Cities for actors
Cities for actors
Lauren 2
Swing Joined: 9/24/17
#1Cities for actors
Posted: 9/24/17 at 10:30pm
New to the chat board, pursuing acting in musical theatre on the west coast, but it is a very slow process. Where are some of the best cities to live for musical theatre performers that don't have their equity card? Does not having your equity card disqualify your for roles. Any help to get my feet off the ground is welcome. -Finding motivation to continue.
Jake01
Chorus Member Joined: 11/9/10
#2Cities for actors
Posted: 9/24/17 at 10:46pm
Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. A vibrant and adventurous storefront community. SO many risk-taking companies and wonderful opportunities for non-equity actors to get their foot in the door.
I know you specified "west coast", but just throwing it out there in case you're open to relocation. Good luck in your pursuits!
#3Cities for actors
Posted: 9/24/17 at 10:54pm
^^^ I've lived here all my life and I 100% agree. Aside from NYC we probably have the most theaters and certainly the most comedy clubs, improv groups etc.
Lauren 2
Swing Joined: 9/24/17
#4Cities for actors
Posted: 9/24/17 at 10:58pm
Thank you Jake01! This helps my search as I am looking to relocate; it is difficult in southern-cal as the community is more tv/film focused; few workshops, classes and resources giving actors information on how to get to Broadway, or New York, and survive successfully.
Lauren 2
Swing Joined: 9/24/17
#5Cities for actors
Posted: 9/24/17 at 11:00pm
Excellent! Somewhere, I will possibly look. Thank you for your feedback!
#6Cities for actors
Posted: 9/24/17 at 11:20pm
As far as musical theatre goes in So Cal, there are some great regional theatres- Musical Theatre West, Cabrillo and a handful of others that are still around - Thank God, as so many of them have folded. I've had wonderful experiences doing shows there over the years. But, it's certainly something that you can't make a living on - Equity or not. Sad, but true.
All the big musicals do tour and come to LA. That's pretty much it as far as making a specific career in musical theatre here in Los Angeles.
#7Cities for actors
Posted: 9/24/17 at 11:33pm
Chicago is by far the best regional theatre city in the country. I was there for eight years and miss it dearly. Other good ones are San Fran, Seattle, Boston, Washington D.C., and Philly. Denver, San Diego, and St. Louis are also up there. Anywhere but NY and LA being non-Equity will actually work for you rather than against you in a lot of ways.
I'm now in Phoenix, and it could be worse, but there are only about five professional theatres here, only two of which are Equity.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#8Cities for actors
Posted: 9/24/17 at 11:46pm
Washington, D.C., if not just for Signature Theatre in Arlington. There's also frequently fabulous work being done at Arena Stage, Ford's Theatre, Studio Theatre, occasionally the Kennedy Center... but the productions I've seen at Signature are among the best I've seen, ever. Altogether a very vibrant theatre scene down there.
Lauren 2
Swing Joined: 9/24/17
#9Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 12:17am
Thank you for the all this feedback, great suggestions that will help me on my next step. I'm currently in San Diego, but most of the local paid spots get cast with neighborhood Los Angeles, actors which takes a lot of opportunities away from sd talent.
#10Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 2:57am
I am told the theatrical community has increased greatly in Orlando.
An Equity card might be useful in Los Angeles because so many Broadway shows and National Tours audition there--far more than the number of resident theaters might suggest.
But I knew lots of actors in LA who had SAG and AFTRA cards, but didn't join AEA until they got an Equity job. A lot of the theater, even commercial, in Southern California is non-union.
#11Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 8:10am
I live in Philadelphia, which has a terrific, fast-growing theater scene. It also has a fairly reasonable cost of living. It definitely skews more towards plays than musicals, though, if that's a consideration -- since you said you were trying to pursue a musical theater career.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Updated On: 9/25/17 at 08:10 AM
#12Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 9:02am
Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. A vibrant and adventurous storefront community. SO many risk-taking companies and wonderful opportunities for non-equity actors to get their foot in the door.
Just keep in mind Chicago is about quantity of theatre. Quality, not so much. There are some decent companies and you will find some good productions, but it's not easy. The critics aren't much help. I performed a few shows, but the companies I worked for were horribly managed, settling for truly awful work (especially from directors) or treated actors like garbage. It's not as bad for those from Chicago with a resume filed with Chicago theatre credits, but they are not very welcoming to outsiders unless they were well-established in NYC. So, yes there is a huge collection of non-Equity theatres in Chicago (oversaturated, I would say), but should you choose to live in Chicago in order to work in theatre. you should be warned as to what the theatre community is really like.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
NotTheComfyChair
Stand-by Joined: 3/19/13
#13Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 9:40am
While it isn't a city per se, I would also add South Florida to the list. There are a surprising number of theatres there and some specialize in musical theatre.
#14Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 9:57am
Washington DC area, which includes northern Virginia and Southern Maryland, has so much amazing theatre going on.
Signature, Woolly Mammoth, Arena, Studio, Olney, Roundhouse, Center Stage, Kennedy Center, Synetic and Fords . But then you also have Keegan, 1st Stage, Constellation, Mosaic, Theatre J, Atlas, Undercroft ...These are only a handful of the multitude of companies producing theatre in the area.
JennH
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
#15Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 12:21pm
I did a whole project on this back in the day so here's what I can say, although a few of these cities my info might be outdated.
Obviously NYC is the Mecca, but SoCal is pretty decent in this respect. Non union doesn't have near the trouble they do in Nyc getting seen at Union calls, BUT I've been told being Equity in this city in terms of work is hard because once again, everyone is skimping on Equity actors when legally possible to save money, and sometimes it is legit to keep a theater afloat. Also, maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see the big Broadway shows here auditioning over there, so I don't think this happens as often as people think. If they are, it must be secret or something. I know Telsey has an office out there, so I've seen a call or two for their shows, but I really haven't seen all that many others audition out there. The people I know who are based out there who have gotten some big tour gigs and even a Broadway show or two, I also know they have agents so...yeah. But that's my observation.
Chicago-Great regional city BUT it's still very much more of a straight theatre community than it is a musical theatre one. It's the biggest reason I've never even considered living there.
DC-Also great regional city, but many sources tell me it's incestuous to the extreme and to be aware that if you do live there, be prepared to be patient to get your career there started.
Orlando-Ok, I know someone who knows more is gonna have to add to this, but it's struck me as a city that has decent theatre but it's not called the theme park capital of the world for no reason. I don't think I need to remind everyone that the three biggest names in the theme park industry all have parks/resorts there. It's also struck me as more of city that better for dancers, and a few dancer friends of mine confirmed this to a few years ago, but if that's changed, someone feel free to say so. I'd considered moving there at one time, but when I'm a singer/singer who moves ok, combined with that fact that these theme parks are more dancer based and not a whole lot of singer positions compared to the **** ton of dancer positions, and not a whole lot of theatre itself to chew on (although those theaters are GREAT) I wasn't about to do that.
Philly-GREAT city. I have quite a few people I know who live there, one is Equity and she's seems to be doing just fine for herself there, but I also know there was some luck involved, BUT that one lucky streak has helped keep her employed. Another few aren't Equity, but some of them are still working pretty regularly. Philly itself is pretty great, but its also part of a larger community since you can easily-ish commute to Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware for the theaters there also, such as The Eagle, Candlelight, Compass Rose (if you can stomach it, I've heard be wary of this place), among a good few others.
Atlanta-This scene has really exploded in the last 5 or so years, and I have a friend who has been living off and on there and really hasn't stopped working completely. He's had to supplement himself with a day job for the lower paying theater ones, but I honestly don't recall the last time he wasn't doing a show with at most, a small break in between them. I did my theater city project on Atlanta back in the day, and it was pretty good then, but it's only gotten bigger and better since then.
raddersons
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
#16Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 12:37pm
I think this is the subtext that is being provided with a lot of the above comments, but I figure it may help to state the obvious:
In NYC or LA, you are just another person trying to make it with everyone else in cattle calls. In other cities, you can make a name for yourself, get to know directors, producers, and eventually make the switch. I think this is the biggest mistake a lot of actors make when trying to make it. Because the competition is lower, you can get better parts, make firmer connections, and have a better reputation, and then eventually make a switch.
#17Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 6:33pm
Agreed - people who go to NY or LA right out of college - and without an AEA or SAG card - are often setting themselves up for disaster.
My advice to any young actor would be to spend your first several years in a regional city, and then move to NY or LA only when you are older, more experienced, and have both a decent resume and a union card.
#18Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 6:48pm
For whatever reason, Chicago has become flush with musicals in the last several years. Several equity, commercial theaters devote their whole seasons to musicals while a few major equity theaters do at least one musical a year. While the commercial equity theaters pay quite a bit, the non-equity theaters do some really interesting work. Theo Ubique, Boho, Kokandy, Griffin, Underscore, Hell in a Handbag, and Refuge Theater Project all focus almost exclusively on "artsy" musicals and all have done pretty commendable work recently.
If you're non-equity and looking to work a lot, I really can't imagine a better place to start than Chicago. Quite a few hometown folks have eventually made the successful transition to New York. If you're looking to make BIG MONEY... prolly stay on the coasts.
Jesus saves. I spend.
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#19Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 6:54pm
Your goal is Broadway, right? Go to NYC and get started asap. Most regionals cast out of NYC anyway. If you don't have an equity card, you aren't guaranteed a spot at Equity auditions but if you go anyway and hangout, they may see you at the end. And many shows, including those on Broadway, have open calls so that anyone can audition, equity or not. I moved to NYC in 1995 without an equity card. I picked up Backstage (now you can get it online) and went to almost every audition that I was even kind of right for. Every dance call even though I wasn't an awesome dancer. Got up at 5am to make sure I was seen. I ultimately got my equity card when I was cast in a show at an equity theater. After 5 years in NYC, I went to an open call for the JCS Broadway revival. After 6 auditions over a 6 week span followed by 8 weeks of waiting, I was cast and made my Broadway debut. You can do it too. You just have to zero in on the goal and go at it full force and never give up.
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#20Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 7:04pm
The Distinctive Baritone said: "Agreed - people who go to NY or LA right out of college - and without an AEA or SAG card - are often setting themselves up for disaster.
My advice to any young actor would be to spend yourfirst several yearsin a regional city, and then move to NY or LA only when youare older, more experienced, and have both a decent resume and a union card."
I disagree. You only get to be Young and Fresh ONCE. Go to LA or NYC immediately after college. Being Young can get you notice (and roles) that you won't get when you are older no matter how great your resume is.
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#21Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 7:09pm
Also- when I went to LA 5 years after JCS and WITHOUT a SAG card, I was cast as a series regular on a network TV show. It's a HUGE myth that you need to be in a union to get work. Just audition like crazy and you'll get your card when they hire you.
CollegeDreamer
Understudy Joined: 9/16/16
#22Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 7:21pm
Seattle! We have a great theatre community. The 5th avenue is especially awesome. So many classes, workshops.... they put on many productions a year including new work, old and new favorites, and 1 or 2 touring shows. They hire both equity and non equity actors. Hairspray, Shrek, Catch Me If You Can all started there. So many classes also throughout the city.
Updated On: 9/25/17 at 07:21 PM
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#23Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 7:50pm
CollegeDreamer said: "Seattle! We have a great theatre community. The 5th avenue is especially awesome. So many classes, workshops.... they put on many productions a year including new work, old and new favorites, and 1 or 2 touring shows. They hire both equity and non equity actors.Hairspray, Shrek, Catch Me If You Can all started there. So many classes also throughout the city."
But those shows were cast out of NYC. Seattle's awesome though.
#24Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 7:54pm
I know a professional actress that spends most of her time in Pittsburgh with Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public Theater, and Pittsburgh Musical Theater
#25Cities for actors
Posted: 9/25/17 at 8:48pm
"I disagree. You only get to be Young and Fresh ONCE. Go to LA or NYC immediately after college. Being Young can get you notice (and roles) that you won't get when you are older no matter how great your resume is."
I think your kind of story is the dream that happens to only a lucky few. Also, non-dancing character actors like myself are in a different category and do better in regional cities when young. I've played roles professionally in Chicago and Phoenix that I would never even get considered for at a New York audition.
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