What does it take to work in Broadway?

Hi, my name is Ricardo, and I'm a singer from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Of course, I love musicals (otherwise it wouldn't make much sense to post here), and I always wondered what should an artist do to sing in a Broadway musical. I mean, we hear your CDs and watch your videos, but we don't know much of the real thing, so if you guys could tell me something about your daily life and work there, I would really appreciate it :)

The other logical question: does Broadway like latino artists? Is it possible for us to go, audition and get a job there, or native American artists are preferred? I don't ask this thinking of any kind of racial stuff, the point about this is that many countries prefer to give jobs to their native people, which is perfectly understandable :)

By the way, is there any kind of forum, website or whatever, where I can find non-Americans who decided to go there and give it a try? I really could use their experiences :)

Thanks in advance,

Ricardo

Actors Equity Association (the union representing all Broadway performers) requires that preferential treatment be given to American Citizens. It's an American Labor Union, so the goal is to get work for Americans. Not being a citizen is a big strike against you. That being said, they are allowed to hire non-citizens, if they can show that there was no American actor equally suited for the role. I wouldn't let that discourage you, just know that it is a factor.

As far as ethnicity is concerned, all types and all ethnicities work on broadway. Casting all depends on the role and the show.

To get into a Broadway musical, you have to follow the usual methods. Get training, and when your ready, move to New York and start auditioning. Get an agent, make contacts, network, and work your way into the scene. It can take a long time though. Broadway is often the final goal after years and years of hard work, auditioning, and rejection. It's not an easy task.

With all that said, it does take a lot of work and an Actor's Equity card always helps, but first you have to love it. Love the stage and performing. Passion will drive you in the right direction.

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I think that loving the process is just as important as reaching the goal. If you're bitter and frustrated along the way, it's not helpful. Take classes even if you feel you don't need them anymore Have as many skills as possible: acting, singing, dancing. I know a lot of people get into SAG (Screen Actors Guild) by having a skill that is not very common: juggling, tumbling, weighing 500 pounds, being under 2 feet tall.

"Actors Equity Association (the union representing all Broadway performers) requires that preferential treatment be given to American Citizens."

That's perfectly understandable. Now I have another question: if I get to become an American citizen (it doesn't matter now if it's easy or it's hard), would I get that preferential treatment or it's only reserved for native Americans?

Thank you all very much for your answers :)

You would definitley get that treatment. They don't ask you if you are an American citizen before you audition. They just assume you are. It's when they find out that your not, that it becomes a problem. Once your a citizen, it's a complete non-issue. They inevitably would find out if you weren't a citizen, as you would have to get work visa's, etc. in order to work on Broadway.

Updated On: 2/8/06 at 07:08 PM

Working on Broadway is employment, just like anything else. It's a job. So the same standards apply as with all other jobs in the United States. It's all in the US labor laws.

You have to be a U.S. citizen to have a job in America, or....you have to have a work visa, or a green card, etc. i don't know what every condition is, but just look at Broadway as a job. Whatever the law says about working in the U.S., applies to Broadway, too.

Updated On: 2/8/06 at 07:47 PM

I beg of you, please make sure you are good enough before moving all the way up to New York and starting to apply for work visas and eventually citizenship - nothing would suck more than getting up here and not being good enough to get work!

:) good luck!

Updated On: 2/8/06 at 08:18 PM

"I beg of you, please make sure you are good enough before moving all the way up to New York and starting to apply for work visas and eventually citizenship - nothing would suck more than getting up here and not being good enough to get work!"

Of course, I'm not that stupid :)
I'm not planning to do this right now, I only want to be informed so I know what to do if there are real possibilities in the future. By the way, what does a Broadway artist need to do? I mean, do you have to be an excellent actor, singer and dancer, or you only need to be excellent at one of them and be able to perform the other two?
(and, of course, I don't expect to get cast for the role of the Phantom as soon as I get to New York... I know I have to start from the bottom)


"I think it's better for you to start working in your country and make connections with producers that do business with Broadway people."

The scenario is quite different here: there are really very few musicals, which last for short seasons, and they are definitely not that good; for example, in the local version of The Producers, Leo Bloom was played by Guillermo Francella, who is a great Argentinian comedy actor, but he barely can sing... I mean, there are more differences than the money invested in production. I don't think you would like any of the musicals from Pepe Cibrián, like Drácula, Las Mil y Una Noches and El Jorobado de París, and I don't think that experience would be really helpful on Broadway.

Updated On: 2/9/06 at 12:13 AM

"the real standouts are the people who can do all the things really well"

You mean for roles, or for ensembles too? I mean, what's the point in hiring an actor/singer/dancer if he only has to dance in the play?


"I don't know what things are like in Argentina, but here in the U.S., theater is quite possibly one of the most cut-throat businesses there is."

It's kinda the same thing, many actors are working at unprofessional or low budget plays (some are really good plays, but the cast don't get much money of them); I guess you also have an "off-Broadway" where actors can work too. But (I think) there should be a lot more professional plays there than here, and they surely last longer. I mean, there are lots of professional plays here, but most of them are spoken theater, not musicals.

The people posting here have clearly never worked in a Broadway musical. I have. I was in the original cast of 'Crazy for You'. I was also cast in 'Chaplin' (not produced) and 'Lone Star Love' (produced but not on Broadway.)

If you want to work as an actor in the US you need to have a green card. You can't join Equity without a green card. You don't have to be a citizen. But when you show up for the first day of rehearsal you have to fill out an I9 form to show that you can legally work.

I don't know how you get an Equity card. You get a job. There can be an apprenticeship period when you work so many weeks to get your card but I got a job and got my card. When you work 20 weeks in the year you get health insurance. When you get vested in the union you get a pension.

There is a lot more work here in the States than on Broadway. You can work with wonderfully talented people all over the country.

Broadway contracts work like this: there is a principal (white) contract. There is an ensemble (pink) contract. Technically, if you play more than one part you have to be on a pink contract. You get those jobs by showing up at an open call. These are advertised in the business periodical Back Stage. You audition and hope for the best. Principal parts are cast through agents/casting directors.

Most performers in the States have very happy working lives without ever working on Broadway.

"Principal parts are cast through agents/casting directors."

There are many people in principal roles who were cast at open calls, without an agent. So that statement is inaccurate. Also, while it is true that you do not need to be an American citizen to work on Broadway (via green card), it is very unlikely. Actors Equity's job is forst and foremost to get work for its members. At open calls, if they hire a non-Equity member that performer will be required to join Equity. However, since it is an American Labor union, for a producer to hire you he would have to show that NO ONE can perform the role better than you. Look what happened to that Britixh kid for Tarzan. Equity REFUSED to let him perform, because the role has nothing in it that an American cannot do. So while legally with a green card you can work, it's extremely unlikely.

someone to support you helps a lot too.

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