Advice for high school actress

[B's Mom]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 10:22am

Any advice for my 16 year old daughter? She has "hit a wall" at her high school and gets only very small parts in her high school productions in spite of alot of song and monologue preparation and coaching. She has had voice training for 4 years and also takes acting and dance classes. Her choir, voice and acting teachers all think she is very talented and takes direction well. She just seems to be overlooked at every high school audition and always gets very small roles. She has had moderate success in community theatre.

Should she continue to take whatever small roles she can in high school in hopes that her "big break" will come soon or focus on community theatre? She wants to major in musical theatre when she goes to college. Do colleges look for someone who has had alot of lead roles in high school? If so, how does she get the high school drama teacher to notice her?

[Theatrepalooza]

Posted: 12/11/11 at 10:02pm

Might put more focus on community theater for a change and see how it goes....

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/17/11 at 7:29pm

This is an industry that requires a lot of "P" words including, patience, persistance and passion. If your daughter has all of these qualities, then she will do well to consider every acting experience she can get her hands on in community theater, as mentioned and also get her name out their via recommendations and advice from her musical mentors, teachers and connections.

A few questions: What type of roles does she seek? Where are her strengths singing, acting ,dancing? Does she have a natural talent for this industry or does she tend to imitate others style? Does your daughter have a resume, profesional photo, a demo CD? Would she be willing to promote herself at local coffee shops that spotlight talent? Has she taken any professional workshops/Master Classes?

Some regional theaters will audition for non equity positions. Look into all community/regional theater companies within a 20 mile radius and get to know their productions and folks who run them. Find the productions that are looking for age appropiate roles. The more people who see you will see your efforts.

Being in the right place, right time, right for the role is vital. But that doesn't happen a lot. She is young and still finding where she fits in as a actor. Making a song or a role your own is good advice. Immitating famous singer/actresses is not.

I've never been on stage as a performer, but I've worked with professional artists for many years and these are some of the suggestions that seem most common when young aspiring thespians ask about "making it in this business". Learn as much as you can about the whole industry, including directing, writing, set design etc.

As far as college, pick a second major besides theater, you will likely need it to live as you pursue your theatrical career.

I hope some of this helps you. Best to your daughter.

Pati B
http://www.pbentertainmentinc.com

[kristinchenofan570]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 5:42pm

hi! I'm the same age as you daughter and can relate a lot to what your daughter is going through. A few of my friends and I have been told were talented and we have leading roles on our resumes to prove it, but for some reason we just can't seem to get a break with our current high school director. (our old one left in the middle of my freshman year). It can be frusterating being told how good you are then suddenly getting dissaproval from someone. Honestly if shes not getting noticed by now it's probably best if she continues community theatre where they tend to give her better roles. It will not only give her more roles to put on her resume but it will also make her feel more confident in her skills. I know this experience at my school has definately made me doubt my abilities and one of the most important things she will need for this business is to believe in herself because so many people will try and tell her otherwise.

The other thing you have to remember is even though its not supposed to...sometimes high school theatre does becaome a popularity contests and even those who don't necessarily deserve it recieve the leads simply because, for whatever reason, the director just likes that person more. With community theatre you're less likely to get that.

My friend (who's also reading this)and I wish your daughter the best of luck! We know exactly what shes going through and hope for the best with her community theatre (thats what we've finally decided to do too!)

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 10:10pm

She should continue whatever she has the most fun doing. My sister is a senior in high school, and she's currently auditioning at different schools, and they don't seem to care what specific roles you had in high school, or where you did shows, because they usually don't know what it's like at your high school or community theaters. Lead roles don't mean much--for all they know, there could have been just one person in the show who could actually carry a tune. Also, there are apparently trends where people who were handed every lead in high school tend to get frustrated in college with so many people of equal and greater abilities, and the people with only chorus credits are more dedicated, and they succeed more. I've heard from many people that it does not matter what roles you get in high school. What matters most is her actual audition. She should do what is most enjoyable and what she learns the most in. My sister also had trouble getting the school to notice her, and so she gave up after her sophomore year and just decided to do community theatre, where she was much more appreciated.