Is it harder for men or women to break into MT?

[jaso_n]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:09am

I'd like to know if it's harder for men or women to break into musical theater? Or is it equally hard?

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:17am

Well, there's plenty to think about. I mean, off the top of my head I wanted to say men, yet upon deeper thinking, it's probable that it could in fact be women. It always appears as if ensembles seem to have a couple more women than they do men, but that doesn't mean they don't have roughly equal opportunities to break into Broadway. I'd say women, only because it seems as if more women than men can dance, and it's a tougher world for women, always competing with the higher numbers.

If I completely went into it, I would come up with a very equally balanced pro/con list weighing both genders. I gotta say, though, it seems as if it's equally difficult.
Updated On: 12/31/06 at 03:17 AM

[StarStruckGB]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:18am

I think it's harder for women.
There just seems to be more pressure on females than males to be physically attractive in this business.

[Boq101]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:23am

It's hard for men because of the amount of work you have to put into it.

It's harder for women because there's a lot more of you going for theater.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 3:27am

It seems like every audition I go to with both genders at the same call there's always more women than men, even if there's a fewer number of female parts.

Still, I think it's hard to distinguish yourself either way.

[Wabitfwee]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 9:26am

If you count the Laureys and Curlys, you'll find many more Laureys in the city so their odds are worse.

[JakeB]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 9:43am

Women, surely? The gender divide of those who go to dance lessons between the ages of 3-18 is probably 85% female, therefore you've got a much higher level of women auditioning for musical theatre drama schools. Drama schools probably have a 70/30% female/male intake, so men have it easier.

** this is on the basis that to break into musical theatre you need to be musical theatre trained.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:16am

It is definitely harder for women, especially at the beginning stages. It makes sense, little girls in the USA take dance classes and voice lessons while little boys play little league baseball, footbal etc. Of Course this isn't the rule, but it is just more acceptable. And when you factor in Gay/straight attitudes for men towards MT, then you get an even bigger drop-off. The numbers are just that much higer for women because they establish the skilsets much earlier.
In the Non-eq, New york Casting scene, it is a whole lot easier for the guys, but once you get into the union scenario, the numbers even out a little more(not so much to establish parity, but a little better)

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 11:04am

There is no question about this, much more difficult for women, due to sheer numbers. Starting with admissions to college BFA programs, there will always be many, many more females auditioning/applying than there will be males. This is not to say that it's "easy" for ANYone, but with fewer males competing for a similar number of spots as the many more females are, then the odds for admission are better for males. This carries over to auditions for shows after college because there are still more women than men involved in the business. Obviously, it will depend on the particular show and the gender division of roles but, in general, this will hold true.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 11:11am

Definitely women. The female friends I have who work on a regular basis in the arts in NYC are about 10 times more talented than my working male friends. You really do have to be a triple threat to work regularly as a woman under 45, I think. To be a working male performer, you seem to only have to be tall, reasonably handsome with a nice voice and decent acting skills.

[KQuill]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 12:56pm

As far as BFA programs go, I was always told that it is easier for guys because there are literally twice as many females auditioning as males. What I have been recently finding out though is that BFA programs don't have a set number or ratio of males to females. Everyone is competing with everybody. Theoretically, if the 30 best applicants are girls then that is who they would take.

As for the real world, the difficulty to break into MT is so great that I don't think it makes a significant difference.

[stonewall2]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 5:35pm

Far harder for women as there are not as many men who "go out" for MT. Either way, it's quite selective.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 6:00pm

I agree with MB. Now if you're a male, have all those reasonable skills and are STRAIGHT--your career is set!!

[Lizzya9]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 6:04pm

Harder for women because there is more of them that want to get in the business.

[magic8ball]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 6:13pm

KQuill said it best.

It is much harder for females to get into musical theatre programs at universities because the casting is nonspecific and many more females than males audition. However; it is equally difficult for men and women in the professional theatre setting because casting directors look for such specific traits in performers... The ratios of auditioners to performers who actually fit the casting director's vision balance out in the end. Trust me- in professional theatre, the competition between baritones in their early twenties is equally as rough as the competition between tall female tappers. At least, when it comes to casting lead roles.

Updated On: 12/30/06 at 06:13 PM

[Mark_E]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 6:23pm

Similar question - Is it easier for Performers to get work on Broadway or in the Westend?

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 9:38pm

kquill, that's not necessarily true. While it may be the case at larger schools, such as the one I attend (Tisch), at most others, an equal number of males and females are admitted so with more than twice the number of females auditioning as males, it makes it that much tougher on females. There's NO program out there that is going to admit ALL females, even if every female auditioning is better than every male. It doesn't happen.

[KQuill]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:00pm

erinrebecca, i guess we just disagree. What is the basis of your statements? I meen I know it would never happen that a program would accept all of the same sex, but that is the theory. I have been told this by several different conservatory-esque schools. I know this is true at Hartt where I go, and at BoCo I know they go by the same principle. I have heard it right from the horses mouth.

The point I am trying to make is that when u audition for schools, you are going up against EVERYONE, not just your own gender.

[soapguy17]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:05pm

tobesureof, real Americans? Think about that comment.

[Lizzya9]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:14pm

tobesureof that is the most racist thing I have heard in a while. you should be ashamed

[KQuill]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:17pm

thats what happens when you interupt the white man...

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:19pm

kquill, the basis for my statement is what I've observed and what I've heard for the past 3 1/2 years I've been in a BFA program. I have friends in just about every program across the country and know hundreds of kids who have auditioned over the years, in addition to knowing several administrators and profs at different programs. Maybe Hartt does that, I don't know, but I can assure you that if they do, they are a rarity. Have a look at each admitted class at most programs across the country and there will be pretty much a balanced number of males and females in freshman year. Are you at Hartt, kquill?

[KQuill]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:30pm

Well yeah i would think the numbers would be balanced...that's not my point. My point is that they don't set numbers of males to females. Say a school was a little heavy on female acceptances one year, and they were deciding between a particular male and another female...if the female had the male beat out, they'd still take her. They wouldn't say "well, she's a little better but we could use a few more guys, so we'll take him".

Now I know SOME schools do this, but the ones we r talking about do not in my opinion.

PS Yes, im a first year at Hartt Updated On: 12/30/06 at 10:30 PM

[evadiva]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 11:01pm

Harder for us girls. For sure.

[singingshowgirl]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 11:16pm

when i applied to MT colleges, there were always WAAAAAY more girls than there were guys. i knew several guys who were moderately talented who got in lots of places and i knew several girls who were VERY talented who got in maybe one place, but some didn't get in anywhere. that's not to say that it's easy for guys because it of course isn't, but there are insane numbers of girls....and you find yourself sitting in a room with so many other girls who look like you....it's disturbing.