions can happen on a single day. This means you could potentially go back and forth across town many times in a few hours, first to sign up for all these auditions, then to actually attend them. To make this happen, get your stamina up, keep good track of time and plan out your day in advance as best you can to know exactly where and when you need to go.
Unless you live right in the heart of the Midtown Theatre District where most auditions occur and can bolt home between auditions, you need to cope with the reality that you’ll have to carry everything on your person that you need for everything you’re planning to do that day. Many performers have solved this issue by investing in a small rolling suitcase or rolling backpack. You can usually fit all you need into these, and it won’t hurt your body from carrying so much stuff on your back or shoulders with other heavy bags and purses. Definitely invest in one before you head into the NYC audition scene.
There’s nothing glamorous about getting ready for auditions in NYC. Sometimes, the audition studios have places to change, and sometimes they don’t. Prepare yourself that you may be stuck changing in the nearest Starbucks or McDonald’s restroom. Once you’ve been on the audition scene for a while, you’ll start to learn the not-so-publicized locations to change into your best duds. Helpful hint: Hotel lobbies and free tourist destinations usually have lovely bathrooms.
With the number of people auditioning, it’s very normal that you can be asked to sing eight, 16 or 32 bars of a song if you’re auditioning for a musical — literally just a snippet of a song to see if you are the voice type they’re looking for. Make sure you have many music options for these types of auditions. It’s usually not said in advance what type of cut will be asked for (as creative teams are often seeing how many people show up to the audition and how much time they have to see auditionees), so be sure to plan your different song options in advance.
Typing occurs a lot. This is when a lot of actors are brought into the audition room at once and the creative team takes a quick look at everyone in person and decides within a few seconds whether they need to see more from you. Everyone who they don’t need to see perform is dismissed. It is a very quick process, and a huge reality in the NYC audition scene. Although this may seem frustrating and unfair, you can choose to look at it as a positive occurrence. If you’re typed out, you can go about with your day and move on to other auditions. If you’re typed in, it means your chances just got better of actually booking the gig.
Getting together with your entire cast before rehearsal and sharing a meal can be a wonderful connecting experience. Really, though, when does food not bring people together?
Those first reviews can be nerve-wracking, so why not do it as a team and endure the anxiety together? Adding a little coffee or cronut to the mix will help sweeten the deal.
Go hit the theatre and see another production to get you psyched up for the one you’re all working on. Nothing sparks conversation among thespians like seeing a show.
OK, so this one is tricky and you shouldn’t do it during an actual performance. But who doesn’t love a good stage game (or, shall we say, stage shenanigan?) One popular option is sneakily passing a small object from actor to actor without the audience or director knowing. Just don’t get caught!
What better way to build togetherness than going out for a group hike, hitting the lanes for some bowling or even playing some mini golf? Quietly getting to know one another in the wings is one thing, but hiking up a snowy mountaintop is quite another. Of course, there’s always karaoke for the less outdoorsy types.
If there’s a movie version of the production you’re in, gather together and watch it as a group — with the bonus of popcorn!
Round up the cast and crew, pick a cause, don your show shirts and give back to your theatre-loving community. Host some volunteer classes for kids, pick up litter in the area or sing at your local retirement home. Performing acts of kindness as a group will surely bring you and your cast together.
[post_title] => 7 Ways To Bond With Your Castmates
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This indie Irish film about two musicians crossing paths is romantic and inspiring. The film’s iconic “Falling Slowly” won best original song at the Oscars, so it’s no surprise this film was adapted into a musical. With music by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who also starred in the film, it was interesting to see whether the musical could be as effective as the film. The musical turned out to be insanely successful, winning eight Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical.
Why it’s great as a musical: What truly brings this musical to life is the ensemble. They act as dancers, singers and musicians throughout the show, making the whole production feel very organic. The scene of “Gold” alone is brilliant to watch. Having stayed true to the original story and remastered songs, this show brings the music and story alive in a way the film couldn’t do.
This coming-of-age story about a boy who wants to be a professional ballet dancer is both heartwarming and entertaining. The 2000 film the musical is based on won multiple BAFTA awards and was nominated for multiple Oscars as well. What makes both the film and the musical so special is the title character himself. The talent he needs to exude along with the emotional performance is what makes this story so effective. Aside from winning Best Musical at the 2009 Tony Awards, this show made history with a Tony Award first: Three actors were nominated for an award in the same role. David Álvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish all won the Tony for their portrayal of Billy Elliot.
Why it’s great as a musical: This may be obvious, but the dancing. The title character is dazzling to watch onstage. “Electricity,” based on a speech Billy gives in the film, is particularly impressive. Aside from the amazing dance numbers throughout the show, the main message is to show kids to not be afraid to express themselves, no matter what they want to do.
The 1985 film, based on a book of the same name, stars Whoopi Goldberg in her Golden Globe-winning performance. The film centers around Celie, who endures terrible things throughout her life. Her story is inspiring because she persists despite the odds stacked against her. With producers on the musical such as Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey, this musical was set to succeed. Though it was beat out for Best Musical by “Jersey Boys” in 2006, LaChanze did win Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Celie.
Why it’s great as a musical: What truly makes this musical great is how true it is to its predecessors. The musical does not stray away from the tough scenes or the heart of the movie. It only magnifies these things with the amazing soul and gospel music throughout, with “I’m Here” as a particular standout.
Stay away from the people in the audition room or waiting area who seem to be giving off a very nervous energy and/or are having negative conversations. These vampire auditionees suck your positive, prepared energy and can affect your psyche in an unproductive way.
Do everything in your power to keep away from them, as you don’t want to end up having a bad audition because of their attitude. This may mean stepping outside the holding room and waiting in the hallway until your turn is up or finding a corner of the room where no one can bother you.
If by some chances these vampires are friends of yours, don’t be afraid to kindly tell them you are trying to stay focused so you will rock your audition. They should understand. Then, move quickly toward a more positive atmosphere.
Busy your mind to tune out vampires and/or keep any of your own insecurities and inner negative voices at bay. Better yet, keep yourself busy with something that takes you to your happy place, whether you’re watching your favorite television show on your iPad, listening to inspirational music, reading a book, doing yoga stretches, meditating, coloring, doing a crossword puzzle or even continuing to study those sides. Keeping your mind busy and happy means staying present and in the moment, so you won’t be as worried about your impending audition.
Having something fun to do after an audition leads to positivity in the audition, too. Your mind is unconsciously looking forward to what’s next. Also, don’t be afraid to plan to treat yourself to a job well done once your audition is over. This way, you are setting yourself up for success, not failure. Don’t worry — even if you don’t have the best audition, your plans become a way to keep your mind off any bombed or not-so-great auditions once they’re over.
As much as everyone loves to share on social media, don’t tell people (including friends and family) about your auditions before you do them. You are setting yourself up for expectations and the undue pressure and emotional stress put upon you by others who want to ask what it’s for and how you did, give you their opinions of how right or wrong for the part you are or even react negatively as another performer who didn’t land the appointment you did.
Last, if the stress of an important audition is going to wreak havoc on your nerves no matter what you do, stack the deck in your favor. If sides have not been given to you, choose to use material you know you can do in your sleep (figuratively speaking, of course). This way, you can do the best audition you possibly can and won’t be as nervous about it.
On the other side of the coin, if the casting or creative team gives you sides to learn, make sure to get as much practice and performance with the material before the audition as possible. You can even set up a few mock auditions with supportive individuals or mentors, where you can run through them and get out those initial nerves and stress that comes from performing new material for the first time. You’ll be surprised by how quickly practicing your audition in front of people will lessen stress and allow you to have much more fun when it comes time for the real thing.
The famous actress wowed audience members with her Broadway debut performance in ‘Thérèse Raquin,” but there was one attendee whose affections she could have gone without. During the first preview, the show stopped because of Keira Knightley’s stalker.
According to Broadway World, social media was abuzz with the incident, with one user detailing, “Show was stopped because an audience member, who I thought was part of the cast, stood up by the front mezzanine railing and asked Keira Knightley to marry him. He was escorted out, but not before he threw a huge bouquet of flowers from 5 rows up on to the stage.”
Another user wrote, “There was apparently a Keira Knightley stalker at ‘Thérèse Raquin,’ who came in and yelled ‘Christ was born of a virgin! Keira, marry me!’”
A Broadway World member named jacobstf took to the site’s message board to further explain what happened: “After a very awkward silence, Gabriel Ebert motioned to Knightley, they walked over to the bouquet and kicked it into the wings (which got applause). After trying to resume the show, a voice came over the speakers announcing there would be a short break."
Yikes! Ignoring him was definitely the smartest thing to do. After the scary incident, Roundabout, which produced the show, amped up its security measures.
Laura Benanti called out a cell phone ring during a matinee performance of “She Loves Me” on April 2016. The Tony winner was in the middle of singing the emotionally charged song “Will He Like Me?” when she heard the interruption. Like the pro she is, she initially kept singing, softly squeezing a “Hello” into her song. As the ringing persisted, Playbill reported, Benanti became irked, saying “I’ll wait” and then “We’ll all wait” as the orchestra paused with her. As soon as the ringing subsided, Benanti picked up her song exactly where she left off.
The entertainer addressed the incident on Twitter the following day:
She also shared a link to “Look Up,” a song she performed with The Skivvies that is the perfect anecdote for rude theatergoers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3FNlo1ft5w
When in doubt, bark! Annaleigh Ashford told Playbill she “thought that something dire must be happening” when an audience member picked up her phone and had a full conversation during a performance of “Sylvia.” How did the Tony winner deal with the disturbance? With a completely in-character dog bark, of course!
“We’re very lucky to be in a play that is set up so that if a cell phone rings, I can bark at it. It’s much easier to recognize and acknowledge it and handle it lightly than in other plays,” Ashford told Playbill. “If the same phone goes off more than once, it’s usually someone who doesn’t know cell phones very well. Well, in this case, the second time it rang, she picked up and answered and started talking. It turned into a full conversation. The audience around her started shushing her, but she kept talking. We could hear it onstage.”
After two pages of dialogue, Ashford recalled that she and costar Matthew Broderick gave up on continuing the scene, as the offending theatregoer was still disrupting the audience.
“It became very clear that the audience was so distracted that they weren’t in the world of the play anymore,” she said.
Finally, someone around the woman helped her to hang up the phone and turn it off.
“We told the audience, ‘We’re going to go back, if you don’t mind,’” Ashford said. “That got applause. We briefly talked about where to go back to, then we took positions and started the scene again. The audience was with us 100 percent.”
It seems like Madonna should have taken a note from her hit song, “Hung Up” and hung up her phone. While she might be an international superstar, the singer was just another audience member when she watched an Off-Broadway performance of “Hamilton” at the Public Theatre. After arriving late, the star was allegedly texting during the show, prompting Miranda himself to ban her from visiting backstage afterward.
“Tonight was the first time I asked stage management NOT to allow a celebrity (who was texting all through Act 2) backstage. #noselfieforyou,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning genius wrote in a since-deleted tweet. That’s right — not even Madonna is excused from being disruptive!
This year, Phillipa Soo swapped out the title of Elizabeth Schuyler for a chance to step into the shoes of Amelie. The titular character from the Oscar-nominated movie and new stage musical is pretty much the spirit animal for any introvert. Why? Amelie may be quiet, but she has a world of hopes and dreams in her mind. In fact, her timid nature doesn’t stop her from achieving big things and making her mark on the world. Soo kickstarts our list as she reinvents this inspiring story.
Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens are the masterminds behind the music and lyrics of “Anastasia: The New Broadway Musical.” Ahrens, whose stacked resume ranges from “Seussical” to “Ragtime” to a Patti LuPone concert, uses her magic to bring a beloved childhood phenomenon to the stage. Thanks to Ahrens, we can’t wait to get inspired by this incredible tale of Russian royalty.
The adorable stage adaptation of “Waitress” offers audiences more than just a chance to buy pint-sized pies. The show brings an empowering message of determination and strength, all set to a glorious score by song-seamstress Sara Bareilles. Currently, Bareilles is taking the stage and singing her own songs as the show’s protagonist, Jenna. Theatre nerds everywhere are giving her mad props for cooking up a successful Broadway debut.
This theatrical starlet shines in Broadway’s new swing musical, “Bandstand.” Playing a wartime widow who finds a second chance at life, Osnes joins this upbeat show partnering with Got Your 6, an organization that “believes veterans are leaders, team builders and problem solvers, who have the unique potential to lead a resurgence of community across the nation.” This Tony-nominated actress aids “Bandstand” in bringing audiences a meaningful message.
Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” gets a facelift in an invigorating Broadway show titled “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.” It stars Josh Groban, rakes in rave reviews and was directed by powerhouse Rachel Chavkin. Chavkin has exercised her directing chops in the theatre world before, spearheading a number of Off-Broadway productions, including “Great Comet,” which she took to Broadway in 2016.
This Hollywood acting icon returned to the Great White Way in a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard” (yup — there’s more to Sir ALW than kitties and opera ghosts). Why is this particular casting choice inspiring? Close, who played the role of Norma back in 1994, doesn’t just recreate this beloved role. In fact, the acclaimed actress brings something fresh and new to this classic Broadway musical. According to Playbill, director Lonny Price says Close approached the role “dead set on exploring what Norma and ‘Sunset’ mean to her now.”
This dynamic duo officially brings our count to eight. As half of the four-person team that wrote Broadway’s a cappella musical “In Transit,” Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Sara Wordsworth are most certainly making waves in the theatre world. You might recognize Anderson-Lopez’s name as the lyricist for “Frozen’s” little ditty “Let It Go.” Now, these ladies have created a unique show about adventuring through New York City and, of course, finding yourself along the way.
It’s important to stay warm before and during a performance. Take as much time as you need to stretch and limber up to avoid injury. Also, don’t forget to stretch those vocal chords. It’s just as important to warm up your voice for a show to avoid damage.
If you’re waiting to go on, run the show or the upcoming scene in your head and practice saying your lines to yourself. The more you commit the show to memory, the less likely you are to freeze onstage and forget what comes next. Do the same with choreography — run the dance in your head and mark it. If you are unfamiliar, marking means to run through the choreography using limited movement. For instance, you might use a finger spin or a head roll to mark a turn.
This point cannot be made enough. It’s easy to forget to drink water, especially when the adrenaline of a live performance kicks in. But it’s crucial to hydrate throughout the show to keep your voice and body in good shape. Make a point of grabbing a drink each time you get off the stage. If you do it first, you are less likely to get distracted and forget.
Immersing yourself in the show will help give you a strong performance. For those few hours, forget any real-life stress, empty your mind and inhabit your character. One way to help set the mood is to create a playlist for your character and listen to it before you go onstage.
Another way to clear your mind and focus solely on your performance is to meditate before you go onstage. Some actors do this in their dressing rooms, while others will find a quiet spot in the theatre before the doors open to the public.
Feeling stressed or anxious during your performance? Try out a coloring book. Coloring can have a calming effect and help you center yourself. Adult coloring books are all the rage right now, so finding one that strikes your fancy shouldn’t be too difficult. Grab some crayons, and you’ll be ready to rock!
Why not try your hand at creating original work? Many writers have been known to create incredible work during snatches of time between their real-life obligations.
Help create buzz for your show by tweeting during the performance. Spreading the word through social media helps generate interest in your production and put more butts in seats every night.
Whether you’re reading a school textbook or the latest bestseller, you can catch up on your reading while you’re sitting and waiting backstage.
Cards and games are an excellent way to bond with your castmates. Just don’t get so caught up in the game that you miss your cue! It happens more than you think.
In the frenzy of preparation and quick changes, costumes and makeup can get strewn everywhere. If you have a few minutes, reorganize your things to avoid losing important items.
Use your free time to improve your skills. Learn to knit, fold origami or learn a new language. Who knows, it could be something you can add to your resume! You never know what the next director could be looking for.
No matter what your interests are, there’s likely a podcast out there for you. To keep up-to-date with theatre news, BroadwayRadio’s podcasts are a great way to get all the information every weekday in 30 minutes or less.
Don’t wait for the show to be over before you line up your next one. Use any free time to find other auditions in your area so you never have to be show-less.
This can lessen the sting of post-show depression. Each night, write down things that happened during the performance, funny moments, what you want to remember or how you’re feeling. Even bullet journaling works if you’re short on time. When the show is over, this will be a meaningful keepsake you can reread when you’re feeling blue.
Grab a stack of Post-Its and write encouraging messages to members of your cast and crew. Stick them in places they’ll see them, such as their spot in the dressing room. Tell them something you like about them or something that was excellent about their performance that day. This will help keep morale high when exhaustion starts to kick in.
Don’t forget to snap a few pics when you’re hanging out backstage. Like journals, photos are a great keepsake that will help you battle the post-show sadness when it’s all over. Just be sure to ask people’s permission before you take a photo of them, just in case they’re camera-shy.
Young: A love of history and storytelling. I’m a really bad actor.
TN: Can you explain a bit about the creative process and research needed in designing for a Broadway show?
Young: Every show calls for a different approach, but in general, I do a lot of research. I look for books of museum catalogs for real period details or portrait collections. I also look at art and photographs to start to put together a certain mood and palette for the show. I sometimes do collages to have these to reference as I build the show.
For build items, I do a rendering. For shopped looks, I sometimes only have a collage and a shopping list because I know the look is going to be designed on the actor in the fittings. I also work with drapers and tailors who suggest certain period details like seaming or hidden pleats that might be a nice additions to the design. I really like to have an open dialogue with all my makers.
TN: I would imagine working as a designer requires a great team of helpers. Do you have assistants that help bring your vision to life?
Young: Absolutely! Usually, one who does all the paperwork and assists with shopping for an Off-Broadway show, and four to six assistants for a big Broadway show. Often, reams of responsibility are given to specific people: shoes (for a dance show), swatchers*, shoppers.
* “Swatchers” is costume language for those who go out and look for fabrics to use in building the costumes.
TN: What inspires you to pursue specific projects?
Young: If it’s a musical, will I want to hear the music over and over again? If it’s a play, do the characters feel like people I’m interested to know more about?
TN: How do you look for work as a designer? Do you pitch? Do people find you?
Young: Usually, I get called in by a director who I’ve worked with or had a colleague recommend me. Sometimes, I know the producers and creative team have been given a handful of designers to look at, so I read the script and might pitch them with a few images and general ideas about how my aesthetic might be a good fit for the show. There are no open calls for designers. You have to just work with as many people as possible, so as they move up in their careers, they’ll bring you along.
TN: What/who inspired your designs on ‘Bandstand?’
Young: My grandfather, Hal, was a Navy Pilot in World War II and also a trumpet player/music lover. Even though the musical has a poetic shape and dancers who sometimes represent things other than people (survivor’s guilt, musical instruments, confidence, etc.), I really wanted to make a world where everything felt authentic to these characters who were representing the experience of real veterans. I looked at photos of VA halls and old LIFE magazines to look for details that made these actors feel unique, imperfect and real. I’m really thrilled that “Bandstand” is the first production to be “6 Certified.” “Got Your 6” bestows this seal to pieces that contain a representative and balanced depiction of veterans.
TN: Any advice/inspiration for those wanting to become a costume designer?
Young: Do other things first! Study people, study art, study history, be a waiter or any kind of office role. Without a round life experience, it’s hard to slip into so many different kinds of mind — you need to be a master of understanding why people wear what they wear, not what they should wear to look pretty. It’s real-world knowledge you can apply to kings and janitors equally.
TN: Any advice for actors when they are in a show and working with a designer making costumes for them?
Young: Always be polite. Ask questions about choices you don’t understand instead of saying, “My character would never wear this.” If we know you are trying to understand how we’ve been picturing the character, then we will be willing to hear you might have arrived at differing motivations and be interested in collaborating and finding the character (and their costumes’ looks) together. Always tell a costume designer when any element of your costume is really working for you, that it helps you step into the role or that it makes you feel beautiful, etc. Positive feedback is always good in collaborations! And finally, don’t think shoes that pinch a little will get better in performance. So many green actors want to be a people-pleaser and try to make uncomfortable things work. It can lead to injury and grumpy designers who don’t have money for a new pair of shoes.
More About Young
Young was born and raised in Southern California and off the coast of Maine. While studying American Social History at the University of California Berkeley to be a librarian or an academic, she designed the costumes for a series of Beckett Shorts as an extracurricular. Seven years later, she graduated from the University of California San Diego with a MFA in costume design under the tutelage of Judith Dolan.
New York-based since 2008, Young designs costumes for plays and musicals locally and globally. Her work has been described as “witty, period-scrambling” and “marvelously inventive.” Thematically varying by show, her designs are strongly built on collage and steeped in the “something old, something new” ethos of punk irreverence. She balances modern dress projects with period and fantasy pieces, with a strong focus on character psychology and historic sociological influences in every genre.
Some of her work includes “Peter and the Starcatcher,” for which she received a 2012 Tony Award, “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” (now running on Broadway and the recipient of the Lucille Lortel Award and Drama Desk nomination for earlier incarnations Off-Broadway) and “Bandstand,” currently running at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre.
Regionally, she’s collaborated with many companies, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Old Globe, American Repertory Theatre, South Coast Repertory, San Diego Repertory, Mixed Blood Theatre Company, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Dallas Theatre Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Center Theatre Group, Hand2Mouth, California Shakespeare Theatre and the Actors Theatre of Louisville. In New York, she has worked at Second Stage, MCC, New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, The Vineyard, Ars Nova and Colt Coeur.
Other honors include a Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award, Boston’s Elliot Norton Award, TDF/Kitty Leech Young Masters Award, Henry Hewes Design Award nominations and a Column Award nomination. Her work has been featured in several print publications: Chance Magazine, American Theatre Magazine, Lighting and Sound America and Manor House Quarterly.
In education, Paloma has taught several courses on costume and production design while supervising undergraduate designers at UC San Diego. She also developed curriculum for a new class about technology and the body in performance. She has been a university guest lecturer and participated in lectures about design and sustainability for educators and elementary students.
Her work and process can be seen at www.palomayoung.com
Follow Paloma on Instagram @secondpigeon
[post_title] => Q&A With Tony Award-Winning Costume Designer Paloma Young
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[post_title] => Take This Quiz To Find Out Your Show-Tune Anthem
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[post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-05 13:00:07
[post_content] => Even if you didn’t personally have a stage mom yourself, you probably knew one unlucky friend or classmate who did. Here’s a list to bring back that certain chill that comes with the terror of being in the presence of a true stage mom:
While other moms said things like, “You looked great when you spun around a whole bunch,” the Stage Mom learned the technical terms so she could properly critique your fouette en tournant.
She has signed up for every backstage job at one time or another. Her resume boasts stage lighting, seamstress, stage manager, set designer, etc. She’ll do anything to help her help you get that bigger and better part.
Every run-in with your mom was a chance for her to bend them to her will, whether to land you a bigger part or complain about how short your solo was.
Your weekends were always spent practicing your dance moves or your vocal selections, instead of riding bikes and playing with your friends. You loved it, but your mom loved it even more.
She was cracking open the bubbly when you got your first speaking role; meanwhile, you were still unsure whether you were cool with public speaking.
To better correct your form, of course.
There wasn’t a barbecue or family reunion that passed without your mom demanding you perform in front of the whole family, much to the chagrin of your relatives, who were too polite to tell her you were flat.
When you got the solo in school choir, everyone had to hear about it — including your waiter at TGI Fridays.
She spent your family’s vacation money on your voice lessons, demo tapes and teeth bleaching. Your siblings still resent this, but were relieved they weren’t the center of your mother’s crazed attention.
Seriously, she knew your lines by heart and relished the opportunity to tell you when you missed a word or phase. She also knew exactly how many lines you had, and didn’t hesitate to share that information with her coworkers or friends.
She offered to homeschool you so you’d have more time to hone your craft.
Don’t worry, Mom just locked herself in the bathroom for hours because you didn’t make the cast list.
Instead of, “Don’t forget your coat,” it was, “Don’t forget your lines.” Instead of “You’re not leaving the house wearing all that makeup,” it was, “That’s not enough blush, and where are your false eyelashes?”
When I was a freshman in high school, I was in my first school show. We were doing a production of “Me and My Girl,” which is basically a weird secondhand version of “My Fair Lady.” A senior in our school thought he was above the silly myth of uttering the Scottish play. Of course, the day before our opening night, he said the infamous word in the theatre. We all told him he had to follow the correct procedures to reverse the curse. Of course, he laughed in our faces. As we went back to change out of our costumes that night, the lights abruptly turned off. Everyone screamed, and after a few seconds, they came back on.
I wish I could say it stopped there.
The first act of the show ends with this big ensemble number, so most of us were in fancy dress complete with elbow-length gloves. On our opening night, we were all getting ready to go on, then the fire alarm went off. Everyone had to evacuate the theatre. All of the actors had to go out back, and of course, it was pouring rain. As we all huddled together trying to stay dry, we knew this had to be related to the curse. The alarm was finally fixed, and we all returned to the theatre and completed our number in our damp dresses.
The next day, the fuse box blew. At that point, most of the cast didn’t think it was a coincidence. The responsible senior was forced outside to do the reversal. After that, the final show of the weekend went according to plan without any issues.
— Nicole M.
Junior year of high school, we were putting on “The Odd Couple” (both versions) while simultaneously reading the Scottish play in English. The kid playing Oscar started talking about it during dress rehearsal and promptly twisted his ankle. He had to leave rehearsal to go to urgent care and had a limp for the run of the show.
— Jen R.
When I was in high school, we did two one-act plays for my senior-year show. Between the two casts, there were a lot of people. Our theatre program was still in development, and a lot of people who were in the show were new to theatre. As we all spent time together and bonded, I mentioned the curse of the Scottish play, and everyone looked at me like I had 12 heads. I was so surprised that they had never heard of it, but beyond that, most people didn’t believe me, and they thought it was just a funny bit to tease me with.
They said it all the time, and I would furiously rush to do the countercurse for them to hopefully save our shows. It became a huge joke, and everyone thought it was hysterical, but I was truly terrified that something was going to happen.
During our preview performance during the school day, the curse presented itself. The first one-act was set in a high-school classroom of a school that was just placed on lockdown. There’s a scene where the fire alarm goes off, and there’s chaos in the room and everyone’s running around and screaming. During this moment, one of the shy and timid students escapes out of the classroom. While we were doing this scene, the actress playing the shy student got shuffled around in all of the chaos and ended up flying into the classroom door, headfirst, taking the doorknob with her. Luckily, she wasn’t too seriously injured, but my castmates eased up on the teasing after that!
— Marissa R.
It was our final show, and someone said “Macbeth” right before curtain. The show went fine. Afterward, we packed up the auditorium. To take the trash out, we bring it up the elevator to save ourselves from carrying it up the stairs. Well, when we went up, the elevator got stuck and firemen had to come and get us out.
— Emma O.
My senior year of high school, I worked on costumes for “West Side Story.” Someone in the cast had read the play for English class, and someone said the name in the theatre. Shortly after, our Maria ended up in the hospital, Tony sprained his ankle and one of the ensemble members shattered his heel during a fight scene rehearsal. This was all about four days before opening night. Luckily, everyone was OK, and even the guy with the shattered heel still made it onstage. But, needless to say, my high school is definitely wary of the Scottish play now. I actually think the guy who shattered his heel was the guy who said the name of the play.
— Brianna N.
At our community college, we were in tech week for “Taming of the Shrew.” An older man who had taught English but had never done theatre said it during a prop check. The chair broke and he fell. Then, the chair fell on him and he broke his shoulder. The light board also buzzed and shorted out. We attempted to do some “reverse the curse” ritual, and then we were told to go home.
— Meg S.
In high school, we were getting the set together for two different shows. One of the students did believe in the “M-word” and decided to say it three times center stage and loud enough to hear across the theatre. Shortly after, one student had a bad feeling about the lights onstage and decided to double-check. It was a good thing, too, because the light was about to fall. Then, one of the female leads in one of the plays was cutting some fabric for curtains and cut her finger deep enough that she needed stitches. Next, the guy who was in a group during rehearsals was walking around the stage and fell off the stage, spraining his ankle.
— Natalia B.
The market is competitive, and there aren’t enough hours in the day to master every skill you could potentially have to make yourself the most marketable as a performer. So, maximize your time and optimize your efforts by taking ownership of your strengths and weaknesses. Build your confidence so that it is unbreakable. Improve what you do well so that you do it better than anyone, and come to terms with what you don’t do well. Owning this will greatly relieve the stress of pounding the pavement on a daily basis, as you won’t feel the need to have to be everything for everybody.
There is truly no one else like you in this world. Own this! Trust that bringing your unique you and your individual experiences to the surface in both your acting choices and audition material is enough to make you stand out and be remembered in this business. This way, when a job comes along that matches you and your talents, you will book it.
Don’t just have one goal, don’t put all your eggs in one basket and don’t just plant one seed. There are so many opportunities for performers. You can up your chances of work and success by always making sure to say “Yes” to performing gigs that come your way. You never know where the next one may lead!
You don’t need to sit back and wait for the next job to come your way. Instead, be a proactive performer and make your own opportunities. Whether it be web series, plays, readings, cabarets and/or writing new works and producing them, show your best talents to the world on your terms. People will be watching, and you may even develop a fan-base. Who knows? It could lead you to be hired for other projects as well.
There is no one way to achieve goals in the performing business, and your success shouldn’t be defined or compared to others. Take solace in the fact that the way you make your way in this career path will be uniquely yours. Enjoy the journey!
This fancy-sounding job (sometimes called a “literary manager”) is essential to helping actors, directors and companies as a whole bring a story to life. A dramaturg researches everything from a play’s historical context to the playwright’s own background. Often, they assist costume and set designers in making sure the time period is accurately represented, as well as prepare a packet of information for actors and creatives to dive into when studying a piece’s social or political context. Are you a history buff? A research fiend? Someone who likes compiling comprehensive reports? This job might just be for you!
Some say stage managers are the backbone of any successful theatre production. Along with performing administrative duties such as coordinating transportation for an event or helping the director and production staff, a stage manager is charged with making sure the performance itself goes smoothly. Organization, a knack for taking initiative and a strong knowledge of theatre are required.
If being onstage isn’t your cup of tea, becoming an acting coach or improv teacher probably isn’t for you. However, there are plenty of other courses of study that call for a theatre nerd’s mind. Teaching a class on the history of theatre, theatre development and Shakespeare are examples of non-acting classes that help educate future generations on what it takes to bring a production to life.
With many millennials drawn to these fields already, theatre aficionados can find their niche working with an agency or venue that specializes in the performing arts. Marketers seek to promote a show to the general public through social media campaigns, promotions and more. Press representatives coordinate interviews with the media in hopes of getting show coverage. If you seek both the theatre world and business world, these professions might catch your eye.
Yes, you’ve probably heard of this one, but we think it’s awesome! While playwrights often write in their spare time, this can be rewarding if it’s something you’re invested in pursuing. Working on a passion project like this might not be a full-time job right away, but no play or musical would exist without a dreamer. Playwrights have the power to inspire, empower and create change with words.
Creating the world that a piece of art lives in is no small task. These two creative professions often work on a project-to-project basis — and they’re necessary to the industry. From working with opera houses to contemporary theatres, these artists can take audiences to a new time and place.
This job may sound like a piece of cake, but a lot goes into picking the perfect ensemble of cast members. Teaming up with the director, producer and creative team, the casting director must have an acute understanding of what each character brings to the story. Understanding what type of actor is needed, as well as coordinating auditions, is only the beginning of this unique career.
Have a friend who is just starting out with photography do a free shoot (or bribe them with coffee, if you’re feeling nice). Even if they aren’t the professional shots you’re hoping for, you can use this experience as a dry run for the real thing. See which looks and colors worked and which didn’t. Then, when you’re paying big bucks for a three-look package, you’ll know which three you want. And, as a bonus, if your friend’s shots are good enough, you just got yourself free headshots!
Find a photographer that is just starting out, and trade them. Free headshots... and in return they get a portfolio to show future clients.
Borrow clothes from your friend with that walk-in closet full of possibilities to amp up your photo session for free. Just be sure to clean and iron them before you return them.
Some places, such as Sephora, offer “free” makeovers if you spent $50 in the store. If you know you need to buy foundation and blush anyway, you might as well time it out so you do it on the day of your headshots. You can get your makeup done by a pro for the price of a few makeup essentials you were going to buy anyway.
Just be clear about what you want so it doesn’t come out overdone. Make sure they know it’s for on-camera, because on-camera makeup is different than regular makeup. As always, make sure you still look like you.
Hire a student studying makeup at a cosmetology school. Most of them need to build portfolios and will do it for free (or in exchange for lunch). The best part is they need you to look good for their portfolio, so they’ll be doing their best work. Plus, they will most likely be willing to go to the studio with you to touch you up as you go or change your look to a more dramatic one as you progress.
Don’t do this for your main pics, of course, but use an iPhone for a trial run. Have a fun photoshoot with a friend and your iPhone to practice that million-dollar smile and mysterious dramatic allure. This way, you’ll be ready to make magic once you get into a more expensive session with the clock ticking.
Don’t just go with the most expensive photographer everyone is talking about. There are tons of smaller, lesser-known photographers who do great work — just take the time to do some research. If you’re on the fence, show the lesser-known photographers’ work to your agent or manager to get their opinion. If they think the shots are good enough to land auditions, book an appointment. Not only did you save money, but your shots won’t have the same cookie-cutter look that some of the big shots have.
This may be obvious, but like many other businesses, photographers do offer specials from time to time. It’s not a bad idea to ask if and when they offer discounts.
Take the time to know what you’re looking for in a headshot. Are you aiming for that perfect commercial shot, dramatic daytime TV actor look or Broadway baby? Spend some time looking at other professionals in the realm of what you’re going for and see what they did that worked. Pay attention to the wardrobe and color choices for the style you’re going for and whether they used natural lighting. These are all factors you’ll want to consider before you arrive. The photographer isn’t going to have all the answers or the time to make those decisions for you. Only you and your agent know what exactly you’re trying to sell, so be as prepared as possible so you don’t have to take multiple rounds of headshots.
When the Al Hirschfeld Theatre was built for its original namesake, vaudeville impresario Martin Beck, it was the only theatre in New York that was owned outright without a mortgage.
Though the theatre looks totally normal from the outside, the Ambassador Theatre is actually situated diagonally on its property to maximize the seating potential.
In the 1990s, before it was acquired by the Roundabout Theatre Company, the Selwyn Theatre (now American Airlines) was temporarily the Times Square Visitors Center.
The August Wilson Theater was, in a way, responsible for the careers of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The Garrick Gaieties, a benefit revue that thrust the future titans of Broadway into the public spotlight, was originally put on to raise money for the new tapestries for the Guild Theater, now called the August Wilson. But don’t look for the tapestries when you go see “Groundhog Day” — they’ve sadly been lost over time.
The theatre’s namesake, David Belasco, had a 10-room apartment built into the theatre for himself. Styled in an American Gothic theme (he was known as the Bishop of Broadway), the duplex featured an elevator connected to backstage, several offices, an ornate fireplace and even a grotto. The apartment is abandoned now and not in use or available to the public.
The grand arches in the mezzanine are decorated with two beautiful murals entitled “Lovers of Spain,” by Willy Pogany.
The Booth Theatre is named after legendary actor Edwin Booth, who was known as one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of all time. He had his legacy somewhat overshadowed by his infamous brother, presidential assassin John Wilkes Booth.
The Broadhurst Theatre is an exact mirror of its neighbor on 45th Street, the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.
While several theatres became movie houses at one point in their past, the Broadway Theatre started out as a movie house and became a legitimate theatre. It was here that ground-breaking cartoon “Steamboat Willie” debuted and introduced the world to Mickey Mouse.
Like many of the Broadway theatres, the Brooks Atkinson was, for some time, a television studio. The theatre was known as CBS Studio 59 and was where popular game shows “I’ve Got a Secret” and “What’s My Line?” were filmed.
The Circle in the Square houses the Circle in the Square Theatre School, the only accredited training conservatory associated with a Broadway theatre.
The proscenium arch of the Cort Theatre was constructed in perforated plaster and was treated with art glass, enabling it to be lit during performances. While the arch still exists, the lighting feature no longer operates.
Named for the legendary Ethel Barrymore, whose production of “The Kingdom of God” opened the theatre in 1928, the Barrymore was the last theatre built before the Great Depression and the last theatre built by the Shubert Brothers, Lee and J.J.
The Forrest Theatre, its original name, was originally planned by the Schuberts as half of a theatre/hotel complex. But, because of the Great Depression, the Shuberts could only afford to build the theatre.
The Schoenfeld, originally the Plymouth, was architect Herbert J. Krapp’s first commission. Krapp was a monumental figure in the shaping of Broadway as we know it today, having designed 15 of the current Broadway theatres and several more that are no longer standing.
The Gershwin Theatre was originally named the Uris Theatre, whose first occupant was a massive flop called “Via Galactica.” However, the show was originally called “Up.” The producers decided to change the name of the musical when they booked the new Broadway theatre, not wanting to have “Up Uris” displayed in big, bold letters in Times Square.
Originally named the Little Theatre, the venue lived up to its name with only 300 seats. In the 1920s, it was redesigned to increase the seating and improve acoustics. The theatre now seats 597 people, making it the smallest Broadway theatre.
The Hudson is both Broadway’s oldest and newest theatre. It first opened on Oct. 19, 1903, beating the New Amsterdam’s opening by one week. The theatre reopened on Feb. 23, 2017, after being dark since 1968.
The Imperial is probably the luckiest theatre on Broadway. Besides more recent long-running hits such as “Billy Elliot” and “Les Misérables,” from 1938 to 1968, only two shows that played the Imperial ran fewer than 300 performances.
The exterior of the Golden was used as the location of the movie version of “A Chorus Line.” It is also shown in the background during the opening scenes of “All About Eve” as the home of Margo Channing’s “Aged in Wood.”
The Longacre Theatre was built by impresario Harry Frazee. He was also the owner of the Boston Red Sox and sold player Babe Ruth to the Yankees, starting what came to be known as the Curse of the Bambino. Because of the curse, many Broadway producers at the time avoided the Longacre, as it was thought to be unlucky.
The Lunt-Fontanne, originally the Globe Theatre, had quite a fantastical design element. The theatre’s ceiling, as well as the roof 20 feet above it, was designed to retract, allowing for an open-air feel like Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The giant sliding doors and large gears are apparently still intact on the roof, though they have been sealed with asphalt.
Built by producer David Frohman in 1903, the Lyceum, like the Belasco, was built with an apartment inside. Frohman’s wife was acclaimed actress Margaret Illington, so Frohman gave his apartment a view of the stage. Rumor has it there was also a small opening where Frohman could wave a white handkerchief as a signal to his wife that she was “overacting.” The apartment is now the home of the Shubert Archive.
The Lyric Theatre sits on the spot once occupied by two Broadway theatres, the Apollo and the original Lyric. Elements of both still stand, however, and are incorporated into the design of the Lyric. For example, you enter the theatre through the original Lyric façade, both on 43rd and 42nd streets. Inside the theatre, the dome overhead is also from the original Lyric, and the proscenium arch is the original from the Apollo.
The Majestic was built in 1927 as part of a three-theatre complex. The original intent was to have a large theatre (the Majestic), a medium-size theatre (the Jacobs) and a small theatre (the Golden) so that productions could be moved around to any of the three depending on ticket sales. The three theatres share a backstage alley.
In order to build the Marriott Marquis Theatre, five other theatres had to be demolished: the original Helen Hayes, the Bijou, the Morosco, the Astor and the Gaiety. The decision brought about an uproar from the theatre community, and several actors even chained themselves to the theatre to prevent the demolition. It didn’t work, obviously, but in an attempt to smooth things over, the developers of the new hotel agreed to build a new state-of-the-art theatre, and thus, the Marquis was born.
Currently home to Disney’s “The Lion King,” the Minskoff Theatre is technically located on the third floor of One Astor Place. The theatre is built on the former site of the famous Astor Hotel.
In 1919, legendary producer Sam H. Harris had a proposition for her red-hot writer Irving Berlin. If Berlin came up with a new Broadway revue, Harris would build a new theatre to house it. Not long after, Berlin presented Harris with the idea for the Music Box Revue, and, good on his word, the Music Box Theatre was built.
Most Broadway buffs know that the Times Square Church resides in the Mark Hellinger, a former Broadway theatre. But most don’t know that the Hellinger was not the church’s first home. The Nederlander Theatre was home to the Times Square Church from 1987 to 1989, until the Nederlanders sold it to Hellinger.
The Neil Simon was originally named the Alvin Theatre. Built by producing partners Alex Aarons and Vinton Freedley, the name “Alvin Theatre” came from the “Al” in Alex and the “Vin” in Vinton.
The magnificent New Amsterdam Theatre was in shambles in the 1980s. The interior was flooded, had been looted and was literally crumbling. Disney bought the theatre and spent a reported $34 million to renovate it to its former glory.
The Palace Theatre’s façade is most recognizable by its large billboards that display ads for various Broadway shows. But the giant billboards weren’t always there. The theatre’s actual façade is buried beneath them, and hasn’t been seen since the 1980s, when a hotel was built on top of and around the existing theatre and the big billboards went up.
The Richard Rodgers holds the record for housing the most number of shows that have won either the Best Play or Best Musical Tony Award: nine musicals and two plays, for a total of 11.
The movie “The Muppets Take Manhattan” featured the Friedman, then named the Biltmore, as the theatre where the Muppets debut their Broadway show, “Manhattan Melodies.”
Before the Tony Awards were presented at Radio City Musical Hall or the Beacon Theatre, they used to be presented at different Broadway theatres. The Shubert Theatre hosted the Tony’s the most times, with eight broadcasts.
While most people think of the 1998 Alan Cumming-led revival of “Cabaret” playing Studio 54, it actually started at Henry Miller’s Theatre, the theatre’s original name. But when a crane collapsed next door, the city shut down the street and subsequently, the show. After scrambling to find a new venue, Studio 54 was procured.
The St. James was actually built on the site of the original Sardi’s Restaurant. When theatrical titan A.L. Erlanger wanted the space to build a new theatre, Vincent Sardi simply moved up the street to the location the restaurant is now in.
Before the Roundabout Theatre Company leased and eventually purchased the venue, the once-famous club was set to be torn down in 1996 by the owners, Allied Partners, and be replaced with a virtual reality gaming venue called The Cyberdome.
While the theatre, owned and operated as part of Lincoln Center, is a newer theatre compared to most Broadway houses, the space does have a theatrical past that predates the theatre itself. The area that would eventually become Lincoln Center and the Vivian Beaumont originally contained a lot of basketball courts, the same ones that were used in the filming of the movie version of “West Side Story.”
The Kerr, named after beloved critic and author Walter Kerr, was originally named the Ritz Theatre. But, not all of its “Ritzy” past is gone. If you look at the theatre’s marquee, you’ll notice a stark difference in fonts between “The” and “Theatre” and “Walter Kerr.” To save money after the name change, only the “Ritz” part was removed from “The Ritz Theatre.” The original Ritz marquee was elaborate and expensive, so a more standard “Walter Kerr” was added, with the elaborate “The” and “Theatre” left in place.
The Winter Garden Theatre is the only Broadway theatre whose structure was not originally intended to be a theatre. The structure was originally built in 1886 as the New York Horse Exchange and stables. It wasn’t until 1911 that the Schuberts bought the space and redesigned it as a theatre. It was even said that when the theatre went through massive renovations after “Cats” ended its record run that crew members found traces of hay deep under the floorboards.
“Rent” leading lady Mimi Marquez knows how to make an impression and never shies away from a bold style choice? Embrace your inner wild child and try an animal print with a neon color.
Our Pick: Short High-Low Animal Print Prom Dress from PROMGIRL
Wicked or good, Elphaba or Glinda, we have you covered. Look sleek in Elphaba’s trademark long-sleeved dress, or float to prom in Glinda’s go-to layered ball gown.
Our Picks:
Elphaba: Long-Sleeve Prom Dress with Embroidered Lace Detail
Glinda: Two-Piece Sherri Hill Off-the-Shoulder Ball Gown
Look around, look around, you just happen to be at the greatest prom in the world. You’ll be ready to work the dance floor like Eliza Schuyler or take your shot as Alexander Hamilton in ensembles worthy of any Winter’s Ball.
Our Picks:
Eliza: Laticia Blue
Hamilton: Hamilton Costume
Everyone knows Elle Woods is the president of wearing pink, and not just on Wednesdays. So, channel your inner Delta Nu with a hot-pink dress that is both sassy and sweet. Or, be fashion-forward like Elle and turn heads in a stunning suit, good for prom or your interview for that top Ivy League school.
Our Picks:
Dress: Short Sleeveless Fit-and-Flare Dress by Sherri Hill
Suit: New Look Satin Trim Tux Blazer
Mermaid school is quickly becoming a trendy weekend activity, so why not carry that trend straight to the prom? Fittingly, this dress is called “Ariel.” Adorned with pale pink seashells, you’ll be ready to ditch your tail and use those legs to dance the night away with your own prince.
Our Pick: Ariel Bonbon
No one will be able to take their eyes off of you when you stroll into prom looking like the lost member of the Four Seasons. Oh, what it a night it will be in a suit worthy of the stage. Go for something bold, such as red velvet, or try a fun print.
Our Picks:
Men's Slim-Fit Burgundy Paisley Dinner Jacket
Bar III Men's Slim-Fit Red Velvet Sport Coat
The yellow dress and the red rose have been iconic symbols of the Disney fairy tale retelling. Be the belle of the ball and give your tale as old as time a unique twist in a dress with floral embellishments.
Our Pick:
Belle: Strapless Sherri Hill Floral Print Dress
Looking for schoolgirl sass a la “Heathers?” Try plaid in a shade of scrunchie red that’s a little more dark and brooding.
Our Pick: Jack Wills Holidays Check Bandeau Bow Dress
The costumes of “Chicago” are both sultry and chic. Jazz Age fashions were about pushing limits and redefining sexy, so defy expectations and trade a dress for a sleek jumpsuit. Or, try a sequined number that’s sure to razzle dazzle them.
Our Picks:
Thinking Out Loud Black Backless Jumpsuit
Juniors' Sequined Flyaway Gown
You might already be the nicest kid in town, but with this suit, you could also be the best dressed. Cory Collins is known for his eye-catching attire, so try out his style with a plaid or a trendy pastel.
Our Picks:
Bar III Men's Slim-Fit Blackwatch Plaid Tuxedo Separates
Men's Slim-Fit Linen Dinner Jacket
Turn heads like Bad Sandy in an off-the-shoulder dress inspired by “Grease.” The slit in the front will let you show off those essential bright-red heels. Paired with lipstick of the same shade and some teased locks, you’ll be the one everybody wants. Tell me about it, stud.
Our Pick:
Long Off-the-Shoulder Prom Dress by Tarik Ediz with Slit
Be ready to experience the music of the night with Phantom-inspired fashions. Glide into prom like the angel of music in a flowing white gown worthy of soprano Christine. Or, leave everyone thinking of you in a vest fit for the Phantom.
Our Picks:
Christine: Wonderful Day White Wrap Maxi Dress
Phantom: ASOS Skinny Waistcoat In Burgundy Velvet With Embroidery
This dress might join the list of your favorite things. Take a leaf out of the fashion book of the eldest von Trapp and don a gorgeous pink dress. But be sure not to get caught out in the rain, because this dress is too pretty to ruin.
Our Pick: Lora Dawn
Time to get dolled up for your dance at the gym. Give Anita’s classic purple dress a twist, or take Riff’s bold yellow blazer out for a spin. What is there to fight about when you look this good?
Our Picks:
Anita: Two-Piece Off-the-Shoulder Print Prom Dress
Riff: OULIU Mens Slim Fit 1 Button Premium Jacket Fashion Outwear Coat
You’ll be ready to dance all night in this modern take on Eliza’s lace dress. You’ll be more than loverly.
Our Pick: Your Beauteous Best Lace Dress
Take a journey to the past in a gown fit for a Romanov princess. Or, don a suit similar to Broadway’s newest leading man, Dimitri, and sweep everyone off their feet.
Our Picks:
Anastasia: Nabila Grenat
Dimitri: ASOS Slim Suit in Herringbone Brown
Conga the night away in an outfit worthy of a pop sensation, Gloria Estefan. Just like the show’s costumes, these dresses are a stunning mix of ruffles, embroidery and overlay skirts.
Our Picks:
Black Two Piece Prom Dress with Embroidered Train
Print Strapless Romper with a Long Skirt
No matter which look you choose, give it your own flair and let your personality show. In the words of Annie, remember, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.” So, don’t forget to flash them that killer, red carpet-worthy smile. It’s the best accessory there is.
Not every theatre will have a dresser to help you hang up your clothes after they are worn, and even if they do, your dresser isn’t your servant. Make sure to always hang up your costumes after you wear them so they don’t wrinkle or end up on the floor where someone can step on them.
Don’t you hate it when you are eating and you spill food on your newest outfit? That usually teaches you not to eat in your finest duds. The same goes for costumes. Do you really want to go onstage with that big ketchup stain from the burger you ordered at half hour because you were hungry? Probably not.
Make sure to always consolidate your dirty laundry at the end of the performance in the provided laundry basket or given area. You certainly don’t want them forgotten about because you didn’t place them in the proper spot and then have nothing to wear for the next performance.
Do both yourself and your costars a favor and make sure to wear deodorant before you put on your costumes. You are sure to sweat onstage. You don’t need your costar coming up to you during the most intimate moment of the show and getting a whiff of body odor you could have easily prevented with a quick roll of antiperspirant. Nor do you want pit stains to distract from your fabulous dance moves.
Usually the costume designer, costume shop or your dresser will organize your costumes so that specific pieces stay together. This way, they are always easy to find during the quick change or when they are needed for the next scene. Be conscientious when you hang up your clothes and don’t just spread them wherever you see an empty or convenient hanger. Hang them back up where they originally came from.
If you are staying busy between scenes doing homework or working on creative projects to help the time pass, make sure you aren’t using tools that could endanger your costume. You could accidentally drop that marker, pen or other writing utensil, and your costume could end up being your casualty. Use a pencil or something that can easily be washed out while in costume.
Those who work in the costume shop and your dressers are not mind readers. If you are onstage and you rip your costume or something such as a snap or button breaks, make sure you tell someone who can fix it. No one will be mad at you if you report something gone wrong. It happens all the time and is expected by those who work in the costume department. They’ll be very grateful you caught it and want to look your best onstage.
As an actor, make sure to respect your dresser and their timing by getting dressed when they need you to at every show. Don’t dillydally or wait until you’ve finished texting or getting the latest gossip from your friends. The person helping you change probably has somewhere else they need to be to ensure the performance goes off without a hitch.
Think you have a say in which costumes you can and can’t wear as an actor? Think again! That is the costume designer’s job. You need to make sure you respect them and wear everything you’ve been given or assigned.
Whether you prepared a cartoony piece and they suddenly want realism, or you picked a modern piece and they’re looking for Shakespeare, you’re now in a situation where you have no choice but to find a new angle on what you’ve prepped. If your scene is comedic and they’re looking for drama, simply adjust your performance to a more grounded one. No matter the vehicle, you can still find your way toward the vibe they’re looking for.
You’ve prepped a two-minute monologue, and they ask for a 30-second piece because they’re running behind. Instead of getting upset and worrying how they’ll ever see your range in 30 seconds, remind yourself that you can blow this thing out of the ballpark in any amount of time. They wouldn’t ask for 30 seconds if they didn’t think they could find what they needed in that amount of time. Besides, what’s wrong with leaving them thirsty for more? Just make sure you make the proper cuts to leave yourself with a nice jumping off hook and wrap up with a clear ending.
Sometimes readers are just readers and they aren’t there to give you anything to work with. Instead of letting it throw you, just do your thing and be thankful that the full attention is on you. Use your imagination and pretend they’re giving you what you need.
Don’t worry about it. It doesn’t have to make sense to play the scene or the character. They’re probably just trying to see how pliable you are. Show them you are a beautiful piece of clay ready and waiting to be molded. Even if it doesn’t make sense, enjoy the lunacy of the direction and have fun with it. Sometimes, an offbeat way of taking a scene will open all kinds of insights into your character that you would have never discovered during a traditional approach.
Don’t sweat this! It’s a good sign! It means you walked in the door and they visualized you as a potential candidate to land a particular role. Who cares that you didn’t prep for it? You’re already in the running on your looks alone. Allow this shift to make you feel confident, not panicked. Take a few moments to go over the new material and ask questions. The casting director knows you just got the materials, so you don’t need to make excuses or worry about looking down at the lines too much. Do the best you can and tell yourself you’ve already got a giant foot in the door because of this exciting curveball.
The casting team works all day, so it’s natural they get hungry. However, they do this every day, and just because they’re tackling a sloppy turkey club sandwich while you’re pouring your heart out doesn’t mean they aren’t paying attention. You might not like it, but look at the bright side — well-fed people are happy people. It may actually be better if they’re chomping on potato chips rather than daydreaming during your monologue because they have hunger pangs. Also, regardless of whether you feel like you’re the center of attention, this is still your time. You’ve performed through chaos before (hello, tech week!). Use this time to work on your material and enjoy just doing it for yourself.
You have to pick up your kid or get to your survival job, and the audition is running super behind. Before you panic and throw a diva hissy fit, simply speak to the monitor running the auditions. Politely explain your situation and ask whether there’s any way you can be seen sooner rather than later. You’d be surprised how willing the monitor and other actors can be to help you out — they’ve definitely all been there before. Just remember to pay it forward next time you’re not in a hurry and see that familiar look of panic on another actor’s face while in the waiting room.
So, everyone around you is dressed for the role more literally than you. Unless you have a wardrobe in your car or satchel, there’s not much you can do about this one. who cares? Sure, you’d like to give off the vibe of the character to help you out, but it ultimately comes down to your acting. Besides, what actor hasn’t had a wardrobe malfunction some time or another?
You’re the only short blonde in a sea of tall brunettes. Basically, you’re the guinea pig. Casting is pretty sure they want a tall brunette, but just in case, they threw in a few randoms to see what the producers think of a different direction. The best thing to do is shrug it off and not let it bother you. Hey, you’re there, you get to audition, and who knows, maybe they’ll decide to go the other way with it after all!
You didn’t plan on improvising, then casting asks you to do a take with lots of adlibs. It’s natural to want to freeze up, but you have to fight the feeling. Put all the negative thoughts out of your mind about how you hate doing improv and how you’re kicking yourself for never taking that class. Instead, take a deep breath, be present and remember that you actually improvise in some way every day — this is no different. Negative thoughts won’t help, so do your best to be in the moment and fake self-confidence even when you’re not feeling it. Then, afterward, sign up for that improv class.
You’re an actor, not an actor/dancer, and now they’re asking you to count and step pivot, step. Just roll with it. It’s likely they just want to see you move. Nobody expects you to be Baryshnikov.
“So, you do a crying baby. Can we hear it?” If it’s listed as one of your special skills, someone somewhere down the line can ask you to do it on the spot. The best way to avoid catastrophe is to take off anything on your resume that you don’t want to do at the drop of a hat at an audition. If you’re too late, suck it up and demonstrate your wailing baby or Al Pacino impersonation with pride.
Don’t forget your headshot and resume! Always have a copy in the trunk of your car or in your binder of sheet music. With that said, it’s still going to happen eventually. After several years in the business, you will at one point leave it on the counter or just plain forget to print it out. The best thing to do is to ‘fess up right away and apologize. Leave the excuses at home on the counter with your MIA headshot. No one needs to hear about how hectic your morning was. Just say you’re sorry, move on and be thankful everything is digital today anyway.
As you can see by now, the best way to deal with most curveballs is to take a deep breath and go with the flow. Much like life, the business is all about resilience, thinking on your feet and being in the moment. We can plan until we’re blue in the face, but ultimately, things will veer off course and when they do, the best way to deal with it is with grace, flexibility and humor.
Here are five acceptance speeches that left a lasting mark on Tony history:
1. Idina Menzel, 2004
“I’m so proud to be in a musical that celebrates women!” Before her “Frozen” fame, Idina Menzel made a name for herself defying gravity on the Broadway stage. Not only has “Wicked” become one of the most iconic musicals to date, but it shares the story of two strong and empowering leading ladies. Menzel’s acceptance speech at the 2004 Tony Awards is not only joy-filled and emotional, but it commemorates a performance that will definitely remain iconic in theatre history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlOcEcaxtfg2. Lin-Manuel Miranda, 2008
“Hamilton” was but a glimmer in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s eye when he snagged a Tony Award for “In the Heights.” Still, his musical genius was apparent back in 2008 when he decided to rap his acceptance speech (we’d expect nothing less). Not many people could pull off this unique endeavor, and it’s clear “In the Heights” was just the beginning of Miranda’s musical revolution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYeMCgPT5HQ3. Billy Porter, 2013
“Kinky Boots” star Billy Porter gave a memorable speech when he took the stage at the 2013 Tony Awards. Not only did he begin with a Shakespeare quote (always a good decision), but he tells the story of discovering the Tony Awards while “washing dishes in the kitchen” to a “Dreamgirls” performance. Porter’s powerful speech reminds us of every actor’s humble beginnings and the magic of musical theatre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axvdCiBTioc4. Kelli O’Hara, 2015
After six nominations, this Broadway star finally took home a Tony in 2015 for the role of Anna in the revival of “The King and I.” Not only do we love the sincere surprise and happiness O’Hara displays during her win, but not many other acceptance speeches include “shuffling off to Buffalo” during their exit. Well done, Kelli. Well done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MneMh2c-y0M5. Renée Elise Goldsberry, 2016
WORK! This Schuyler Sister made a powerful statement during her Hamil-WIN last year: “If you know anything about me, I’ve spent the last 10 years of my life — what some would consider the lifeblood of a woman’s career — just trying to have children, and I can testify in front of all of you that the Lord gave me Benjamin and Brielle and then he still gave me this! Thank you!” This rockstar working-momma is truly an inspiration! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYF4IY7JMp4What is your favorite Tony Awards acceptance speech? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 5 Tony Award Acceptance Speeches That Rocked Our World [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 5-tony-award-acceptance-speeches-rocked-world [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-07-06 11:25:58 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-07-06 15:25:58 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8742 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 4 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8737 [post_author] => 766 [post_date] => 2017-06-06 10:10:38 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-06-06 14:10:38 [post_content] => So, you’ve just been through a breakup, and you’re dealing with a lot of emotions. Letting go can be tough, but sometimes you just have to sing it out. Just like anything goes when it comes to musicals, this also applies to relationships. Luckily for Broadway fans, you can crank up the showtunes as a way to express your feelings and let it all out.So, pull out your headphones and cry your way through these 13 songs:
P.S. Check out the entire playlist at the end of this post1. ‘There’s a Fine, Fine Line’ — ‘Avenue Q’
“Avenue Q” has a great collection of songs that usually make you cry with laughter, but this piece is sure to make you cry your biggest, saddest tears. Everyone has experienced the fine, fine line between a relationship and friendship and the yearning you feel to be more than just a friend. For those who need to put it into words, this is a great song to let you express what the fine line is all about.
2. ‘Still Hurting’ — ‘The Last Five Years’
One of the most heartbreaking musicals of our time, “The Last Five Years” really pulls on the heartstrings with this opening ballad. When you’re going through a breakup, it’s pretty easy to pretend you are OK and go on with your life. It’s even harder to recognize you need time to hurt and heal. If you aren’t crying out all of your feelings by the end of this one, you’re doing it wrong.
3. ‘On My Own’ — ’Les Misérables’
Ever experienced unrequited love? Eponine can teach you a thing or two about that feeling. This song is perfect for the breakup that totally ruins you and leaves you thinking you are on your own. It helps you recognize those emotions are real and it’s totally OK.
4. ‘Maybe This Time’ — ‘Cabaret’
You have a lot of regrets and things that went wrong with your past relationship, but hey, maybe next time, things will be better. Liza Minnelli couldn’t put it any better in this classic “Cabaret” song. Keep your chin up — maybe things will look up!
5. ‘The Long Grift’ — ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’
There’s nothing like singing your sorrows away while wailing on a little guitar. This song will have you feeling the rock power you need to get over that terrible gigolo, anyway. Embrace your inner rocker (high boots and sparkly eyeshadow included) and sing your feelings all out.
6. ‘I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair’ — ‘South Pacific’
So, maybe you are done with the crying stage and are so ready to move on. This song is sure to help you move past the relationship BS and start fresh. Just like washing your hair, you can rinse all those feelings away and have a clean outlook.
7. ‘So Much Better’ — ‘Legally Blonde’
No one wants to be that person that mopes around after a relationship, just like no one wants to break up with their long-term partner after a romantic night when they think they’re getting proposed to! Don’t worry about moping around, and be better than they ever thought you could be. Elle knows best — you are so much better than that!
8. ‘Take Me or Leave Me’ — ‘Rent’
We all have our quirks. Sometimes even your partner can’t handle who you really are or even accept it. Post-breakup you may realize they maybe just couldn’t handle all of you, and that’s fine. “Take Me or Leave Me” is the song that helps you embrace who you are and learn to walk away when it’s not the right fit.
9. ‘We Do Not Belong Together’ — ‘Sunday in the Park with George’
We all reach a point where we know things aren’t meant to be and that’s just the way it is. This song from a classic Sondheim musical help you realize the imperfections and get over things.
10. ‘Burn’ — ‘Hamilton’
Getting cheated on by a partner is tragic. Fortunately, you have tragic “Hamilton” songs to help you deal with the cheater in your life. It’s time to sing along and burn those love letters (or delete those texts) that remind you of your ex.
11. ‘I Don’t Care Much’ — ‘Cabaret’
Alan Cumming couldn’t have sung it better. Stay or go, you are going to be just fine without that person in your life. You could care less, go or stay!
12. ‘I’m Not That Girl’ — ‘Wicked’
Perhaps you are at the point of the breakup where reality has set in. You aren’t the type to usually get caught in romantic whims, so you need a little reminder that you are strong. You aren’t going to lose sight of yourself in the relationship, and Idina can help you sing your way back into confidence again.
13. ‘The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl’ — ‘The Music Man’
Yeah, you can admit it — breakups suck, and you are allowed to be sad. But ultimately, you learn a lot from a failed relationship. You learn about yourself and what you’re looking for in a partner. Though you may be a bit sad, you are that much stronger for it!
Let us know your favorite Broadway breakup songs in the comments below...
Besides being chock-full of animated audiences and sparkling performances, Broadway theatres are infested with ghoulish histories. Each night, after the curtain falls and everyone goes home, the Broadway spirits come out to play, illuminated by their respective theatre’s ghostlight. However, some phantoms also strut their stuff during the lively hours, playing tricks on current Broadway stars and theatre employees. From vaudeville acrobats flying across the house to former theatre owners dropping by to check up on things, we’d like to introduce you to some of Broadway’s most famous ghosts.
So, light up the fireplace and snuggle up if you dare, because it’s time for some ghost stories:
David Belasco: The Belasco Theatre
As the current house manager of the Belasco tirelessly works in her office, she’ll occasionally hear the man above stirring in his own wood-paneled space. The company comforts her on late nights, but it probably shouldn’t — especially considering that the office above is kept under tight lock and key, motion detectors and all, and has been empty for decades.
Legendary theatre owner David Belasco built the theatre that still stands in his name on West 44th Street. He spent his life there, writing, directing and managing all sorts of plays. In fact, he spent so much of his time there that he dwelled in an apartment above. So, it comes as no shock that Belasco remains in the space even after passing on in 1931.
Dubbed by Playbill as “one of the most solid theatre ghosts,” Belasco began to appear almost immediately after his death. Actors began to notice a lone, dark shadow watching their performances from the balcony. He wasn’t shy, either, going right up to the performers and shaking their hands afterward and saying they had done a fabulous job. Many actresses reportedly complained about an older man in a priest ensemble pinching their bottoms. Considering Belasco was known in his day as a flirt and “The Bishop of Broadway,” this makes sense.
In death, Belasco remains a flirt, holding a relationship with a ghost known as “The Blue Lady.” An anonymous celebrity who appeared in a show at the Belasco recently reported hearing the locked door of her dressing room open while she was taking a shower. She frantically ran out, only to find the door still securely shut. But when she went back to the bathroom, it was bathed with a strange blue glow.
Like his lover, the former theatre owner is not against manifesting himself in stereotypical ghost forms, either. He swings closed doors open, raises the curtain magically and sends out puffs of cigar smoke into the atmosphere when no one alive is smoking. He has also been known to throw wild parties with other spirits, with late-night workers hearing the noise. Despite being sealed up and shut down for years, Belasco’s private elevator has also been heard puttering up to his private office.
Playbill reported that an usher was closing up the lobby one night at the Belasco and playfully called out, “Goodnight, Mr. Belasco.” And, even though the exterior doors were pulled shut and there was no wind, all the lobby doors swung open in unison. Needless to say, the usher transferred to another theatre. It looks like Belasco doesn’t ever want the theatre to close.
Olive Thomas: The New Amsterdam Theatre
Aladdin’s Genie isn’t the only mystical creature soaring through Disney’s 42nd Street house. The New Amsterdam Theatre is home to one of Broadway’s most active ghosts: Olive Thomas.
This former Ziegfeld Follies girl has been haunting the theatre since she died of accidental poisoning in 1920. Known by her signature outfit (a green-beaded Follies dress, beaded headpiece and a sash), Thomas has been seen wandering with a big blue pill bottle. This is said to be the container that carries the mercury pills she used to poison herself.
Thomas reportedly manifests so frequently that photographs of her have been placed at every entrance of the New Amsterdam so staff can say hello and goodbye to her each day. They believe doing so has kept her mischief at bay, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t still around. In fact, every time there is a malfunction during a performance of the highly technical “Aladdin,” her name immediately comes to mind.
Shortly after the opening of “Aladdin” in 2014, Thomas made an appearance. An audience member in the orchestra asked one of the ushers for a booster seat for her child.
“We don’t like to interrupt a show,” Dana Amendola, vice president of operations at Disney Theatrical Group, told Playbill, “so we waited until the intermission and came to her with a booster. But we found she already had one. When we asked her where she had gotten it, she said a ‘lady at the back of the theatre’ had gestured to where they were. Now, we don’t have a woman at the back of the house who does that in the middle of a show. We checked, and none of the staff had done it. So you can take that how you like, but it was kind of freaky.”
The occurrence seems rare, as Thomas mainly reveals herself to men and acts flirtatious toward them.
Her spirit also recently appeared when Disney employees were talking about the movie “The Artist,” which is set in the era of silent films. After someone mentioned Thomas became a silent film star, someone made the mistake of saying the real silent-era star was actually Mary Pickford (Thomas’ sister-in-law). At that moment, a tall stack of DVDs on a nearby table flew across the room, crashing onto the floor. The group was stunned.
“They didn’t fall straight down as CDs would have done,” Amendola said. “They went flying about three feet across the room and hit a wall. This was witnessed by several people.”
Amendola went on to say ushers and overnight security have felt a presence sneak up on them and touch their back, only to find no one there. Apparently crazed fans hope for that same feeling, some trying to hide in the New Amsterdam overnight with the intention of spotting Thomas. According to Amendola, security does a special sweep each night to catch them.
Louis Borsalino, Judy Garland and Friends: The Palace Theatre
Now here is a ghost you don’t want to see. The Palace Theatre staff will warn you of the tale of Louis Borsalino. In the days of vaudeville, Borsalino had a tightrope-walking act at the Palace. Unfortunately, the acrobat fell to his death during one performance. As years passed, actors saw his ghost walking a tightrope from the house-left box up to the mezzanine. However, these stories can’t be verified. Legend has it that anyone who sees this particular ghost dies within a year.
However, don’t be alarmed if you just happened to see a ghost at the Palace. There are many other spirits in residency, including a cellist dressed all in white who was last seen during the run of “Beauty and the Beast,” a man in a brown suit who is known for haunting the offices at the theatre nightly, a young boy who will play with his toy trucks in the mezzanine and even Judy Garland. That’s right, the presence of the legend herself is palpable near a door that the theatre had constructed especially for her at the back of the house.
Of course, there are a multitude of other ghosts on Broadway. So, the next time you go to the theatre, pay attention — because the stars aren’t just on the stage and they’re dying to be in the spotlight again (*insert maniacal laughter here*).
We couldn’t pack all of the ghosts into one article so let’s talk about some others in the comments below. Any ghost stories of your own?
[post_title] => Meet Broadway’s Resident Ghosts [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => broadways-resident-ghosts [to_ping] => [pinged] => https://theatrenerds.com/theater-ghosts-4-spooky-stories-of-the-stage/ [post_modified] => 2017-10-29 10:10:28 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-10-29 14:10:28 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8732 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8723 [post_author] => 440 [post_date] => 2017-06-04 08:52:14 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-06-04 12:52:14 [post_content] => Once a year, Broadway comes to television to award the year’s best while simultaneously delighting and disappointing theatre lovers around the world. This year's show, hosted by master of the stage and screen Kevin Spacey, is set to be a big one, with eagerly anticipated performances and some surprise nominations. Each nominee comes with a story and experience, providing learning material for those looking to break into the theatre industry.Here are five nuggets of wisdom garnered from this year’s Tony nominees:
1. It’s Never Too Late
At 71, Bette Midler proved there is no age limit on dreams and achievements after being nominated for her first Tony Award for her role in “Hello, Dolly!”
“I’m actually thrilled,” Midler told CBS News. “And I think the crowd is thrilled, too. Because a lot of people my age are coming. And they see me skipping, and they flip out. I skip — a step that they haven’t done since they were seven. And they feel like, ‘Wow. If she’s doing it, maybe I can do it, too.’ And I love that.”
While the Tony’s recognized her with a special award in 1974 for “Adding lustre to the Broadway season,” this is her first nomination for a performance. Winning would be a real full-circle moment for Midler, who began her career in theatre about 50 years ago.
2. Sometimes, You Have to Make Your Own Opportunities
Nominated for Best Original Score for their work on Broadway smash “Dear Evan Hansen,” Benj Pasek and Justin Paul scored their Oscar-winning “La La Land” gig by being persistent. Even after a phone interview, director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz still weren’t sold on the duo. Pasek and Paul were prepared to wait, but their management had other ideas and suggested an arranged spontaneous meeting in Los Angeles.
Pasek told Deadline their management suggested dropping the pair a line with, “‘We just happen to be here, do you guys happen to be free for dinner?’ We were like, ‘This is crazy. This is insane, and we like, are really poor and we don’t have money for flights.’ He’s like, ‘You have enough money to fly yourselves economy across the country to be there on Monday to ask them to go to dinner with you.’”
Crazy as it sounded, the idea worked, and the rest is Oscar history. The moral of the story is there is no formula for success, and you can’t always wait for opportunities to fall into your lap.
3. When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens
“Falsettos” actor and Tony nominee Andrew Rannells went to one of his first auditions in New York for “Rent,” but he didn’t get cast. However, he did meet Bernard Telsey, a casting director who later cast him in his first Broadway role in “Hairspray.” This set him on a path toward his major Broadway break, “The Book of Mormon,” which saw his first Tony nomination.
Rannells told the Hollywood Reporter that his work on that show opened the door to another opportunity when “Lena [Dunham] and Jenni Konner came to opening night of ‘The Book of Mormon.’ They had shot the pilot of ‘Girls,’ they got their pickup and they were just about to start filming the first season. And a couple of weeks later, I got a phone call about coming in and reading for this new TV show.”
He won the part of Elijah, who became a series regular in the second season and remained on the show for all seven seasons. You never know which connections will lead you to success.
4. Nothing Is Wasted
Surprisingly, Linda Cho, who was nominated for a Tony for Costume Design, studied psychology in college, not art or design. While some would say it’s unrelated to her current field and therefore a waste now, Cho would disagree.
She told Mochi Magazine, “You’re working with temperamental, artistic people, whether they’re directors or designers or people in the shops, so you have to think about how to best deal with them in different situations.” Cho also uses her background knowledge when designing for each character by delving into their minds in each scene.
Like Cho, treat your background and experience as an asset instead of a mistake.
5. Art Can Change the World
Stage and screen actor Corey Hawkins, nominated for his role in the play “Six Degrees of Separation” always goes back to what he learned at Juilliard about the duty of the artist to society.
Hawkins told NPR, “It wasn’t about the sort of fame and the legendary alumni, which can be a little intimidating, but it became about the work and what we’re trying to say with our art.”
Watching his mother, a police officer, serve the community showed Hawkins he could use his gifts as an artist and make a difference. His nominated role is no exception, shining a light on the current racial issues, especially those involving the criminal justice system.
These are just five of the incredible nominees up for recognition at the June 11 awards ceremony. It’s a night when youth everywhere will watch with excitement and dream of the day they will be onstage, blubbering their way through an emotional acceptance speech before a band plays them off. Take heart; your day will come.
Which of this year’s nominees inspires you? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 5 Life Lessons From This Year’s Tony Nominees [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 5-life-lessons-years-tony-nominees [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-06-04 08:52:14 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-06-04 12:52:14 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8723 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 1 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8685 [post_author] => 11 [post_date] => 2017-06-03 10:31:25 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-06-03 14:31:25 [post_content] => [viralQuiz id=47] [post_title] => Quiz: Match the Jason Robert Brown Lyric to its Musical [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => quiz-match-jason-robert-brown-lyric-musical [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-06-03 10:31:25 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-06-03 14:31:25 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8685 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8617 [post_author] => 391 [post_date] => 2017-06-01 09:07:12 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-06-01 13:07:12 [post_content] => Musical theatre is loaded with iconic bass/baritone roles, such as Curley, Captain von Trapp, Javert and Billy Flynn. While charm and comedic timing are heavy components of several characters, vulnerability and heartbreak are inevitable, too. To highlight the more melancholy side of the characters, here are 15 tearjerking songs for bass-baritones to consider:1. ‘I’ll Cover You (Reprise)’ from ‘Rent’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBSDjhK_YGU In one of the musical’s most powerful scenes, Angel’s lover, Collins, is the last to eulogize her at her funeral. Range: F#2–G#4.2. ‘This Nearly Was Mine’ from ‘South Pacific’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9cCP0iwtCc In this second-act ballad, Emile regretfully wonders about his could-have-been future with Nellie. Range: B2–D4.3. ‘Sorry-Grateful’ from ‘Company’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COxzO9iihvY Harry and the other married men onstage explain that marriage changes both everything and nothing about a person. Range: B2–E4.4. ‘I Won’t Send Roses’ from ‘Mack and Mabel’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K3IMdruOt0 In this underrated Jerry Herman musical, Mabel is developing feelings for Mack, but Mack has no time for a relationship. Range: G2–D4.5. ‘Lost in the Darkness’ from ‘Jekyll and Hyde’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1HwpyQPE14 In the musical’s opening solo, Henry Jekyll sings to his comatose father in an asylum. Range: G#2–E4.6. ‘Drink With Me’ from ‘Les Misérables’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-HLc4Bkn2Q At the barricade, Grantaire and the students fear being forgotten after death. Range: D3–Eb4.7. ‘If I Can’t Love Her’ from ‘Beauty and the Beast’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMXR_4_gX84 In the musical’s Act I finale, the Beast realizes Belle is his last chance of finding love and becoming human. Range: B2–F4.8. ‘The Longer I Live’ from ‘Dracula’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gbtvqVVB-4 Count Dracula contemplates his eternal life and comes to terms with loving Mina. Range: G#2–F#4.9. ‘Lesson #8’ from ‘Sunday in the Park with George’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feQN0QH3fxM While reading a book from his grandmother, George reflects on the striking and morose similarities between him and his great-grandfather. Range: G#3–F4.10. ‘I Don’t Remember You’ from ‘The Happy Time’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj3qpBUePLs In this lesser-known Kander and Ebb musical, photographer Jacques is having issues committing to his former lover, Laurie. Range: Ab2–Eb4.11. ‘It’s Hard to Speak My Heart’ from ‘Parade’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS2Qu2bFpOA In this pivotal scene from Jason Robert Brown’s musical, Leo attempts to humanize himself for the jury. Range: B2–E4.12. ‘What Would I Do?’ from ‘Falsettos’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSKwY-4BE0Q Marvin and Whizzer share one final moment together before Whizzer dies. Range: A2–F#4.13. ‘With So Little to Be Sure Of’ from ‘Anyone Can Whistle’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe3vldX7iJc In this early Sondheim musical, Hapgood reflects on his brief relationship with Fay before they part. Range: B2–E4.14. ‘Ghost of a Chance’ from ‘Drift’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK4Q2BR_BEg This number comes from “Drift,” a concept album-turned-musical about the stages of divorce and child custody. Range: D3–E4.15. ‘If She Were Coming Home’ from ‘Next Thing You Know’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI-76JTXBXE In this Salzman and Cunningham musical, Luke gives up on his attempts to mature his behavior for Waverly. Range: B2–A4 (falsetto).Think of a song that we left off? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 15 Heartbreaking Songs For Bass/Baritones [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 15-heartbreaking-songs-for-bass-baritones [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-06-01 09:07:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-06-01 13:07:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8617 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 9 [filter] => raw ) [6] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8618 [post_author] => 736 [post_date] => 2017-05-31 08:45:40 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-31 12:45:40 [post_content] => Eeeeekkk! You have a costume emergency right in the middle of the show. Here is a list of some handy items you should have on hand backstage so you can solve your problem in the nick of time:1. Lint Roller
Lint rollers keep the costumes clean of any dust, dander, feathers, glitter and/or anything else that may collect both onstage and offstage.
2. Safety Pins
These are the answer to most costume emergencies, since you can use them to hold almost anything together. Keep a full box on hand.
3. Scissors
These are needed for immediate repairs involving most of the items on this list. You can even use them if a zipper gets stuck or you can’t untie a shoelace. Use the scissor to cut the zipper open or the laces off so you can get the actor out of the piece of costume that is causing the issue. This may sound extreme, but it this happens in the middle of a quick change, it may be the only way to remedy the issue. Don’t worry — the costume shop can fix all cut things once the show is over so they’re as as good as new for the next performance.
4. Seam Ripper
You can use this handy tool to gently rip open stitches or a hem on any garment. Keep this on hand when scissors will do too much damage.
5. Needle and Thread
This is a must-have no matter what! Use these to sew up rips, tears, holes or any other clothing pieces that need some TLC.
6. Baby Wipes
These handy wipes aren’t just for babies. Use them to take the stains out of the costumes. Keep a little jug or box on hand, and when you see a stain, grab one and scrub gently.
7. Duct Tape
Duct tape is probably one of the greatest inventions ever made. Keep a roll on hand, especially some that has a bit of a smaller width. This way, if a hem falls out and you don’t have time to repair it, you can quickly duct tape it from the inside to get through the scene or show and then fix it when it’s over.
8. Closures/Fasteners
Extra buttons, snaps and hooks are good to have on hand in a tin or storage container to replace any that break during a show. Having them at the ready sure beats having to find them in the costume shop when you’re in a pinch during a performance.
9. Vodka
Yes, vodka, the alcoholic beverage, except you won’t drink it. Instead, place in a spray bottle and use to spray any stinky costumes. It fights bacteria, keeps odors away and is way gentler on clothes and the environment than ready-made clothes refresher sprays. No one wants to be close to a cast member who smells, so keep this trick in mind to help keep odors away.
10. Static Guard
This invention works great on those hot and humid days when static cling is running amok backstage. Spray on clothing that might need it to prevent your dancers’ flowy costumes from clinging to them and others during the big dance number.
11. Hairspray
Not only does it help to keep hair in place, but it can also help you solve a stocking run. Spray a little on the run, and you’re good to go. It’s also another way to stop static cling. Just be sure to spray on legs/tights and not on the garment itself, as it can stain. This little trick prevents skirts and pants from clinging to your legs.
12. Nail Polish
Similar to hairspray, nail polish can solve runs in stockings or garments with a netting texture. Just paint some on, and all will be remedied. Of course, make sure to use clear polish. In addition, you can paint clear polish on any costume jewelry (especially fake gold and silver) to give them a nice shine and keep it from turning an awful tarnished color after coming in contact with skin.
13. Extra Tights/Stockings
Have some extra on hand in case a performer gets a run or hole and needs a quick replacement. You certainly don’t want to have to go digging in the costume shop when you need an emergency pair.
14. Shoelaces
Shoelaces break, so be prepared and have extra pairs on hand in case you need them. In an emergency, they can also be used to replace similar closures for other garments, such as corset ties, and to replace belts in a pinch.
15. Band-Aids
It’s a good idea for both your actors and dressers to have these on hand. If someone cuts themselves, you can prevent him or her from bleeding all over the costume.
16. Top Stick
This is another amazing invention that is basically scotch tape but much stickier and sticky on both sides. Usually, it’s used to apply fake facial hair, but with costumes, it can be used to keep them in place by adhering parts of the costumes to the actors’ skin. If you have ever wondered how movie stars keep their gowns in place when there is nothing to hold them up in the appropriate places, this is it.
17. Shoe Horn
For anyone who has tight-fitting shoes, have a shoe horn on hand to help them slip them on and off. This is especially helpful during a quick change when you have to change the performer’s shoes.
What do you keep in your emergency dresser kit for emergencies? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 17 Backstage Items For Every Costume Emergency [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 17-backstage-items-for-every-costume-emergency [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-31 16:32:47 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-31 20:32:47 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8618 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [7] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8647 [post_author] => 717 [post_date] => 2017-05-30 08:00:36 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-30 12:00:36 [post_content] => The world has changed drastically over the past few decades thanks to the internet, and the theatre world is no exception. With so many websites, blogs, Facebook groups, etc., it can be hard to know which ones to save and visit frequently. While there are hundreds of worthy and wonderful sites for theatre lovers, here are 21 essential websites to bookmark, in no particular order:1. Playbill.com
A great site to visit for breaking theatre news and show information, Playbill is a trusted source of news for the theatre community. My motto has always been, “If it’s not on Playbill, it’s not real.” And besides the latest news from the Rialto, Playbill.com is a great place to find information on current or future shows. Also, sign up for a Playbill Club membership to access discount codes to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, as well as hotels and attractions in New York City.
2. IBDB.com
An absolutely essential site for theatre lovers, the Internet Broadway Database (IBDB) has listings for every Broadway show that ever happened. Want to know who was in the original production of “Porgy and Bess” in 1935 or who replaced Patti Lupone in “Evita?” IBDB.com is the place to find out.
3. Lortel.org
Lortel.org is the homepage for the Lucille Lortel Foundation. Besides offering excellent information on the foundation’s work and lots of history of the Lucille Lortel Theatre, one of Off-Broadway’s best theatres, Lortel.org contains the Internet Off-Broadway Database (IOBDB).
4. Show-Score.com
A great new website, Show-Score is kind of like Yelp, but for theatre. Browse all the shows to see how actual theatre-going people feel about the shows playing in New York and beyond. And, the benefits of membership are incredible and totally free. Members can rate any show they see, and once you rate enough, you earn different badges to show others just how influential you are. Members also frequently get offered free tickets to shows and events, as well as discounted tickets to Broadway shows and events where you can not only see great theatre, but also meet fellow enthusiasts and make lasting friendships.
5. Broadway.org
Broadway.org is the main website of The Broadway League, which is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. It’s basically a big group of all the theatre owners and such from all across the country. It’s a great source of information on Broadway and touring shows as well as events such as Kids Night on Broadway.
6. PlaybillVault.com
Similar to the IBDB, the Playbill Vault gives show information for almost every Broadway show ever. The biggest advantage of the Playbill Vault is unsurprisingly the playbills! You can search full playbills for shows going back to the 1920s.
7. TDF.org
The website of the Theatre Development Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to making theatre affordable for all, TDF is the awesome organization behind the famous TKTS booths located in NYC that offer day-of, half-priced tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. In addition, if eligible, you can join and receive access to heavily discounted tickets to shows in advance. Other resources you can find on the website include the TDF Costume Collection and real-time updates on what can be expected to be at TKTS booths.
8. Broadway.com
A hugely popular website for theatre fans, Broadway.com is a great place for news and features on all the currently running Broadway fare. Top features include video series “Side By Side by Susan Blackwell,” “Broadway Ink,” featuring the amazing artwork of Justin “Squigs” Robertson and the Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards.
9. BroadwayWorld.com
Another amazing source of Broadway breaking news, BroadwayWorld.com is great not only for NYC news and features, but for all cities across the country. Some of the amazing features are “Chewing the Scenery with Randy Rainbow,” “Backstage with Richard Ridge,” exclusive early access to some of the best theatre podcast episodes and the infamous BroadwayWorld message boards. Side note, it’s also the only theatre website with an Apple TV app.
10. TritonGallery.com
Triton Gallery is the only art gallery in the world devoted solely to Broadway posters, known as window cards. While it has all the latest posters from current hits, it also has hundreds of window cards from seasons past. You can also get high-quality reproductions of classic hits, such as the original “Oklahoma!” or “My Fair Lady” posters, and some of the biggest flops, such as the musical version of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” It also sells signed posters, frames and even three-sheets (giant-sized posters like the ones in Shubert Alley). It’s a great site to go shopping or just spend hours browsing!
11. YouTube.com
OK, so this isn't technically a theatre-specific site, but who among us hasn’t fallen into a blissful Broadway-themed video hole of Tony Awards clips or Broadway commercials from the 1980s? YouTube is a treasure trove of videos from Broadway’s past and present. Here, we’ll get you started on another one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o98FxOza6-s
12. TalkinBroadway.com
Talkin’ Broadway is a site with many different facets. Probably best known as the home of the “All That Chat” message boards, Talkin’ Broadway also features a weekly roundup of all the soon-to-be-released CDs, books and DVDs, and a Shoppin’ Broadway board where users post tickets, memorabilia and other theatre-related things for sale.
13. DidHeLikeIt.com
A website with a great and surprisingly novel idea, Did He Like It curates all the different major reviews for Broadway and Off-Broadway shows and answers the question, “Did he (or she) like it?”
14. MasterworksBroadway.com
Masterworks Broadway is one of the biggest makers of cast recordings in the world, and its website is a great place to shop for more than 100 different original cast recordings and solo artists. However, it’s so much more than that. The website features tons of amazing photos from Broadway’s past, videos of exclusive interviews with the likes of Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince and Angela Lansbury and a weekly column by one of the best musical theatre historians out there, Peter Filichia.
15. AbeBooks.com
Theatre books are the best, right? But they can be difficult to find, especially older ones. AbeBooks is an amazing website for cheap, hard-to-find books, with tons of theatre books to explore. There’s no better way to spend time than starting to build a theatre library of your own!
16. SpotlightOnBroadway.com
Another great site powered by The Broadway League, Spotlight On Broadway focuses not on shows, but the Broadway theatres. Get the history on all 40 of the Broadway theatres with awesome videos, interviews and photos.
*With the opening (or reopening, rather) of the Hudson Theatre, currently home to the revival of “Sunday in the Park With George,” there are now 41 Broadway theatres. Here’s hoping they’ll update the site in the future to include the beautiful Hudson.
17. BroadwayGreen.com
BroadwayGreen.com is the homepage for the Broadway Green Alliance (BGA), an amazing resource for how the Broadway community and all theatre communities around the country can help protect the planet and go green. It’s full of great information such as how to recycle costumes and props, what to do with old batteries and computers and other ways to lessen your carbon footprint in the theatre. College students can also sign up to become their college’s green captain to help revitalize their school’s green efforts with the full support of the alliance.
18. BlueGobo/Ovrtur.com
BlueGobo.com is a YouTube-like site dedicated solely to theatre. Ovrtur is an online catalogue with thousands of listings for theatre productions from Broadway, London and beyond. Recently, they combined forces to become a theatre super-site!
19. BwayZone.com
Between Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all the other social media sites, it can be difficult to keep track of just the theatre-related posts. Enter Bway Zone! Powered by the Broadway League, Bway Zone brings all the social media sites together and shows you all the theatre posts in real-time.
20. ThespianSwag.com
Whether your a Broadway fan or a theatre kid (adults welcome too) looking to get your swag on, this is the place for you. ThespianSwag.com is ran by the same wonderful (biased) folks here at TheatreNerds.com. This is your one-stop shop for theatre themed merchandise including: clothing, tote bags, jewelry, mugs, & more.
21. TheatreNerds.com
Okay, we might be a bit biased (again), but TheatreNerds.com is one of the best sites out there for, well, theatre nerds! Besides inspiring (and often hilarious) memes featured on the site and on the TheatreNerds Facebook page and an incredible Swag Shop, a new article every day makes it an essential website to visit daily. And, there are big things coming, too, such as an audition song database, a musical web series, a theatre history of the day column and so much more. Stick with us, fellow theatre nerds — we’ve got you covered.
What are your favorite theatre websites? Think we missed any major ones in this list? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 21 Websites All Theatre Nerds Should Have Bookmarked [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 21-websites-theatre-nerds-should-have-bookmarked [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-30 21:24:43 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-31 01:24:43 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8647 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [8] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8558 [post_author] => 11 [post_date] => 2017-05-27 08:41:03 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-27 12:41:03 [post_content] => [viralQuiz id=45] [post_title] => Quiz: Which 'RENT' Character Are You? [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => which-rent-character-are-you [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-27 08:56:08 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-27 12:56:08 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8558 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 2 [filter] => raw ) [9] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8667 [post_author] => 395 [post_date] => 2017-05-26 10:09:38 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-26 14:09:38 [post_content] => “Anastasia: The New Broadway Musical” has become an overnight hit on Broadway, a fact that likely surprises absolutely no one who grew up humming “Journey to the Past” and dreaming of being together in Paris. This 1997 film is the latest movie to get the musical treatment, and it does not disappoint. Whether it’s the adorable and talented Christy Altomare (Anastasia), charming Derek Klena (Dimitri) or the always-astonishing Ramin Karimloo (Gleb), this cast has been featured in a slew of videos lately that have made fans craving more.Here’s our roundup of 12 incredible performances and interviews that may just hold the key to your heart:
1. Christy Altomare Sings ‘Once Upon a December’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFgbzxJgLl4 It’s always fascinating to see different takes on our favorite songs, and it’s so clear that Altomare has fully committed herself to the role of Anastasia as she yearns for her lost family and life.2. ‘Anastasia’ Star Christy Altomare Performs 'Journey to the Past'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4htofsf_Bo Watch as Altomare totally nails the musical’s most iconic “I want” song — and feel free to sing along!3. Christy Altomare and Derek Klena — ‘At The Beginning’ (The Broadway Princess Party)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y86buJDVbk Cartoon Dmitri may have been every six-year-old’s dream man, but real-life Klena certainly fits the bill and lives up to expectations in this swoon-worthy rendition of “At the Beginning” at 54 Below with Altomare.4. Watch Christy Altomare, Ramin Karimloo and More Perform New Music From ‘Anastasia’ on Broadway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NrxV3w6AdA In this video, the cast of “Anastasia” performs "In My Dreams," “My Petersburg," "Still" and "We'll Go From There.” This is the first look we’ve gotten at Karimloo as Gleb, and he’s just as awesome as we could have expected from this former Phantom.5. Anastasia First Look — Derek Klena
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXT8NXvlQxI Here’s the full-length clip of Klena performing “My Petersburg” at the 2017 BroadwayCon. YouTube commenters have been quick to fill in “I grew up in the Roxbury slums” as the song starts in a nod to “Chip on My Shoulder” from “Legally Blonde.”6. ‘In a Crowd of Thousands,’ ‘Anastasia’ — Christy Altomare and Derek Klena
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75DQsX4aUto This song is a sweet addition to the “Anastasia” songbook, and gives a deeper look into the relationship between Anastasia and Dimitri. Have I been listening to this on repeat for days? You bet. Have I gotten tired of it? Not a chance.7. First Look: Anastasia on Broadway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx3Ddcrgldg Watch this video to see a series of show clips that feature some of the stunning scenery and costumes in the show.8. Never Have I Ever: Derek Klena of ‘Anastasia’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtF-pVg5Ukc Okay, so this isn’t exactly music from the show, but listening to Klena reveal secrets surrounding broken bones, slutty Halloween costumes, cutting his own hair and falling onstage just makes you love him even more.9. Russian Rhetoric With Derek Klena | TYLER MOUNT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Eo0mALSSg In this video, YouTube sensation Tyler Mount plays “Russian Rhetoric” with Klena, who makes Mount guess the meaning of Russian phrases — and reveals we still have 13 new songs to look forward to!10. Hot Sauce Roulette With Christy Altomare | TYLER MOUNT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OxJYIf3BS4 “Oh my god, she will go far, it is my boo, Christy Altomare!” In this video, Mount returns to play “Hot Sauce Roulette” with our favorite star.11. ‘Anastasia The Musical’ Cast Stopped by to Perform Tony Awards Series! | Billboard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w3Uw9EzvzM In this video, Altomare and Klena perform “Once Upon a December,” “My Petersburg” and “In a Crowd of Thousands.” Yeah, we know these songs appear earlier on in the list, but they have yet to get old. Because this show is pretty new to Broadway, it means we still have plenty of other videos to look forward to as more is released to the public. So use these videos to tide you over before the cast album drops on June 9 — you’re gonna need them!What's your favorite video? Leave us a comment below...
[post_title] => 11 YouTube Videos To Watch If You're Obsessed With 'Anastasia' On Broadway [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 11-youtube-videos-watch-if-youre-obsessed-with-anastasia-broadway-musical [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-07-06 11:26:38 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-07-06 15:26:38 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8667 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 1 [filter] => raw ) [10] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8643 [post_author] => 391 [post_date] => 2017-05-25 09:41:41 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-25 13:41:41 [post_content] =>1. The Structure of ‘Love Never Dies’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47dUc4iMAvQ Although it suffers from a weak story, the musical “Love Never Dies” has some beautiful music and has obvious parallels to its predecessor, “The Phantom of the Opera.” Among the borrowed tropes are a Phantom solo in the first act (“‘Til I Hear You Sing”), Christine’s big second-act solo (“Love Never Dies”), a rock-influenced duet in the first act (“The Beauty Underneath”) and an erotic duet between the Phantom and Christine (“Beneath a Moonless Sky”). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4teFe_zf6Y2. The Outro of ‘Look With Your Heart’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voBWbeEwMjE In “Love Never Dies,” the music box melody at the end of this number (which signals the Phantom’s quiet entrance) is the identical opening melody of “The Point of No Return” in “The Phantom of the Opera.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZZWCPiwfvU3. The Song ‘Love Never Dies’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgFXm_oAA2E A more appropriate title might be “This Song Never Dies.” The song’s melody debuted as “The Heart Is Slow to Learn” in 1998 at a Royal Albert Hall celebration of Lloyd Webber’s music. The chorus melody was then recycled as “Our Kind of Love” for Lloyd Webber’s musical “The Beautiful Game.” The song’s third and final form was as the title song for “Love Never Dies” in 2010.4. The Song ‘Music of the Night’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1RQr7BZCSA The song “The Music of the Night” from “The Phantom of the Opera” was the subject of controversy after the estate of Giacomo Puccini filed a lawsuit against Lloyd Webber. Puccini’s estate had argued that the melody in the lyrics “Silently the senses abandon their defenses” was stolen from an excerpt of the opera “La Fanciulla del West.” The lawsuit was settled out of court. Lloyd Webber had originally planned to use the melody for “The Music of the Night” under different lyrics for his show “Aspects of Love,” but that song, titled “Married Man,” was cut from the final version of “Aspects.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86uFsfbFYbs5. The Song ‘Make Up My Heart’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSdqJ_CvYm8 Speaking of Puccini, the opening riff of this song from “Starlight Express” is almost identical to the opening of “Musetta’s Waltz” from Puccini’s “La Boheme.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frQHBszDHps6. The Title Theme From ‘The Phantom of the Opera’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_DnrnD7Tsg The chromatic title theme of Lloyd Webber’s most famous musical is eerily similar to a certain riff from Pink Floyd’s song “Echoes.” The band’s bassist at the time, Roger Waters, never sought legal action, claiming that “life's too long to bother with suing” Lloyd Webber. Some people have even pointed out similarities to the intro of Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S3fpgrZ9ys7. The ‘Mirror Scene’ From ‘The Phantom of the Opera’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhMc7ZLULKo The line, “I am your Angel of Music” sounds suspiciously similar to a passage (skip to 1:20) from “The Battle on the Ice” from Sergei Prokofiev’s “Alexander Nevsky.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oRbStmxvm48. The Song ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYYgpZiStdc Mary Magdalene’s solo from “Jesus Christ Superstar” has been scrutinized for sounding too similar to the Andante movement from Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto in E Minor” (skip to 0:33). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WAWzvadIGA9. The Song ‘Memory’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-L6rEm0rnY “Memory” from the musical “Cats” has been noted for its similarities to the main melody in Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4wb11w0ZHQ10. ‘King Herod’s Song’ and ‘Try It And See’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaOfBQ5uw6M The melody to “King Herod’s Song” from “Jesus Christ Superstar” was originally taken from “Try It and See,” which Lloyd Webber wrote for the Italian rock singer Rita Pavone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqnW-EHiTiM11. The Duet ‘All I Ask of You.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnptZC341nM The classic duet from “The Phantom of the Opera” was originally a solo that Lloyd Webber wrote titled “I Don’t Talk to Strangers,” recorded by opera superstar Plácido Domingo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUAagx3maAY12. The Song ‘’Til I Hear You Sing’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaQCVzUn4oQ The Phantom’s solo from “Love Never Dies” borrows a melody from “If Not For Me, For Her” from Lloyd Webber’s “The Woman in White.” The Phantom’s melody for “And sometimes at nighttime, I dream that you are there” is almost identical to Marian’s lyrics “I know that I’ve wronged you, and that I can’t defend.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vROqgU5V6gg13. The Song ‘As If We Never Said Goodbye’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SL48bIzNGM In Norma’s big solo from Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard,” the melody for the lyrics “I don’t want to be alone / That’s all in the past” is identical to the original version of “Half a Moment” from “Jeeves.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4Ycz3j5gYg14. The Song ‘If This Is What We’re Fighting For’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bL_zYjusOQ The opening for this solo in Lloyd Webber’s “The Beautiful Game” is almost identical to “Will This Last Forever?” from his show “The Likes of Us,” which was written in 1965 but not performed until 2005. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0bTlkVPg4U15. The Entire ‘Variations’ Set
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1lpCszsOMU Lloyd Webber’s “Variations” set (1978) is based on the theme from Paganini’s 24th Caprice, a virtuoso showstopper for classical violinists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uALsg4aWKB0 [post_title] => 15 Times Andrew Lloyd Webber (Allegedly) Copied Music From Himself Or Others [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 15-times-andrew-lloyd-webber-allegedly-copied-music-others [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-25 09:41:41 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-25 13:41:41 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8643 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 4 [filter] => raw ) [11] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8626 [post_author] => 736 [post_date] => 2017-05-24 08:04:45 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-24 12:04:45 [post_content] => New York City is the heart of the American theatre community. Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre, tours and everything in between come to the Big Apple to audition some of the best theatre talent in the world. If you’re looking to pursue a career in this market as a performer, make sure you are familiar with some of the realities of being a NYC-based actor. It will help you proactively take steps to mentally prepare for what lies ahead when you’re out pounding the pavement.1. There Will Be Long Waits
Open calls, both union (known as Equity Principal Auditions and Equity Chorus Calls) and non-union cattle calls are the most popular ways for those new to NYC to get seen for all the auditioning theatre jobs. Being that these are the most easily accessible to actors at any level, they are also the most crowded and sometimes require many hours of waiting all day to be seen to strut your stuff. Make sure you are prepared to wait and keep your mind busy by bringing a good book, iPad to watch movies or television and or busywork. It will make you much happier if you can keep your mind and spirit positively occupied during long waits.
2. You’ll Wake Up Early
Lining up for auditions and guaranteeing you’ll be seen requires waking up at the crack of dawn. Depending on how the audition will be, you may need to get in line as early as 5:30 a.m. (and yes, there are people who show up even earlier). If you show up any later than 7 a.m., don’t be surprised if there is a line around the block and hundreds of people in front of you.
3. You’ll Wait in the Cold
You may or may not be used to harsh winters, but NYC does have them, and a good bulk of auditions happens during those months. This means you’ll be waiting in lines outside in the cold until those audition studios open up for the day. Be sure to wear layers of winter clothes and buy portable hand warmers so you’ll stay cozy and warm.
4. You’ll Have Multiple Auditions on the Same Day
During busy audition season, multiple auditions can happen on a single day. This means you could potentially go back and forth across town many times in a few hours, first to sign up for all these auditions, then to actually attend them. To make this happen, get your stamina up, keep good track of time and plan out your day in advance as best you can to know exactly where and when you need to go.
5. You’ll Have to Strategically Pack for the Day
Unless you live right in the heart of the Midtown Theatre District where most auditions occur and can bolt home between auditions, you need to cope with the reality that you’ll have to carry everything on your person that you need for everything you’re planning to do that day. Many performers have solved this issue by investing in a small rolling suitcase or rolling backpack. You can usually fit all you need into these, and it won’t hurt your body from carrying so much stuff on your back or shoulders with other heavy bags and purses. Definitely invest in one before you head into the NYC audition scene.
6. Know All the Nice Bathrooms
There’s nothing glamorous about getting ready for auditions in NYC. Sometimes, the audition studios have places to change, and sometimes they don’t. Prepare yourself that you may be stuck changing in the nearest Starbucks or McDonald’s restroom. Once you’ve been on the audition scene for a while, you’ll start to learn the not-so-publicized locations to change into your best duds. Helpful hint: Hotel lobbies and free tourist destinations usually have lovely bathrooms.
7. You’ll Do 8-, 16- and 32-Bar Cut Auditions
With the number of people auditioning, it’s very normal that you can be asked to sing eight, 16 or 32 bars of a song if you’re auditioning for a musical — literally just a snippet of a song to see if you are the voice type they’re looking for. Make sure you have many music options for these types of auditions. It’s usually not said in advance what type of cut will be asked for (as creative teams are often seeing how many people show up to the audition and how much time they have to see auditionees), so be sure to plan your different song options in advance.
8. There Will Be Typing
Typing occurs a lot. This is when a lot of actors are brought into the audition room at once and the creative team takes a quick look at everyone in person and decides within a few seconds whether they need to see more from you. Everyone who they don’t need to see perform is dismissed. It is a very quick process, and a huge reality in the NYC audition scene. Although this may seem frustrating and unfair, you can choose to look at it as a positive occurrence. If you’re typed out, you can go about with your day and move on to other auditions. If you’re typed in, it means your chances just got better of actually booking the gig.
Have you encountered these realities as you auditioned in New York? What have you experienced? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 8 Realities Of Auditioning In NYC [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 8-realities-auditioning-nyc [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-24 08:04:45 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-24 12:04:45 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8626 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [12] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8620 [post_author] => 12 [post_date] => 2017-05-22 12:02:21 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-22 16:02:21 [post_content] => You’ve just gotten the news that you’ve been cast in a production — hooray! You’re now part of a team who will work together to make magic and possibly even some miracles, so why not bond with your fellow thespians as much as possible? The grueling rehearsal process can be enough for some to break bread, but it can good to build camaraderie outside the theatre, too.Here are seven ways to create a stronger community between you and your castmates:
1. Host a Potluck Dinner
Getting together with your entire cast before rehearsal and sharing a meal can be a wonderful connecting experience. Really, though, when does food not bring people together?
2. Relate Over Reviews
Those first reviews can be nerve-wracking, so why not do it as a team and endure the anxiety together? Adding a little coffee or cronut to the mix will help sweeten the deal.
3. See Another Show
Go hit the theatre and see another production to get you psyched up for the one you’re all working on. Nothing sparks conversation among thespians like seeing a show.
4. Play Stage Games
OK, so this one is tricky and you shouldn’t do it during an actual performance. But who doesn’t love a good stage game (or, shall we say, stage shenanigan?) One popular option is sneakily passing a small object from actor to actor without the audience or director knowing. Just don’t get caught!
5. Go on a Group Outing
What better way to build togetherness than going out for a group hike, hitting the lanes for some bowling or even playing some mini golf? Quietly getting to know one another in the wings is one thing, but hiking up a snowy mountaintop is quite another. Of course, there’s always karaoke for the less outdoorsy types.
6. Watch the Movie of Your Show
If there’s a movie version of the production you’re in, gather together and watch it as a group — with the bonus of popcorn!
7. Do Community Outreach
Round up the cast and crew, pick a cause, don your show shirts and give back to your theatre-loving community. Host some volunteer classes for kids, pick up litter in the area or sing at your local retirement home. Performing acts of kindness as a group will surely bring you and your cast together.
What other ways do you like to bond with your castmates? Let us know in the comments below...
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You May Like: Can We Guess What Type Of Thespian You Are Based On Your Starbucks Order?
[post_title] => Only A Real Theatre Nerd Can Ace This Quiz [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => only-a-real-theatre-nerd-can-ace-this-quiz [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-10-20 11:27:57 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-10-20 15:27:57 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8631 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 2 [filter] => raw ) [14] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8623 [post_author] => 639 [post_date] => 2017-05-19 08:17:55 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-19 12:17:55 [post_content] => Some musicals that originated as films have been some of the biggest hits on Broadway. Sometimes these new takes on classic films can go terribly wrong, but more often than not, these musicals recreate and add to these films to make them something new. Of course, some films can be harder to adapt than others. There are some things in films that cannot be reproduced onstage, while there are some movies that don’t need songs. However, this hasn’t stopped people from trying to get their favorite film to the stage. At the moment, there are so many more productions in the works based on films, including “Freaky Friday,” “Roman Holiday” and “Moulin Rouge.” Who’s to say whether all of these will be successful (our money is definitely on “Moulin Rouge”), but when it works, it really works. Here are eight amazing musicals based on films:1. ‘Kinky Boots’
Based on the 2005 British film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Joel Edgerton, this brilliant adaptation took a decent film and made it a showstopping musical. With a book by Harvey Fierstein and music by Cyndi Lauper, this show most definitely deserved its 2013 Tony Award for Best Musical. Why it’s great as a musical: What this musical does more effectively than the film is hone in on the message: Just be who you want to be, never let them tell you who you ought to be. Of course, this is a line from the finale, but the musical drives this message from beginning to end. And with music like “Raise You Up/Just Be” and “Everybody Say Yeah,” it’s hard not to be thoroughly entertained. Also, Lola in the film is good, but Lola in the musical is infectious. Billy Porter took home the Tony for originating this role for a reason.2. ‘Once’
This indie Irish film about two musicians crossing paths is romantic and inspiring. The film’s iconic “Falling Slowly” won best original song at the Oscars, so it’s no surprise this film was adapted into a musical. With music by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who also starred in the film, it was interesting to see whether the musical could be as effective as the film. The musical turned out to be insanely successful, winning eight Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical.
Why it’s great as a musical: What truly brings this musical to life is the ensemble. They act as dancers, singers and musicians throughout the show, making the whole production feel very organic. The scene of “Gold” alone is brilliant to watch. Having stayed true to the original story and remastered songs, this show brings the music and story alive in a way the film couldn’t do.
3. ‘Billy Elliot’
This coming-of-age story about a boy who wants to be a professional ballet dancer is both heartwarming and entertaining. The 2000 film the musical is based on won multiple BAFTA awards and was nominated for multiple Oscars as well. What makes both the film and the musical so special is the title character himself. The talent he needs to exude along with the emotional performance is what makes this story so effective. Aside from winning Best Musical at the 2009 Tony Awards, this show made history with a Tony Award first: Three actors were nominated for an award in the same role. David Álvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish all won the Tony for their portrayal of Billy Elliot.
Why it’s great as a musical: This may be obvious, but the dancing. The title character is dazzling to watch onstage. “Electricity,” based on a speech Billy gives in the film, is particularly impressive. Aside from the amazing dance numbers throughout the show, the main message is to show kids to not be afraid to express themselves, no matter what they want to do.
4. ‘The Lion King’
‘Beauty and the Beast’ may have been the first majorly successful Broadway hit based on an animated Disney film, but then came “The Lion King.” The movie was a huge success, with music by Elton John and the story very loosely based on “Hamlet.” Then came the musical, which changed the Broadway landscape as we know it. Opening in 1997, the show is seen by millions of people every year and is one of the highest-grossing shows on Broadway. Why it’s great as a musical: Along with new songs and scenes being added to this production, including “One by One” and “Endless Night,” this show has become iconic for its costumes. All of the actors and dancers have intricate costumes, moving with different tools and puppetry throughout the show to create the illusion there are really animals onstage. You can’t help but feel like you’ve been transported to the Pride Lands as “The Circle of Life” picks up and you’re looking at a giant mechanical elephant to your left walking down the aisle.5. ‘Hairspray’
Based on John Waters’ 1988 film of the same name, this musical became an instant modern classic when it opened on Broadway in 2002. The show also garnered 13 Tony Award nominations, taking home eight wins. Most notably, Marissa Jaret Winokur won a Tony for bringing Tracy Turnblad to life onstage. The musical definitely kept the quirky feel of the film while also enhancing the characters. The musical has since been turned into a film of the musical, along with a live broadcast that took place this past winter. Why it’s great as a musical: For a film that revolves around music and dancing, it makes sense that the story include music and dancing. The musical brings the film to life with a revamped “Corny Collins Show” that does not exist in the film, complete with its own theme, “The Nicest Kids in Town.” Though the musical is definitely a lot louder than the film, it still focuses on the issues that are at the heart of the movie.6. ‘The Color Purple’
The 1985 film, based on a book of the same name, stars Whoopi Goldberg in her Golden Globe-winning performance. The film centers around Celie, who endures terrible things throughout her life. Her story is inspiring because she persists despite the odds stacked against her. With producers on the musical such as Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey, this musical was set to succeed. Though it was beat out for Best Musical by “Jersey Boys” in 2006, LaChanze did win Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Celie.
Why it’s great as a musical: What truly makes this musical great is how true it is to its predecessors. The musical does not stray away from the tough scenes or the heart of the movie. It only magnifies these things with the amazing soul and gospel music throughout, with “I’m Here” as a particular standout.
7. ‘The Producers’
This musical holds the record for most Tony Awards won by a single musical production. Yes, that means it has won more Tony Awards than “Hamilton.” The smash 1968 hit film of the same name blew audiences away with this bizarre concept of a film, along with the bizarre concept within the film: a scheme to make money by presenting a musical about Nazis. The film and the musical have both become classics in their own right. Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick not only originated the roles of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom onstage, but they reprised their roles in the 2005 musical film. Why it’s great as a musical: The main focal point of the film is the musical the two main characters are creating. What better way to experience that musical than in a musical? With all its dance numbers and physical comedy throughout, the musical does not disappoint.8. ‘Anastasia’
Yes, this is a new one and has yet to prove itself like the others, but it has a lot going for it. For one, it’s based on the 1997 animated film. If you grew up in the ‘90s loving this movie, this musical definitely delivers. However, unlike the animated film, there is no Rasputin. The stage adaptation takes a more realistic approach, introducing a Leningrad officer as the main antagonist. But it’s OK, because Ramin Karimloo plays said officer. Why it’s great as a musical: The iconic songs “Once Upon a December” and “Journey to the Past” are in the musical, along with a bunch of new original songs including “In a Crowd of Thousands.” These songs add to an already great story and rounds out the characters a little more, particularly that of Dmitry. This romantic musical focuses on a young woman trying to find herself and still feels new, even as it combines great qualities of a classic musical. That, and Derek Klena absolutely nails Dmitry.What is your favorite musical based on a film? What film would you like to see made into a musical? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 8 Musicals Based On Films That Totally Got It Right [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 8-musicals-based-on-films-that-got-it-right [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2020-09-18 10:28:56 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-09-18 14:28:56 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8623 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 14 [filter] => raw ) [15] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8615 [post_author] => 391 [post_date] => 2017-05-18 09:18:32 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-18 13:18:32 [post_content] => Another opening, another show… The opening of any musical can make it or break it, and it’s the most important way to grab the audience’s attention and make a first impression. Openers create the portal in which audiences find themselves in the musical’s plot. While certain openers are more subtle and intimate, others are massive spectacles that immediately intrigue their audiences. Ranging from more traditional sounds to rock musicals, here are 15 of our favorite contemporary opening numbers:1. ‘Omigod You Guys’ from ‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47D8ZJUMI8k A favorite choice among high schools, “Legally Blonde: The Musical” has one of the most recognizable opening numbers in contemporary musical theatre.2. ‘Alexander Hamilton’ from ‘Hamilton’
It seemed as if no one could escape 2016 without hearing something about “Hamilton” and its opening number, which fuses hip-hop with history to tell the “ten-dollar Founding Father’s” story.3. ‘Hello’ from ‘The Book of Mormon’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKkLV1zE8M0 This catchy opening sequence has spawned numerous covers and even a “South Park” sequence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKIOqJns5N84. ‘Circle of Life’ from ‘The Lion King’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0OdIcCQG9I The live version of this iconic Disney song is chock full of extravagant puppets, authentic costumes and colorful makeup.5. ‘Miracle’ from ‘Matilda: the Musical’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ8LigH4IVE Tim Minchin’s 2011 West End hit opens with a birthday party where the children and their parents brag about their unique traits.6. ‘Prologue’ from ‘Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKK7TDqw9PY This swingy intro to Dave Malloy’s musical adaptation of “War and Peace” explains the plot and characters to a quick, toe-tapping beat!7. ‘Just Another Day’ from ‘Next to Normal’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk8yQM8Q--c This rock musical opens with a dysfunctional family practicing their morning routines.8. ‘No One Mourns the Wicked’ from ‘Wicked’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-glmbVlqxLY The opening to Stephen Schwartz’s biggest show shows the Ozians cheering Elphaba’s death and Glinda explaining her friendship with Elphaba.9. ‘Mama Who Bore Me’ from ‘Spring Awakening’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvS3POd1YYI This angsty opening to the musical features a group of adolescent girls who lament not knowing what it means to be a woman.10. ‘Fancy Dress’ from ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sopiYMOiQmQ In this opening, the audience meets the characters, the most notable of which, Janet van de Graaff, is giving up her career for married life.11. ‘What I Was Born to Do’ from ‘Bring It On: The Musical’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23mm7NIp6zo This thrilling opening sequence features a group of headstrong cheerleaders introducing themselves.12. ‘Welcome to the Renaissance’ from ‘Something Rotten!’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fvmVhpc0fc This Shakespeare-inspired comedy opens with the Minstrel familiarizing the audience with the end of the Renaissance.13. ‘Underground’ from ‘Memphis’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL42kO_xRrE This rock-n-roll-inspired musical opens at an underground bar in 1950s southwestern Tennessee. The show discusses the rising popularity of black music in white communities.14. ‘Take Me to Heaven’ from ‘Sister Act: The Musical’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH0yhq-bxVY Long before she enters the convent, Deloris is seen here as a nightclub singer in hopes of scoring a record deal.15. ‘When You’re an Addams’ from ‘The Addams Family’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdoOCgV0Z14 While visiting a graveyard, Gomez sings to his family about honoring the cycle of life and death.Did we leave out your favorite contemporary opening scene? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => Hello! 15 Best Contemporary Opening Numbers In Musicals [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 15-best-contemporary-opening-numbers-musicals [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-18 16:33:26 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-18 20:33:26 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8615 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 19 [filter] => raw ) [16] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8579 [post_author] => 736 [post_date] => 2017-05-16 09:52:10 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-16 13:52:10 [post_content] => Auditions are a fact of life for every performer. They can be very stressful and sometimes even overwhelming, especially when you really want to book a gig. Here are five easy tips to ensure you are more relaxed before you walk into the audition room:1. Stay Away from the Vampires
Stay away from the people in the audition room or waiting area who seem to be giving off a very nervous energy and/or are having negative conversations. These vampire auditionees suck your positive, prepared energy and can affect your psyche in an unproductive way.
Do everything in your power to keep away from them, as you don’t want to end up having a bad audition because of their attitude. This may mean stepping outside the holding room and waiting in the hallway until your turn is up or finding a corner of the room where no one can bother you.
If by some chances these vampires are friends of yours, don’t be afraid to kindly tell them you are trying to stay focused so you will rock your audition. They should understand. Then, move quickly toward a more positive atmosphere.
2. Keep Yourself Busy
Busy your mind to tune out vampires and/or keep any of your own insecurities and inner negative voices at bay. Better yet, keep yourself busy with something that takes you to your happy place, whether you’re watching your favorite television show on your iPad, listening to inspirational music, reading a book, doing yoga stretches, meditating, coloring, doing a crossword puzzle or even continuing to study those sides. Keeping your mind busy and happy means staying present and in the moment, so you won’t be as worried about your impending audition.
3. Make Plans for After Your Audition
Having something fun to do after an audition leads to positivity in the audition, too. Your mind is unconsciously looking forward to what’s next. Also, don’t be afraid to plan to treat yourself to a job well done once your audition is over. This way, you are setting yourself up for success, not failure. Don’t worry — even if you don’t have the best audition, your plans become a way to keep your mind off any bombed or not-so-great auditions once they’re over.
4. Don't Go Telling Others
As much as everyone loves to share on social media, don’t tell people (including friends and family) about your auditions before you do them. You are setting yourself up for expectations and the undue pressure and emotional stress put upon you by others who want to ask what it’s for and how you did, give you their opinions of how right or wrong for the part you are or even react negatively as another performer who didn’t land the appointment you did.
5. Stack the Deck in Your Favor
Last, if the stress of an important audition is going to wreak havoc on your nerves no matter what you do, stack the deck in your favor. If sides have not been given to you, choose to use material you know you can do in your sleep (figuratively speaking, of course). This way, you can do the best audition you possibly can and won’t be as nervous about it.
On the other side of the coin, if the casting or creative team gives you sides to learn, make sure to get as much practice and performance with the material before the audition as possible. You can even set up a few mock auditions with supportive individuals or mentors, where you can run through them and get out those initial nerves and stress that comes from performing new material for the first time. You’ll be surprised by how quickly practicing your audition in front of people will lessen stress and allow you to have much more fun when it comes time for the real thing.
How do you shake your nerves before an audition? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => Stressed Out? 5 Tips For Keeping Calm At Auditions [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => five-tips-for-keeping-calm-auditions [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-16 18:33:53 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-16 22:33:53 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8579 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 2 [filter] => raw ) [17] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8506 [post_author] => 12 [post_date] => 2017-05-15 09:54:35 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-15 13:54:35 [post_content] => TED Talks are great ways to educate, motivate and inspire. The best part is you can listen to them at home while you wash the dishes or from your phone during your daily commute. Here are five TED Talks that are not only great in and of themselves but can also be applied to your acting career:1. What I Learned From 100 Days of Rejection: Jia Jiang
Rejection is part of any actor’s life. Even the best of the best still deal with rejection, and learning to cope is an ongoing and ever-evolving experience. That’s why Jia Jiang’s TED Talk about his 100-day rejection challenge is perfect for every actor. In this entertaining and enlightening talk, Jiang discusses how to turn rejections into opportunities through a 100-day rejection challenge where he does everything from asking strangers for money to asking for burger refills. His experiences will leave you with a new and profound respect for what it means to be rejected and how to turn those rejections into opportunities for growth.2. Keep Your Goals to Yourself: Derek Sivers
Actors are constantly creating new goals for themselves. Whether it’s getting a new agent, producing a play or adding new songs to your repertoire, there’s always new ways to push yourself. In this podcast, Derek Sivers talks about the importance of keeping your goals to yourself in order for them to actually become a reality.3. My Journey from Marine to Actor: Adam Driver
Need some inspiration? In this heartfelt TED Talk, Adam Driver tells his story of going from flailing actor to joining the Marines to re-entering the acting world. He shares his difficult journey from soldier to civilian while describing the unique similarities between the theatre world and the military world. It’s through these experiences that he was led to begin his nonprofit, Arts in the Armed Forces, which brings theatre to the military.4. Why Women Should Tell the Stories of Humanity: Jude Kelly
In this extremely well-articulated talk, theatre director Jude Kelly discusses the importance of women’s voices in storytelling and art. She rallies artists of all kinds to see the world in a more gender-neutral light. Regardless of whether you are an actor, director, set designer or even an accountant, you should hear this talk.5. 8 Secrets to Success: Richard St. John
In this lightning-fast TED Talk, analyst Richard St. John teaches the eight most important things that lead to success. Is your acting career on the road to success? Is it all luck? Or is there something more to it than that? If you have three minutes, use this TED Talk to find out.Want more actor-friendly talks? Check out “Talks for Theatre Geeks,” a nine-talk playlist assembled by TED.
[post_title] => 5 Amazing TED Talks For Actors [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 5-amazing-ted-talks-actors [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-15 09:54:35 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-15 13:54:35 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8506 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 1 [filter] => raw ) [18] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8612 [post_author] => 712 [post_date] => 2017-05-12 09:41:59 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-12 13:41:59 [post_content] => Ring! Ring! Unfortunately, as a theatre nerd, you’ve most likely experienced a cringeworthy audience disruption during a show — and always during the most vulnerable scenes! Whether it’s taking a photo with the flash on (*palm to head*), Madonna texting (what?!) or the ever-rude cell phone ring (*palm to head again*), Broadway stars seem to have endured it all. While professional performers generally power through, some interruptions are far too distracting and must be stopped in order for the performance to successfully continue. From Lin-Manuel Miranda to Laura Benanti, here are five Broadway stars who halted their show to quiet a disruptive audience member:5. Keira Knightley in ‘Thérèse Raquin’ (2015)
The famous actress wowed audience members with her Broadway debut performance in ‘Thérèse Raquin,” but there was one attendee whose affections she could have gone without. During the first preview, the show stopped because of Keira Knightley’s stalker.
According to Broadway World, social media was abuzz with the incident, with one user detailing, “Show was stopped because an audience member, who I thought was part of the cast, stood up by the front mezzanine railing and asked Keira Knightley to marry him. He was escorted out, but not before he threw a huge bouquet of flowers from 5 rows up on to the stage.”
Another user wrote, “There was apparently a Keira Knightley stalker at ‘Thérèse Raquin,’ who came in and yelled ‘Christ was born of a virgin! Keira, marry me!’”
A Broadway World member named jacobstf took to the site’s message board to further explain what happened: “After a very awkward silence, Gabriel Ebert motioned to Knightley, they walked over to the bouquet and kicked it into the wings (which got applause). After trying to resume the show, a voice came over the speakers announcing there would be a short break."
Yikes! Ignoring him was definitely the smartest thing to do. After the scary incident, Roundabout, which produced the show, amped up its security measures.
4. Laura Benanti in ‘She Loves Me’ (2016)
Laura Benanti called out a cell phone ring during a matinee performance of “She Loves Me” on April 2016. The Tony winner was in the middle of singing the emotionally charged song “Will He Like Me?” when she heard the interruption. Like the pro she is, she initially kept singing, softly squeezing a “Hello” into her song. As the ringing persisted, Playbill reported, Benanti became irked, saying “I’ll wait” and then “We’ll all wait” as the orchestra paused with her. As soon as the ringing subsided, Benanti picked up her song exactly where she left off.
The entertainer addressed the incident on Twitter the following day:
She also shared a link to “Look Up,” a song she performed with The Skivvies that is the perfect anecdote for rude theatergoers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3FNlo1ft5w
3. Annaleigh Ashford in ‘Sylvia’ (2016)
When in doubt, bark! Annaleigh Ashford told Playbill she “thought that something dire must be happening” when an audience member picked up her phone and had a full conversation during a performance of “Sylvia.” How did the Tony winner deal with the disturbance? With a completely in-character dog bark, of course!
“We’re very lucky to be in a play that is set up so that if a cell phone rings, I can bark at it. It’s much easier to recognize and acknowledge it and handle it lightly than in other plays,” Ashford told Playbill. “If the same phone goes off more than once, it’s usually someone who doesn’t know cell phones very well. Well, in this case, the second time it rang, she picked up and answered and started talking. It turned into a full conversation. The audience around her started shushing her, but she kept talking. We could hear it onstage.”
After two pages of dialogue, Ashford recalled that she and costar Matthew Broderick gave up on continuing the scene, as the offending theatregoer was still disrupting the audience.
“It became very clear that the audience was so distracted that they weren’t in the world of the play anymore,” she said.
Finally, someone around the woman helped her to hang up the phone and turn it off.
“We told the audience, ‘We’re going to go back, if you don’t mind,’” Ashford said. “That got applause. We briefly talked about where to go back to, then we took positions and started the scene again. The audience was with us 100 percent.”
2. Lin-Manuel Miranda Deals With Madonna Interrupting ‘Hamilton’ (2015)
It seems like Madonna should have taken a note from her hit song, “Hung Up” and hung up her phone. While she might be an international superstar, the singer was just another audience member when she watched an Off-Broadway performance of “Hamilton” at the Public Theatre. After arriving late, the star was allegedly texting during the show, prompting Miranda himself to ban her from visiting backstage afterward.
“Tonight was the first time I asked stage management NOT to allow a celebrity (who was texting all through Act 2) backstage. #noselfieforyou,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning genius wrote in a since-deleted tweet. That’s right — not even Madonna is excused from being disruptive!
1. Patti LuPone in ‘Gypsy’ (2009)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WruzPfJ9Rys What else did you think would be No. 1? No one should mess with Broadway legend Patti LuPone. She clearly has no patience for audience disruptions, becoming known as a performer who calls attention to the bad ones. In perhaps her most famous “audience handling,” LuPone paused her showstopping final number in “Gypsy” to yell. During “Rose’s Turn,” she certainly turned, shouting at rude audience members who were taking illegal photos throughout the show. “Stop! Stop taking photos right now!” she screamed, schooling the offenders. “You heard the announcement. Who do you think you are? How dare you? Get them out! I won’t continue if they’re taking pictures. This is the theatre!” A group of ushers immediately came to escort the impolite theatregoers out. Met with uproarious applause, LuPone started the show again. The incident was the day before the show closed.Do you think the performers handled their situation well or know of another instance like this? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 5 Broadway Stars Who Handled An Audience Interruption Like A Pro [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => broadway-stars-handled-audience-interruption-like-pro [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-12 09:42:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-12 13:42:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8612 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 3 [filter] => raw ) [19] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8574 [post_author] => 391 [post_date] => 2017-05-11 09:11:07 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-11 13:11:07 [post_content] => Several wildly popular contemporary musicals, such as “Hamilton,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” transferred to Broadway from an Off-Broadway theatre. Transfers to larger theatres help certain productions reach wider audiences, culminating in sold-out performances and award nominations. Unfortunately, a handful of musicals never quite reach the next step in the transfer process, but they do achieve Off-Broadway cult status nonetheless. Here are 15 Off-Broadway musicals that have yet to make a full Broadway transfer:1. Any Laurence O’Keefe Show That Is Not ‘Legally Blonde’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpad8LUEwsg As much as audiences love the daughters of Delta Nu, Laurence O’Keefe’s other musicals have been grossly overlooked in comparison. His first Off-Broadway musical, “Bat Boy,” premiered in 2001 and is now popular with community and high school theatre groups. His other Off-Broadway works include “Sarah, Plain and Tall,” “Cam Jansen” and, more recently, “Heathers: The Musical.”2. ‘Dogfight’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NB8X4Ah4U8 Before Pasek and Paul’s major breakthroughs with “La La Land” and “Dear Evan Hansen,” they had success in 2012 with “Dogfight,” a musical about Birdlace, a marine who is headed to Vietnam, and Rose, the woman who falls for him.3. ‘The Wild Party’ (Andrew Lippa’s version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7BB6hln7rQ Adapted from Joseph Moncure March’s eponymous poem, this version of “The Wild Party,” starring Julia Murney and Idina Menzel, ran Off-Broadway in 2000. A recent Encores! production of the musical starred Sutton Foster as Queenie. Lippa has since had more Broadway exposure with “The Addams Family” and “Big Fish.”4. ‘The Last Five Years’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bWGjUKyffM Before the critically divisive 2014 film version, one of Jason Robert Brown’s best-known musicals ran Off-Broadway for two months in 2002. The show was revived Off-Broadway in 2013, and it debuted on West End last year.5. ‘Altar Boyz’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYE7sGGckvg This musical, a satire on boy-band and Christian-pop music brands, ran Off-Broadway from 2005 to 2010. There have since been productions in Korea, Hungary, the Philippines and Finland.6. ‘Road Show’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsbVdiLssCU One of Stephen Sondheim’s later musicals, this show about the Mizner Brothers’ scams and misadventures played in Chicago and D.C. in 2003 before running Off-Broadway in 2008. It then ran in London’s West End for two months in 2011.7. ‘Little Miss Sunshine’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGBrq1O689w William Finn’s (“Falsettos,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”) adaptation of the 2006 film of the same name premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in 2011 before moving Off-Broadway in 2013. The musical’s sole Drama Desk nomination was for Stephanie J. Block’s performance as Sheryl Hoover.8. ‘Now. Here. This’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpCeIeAD-ek Written by the same creative team behind “[title of show],” this 2012 musical ran Off-Broadway for seven weeks. It explores deep topics that the four characters contemplate.9. ‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwJ7cu3r5-Y Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical premiered posthumously in 2001 and was revived Off-Broadway in 2016. The musical is about Jon, a struggling singer-songwriter navigating the waters of the performing arts. A 2014 Encores! production starred Lin-Manuel Miranda.10. ‘Lucky Stiff’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNA7tBzHcMA The first musical collaboration between Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty ran Off-Broadway in 1988, closing after 15 performances. It spawned a West End production in 1997 and a critically panned film version in 2014.11. ‘Zombie Prom’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rEw348j9bI This musical about a high schooler who comes back as a zombie after attempting suicide ran Off-Broadway in 1996. Aside from a 2006 short film adaptation starring RuPaul, the show premiered Off-West End in 2009.12. ‘Ruthless!’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ina66wjU_OA This musical about a fame-hungry third-grader (who turns deadly) ran Off-Broadway in 1992 and spawned a cast recording for its Los Angeles production the next year. The musical was revived Off-Broadway two years ago.13. ‘The Fantasticks’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpKXC8NnP_E This 1960 musical is the longest-running Off-Broadway production ever, lasting more than 17,000 performances before it closed in 2002. The musical also spawned a 1995 film and a 2010 West End production.14. ‘Bare: A Pop Opera’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC5g9C3qjBI After premiering in Los Angeles in 2000, this LGBT musical ran Off-Broadway for a month in 2004. It has since been revived Off-Broadway in 2012, and it has had international productions in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada and Argentina.15. ‘The Last Sweet Days of Isaac’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hssd3crDhc This Off-Broadway rock musical about an artist who is desperate to make a perfect work of art before he dies premiered in 1970 and closed the next year. It was revived Off-Broadway in 1997.Honorable Mention: ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsWfKVJdNp0 While not officially Off-Broadway, both the 2014 La Jolla and the 2015 Paper Mill Playhouse productions were widely acclaimed. Despite Disney fans’ love for the English-language adaptation of this show, audiences were heartbroken when the show did not transfer to Broadway.Think of any Off-Broadway musicals not on here that you wish had transferred to Broadway? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 15 Off-Broadway Musicals You Wish Moved To Broadway [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 15-off-broadway-musicals-you-wish-moved-to-broadway [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-11 09:19:58 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-11 13:19:58 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8574 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 24 [filter] => raw ) [20] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8577 [post_author] => 11 [post_date] => 2017-05-10 09:33:04 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-10 13:33:04 [post_content] => YASSSSS QUEEENS! It’s time to talk about the fierce ladies of the theatre realm. Broadway (and theatre in general) has always been home to strong, hardworking and empowering females, and the women gracing the stage or kicking butt behind the scenes today are fiercer than ever! Get inspired by these eight women:1. Phillipa Soo
This year, Phillipa Soo swapped out the title of Elizabeth Schuyler for a chance to step into the shoes of Amelie. The titular character from the Oscar-nominated movie and new stage musical is pretty much the spirit animal for any introvert. Why? Amelie may be quiet, but she has a world of hopes and dreams in her mind. In fact, her timid nature doesn’t stop her from achieving big things and making her mark on the world. Soo kickstarts our list as she reinvents this inspiring story.
2. Lynn Ahrens
Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens are the masterminds behind the music and lyrics of “Anastasia: The New Broadway Musical.” Ahrens, whose stacked resume ranges from “Seussical” to “Ragtime” to a Patti LuPone concert, uses her magic to bring a beloved childhood phenomenon to the stage. Thanks to Ahrens, we can’t wait to get inspired by this incredible tale of Russian royalty.
3. Sara Bareilles
The adorable stage adaptation of “Waitress” offers audiences more than just a chance to buy pint-sized pies. The show brings an empowering message of determination and strength, all set to a glorious score by song-seamstress Sara Bareilles. Currently, Bareilles is taking the stage and singing her own songs as the show’s protagonist, Jenna. Theatre nerds everywhere are giving her mad props for cooking up a successful Broadway debut.
4. Laura Osnes
This theatrical starlet shines in Broadway’s new swing musical, “Bandstand.” Playing a wartime widow who finds a second chance at life, Osnes joins this upbeat show partnering with Got Your 6, an organization that “believes veterans are leaders, team builders and problem solvers, who have the unique potential to lead a resurgence of community across the nation.” This Tony-nominated actress aids “Bandstand” in bringing audiences a meaningful message.
5. Rachel Chavkin
Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” gets a facelift in an invigorating Broadway show titled “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.” It stars Josh Groban, rakes in rave reviews and was directed by powerhouse Rachel Chavkin. Chavkin has exercised her directing chops in the theatre world before, spearheading a number of Off-Broadway productions, including “Great Comet,” which she took to Broadway in 2016.
6. Glenn Close
This Hollywood acting icon returned to the Great White Way in a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard” (yup — there’s more to Sir ALW than kitties and opera ghosts). Why is this particular casting choice inspiring? Close, who played the role of Norma back in 1994, doesn’t just recreate this beloved role. In fact, the acclaimed actress brings something fresh and new to this classic Broadway musical. According to Playbill, director Lonny Price says Close approached the role “dead set on exploring what Norma and ‘Sunset’ mean to her now.”
7/8. Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Sara Wordsworth
This dynamic duo officially brings our count to eight. As half of the four-person team that wrote Broadway’s a cappella musical “In Transit,” Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Sara Wordsworth are most certainly making waves in the theatre world. You might recognize Anderson-Lopez’s name as the lyricist for “Frozen’s” little ditty “Let It Go.” Now, these ladies have created a unique show about adventuring through New York City and, of course, finding yourself along the way.
Have another leading lady you look up to? Share your story in the comments below...
[post_title] => 8 Inspiring Women On Broadway Today [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 8-inspiring-women-broadway-today [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-10 09:33:04 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-10 13:33:04 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8577 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [21] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8595 [post_author] => 440 [post_date] => 2017-05-09 10:27:14 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-09 14:27:14 [post_content] => Whether you’re the lead in the show or the character with one line, you will always spend time waiting backstage. Rehearsals and shows are both filled with waiting time, and minutes can feel like hours just standing around. So, if you don’t have homework (or just don’t feel like doing it), what’s there to do?Here are 18 ways to pass the time backstage:
1. Stretch
It’s important to stay warm before and during a performance. Take as much time as you need to stretch and limber up to avoid injury. Also, don’t forget to stretch those vocal chords. It’s just as important to warm up your voice for a show to avoid damage.
2. Review Lines or Choreography
If you’re waiting to go on, run the show or the upcoming scene in your head and practice saying your lines to yourself. The more you commit the show to memory, the less likely you are to freeze onstage and forget what comes next. Do the same with choreography — run the dance in your head and mark it. If you are unfamiliar, marking means to run through the choreography using limited movement. For instance, you might use a finger spin or a head roll to mark a turn.
3. Hydrate
This point cannot be made enough. It’s easy to forget to drink water, especially when the adrenaline of a live performance kicks in. But it’s crucial to hydrate throughout the show to keep your voice and body in good shape. Make a point of grabbing a drink each time you get off the stage. If you do it first, you are less likely to get distracted and forget.
4. Get Into Character
Immersing yourself in the show will help give you a strong performance. For those few hours, forget any real-life stress, empty your mind and inhabit your character. One way to help set the mood is to create a playlist for your character and listen to it before you go onstage.
5. Meditate
Another way to clear your mind and focus solely on your performance is to meditate before you go onstage. Some actors do this in their dressing rooms, while others will find a quiet spot in the theatre before the doors open to the public.
6. Color
Feeling stressed or anxious during your performance? Try out a coloring book. Coloring can have a calming effect and help you center yourself. Adult coloring books are all the rage right now, so finding one that strikes your fancy shouldn’t be too difficult. Grab some crayons, and you’ll be ready to rock!
7. Write Your Own Play or Musical
Why not try your hand at creating original work? Many writers have been known to create incredible work during snatches of time between their real-life obligations.
8. Tweet About the Show
Help create buzz for your show by tweeting during the performance. Spreading the word through social media helps generate interest in your production and put more butts in seats every night.
9. Read a Book
Whether you’re reading a school textbook or the latest bestseller, you can catch up on your reading while you’re sitting and waiting backstage.
10. Play Cards or Games
Cards and games are an excellent way to bond with your castmates. Just don’t get so caught up in the game that you miss your cue! It happens more than you think.
11. Reorganize Your Costumes and Makeup
In the frenzy of preparation and quick changes, costumes and makeup can get strewn everywhere. If you have a few minutes, reorganize your things to avoid losing important items.
12. Take Up a New Hobby
Use your free time to improve your skills. Learn to knit, fold origami or learn a new language. Who knows, it could be something you can add to your resume! You never know what the next director could be looking for.
13. Listen to a Podcast
No matter what your interests are, there’s likely a podcast out there for you. To keep up-to-date with theatre news, BroadwayRadio’s podcasts are a great way to get all the information every weekday in 30 minutes or less.
14. Research Other Auditions
Don’t wait for the show to be over before you line up your next one. Use any free time to find other auditions in your area so you never have to be show-less.
15. Journal About Each Performance
This can lessen the sting of post-show depression. Each night, write down things that happened during the performance, funny moments, what you want to remember or how you’re feeling. Even bullet journaling works if you’re short on time. When the show is over, this will be a meaningful keepsake you can reread when you’re feeling blue.
16. Write Encouraging Post-Its to Your Castmates
Grab a stack of Post-Its and write encouraging messages to members of your cast and crew. Stick them in places they’ll see them, such as their spot in the dressing room. Tell them something you like about them or something that was excellent about their performance that day. This will help keep morale high when exhaustion starts to kick in.
17. Take Photos
Don’t forget to snap a few pics when you’re hanging out backstage. Like journals, photos are a great keepsake that will help you battle the post-show sadness when it’s all over. Just be sure to ask people’s permission before you take a photo of them, just in case they’re camera-shy.
18. Have a Dance Party
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8SFKXcPzas This idea comes care of Daveed Diggs of “Hamilton.” Check out this video, where he explains the cast’s tradition of having a dance party in the wings during the show. Use one of these ideas, or try them all! Just remember to enjoy every moment of your experience, both onstage and offstage.How do you pass the time backstage? Let us know in the comments below...
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We at Theatre Nerds are thrilled to feature an interview with costume designer Paloma Young, especially since she was just nominated for another Tony Award! Young currently has two shows running on the Great White Way: “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” (for which she was nominated) and the recently opened “Bandstand,” which has a very unique accolade. Young’s inspiration behind “Bandstand” is truly personal, and her candor about her work process and advice for both costume designers and actors is not to be missed.
Theatre Nerds: What led you to costume design?
Young: A love of history and storytelling. I’m a really bad actor.
TN: Can you explain a bit about the creative process and research needed in designing for a Broadway show?
Young: Every show calls for a different approach, but in general, I do a lot of research. I look for books of museum catalogs for real period details or portrait collections. I also look at art and photographs to start to put together a certain mood and palette for the show. I sometimes do collages to have these to reference as I build the show.
For build items, I do a rendering. For shopped looks, I sometimes only have a collage and a shopping list because I know the look is going to be designed on the actor in the fittings. I also work with drapers and tailors who suggest certain period details like seaming or hidden pleats that might be a nice additions to the design. I really like to have an open dialogue with all my makers.
TN: I would imagine working as a designer requires a great team of helpers. Do you have assistants that help bring your vision to life?
Young: Absolutely! Usually, one who does all the paperwork and assists with shopping for an Off-Broadway show, and four to six assistants for a big Broadway show. Often, reams of responsibility are given to specific people: shoes (for a dance show), swatchers*, shoppers.
* “Swatchers” is costume language for those who go out and look for fabrics to use in building the costumes.
TN: What inspires you to pursue specific projects?
Young: If it’s a musical, will I want to hear the music over and over again? If it’s a play, do the characters feel like people I’m interested to know more about?
TN: How do you look for work as a designer? Do you pitch? Do people find you?
Young: Usually, I get called in by a director who I’ve worked with or had a colleague recommend me. Sometimes, I know the producers and creative team have been given a handful of designers to look at, so I read the script and might pitch them with a few images and general ideas about how my aesthetic might be a good fit for the show. There are no open calls for designers. You have to just work with as many people as possible, so as they move up in their careers, they’ll bring you along.
TN: What/who inspired your designs on ‘Bandstand?’
Young: My grandfather, Hal, was a Navy Pilot in World War II and also a trumpet player/music lover. Even though the musical has a poetic shape and dancers who sometimes represent things other than people (survivor’s guilt, musical instruments, confidence, etc.), I really wanted to make a world where everything felt authentic to these characters who were representing the experience of real veterans. I looked at photos of VA halls and old LIFE magazines to look for details that made these actors feel unique, imperfect and real. I’m really thrilled that “Bandstand” is the first production to be “6 Certified.” “Got Your 6” bestows this seal to pieces that contain a representative and balanced depiction of veterans.
TN: Any advice/inspiration for those wanting to become a costume designer?
Young: Do other things first! Study people, study art, study history, be a waiter or any kind of office role. Without a round life experience, it’s hard to slip into so many different kinds of mind — you need to be a master of understanding why people wear what they wear, not what they should wear to look pretty. It’s real-world knowledge you can apply to kings and janitors equally.
TN: Any advice for actors when they are in a show and working with a designer making costumes for them?
Young: Always be polite. Ask questions about choices you don’t understand instead of saying, “My character would never wear this.” If we know you are trying to understand how we’ve been picturing the character, then we will be willing to hear you might have arrived at differing motivations and be interested in collaborating and finding the character (and their costumes’ looks) together. Always tell a costume designer when any element of your costume is really working for you, that it helps you step into the role or that it makes you feel beautiful, etc. Positive feedback is always good in collaborations! And finally, don’t think shoes that pinch a little will get better in performance. So many green actors want to be a people-pleaser and try to make uncomfortable things work. It can lead to injury and grumpy designers who don’t have money for a new pair of shoes.
More About Young
Young was born and raised in Southern California and off the coast of Maine. While studying American Social History at the University of California Berkeley to be a librarian or an academic, she designed the costumes for a series of Beckett Shorts as an extracurricular. Seven years later, she graduated from the University of California San Diego with a MFA in costume design under the tutelage of Judith Dolan.
New York-based since 2008, Young designs costumes for plays and musicals locally and globally. Her work has been described as “witty, period-scrambling” and “marvelously inventive.” Thematically varying by show, her designs are strongly built on collage and steeped in the “something old, something new” ethos of punk irreverence. She balances modern dress projects with period and fantasy pieces, with a strong focus on character psychology and historic sociological influences in every genre.
Some of her work includes “Peter and the Starcatcher,” for which she received a 2012 Tony Award, “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” (now running on Broadway and the recipient of the Lucille Lortel Award and Drama Desk nomination for earlier incarnations Off-Broadway) and “Bandstand,” currently running at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre.
Regionally, she’s collaborated with many companies, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Old Globe, American Repertory Theatre, South Coast Repertory, San Diego Repertory, Mixed Blood Theatre Company, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Dallas Theatre Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Center Theatre Group, Hand2Mouth, California Shakespeare Theatre and the Actors Theatre of Louisville. In New York, she has worked at Second Stage, MCC, New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, The Vineyard, Ars Nova and Colt Coeur.
Other honors include a Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award, Boston’s Elliot Norton Award, TDF/Kitty Leech Young Masters Award, Henry Hewes Design Award nominations and a Column Award nomination. Her work has been featured in several print publications: Chance Magazine, American Theatre Magazine, Lighting and Sound America and Manor House Quarterly.
In education, Paloma has taught several courses on costume and production design while supervising undergraduate designers at UC San Diego. She also developed curriculum for a new class about technology and the body in performance. She has been a university guest lecturer and participated in lectures about design and sustainability for educators and elementary students.
Her work and process can be seen at www.palomayoung.com
Follow Paloma on Instagram @secondpigeon
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[post_title] => Take This Quiz To Find Out Your Show-Tune Anthem
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[post_content] => Even if you didn’t personally have a stage mom yourself, you probably knew one unlucky friend or classmate who did. Here’s a list to bring back that certain chill that comes with the terror of being in the presence of a true stage mom:
1. Her Vocabulary Was Always Up to Snuff
While other moms said things like, “You looked great when you spun around a whole bunch,” the Stage Mom learned the technical terms so she could properly critique your fouette en tournant.
2. She Was a Jill of All Trades
She has signed up for every backstage job at one time or another. Her resume boasts stage lighting, seamstress, stage manager, set designer, etc. She’ll do anything to help her help you get that bigger and better part.
3. Theatre Directors Feared Her
Every run-in with your mom was a chance for her to bend them to her will, whether to land you a bigger part or complain about how short your solo was.
4. She Hijacked Your Social Life
Your weekends were always spent practicing your dance moves or your vocal selections, instead of riding bikes and playing with your friends. You loved it, but your mom loved it even more.
5. She Was Way More Into It Than You Were
She was cracking open the bubbly when you got your first speaking role; meanwhile, you were still unsure whether you were cool with public speaking.
6. She Took the Same Classes as You
To better correct your form, of course.
7. Every Celebration Was a Chance to Celebrate You
There wasn’t a barbecue or family reunion that passed without your mom demanding you perform in front of the whole family, much to the chagrin of your relatives, who were too polite to tell her you were flat.
8. She Was Your Own Personal PR Rep
When you got the solo in school choir, everyone had to hear about it — including your waiter at TGI Fridays.
9. Her Money Was Where Your Mouth Was
She spent your family’s vacation money on your voice lessons, demo tapes and teeth bleaching. Your siblings still resent this, but were relieved they weren’t the center of your mother’s crazed attention.
10. She Was Off-Book Before You Were
Seriously, she knew your lines by heart and relished the opportunity to tell you when you missed a word or phase. She also knew exactly how many lines you had, and didn’t hesitate to share that information with her coworkers or friends.
11. She Put Your Career Over Your Education
She offered to homeschool you so you’d have more time to hone your craft.
12. She Had a Certain Flair for the Dramatic
Don’t worry, Mom just locked herself in the bathroom for hours because you didn’t make the cast list.
13. Her Nagging Sounded Different Than the Other Moms’
Instead of, “Don’t forget your coat,” it was, “Don’t forget your lines.” Instead of “You’re not leaving the house wearing all that makeup,” it was, “That’s not enough blush, and where are your false eyelashes?”
Tell us your stage mom horror stories in the comments below...
Cover Photo Credit: Johan Persson
[post_title] => 13 Times You Knew Your Mom Was A Stage Mom [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 13-times-knew-mom-stage-mom [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-05 09:03:48 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-05 13:03:48 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8431 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 1 [filter] => raw ) [25] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8508 [post_author] => 639 [post_date] => 2017-05-04 08:15:49 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-04 12:15:49 [post_content] => One of the most well-known myths for thespians involves uttering the name “Macbeth” inside the theatre. If you are currently in a production, sitting in a theatre and for some reason reading this article out loud, please relocate. As the legend goes, when this name is spoken inside a theatre, it can curse the production. Lights can fall, people can literally break their legs and the whole of a production may become a disaster within minutes. Once spoken, a curse reversal needs to occur, or things may just keep going terribly wrong. We know what some of you may be thinking: This is just a silly superstition. But just before you utter this in a theatre to prove us wrong, see if these seven stories from our Theatre Nerds about how the Scottish play nearly ruined a production will change your mind:1. The Fire Alarm and the Fuse Box
When I was a freshman in high school, I was in my first school show. We were doing a production of “Me and My Girl,” which is basically a weird secondhand version of “My Fair Lady.” A senior in our school thought he was above the silly myth of uttering the Scottish play. Of course, the day before our opening night, he said the infamous word in the theatre. We all told him he had to follow the correct procedures to reverse the curse. Of course, he laughed in our faces. As we went back to change out of our costumes that night, the lights abruptly turned off. Everyone screamed, and after a few seconds, they came back on.
I wish I could say it stopped there.
The first act of the show ends with this big ensemble number, so most of us were in fancy dress complete with elbow-length gloves. On our opening night, we were all getting ready to go on, then the fire alarm went off. Everyone had to evacuate the theatre. All of the actors had to go out back, and of course, it was pouring rain. As we all huddled together trying to stay dry, we knew this had to be related to the curse. The alarm was finally fixed, and we all returned to the theatre and completed our number in our damp dresses.
The next day, the fuse box blew. At that point, most of the cast didn’t think it was a coincidence. The responsible senior was forced outside to do the reversal. After that, the final show of the weekend went according to plan without any issues.
— Nicole M.
2. Oh, Oscar
Junior year of high school, we were putting on “The Odd Couple” (both versions) while simultaneously reading the Scottish play in English. The kid playing Oscar started talking about it during dress rehearsal and promptly twisted his ankle. He had to leave rehearsal to go to urgent care and had a limp for the run of the show.
— Jen R.
3. Not a Laughing Matter
When I was in high school, we did two one-act plays for my senior-year show. Between the two casts, there were a lot of people. Our theatre program was still in development, and a lot of people who were in the show were new to theatre. As we all spent time together and bonded, I mentioned the curse of the Scottish play, and everyone looked at me like I had 12 heads. I was so surprised that they had never heard of it, but beyond that, most people didn’t believe me, and they thought it was just a funny bit to tease me with.
They said it all the time, and I would furiously rush to do the countercurse for them to hopefully save our shows. It became a huge joke, and everyone thought it was hysterical, but I was truly terrified that something was going to happen.
During our preview performance during the school day, the curse presented itself. The first one-act was set in a high-school classroom of a school that was just placed on lockdown. There’s a scene where the fire alarm goes off, and there’s chaos in the room and everyone’s running around and screaming. During this moment, one of the shy and timid students escapes out of the classroom. While we were doing this scene, the actress playing the shy student got shuffled around in all of the chaos and ended up flying into the classroom door, headfirst, taking the doorknob with her. Luckily, she wasn’t too seriously injured, but my castmates eased up on the teasing after that!
— Marissa R.
4. The Aftermath
It was our final show, and someone said “Macbeth” right before curtain. The show went fine. Afterward, we packed up the auditorium. To take the trash out, we bring it up the elevator to save ourselves from carrying it up the stairs. Well, when we went up, the elevator got stuck and firemen had to come and get us out.
— Emma O.
5. All of the Injuries
My senior year of high school, I worked on costumes for “West Side Story.” Someone in the cast had read the play for English class, and someone said the name in the theatre. Shortly after, our Maria ended up in the hospital, Tony sprained his ankle and one of the ensemble members shattered his heel during a fight scene rehearsal. This was all about four days before opening night. Luckily, everyone was OK, and even the guy with the shattered heel still made it onstage. But, needless to say, my high school is definitely wary of the Scottish play now. I actually think the guy who shattered his heel was the guy who said the name of the play.
— Brianna N.
6. Inexperience
At our community college, we were in tech week for “Taming of the Shrew.” An older man who had taught English but had never done theatre said it during a prop check. The chair broke and he fell. Then, the chair fell on him and he broke his shoulder. The light board also buzzed and shorted out. We attempted to do some “reverse the curse” ritual, and then we were told to go home.
— Meg S.
7. Third Time’s the Charm
In high school, we were getting the set together for two different shows. One of the students did believe in the “M-word” and decided to say it three times center stage and loud enough to hear across the theatre. Shortly after, one student had a bad feeling about the lights onstage and decided to double-check. It was a good thing, too, because the light was about to fall. Then, one of the female leads in one of the plays was cutting some fabric for curtains and cut her finger deep enough that she needed stitches. Next, the guy who was in a group during rehearsals was walking around the stage and fell off the stage, spraining his ankle.
— Natalia B.
Believe in the curse now? Let us know your story in the comments below...
[post_title] => 7 Times Someone Said 'Macbeth' And Things Went Wrong [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 7-times-someone-said-macbeth-things-went-wrong [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-04 08:44:37 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-04 12:44:37 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8508 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 25 [filter] => raw ) [26] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8304 [post_author] => 736 [post_date] => 2017-05-03 09:23:35 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-03 13:23:35 [post_content] => In school, teachers tend to teach you acting theory and methods, which are great and useful tools when becoming a working actor. However, here are an additional five things they may not have mentioned you should keep in mind while pursuing a professional performing career:1. Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
The market is competitive, and there aren’t enough hours in the day to master every skill you could potentially have to make yourself the most marketable as a performer. So, maximize your time and optimize your efforts by taking ownership of your strengths and weaknesses. Build your confidence so that it is unbreakable. Improve what you do well so that you do it better than anyone, and come to terms with what you don’t do well. Owning this will greatly relieve the stress of pounding the pavement on a daily basis, as you won’t feel the need to have to be everything for everybody.
2. Own Your Unique You
There is truly no one else like you in this world. Own this! Trust that bringing your unique you and your individual experiences to the surface in both your acting choices and audition material is enough to make you stand out and be remembered in this business. This way, when a job comes along that matches you and your talents, you will book it.
3. Diversify
Don’t just have one goal, don’t put all your eggs in one basket and don’t just plant one seed. There are so many opportunities for performers. You can up your chances of work and success by always making sure to say “Yes” to performing gigs that come your way. You never know where the next one may lead!
4. Create Your Own Work
You don’t need to sit back and wait for the next job to come your way. Instead, be a proactive performer and make your own opportunities. Whether it be web series, plays, readings, cabarets and/or writing new works and producing them, show your best talents to the world on your terms. People will be watching, and you may even develop a fan-base. Who knows? It could lead you to be hired for other projects as well.
5. Enjoy Your Unique Journey
There is no one way to achieve goals in the performing business, and your success shouldn’t be defined or compared to others. Take solace in the fact that the way you make your way in this career path will be uniquely yours. Enjoy the journey!
What have you learned from the theatre business that you wish your theatre teachers had told you? Let us know in the comments...
[post_title] => Want To Be An Actor? Five Things Your Theatre Teachers Never Tell You [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => want-actor-five-things-theatre-teachers-never-tell [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-05-03 09:23:35 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-05-03 13:23:35 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://theatrenerds.com/?p=8304 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 4 [filter] => raw ) [27] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8503 [post_author] => 11 [post_date] => 2017-05-02 09:55:11 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-02 13:55:11 [post_content] => The ticket scanners silence. The lights dim. The curtain rises. You think to yourself, “There’s nothing like this place.” If you’ve found yourself thinking these words while visiting the theatre, you might be toying with the idea of turning your theatrical nerdiness into something more. While many theatre lovers grow to be actors themselves, a number of dedicated performing arts gurus find their true calling backstage. Jobs in the theatre world can range from freelancing projects to working full-time. Though tough to break into, it’s an industry full of dynamic opportunity and potential.Interested in being involved in the theatre? Explore these seven professions:
1. Dramaturg
This fancy-sounding job (sometimes called a “literary manager”) is essential to helping actors, directors and companies as a whole bring a story to life. A dramaturg researches everything from a play’s historical context to the playwright’s own background. Often, they assist costume and set designers in making sure the time period is accurately represented, as well as prepare a packet of information for actors and creatives to dive into when studying a piece’s social or political context. Are you a history buff? A research fiend? Someone who likes compiling comprehensive reports? This job might just be for you!
2. Stage Manager
Some say stage managers are the backbone of any successful theatre production. Along with performing administrative duties such as coordinating transportation for an event or helping the director and production staff, a stage manager is charged with making sure the performance itself goes smoothly. Organization, a knack for taking initiative and a strong knowledge of theatre are required.
3. Teacher
If being onstage isn’t your cup of tea, becoming an acting coach or improv teacher probably isn’t for you. However, there are plenty of other courses of study that call for a theatre nerd’s mind. Teaching a class on the history of theatre, theatre development and Shakespeare are examples of non-acting classes that help educate future generations on what it takes to bring a production to life.
4. Marketing/Public Relations Professional
With many millennials drawn to these fields already, theatre aficionados can find their niche working with an agency or venue that specializes in the performing arts. Marketers seek to promote a show to the general public through social media campaigns, promotions and more. Press representatives coordinate interviews with the media in hopes of getting show coverage. If you seek both the theatre world and business world, these professions might catch your eye.
5. Playwright
Yes, you’ve probably heard of this one, but we think it’s awesome! While playwrights often write in their spare time, this can be rewarding if it’s something you’re invested in pursuing. Working on a passion project like this might not be a full-time job right away, but no play or musical would exist without a dreamer. Playwrights have the power to inspire, empower and create change with words.
6. Costume/Set Designer
Creating the world that a piece of art lives in is no small task. These two creative professions often work on a project-to-project basis — and they’re necessary to the industry. From working with opera houses to contemporary theatres, these artists can take audiences to a new time and place.
7. Casting Director
This job may sound like a piece of cake, but a lot goes into picking the perfect ensemble of cast members. Teaming up with the director, producer and creative team, the casting director must have an acute understanding of what each character brings to the story. Understanding what type of actor is needed, as well as coordinating auditions, is only the beginning of this unique career.
There are plenty more roles in the world of theatre. Share yours in the comments below...
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Have a friend who is just starting out with photography do a free shoot (or bribe them with coffee, if you’re feeling nice). Even if they aren’t the professional shots you’re hoping for, you can use this experience as a dry run for the real thing. See which looks and colors worked and which didn’t. Then, when you’re paying big bucks for a three-look package, you’ll know which three you want. And, as a bonus, if your friend’s shots are good enough, you just got yourself free headshots!
2. Trade'sies
Find a photographer that is just starting out, and trade them. Free headshots... and in return they get a portfolio to show future clients.
3. Borrow and Beg
Borrow clothes from your friend with that walk-in closet full of possibilities to amp up your photo session for free. Just be sure to clean and iron them before you return them.
4. Free Makeover
Some places, such as Sephora, offer “free” makeovers if you spent $50 in the store. If you know you need to buy foundation and blush anyway, you might as well time it out so you do it on the day of your headshots. You can get your makeup done by a pro for the price of a few makeup essentials you were going to buy anyway.
Just be clear about what you want so it doesn’t come out overdone. Make sure they know it’s for on-camera, because on-camera makeup is different than regular makeup. As always, make sure you still look like you.
5. Makeup Student
Hire a student studying makeup at a cosmetology school. Most of them need to build portfolios and will do it for free (or in exchange for lunch). The best part is they need you to look good for their portfolio, so they’ll be doing their best work. Plus, they will most likely be willing to go to the studio with you to touch you up as you go or change your look to a more dramatic one as you progress.
6. iPhone Shoot
Don’t do this for your main pics, of course, but use an iPhone for a trial run. Have a fun photoshoot with a friend and your iPhone to practice that million-dollar smile and mysterious dramatic allure. This way, you’ll be ready to make magic once you get into a more expensive session with the clock ticking.
7. Shop Around
Don’t just go with the most expensive photographer everyone is talking about. There are tons of smaller, lesser-known photographers who do great work — just take the time to do some research. If you’re on the fence, show the lesser-known photographers’ work to your agent or manager to get their opinion. If they think the shots are good enough to land auditions, book an appointment. Not only did you save money, but your shots won’t have the same cookie-cutter look that some of the big shots have.
8. Look for Deals
This may be obvious, but like many other businesses, photographers do offer specials from time to time. It’s not a bad idea to ask if and when they offer discounts.
9. Research
Take the time to know what you’re looking for in a headshot. Are you aiming for that perfect commercial shot, dramatic daytime TV actor look or Broadway baby? Spend some time looking at other professionals in the realm of what you’re going for and see what they did that worked. Pay attention to the wardrobe and color choices for the style you’re going for and whether they used natural lighting. These are all factors you’ll want to consider before you arrive. The photographer isn’t going to have all the answers or the time to make those decisions for you. Only you and your agent know what exactly you’re trying to sell, so be as prepared as possible so you don’t have to take multiple rounds of headshots.
What thrifty tips do you have to save on photos? Share in the comments below...
[post_title] => 9 Hacks For Cheaper Headshots [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 9-hacks-cheaper-headshots [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-04-28 13:27:22 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-04-28 17:27:22 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8501 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 1 [filter] => raw ) [30] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8434 [post_author] => 717 [post_date] => 2017-04-27 09:46:08 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-04-27 13:46:08 [post_content] => If you’re anything like me, you love the theatres just as much as the shows that play in them. With the reopening of the Hudson Theatre, there are now currently 41 Broadway theatres. The next time you’re lucky enough to visit one of these theatrical temples, you can impress your friends and family with your theatre trivia knowledge with these 41 facts:1. The Al Hirschfeld Theatre
When the Al Hirschfeld Theatre was built for its original namesake, vaudeville impresario Martin Beck, it was the only theatre in New York that was owned outright without a mortgage.
2. The Ambassador Theatre
Though the theatre looks totally normal from the outside, the Ambassador Theatre is actually situated diagonally on its property to maximize the seating potential.
3. The American Airlines Theatre
In the 1990s, before it was acquired by the Roundabout Theatre Company, the Selwyn Theatre (now American Airlines) was temporarily the Times Square Visitors Center.
4. The August Wilson Theater
The August Wilson Theater was, in a way, responsible for the careers of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The Garrick Gaieties, a benefit revue that thrust the future titans of Broadway into the public spotlight, was originally put on to raise money for the new tapestries for the Guild Theater, now called the August Wilson. But don’t look for the tapestries when you go see “Groundhog Day” — they’ve sadly been lost over time.
5. The Belasco Theatre
The theatre’s namesake, David Belasco, had a 10-room apartment built into the theatre for himself. Styled in an American Gothic theme (he was known as the Bishop of Broadway), the duplex featured an elevator connected to backstage, several offices, an ornate fireplace and even a grotto. The apartment is abandoned now and not in use or available to the public.
6. The Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
The grand arches in the mezzanine are decorated with two beautiful murals entitled “Lovers of Spain,” by Willy Pogany.
7. The Booth Theatre
The Booth Theatre is named after legendary actor Edwin Booth, who was known as one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of all time. He had his legacy somewhat overshadowed by his infamous brother, presidential assassin John Wilkes Booth.
8. The Broadhurst Theatre
The Broadhurst Theatre is an exact mirror of its neighbor on 45th Street, the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.
9. The Broadway Theatre
While several theatres became movie houses at one point in their past, the Broadway Theatre started out as a movie house and became a legitimate theatre. It was here that ground-breaking cartoon “Steamboat Willie” debuted and introduced the world to Mickey Mouse.
10. The Brooks Atkinson Theatre
Like many of the Broadway theatres, the Brooks Atkinson was, for some time, a television studio. The theatre was known as CBS Studio 59 and was where popular game shows “I’ve Got a Secret” and “What’s My Line?” were filmed.
11. The Circle in the Square Theatre
The Circle in the Square houses the Circle in the Square Theatre School, the only accredited training conservatory associated with a Broadway theatre.
12. The Cort Theatre
The proscenium arch of the Cort Theatre was constructed in perforated plaster and was treated with art glass, enabling it to be lit during performances. While the arch still exists, the lighting feature no longer operates.
13. The Ethel Barrymore Theatre
Named for the legendary Ethel Barrymore, whose production of “The Kingdom of God” opened the theatre in 1928, the Barrymore was the last theatre built before the Great Depression and the last theatre built by the Shubert Brothers, Lee and J.J.
14. The Eugene O’Neill Theatre
The Forrest Theatre, its original name, was originally planned by the Schuberts as half of a theatre/hotel complex. But, because of the Great Depression, the Shuberts could only afford to build the theatre.
15. The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
The Schoenfeld, originally the Plymouth, was architect Herbert J. Krapp’s first commission. Krapp was a monumental figure in the shaping of Broadway as we know it today, having designed 15 of the current Broadway theatres and several more that are no longer standing.
16. The Gershwin Theatre
The Gershwin Theatre was originally named the Uris Theatre, whose first occupant was a massive flop called “Via Galactica.” However, the show was originally called “Up.” The producers decided to change the name of the musical when they booked the new Broadway theatre, not wanting to have “Up Uris” displayed in big, bold letters in Times Square.
17. The Helen Hayes Theatre
Originally named the Little Theatre, the venue lived up to its name with only 300 seats. In the 1920s, it was redesigned to increase the seating and improve acoustics. The theatre now seats 597 people, making it the smallest Broadway theatre.
18. The Hudson Theatre
The Hudson is both Broadway’s oldest and newest theatre. It first opened on Oct. 19, 1903, beating the New Amsterdam’s opening by one week. The theatre reopened on Feb. 23, 2017, after being dark since 1968.
19. The Imperial Theatre
The Imperial is probably the luckiest theatre on Broadway. Besides more recent long-running hits such as “Billy Elliot” and “Les Misérables,” from 1938 to 1968, only two shows that played the Imperial ran fewer than 300 performances.
20. The John Golden Theatre
The exterior of the Golden was used as the location of the movie version of “A Chorus Line.” It is also shown in the background during the opening scenes of “All About Eve” as the home of Margo Channing’s “Aged in Wood.”
21. The Longacre Theatre
The Longacre Theatre was built by impresario Harry Frazee. He was also the owner of the Boston Red Sox and sold player Babe Ruth to the Yankees, starting what came to be known as the Curse of the Bambino. Because of the curse, many Broadway producers at the time avoided the Longacre, as it was thought to be unlucky.
22. The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
The Lunt-Fontanne, originally the Globe Theatre, had quite a fantastical design element. The theatre’s ceiling, as well as the roof 20 feet above it, was designed to retract, allowing for an open-air feel like Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The giant sliding doors and large gears are apparently still intact on the roof, though they have been sealed with asphalt.
23. The Lyceum Theatre
Built by producer David Frohman in 1903, the Lyceum, like the Belasco, was built with an apartment inside. Frohman’s wife was acclaimed actress Margaret Illington, so Frohman gave his apartment a view of the stage. Rumor has it there was also a small opening where Frohman could wave a white handkerchief as a signal to his wife that she was “overacting.” The apartment is now the home of the Shubert Archive.
24. The Lyric Theatre
The Lyric Theatre sits on the spot once occupied by two Broadway theatres, the Apollo and the original Lyric. Elements of both still stand, however, and are incorporated into the design of the Lyric. For example, you enter the theatre through the original Lyric façade, both on 43rd and 42nd streets. Inside the theatre, the dome overhead is also from the original Lyric, and the proscenium arch is the original from the Apollo.
25. The Majestic Theatre
The Majestic was built in 1927 as part of a three-theatre complex. The original intent was to have a large theatre (the Majestic), a medium-size theatre (the Jacobs) and a small theatre (the Golden) so that productions could be moved around to any of the three depending on ticket sales. The three theatres share a backstage alley.
26. The Marriott Marquis Theatre
In order to build the Marriott Marquis Theatre, five other theatres had to be demolished: the original Helen Hayes, the Bijou, the Morosco, the Astor and the Gaiety. The decision brought about an uproar from the theatre community, and several actors even chained themselves to the theatre to prevent the demolition. It didn’t work, obviously, but in an attempt to smooth things over, the developers of the new hotel agreed to build a new state-of-the-art theatre, and thus, the Marquis was born.
27. The Minskoff Theatre
Currently home to Disney’s “The Lion King,” the Minskoff Theatre is technically located on the third floor of One Astor Place. The theatre is built on the former site of the famous Astor Hotel.
28. The Music Box Theatre
In 1919, legendary producer Sam H. Harris had a proposition for her red-hot writer Irving Berlin. If Berlin came up with a new Broadway revue, Harris would build a new theatre to house it. Not long after, Berlin presented Harris with the idea for the Music Box Revue, and, good on his word, the Music Box Theatre was built.
29. The Nederlander Theatre
Most Broadway buffs know that the Times Square Church resides in the Mark Hellinger, a former Broadway theatre. But most don’t know that the Hellinger was not the church’s first home. The Nederlander Theatre was home to the Times Square Church from 1987 to 1989, until the Nederlanders sold it to Hellinger.
30. The Neil Simon Theatre
The Neil Simon was originally named the Alvin Theatre. Built by producing partners Alex Aarons and Vinton Freedley, the name “Alvin Theatre” came from the “Al” in Alex and the “Vin” in Vinton.
31. The New Amsterdam Theatre
The magnificent New Amsterdam Theatre was in shambles in the 1980s. The interior was flooded, had been looted and was literally crumbling. Disney bought the theatre and spent a reported $34 million to renovate it to its former glory.
32. The Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre’s façade is most recognizable by its large billboards that display ads for various Broadway shows. But the giant billboards weren’t always there. The theatre’s actual façade is buried beneath them, and hasn’t been seen since the 1980s, when a hotel was built on top of and around the existing theatre and the big billboards went up.
33. The Richard Rodgers Theatre
The Richard Rodgers holds the record for housing the most number of shows that have won either the Best Play or Best Musical Tony Award: nine musicals and two plays, for a total of 11.
34. The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
The movie “The Muppets Take Manhattan” featured the Friedman, then named the Biltmore, as the theatre where the Muppets debut their Broadway show, “Manhattan Melodies.”
35. The Sam S. Shubert Theatre
Before the Tony Awards were presented at Radio City Musical Hall or the Beacon Theatre, they used to be presented at different Broadway theatres. The Shubert Theatre hosted the Tony’s the most times, with eight broadcasts.
36. The Stephen Sondheim Theatre
While most people think of the 1998 Alan Cumming-led revival of “Cabaret” playing Studio 54, it actually started at Henry Miller’s Theatre, the theatre’s original name. But when a crane collapsed next door, the city shut down the street and subsequently, the show. After scrambling to find a new venue, Studio 54 was procured.
37. The St. James Theatre
The St. James was actually built on the site of the original Sardi’s Restaurant. When theatrical titan A.L. Erlanger wanted the space to build a new theatre, Vincent Sardi simply moved up the street to the location the restaurant is now in.
38. Studio 54
Before the Roundabout Theatre Company leased and eventually purchased the venue, the once-famous club was set to be torn down in 1996 by the owners, Allied Partners, and be replaced with a virtual reality gaming venue called The Cyberdome.
39. The Vivian Beaumont
While the theatre, owned and operated as part of Lincoln Center, is a newer theatre compared to most Broadway houses, the space does have a theatrical past that predates the theatre itself. The area that would eventually become Lincoln Center and the Vivian Beaumont originally contained a lot of basketball courts, the same ones that were used in the filming of the movie version of “West Side Story.”
40. The Walter Kerr Theatre
The Kerr, named after beloved critic and author Walter Kerr, was originally named the Ritz Theatre. But, not all of its “Ritzy” past is gone. If you look at the theatre’s marquee, you’ll notice a stark difference in fonts between “The” and “Theatre” and “Walter Kerr.” To save money after the name change, only the “Ritz” part was removed from “The Ritz Theatre.” The original Ritz marquee was elaborate and expensive, so a more standard “Walter Kerr” was added, with the elaborate “The” and “Theatre” left in place.
41. The Winter Garden Theatre
The Winter Garden Theatre is the only Broadway theatre whose structure was not originally intended to be a theatre. The structure was originally built in 1886 as the New York Horse Exchange and stables. It wasn’t until 1911 that the Schuberts bought the space and redesigned it as a theatre. It was even said that when the theatre went through massive renovations after “Cats” ended its record run that crew members found traces of hay deep under the floorboards.
Know any other facts about the Broadway theatres? Any interesting stories about your local theatres? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 41 Random Facts About The 41 Broadway Theaters [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 41-random-facts-41-broadway-theaters [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-04-28 09:36:39 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-04-28 13:36:39 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8434 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 2 [filter] => raw ) [31] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8476 [post_author] => 11 [post_date] => 2017-04-26 11:00:08 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-04-26 15:00:08 [post_content] => [viralQuiz id=43] [post_title] => Quiz: I Bet We Can Guess Your Pre-Show Routine [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => quiz-bet-can-guess-pre-show-routine [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-04-26 11:00:08 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-04-26 15:00:08 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8476 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 1 [filter] => raw ) [32] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8499 [post_author] => 440 [post_date] => 2017-04-25 10:14:10 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-04-25 14:14:10 [post_content] => With Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram feeds overflowing with elaborate promposals, it’s impossible to forget the upcoming occasion. Stores everywhere are bringing out their formalwear as students start shopping for the perfect evening look. Not sure what to don to dance the night away? Let the stage inspire you and try out one of these looks styled after some of Broadway’s best:1. ‘Rent’
“Rent” leading lady Mimi Marquez knows how to make an impression and never shies away from a bold style choice? Embrace your inner wild child and try an animal print with a neon color.
Our Pick: Short High-Low Animal Print Prom Dress from PROMGIRL
2. ‘Wicked’
Wicked or good, Elphaba or Glinda, we have you covered. Look sleek in Elphaba’s trademark long-sleeved dress, or float to prom in Glinda’s go-to layered ball gown.
Our Picks:
Elphaba: Long-Sleeve Prom Dress with Embroidered Lace Detail
Glinda: Two-Piece Sherri Hill Off-the-Shoulder Ball Gown
3. ‘Hamilton’
Look around, look around, you just happen to be at the greatest prom in the world. You’ll be ready to work the dance floor like Eliza Schuyler or take your shot as Alexander Hamilton in ensembles worthy of any Winter’s Ball.
Our Picks:
Eliza: Laticia Blue
Hamilton: Hamilton Costume
4. ‘Legally Blonde’
Everyone knows Elle Woods is the president of wearing pink, and not just on Wednesdays. So, channel your inner Delta Nu with a hot-pink dress that is both sassy and sweet. Or, be fashion-forward like Elle and turn heads in a stunning suit, good for prom or your interview for that top Ivy League school.
Our Picks:
Dress: Short Sleeveless Fit-and-Flare Dress by Sherri Hill
Suit: New Look Satin Trim Tux Blazer
5. ‘The Little Mermaid’
Mermaid school is quickly becoming a trendy weekend activity, so why not carry that trend straight to the prom? Fittingly, this dress is called “Ariel.” Adorned with pale pink seashells, you’ll be ready to ditch your tail and use those legs to dance the night away with your own prince.
Our Pick: Ariel Bonbon
6. ‘Jersey Boys’
No one will be able to take their eyes off of you when you stroll into prom looking like the lost member of the Four Seasons. Oh, what it a night it will be in a suit worthy of the stage. Go for something bold, such as red velvet, or try a fun print.
Our Picks:
Men's Slim-Fit Burgundy Paisley Dinner Jacket
Bar III Men's Slim-Fit Red Velvet Sport Coat
7. ‘Beauty and the Beast’
The yellow dress and the red rose have been iconic symbols of the Disney fairy tale retelling. Be the belle of the ball and give your tale as old as time a unique twist in a dress with floral embellishments.
Our Pick:
Belle: Strapless Sherri Hill Floral Print Dress
8. ‘Heathers’
Looking for schoolgirl sass a la “Heathers?” Try plaid in a shade of scrunchie red that’s a little more dark and brooding.
Our Pick: Jack Wills Holidays Check Bandeau Bow Dress
9. ‘Chicago’
The costumes of “Chicago” are both sultry and chic. Jazz Age fashions were about pushing limits and redefining sexy, so defy expectations and trade a dress for a sleek jumpsuit. Or, try a sequined number that’s sure to razzle dazzle them.
Our Picks:
Thinking Out Loud Black Backless Jumpsuit
Juniors' Sequined Flyaway Gown
10. ‘Hairspray’
You might already be the nicest kid in town, but with this suit, you could also be the best dressed. Cory Collins is known for his eye-catching attire, so try out his style with a plaid or a trendy pastel.
Our Picks:
Bar III Men's Slim-Fit Blackwatch Plaid Tuxedo Separates
Men's Slim-Fit Linen Dinner Jacket
11. ‘Grease’
Turn heads like Bad Sandy in an off-the-shoulder dress inspired by “Grease.” The slit in the front will let you show off those essential bright-red heels. Paired with lipstick of the same shade and some teased locks, you’ll be the one everybody wants. Tell me about it, stud.
Our Pick:
Long Off-the-Shoulder Prom Dress by Tarik Ediz with Slit
12. ‘The Phantom of the Opera’
Be ready to experience the music of the night with Phantom-inspired fashions. Glide into prom like the angel of music in a flowing white gown worthy of soprano Christine. Or, leave everyone thinking of you in a vest fit for the Phantom.
Our Picks:
Christine: Wonderful Day White Wrap Maxi Dress
Phantom: ASOS Skinny Waistcoat In Burgundy Velvet With Embroidery
13. ‘The Sound of Music’
This dress might join the list of your favorite things. Take a leaf out of the fashion book of the eldest von Trapp and don a gorgeous pink dress. But be sure not to get caught out in the rain, because this dress is too pretty to ruin.
Our Pick: Lora Dawn
14. ‘West Side Story’
Time to get dolled up for your dance at the gym. Give Anita’s classic purple dress a twist, or take Riff’s bold yellow blazer out for a spin. What is there to fight about when you look this good?
Our Picks:
Anita: Two-Piece Off-the-Shoulder Print Prom Dress
Riff: OULIU Mens Slim Fit 1 Button Premium Jacket Fashion Outwear Coat
15. ‘My Fair Lady’
You’ll be ready to dance all night in this modern take on Eliza’s lace dress. You’ll be more than loverly.
Our Pick: Your Beauteous Best Lace Dress
16. ‘Anastasia’
Take a journey to the past in a gown fit for a Romanov princess. Or, don a suit similar to Broadway’s newest leading man, Dimitri, and sweep everyone off their feet.
Our Picks:
Anastasia: Nabila Grenat
Dimitri: ASOS Slim Suit in Herringbone Brown
17. ‘On Your Feet’
Conga the night away in an outfit worthy of a pop sensation, Gloria Estefan. Just like the show’s costumes, these dresses are a stunning mix of ruffles, embroidery and overlay skirts.
Our Picks:
Black Two Piece Prom Dress with Embroidered Train
Print Strapless Romper with a Long Skirt
No matter which look you choose, give it your own flair and let your personality show. In the words of Annie, remember, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.” So, don’t forget to flash them that killer, red carpet-worthy smile. It’s the best accessory there is.
Which of the prom looks was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => Prom Looks Inspired By Your Favorite Musicals [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => prom-looks-inspired-favorite-musicals [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-04-25 20:44:58 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-04-26 00:44:58 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8499 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 3 [filter] => raw ) [33] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8432 [post_author] => 391 [post_date] => 2017-04-24 08:39:10 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-04-24 12:39:10 [post_content] => From adolescent awkwardness to brash, full-blown rants, comedy has something for everyone in musical theatre. Comedy cleverly critiques everyday situations while occasionally lightening the mood of more serious shows. While each voice part, especially tenors, has its fair share of comedic showstoppers, some of them are as overused as an overheard knock-knock joke. If you’re a tenor looking for something new, here are 15 overlooked comedic audition songs:1. ‘My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada’ from ‘Avenue Q’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLlLaJlk56k The musical “Avenue Q” is the contemporary epitome of “funny-because-it’s-wrong” humor. In this scene, Nicky, who suspects that Rod is gay, learns about Rod’s alleged girlfriend from Alberta — or was it Vancouver? Range: B2–G4.2. ‘I Am Aldolpho’ from ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQK3OLLJvWM In this tango number, the famed Latin lover Aldolpho attempts to seduce the actress Janet van de Graaf. Range: E2 (optional)–A4.3. ‘I Don’t Understand the Poor’ from ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAKKEzmw3s8 A more classical-sounding piece, Lord Adalbert D’Ysquith drives Monty, a newly discovered nobleman, out of his house as he pontificates on the lower and working classes. Range: B2–G4.4. ‘You Won’t Succeed on Broadway’ from ‘Spamalot’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywcDHB5NFMk In this much loved Monty Python musical, Sir Robin explains to King Arthur in a patter song that it is not possible for him to have a hit Broadway show without the involvement of Jews. Range: E3–G4.5. ‘Life, Life’ from ‘Young Frankenstein’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXXLKA-OGIU At this part in the Mel Brooks musical, Frederick continues his experiments to create a monster from dead body parts. Although not traditionally comedic, there is an opportunity to exaggerate the mad-scientist character in your performance. Range: B2–F#4.6. ‘In the Arms’ from ‘The Addams Family’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSFb8LtBQuc In this Lippa musical, Mal proclaims his love for Alice once more after spending time with a passionate squid. Range: G2–F4.7. ‘My Unfortunate Erection’ from ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9VDNcPG_TM Chip, an unsuccessful Spelling Bee contestant, explains to the audience that he lost after being distracted by Leaf Coneybear’s sister. Range: C3–Ab4.8. ‘Grow For Me’ from ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgVnpMkXOas In a witty and slightly morbid number, the character Seymour realizes the plant he is growing requires blood to stay alive. Range: Bb2–Eb4.9. ‘What Do I Need With Love?’ from ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WmyVxkZhw8 While in jail, Jimmy realizes, after much denial, that he has feelings for Millie. Range: D3–G4.10. ‘I’m Calm’ from ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c49RbyosDrc Hysterium, the chief slave for the house of Senex, struggles to keep his composure. Range: D3–F#4.11. ‘Quasimodo’ from ‘When Pigs Fly’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElfWHoE-_6M This musical revue features various LGBT-themed sketches, including a group of men assisting a man in drag feeling desperate to save musical theatre. Range: D3–A4.12. ‘King Herod’s Song’ from ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaOfBQ5uw6M In this depiction of Jesus’ last days, the campy, flamboyant King Herod tries to entice Jesus into performing miracles for him. Range: B2–G4.13. ‘In Short’ from ‘Edges’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NprGGnWK-Zk This Pasek and Paul cycle features a snarky, hilariously vitriolic breakup anthem. This can be performed by men or women. Range: A2–Bb4.14. ‘And I Breathe’ from ‘Next Thing You Know.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax1LolUYbVo This Salzman and Cunningham number is about a man in a relationship who tirelessly struggles to quit smoking. Range: Db3–Db5.15. ‘Generation Apathy’ from ‘Glory Days’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMdj6srzPQI Skip, an Ivy League student, expounds to his friends his recent musings about their so-called “apathetic” generation. Range: C3–G4.You Might Like: 10 Overlooked Audition Songs For Tenors
Think of any other hilarious overlooked tenor songs that we left out? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 15 Overlooked Comedic Audition Songs For Tenors [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 15-overlooked-comedic-audition-songs-tenors [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-10-17 01:58:01 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-10-17 05:58:01 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8432 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [34] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8292 [post_author] => 736 [post_date] => 2017-04-21 09:07:48 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-04-21 13:07:48 [post_content] => Many elements go into helping you create a believable character, and one is your costume. Here are some tips for actors to ensure you keep your costumes showing your performance work in its best light:1. Hang Them Up
Not every theatre will have a dresser to help you hang up your clothes after they are worn, and even if they do, your dresser isn’t your servant. Make sure to always hang up your costumes after you wear them so they don’t wrinkle or end up on the floor where someone can step on them.
2. Don't Eat While in Costume
Don’t you hate it when you are eating and you spill food on your newest outfit? That usually teaches you not to eat in your finest duds. The same goes for costumes. Do you really want to go onstage with that big ketchup stain from the burger you ordered at half hour because you were hungry? Probably not.
3. Consolidate Your Garments
Make sure to always consolidate your dirty laundry at the end of the performance in the provided laundry basket or given area. You certainly don’t want them forgotten about because you didn’t place them in the proper spot and then have nothing to wear for the next performance.
4. Wear Deodorant
Do both yourself and your costars a favor and make sure to wear deodorant before you put on your costumes. You are sure to sweat onstage. You don’t need your costar coming up to you during the most intimate moment of the show and getting a whiff of body odor you could have easily prevented with a quick roll of antiperspirant. Nor do you want pit stains to distract from your fabulous dance moves.
5. Keep Them Together
Usually the costume designer, costume shop or your dresser will organize your costumes so that specific pieces stay together. This way, they are always easy to find during the quick change or when they are needed for the next scene. Be conscientious when you hang up your clothes and don’t just spread them wherever you see an empty or convenient hanger. Hang them back up where they originally came from.
6. Don't Use Pens or Markers
If you are staying busy between scenes doing homework or working on creative projects to help the time pass, make sure you aren’t using tools that could endanger your costume. You could accidentally drop that marker, pen or other writing utensil, and your costume could end up being your casualty. Use a pencil or something that can easily be washed out while in costume.
7. Tell Someone When Something Is Broken
Those who work in the costume shop and your dressers are not mind readers. If you are onstage and you rip your costume or something such as a snap or button breaks, make sure you tell someone who can fix it. No one will be mad at you if you report something gone wrong. It happens all the time and is expected by those who work in the costume department. They’ll be very grateful you caught it and want to look your best onstage.
8. Respect Your Dresser and Their Timing
As an actor, make sure to respect your dresser and their timing by getting dressed when they need you to at every show. Don’t dillydally or wait until you’ve finished texting or getting the latest gossip from your friends. The person helping you change probably has somewhere else they need to be to ensure the performance goes off without a hitch.
9. Wear Everything You Have Been Given
Think you have a say in which costumes you can and can’t wear as an actor? Think again! That is the costume designer’s job. You need to make sure you respect them and wear everything you’ve been given or assigned.
Have any good tips or tricks for keeping your costume in good condition? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => How To Treat Your Costumes With Respect [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => treat-costumes-respect [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-04-21 09:07:48 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-04-21 13:07:48 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://theatrenerds.com/?p=8292 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 6 [filter] => raw ) [35] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 7859 [post_author] => 12 [post_date] => 2017-04-20 09:25:54 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-04-20 13:25:54 [post_content] => You arrive confident, prepared, focused. You know without a shadow of a doubt you are going to nail this — after all, you were born to play this part. Your name is called, you saunter in, exuding charm and poise. You’re about to blow them all away. Suddenly, there’s a shift. A feeling, an unforeseen face in the room, a phrase thrown out. There’s been a change. Expectations are altered, and you have suddenly found yourself in the hot seat dealing with an audition curveball. But don’t panic! Check out these tactics below to help you navigate these choppy waters:1. You Prepared a Comedy and They Ask For a Drama
Whether you prepared a cartoony piece and they suddenly want realism, or you picked a modern piece and they’re looking for Shakespeare, you’re now in a situation where you have no choice but to find a new angle on what you’ve prepped. If your scene is comedic and they’re looking for drama, simply adjust your performance to a more grounded one. No matter the vehicle, you can still find your way toward the vibe they’re looking for.
2. Your Material Gets Cut in Half
You’ve prepped a two-minute monologue, and they ask for a 30-second piece because they’re running behind. Instead of getting upset and worrying how they’ll ever see your range in 30 seconds, remind yourself that you can blow this thing out of the ballpark in any amount of time. They wouldn’t ask for 30 seconds if they didn’t think they could find what they needed in that amount of time. Besides, what’s wrong with leaving them thirsty for more? Just make sure you make the proper cuts to leave yourself with a nice jumping off hook and wrap up with a clear ending.
3. Your Reader Is as Lifeless as a Can of Paint
Sometimes readers are just readers and they aren’t there to give you anything to work with. Instead of letting it throw you, just do your thing and be thankful that the full attention is on you. Use your imagination and pretend they’re giving you what you need.
4. The Direction Given to You Doesn’t Make Sense
Don’t worry about it. It doesn’t have to make sense to play the scene or the character. They’re probably just trying to see how pliable you are. Show them you are a beautiful piece of clay ready and waiting to be molded. Even if it doesn’t make sense, enjoy the lunacy of the direction and have fun with it. Sometimes, an offbeat way of taking a scene will open all kinds of insights into your character that you would have never discovered during a traditional approach.
5. You’re Assigned to Read for a New Character That You Haven’t Prepped For
Don’t sweat this! It’s a good sign! It means you walked in the door and they visualized you as a potential candidate to land a particular role. Who cares that you didn’t prep for it? You’re already in the running on your looks alone. Allow this shift to make you feel confident, not panicked. Take a few moments to go over the new material and ask questions. The casting director knows you just got the materials, so you don’t need to make excuses or worry about looking down at the lines too much. Do the best you can and tell yourself you’ve already got a giant foot in the door because of this exciting curveball.
6. Casting Is Eating Lunch
The casting team works all day, so it’s natural they get hungry. However, they do this every day, and just because they’re tackling a sloppy turkey club sandwich while you’re pouring your heart out doesn’t mean they aren’t paying attention. You might not like it, but look at the bright side — well-fed people are happy people. It may actually be better if they’re chomping on potato chips rather than daydreaming during your monologue because they have hunger pangs. Also, regardless of whether you feel like you’re the center of attention, this is still your time. You’ve performed through chaos before (hello, tech week!). Use this time to work on your material and enjoy just doing it for yourself.
7. They’re Running Late and You’re in a Hurry
You have to pick up your kid or get to your survival job, and the audition is running super behind. Before you panic and throw a diva hissy fit, simply speak to the monitor running the auditions. Politely explain your situation and ask whether there’s any way you can be seen sooner rather than later. You’d be surprised how willing the monitor and other actors can be to help you out — they’ve definitely all been there before. Just remember to pay it forward next time you’re not in a hurry and see that familiar look of panic on another actor’s face while in the waiting room.
8. You’re Underdressed or Overdressed
So, everyone around you is dressed for the role more literally than you. Unless you have a wardrobe in your car or satchel, there’s not much you can do about this one. who cares? Sure, you’d like to give off the vibe of the character to help you out, but it ultimately comes down to your acting. Besides, what actor hasn’t had a wardrobe malfunction some time or another?
9. You’re the Opposite Type of Everyone Else in the Room
You’re the only short blonde in a sea of tall brunettes. Basically, you’re the guinea pig. Casting is pretty sure they want a tall brunette, but just in case, they threw in a few randoms to see what the producers think of a different direction. The best thing to do is shrug it off and not let it bother you. Hey, you’re there, you get to audition, and who knows, maybe they’ll decide to go the other way with it after all!
10. You Freeze Up When They Ask You to Improvise
You didn’t plan on improvising, then casting asks you to do a take with lots of adlibs. It’s natural to want to freeze up, but you have to fight the feeling. Put all the negative thoughts out of your mind about how you hate doing improv and how you’re kicking yourself for never taking that class. Instead, take a deep breath, be present and remember that you actually improvise in some way every day — this is no different. Negative thoughts won’t help, so do your best to be in the moment and fake self-confidence even when you’re not feeling it. Then, afterward, sign up for that improv class.
11. There’s Suddenly Choreography
You’re an actor, not an actor/dancer, and now they’re asking you to count and step pivot, step. Just roll with it. It’s likely they just want to see you move. Nobody expects you to be Baryshnikov.
12. You’re Asked to Demonstrate Your Special Skills
“So, you do a crying baby. Can we hear it?” If it’s listed as one of your special skills, someone somewhere down the line can ask you to do it on the spot. The best way to avoid catastrophe is to take off anything on your resume that you don’t want to do at the drop of a hat at an audition. If you’re too late, suck it up and demonstrate your wailing baby or Al Pacino impersonation with pride.
13. You Forgot Your Headshot/Resume
Don’t forget your headshot and resume! Always have a copy in the trunk of your car or in your binder of sheet music. With that said, it’s still going to happen eventually. After several years in the business, you will at one point leave it on the counter or just plain forget to print it out. The best thing to do is to ‘fess up right away and apologize. Leave the excuses at home on the counter with your MIA headshot. No one needs to hear about how hectic your morning was. Just say you’re sorry, move on and be thankful everything is digital today anyway.
As you can see by now, the best way to deal with most curveballs is to take a deep breath and go with the flow. Much like life, the business is all about resilience, thinking on your feet and being in the moment. We can plan until we’re blue in the face, but ultimately, things will veer off course and when they do, the best way to deal with it is with grace, flexibility and humor.
What audition curveballs have you been thrown, and how did you deal? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => Audition Curveballs And How To Deal With Them [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => audition-curveballs-deal [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-04-20 09:25:54 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-04-20 13:25:54 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://theatrenerds.com/?p=7859 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 36 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8742 [post_author] => 11 [post_date] => 2017-06-07 09:31:58 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-06-07 13:31:58 [post_content] => With June 11 rapidly approaching, theatre nerds are getting ready to celebrate a sacred day in the performing arts world: the Tony Awards! As we prepare for the 71st iteration of this beautiful ceremony, it’s only fitting to look back on some of the event’s most magical moments.Here are five acceptance speeches that left a lasting mark on Tony history:
1. Idina Menzel, 2004
“I’m so proud to be in a musical that celebrates women!” Before her “Frozen” fame, Idina Menzel made a name for herself defying gravity on the Broadway stage. Not only has “Wicked” become one of the most iconic musicals to date, but it shares the story of two strong and empowering leading ladies. Menzel’s acceptance speech at the 2004 Tony Awards is not only joy-filled and emotional, but it commemorates a performance that will definitely remain iconic in theatre history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlOcEcaxtfg2. Lin-Manuel Miranda, 2008
“Hamilton” was but a glimmer in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s eye when he snagged a Tony Award for “In the Heights.” Still, his musical genius was apparent back in 2008 when he decided to rap his acceptance speech (we’d expect nothing less). Not many people could pull off this unique endeavor, and it’s clear “In the Heights” was just the beginning of Miranda’s musical revolution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYeMCgPT5HQ3. Billy Porter, 2013
“Kinky Boots” star Billy Porter gave a memorable speech when he took the stage at the 2013 Tony Awards. Not only did he begin with a Shakespeare quote (always a good decision), but he tells the story of discovering the Tony Awards while “washing dishes in the kitchen” to a “Dreamgirls” performance. Porter’s powerful speech reminds us of every actor’s humble beginnings and the magic of musical theatre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axvdCiBTioc4. Kelli O’Hara, 2015
After six nominations, this Broadway star finally took home a Tony in 2015 for the role of Anna in the revival of “The King and I.” Not only do we love the sincere surprise and happiness O’Hara displays during her win, but not many other acceptance speeches include “shuffling off to Buffalo” during their exit. Well done, Kelli. Well done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MneMh2c-y0M5. Renée Elise Goldsberry, 2016
WORK! This Schuyler Sister made a powerful statement during her Hamil-WIN last year: “If you know anything about me, I’ve spent the last 10 years of my life — what some would consider the lifeblood of a woman’s career — just trying to have children, and I can testify in front of all of you that the Lord gave me Benjamin and Brielle and then he still gave me this! Thank you!” This rockstar working-momma is truly an inspiration! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYF4IY7JMp4What is your favorite Tony Awards acceptance speech? Let us know in the comments below...
[post_title] => 5 Tony Award Acceptance Speeches That Rocked Our World [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 5-tony-award-acceptance-speeches-rocked-world [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-07-06 11:25:58 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-07-06 15:25:58 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://theatrenerds.com/?p=8742 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 4 [filter] => raw ) [comment_count] => 0 [current_comment] => -1 [found_posts] => 733 [max_num_pages] => 21 [max_num_comment_pages] => 0 [is_single] => [is_preview] => [is_page] => [is_archive] => 1 [is_date] => [is_year] => [is_month] => [is_day] => [is_time] => [is_author] => [is_category] => [is_tag] => [is_tax] => 1 [is_search] => [is_feed] => [is_comment_feed] => [is_trackback] => [is_home] => [is_privacy_policy] => [is_404] => [is_embed] => [is_paged] => 1 [is_admin] => [is_attachment] => [is_singular] => [is_robots] => [is_favicon] => [is_posts_page] => [is_post_type_archive] => [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => 46236800a7545bc507e78048d2f0f88f [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => 1 [thumbnails_cached] => [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => query_vars_hash [1] => query_vars_changed ) [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => init_query_flags [1] => parse_tax_query ) [query_cache_key:WP_Query:private] => wp_query:e23f6ebfba67272d441059ca52b203a1:0.24180500 17771686760.66354300 1777168676 )Latest stories
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