College Student on Broadway

[KillingTime]

Posted: 6/26/16 at 7:31pm

Hello! 

My friend's son has been auditioning around town frequently this past year. He was a senior in High School when he began this process. However, he never got any callbacks or offers for advancement, until two weeks ago. Now of course I won't divulge secrets or anything, but it is an interesting opportunity for all involved.

However, his parents, while being supportive, are persistent (and rightfully so) that he continues his studies, especially in case he needs a back up... and it got me thinking. When shows such as Spring Awakening and other shows with predominantly teenage casts were open, did they work around the school schedule for the cast members? Of course the school would work with the student to make an accommodating schedule (hopefully).

I was just curious if anyone had experience/stories from actors who were in a musical or play while pursuing their education as well. Is it possible? Is it worth it? 

I would hate for this kid to have to turn down a part that he would gladly and graciously receive. It's a tough call for all involved. I'm curious to see what your responses. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/26/16 at 7:40pm

College student?  He's an adult, they won't work around that.   That doesn't mean he might not be able to still take a few classes....but being a broadway actor IS a full time job.    If he gets a gig, he can easily take a leave of absence from college.  College will wait for him.  (They don't even care what the reason is.)

I knew someone that had gotten waitlisted at one of the Ivy Leagues, (Harvard, if I remember correctly).  When the young man sent supplemental info about his being cast in a Broadway show, he got off that wait list immediately.  He just had to tell him his anticipated start date.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/26/16 at 8:01pm

Pace and NYU have had several enrolled students working on Broadway and on tour in the past few years. 

[asmith0307]

Posted: 6/26/16 at 8:08pm

Gallatin at NYU especially. 

[pupscotch]

Posted: 6/26/16 at 8:16pm

He can take a gap year to do the show if it works out, and then see what happens from there. 

Would shows like the OBC of Spring Awakening work around a high school schedule for casts of that age? Especially since a lot of them were young. Just curious.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 6/26/16 at 8:21pm

The people who were in high school during Spring Awakening had tutoring. They didn't go to their old high school. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/27/16 at 7:13am

Obviously, school-aged children are required to keep up with their studies, either by working with a tutor, home-schooling, going to regular school, or going to a professional children's school. Once a child graduates from high school, they get to make their own choices. For example, several of the original cast members of SPRING AWAKENING deferred their admissions to college and began their studies after they left the show (Remy Zaken, Brian Charles Johnson). Gideon Glick was the first actor to leave the original company, and did so to begin college at NYU. Others skipped college all together.

Obviously, if you go to college in the city, it's a lot easier to perform while matriculating. If you went to school outside of the city or in another state, you would probably consider taking a leave of absence. 

Some people start college and then leave once they begin to work full time. This is what happened with Laura Benanti, Ben Platt, etc. I believe Lea Michele said that she deferred her admission to NYU for something like 3 years before she realized that she was never going to go. Others (like Jennifer Damiano) who have been working since they were teenagers just decided not to go to school. 

It's obviously a personal choice that each person has to make. In the case that the OP brings up, it's fabulous that his parents want him to continue his schooling, but he's an adult, and he has to make that decision for himself.

 

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 6/27/16 at 11:02am

Get the job first. 

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 6/27/16 at 11:09am

Wait until he actually gets the job first of all. If he goes to school in NY it might be easier but the schools will let him defer. Broadway is a full time job. 

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 6/27/16 at 11:15am

https://www.facebook.com/humansbway/photos/a.961646913876767.1073741828.942059119168880/1062221857152605/?type=3&theater

Robert Lenzi actually received credit for one of his units for landing a role in the ensemble of South Pacific 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/27/16 at 8:32pm

I taught at UCLA for a decade and a half, and we made it clear to freshmen and women on the first day that we would NOT work around their professional audition and work schedules.

Quite a few took leaves of absence and, as far as I know, were not penalized for doing so. Some of those returned to finish their degrees; quite a few did not--at least not yet.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/27/16 at 11:59pm

To be fair, not ALL Broadway shows are full time jobs. If you don't have to go to understudy rehearsals or publicity events, doing eight shows a week is like 25 hours a week of work tops.

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:20am

ALL Broadway shows are full time jobs. 

A "show call" is generally 4 hours. Most actors show up well before the required "half hour" to warm up and stretch Etc etc.

arrive at 7, show at 8, over by 1030, out of the theatre by 11 pm.  That's a 4 hour call. 

Multiply that by 8 shows a week?  

Thats 32 hours of SHOW CALLS. Add a put in rehearsal or two, you've got yourself a pretty full time gig.....

 

of course most broadway performers do other ****. Teach dance or voice. Acting coach. Perform in benefits, etc etc. Take classes themselves. But acting is a full time gig. 

 

To to spexifically answer one question, NO. The show will not schedule around classes.  

You will schedule your CLASSES around the show. 

Updated On: 6/28/16 at 11:20 AM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/28/16 at 7:10pm

Full time is 40 hours a week.

It depends on the show, but unless you are dancing or have extensive makeup, most actors show up at half hour or slightly before it. If you do not understudy and if the show has been running a while and doesn't require special events, then yes, it is technically a part time job.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/28/16 at 8:22pm

But you sure don't get paid like it's a part time job.