What's a Broadway performer's typical day like?

Posted: 4/7/08 at 10:36pm

I've always wondered what an average day is like for a Broadway performer who doesn't have a regular 9-5 office job like most of us. They are typically on stage for no more than 3 hours a night (well, except for days with both a matinee and evening performance), so do they work standard 8 hour days? If so, what occupies the rest of their time "at the office"--how often do they rehearse, meet with the director, spend time with hair/make-up/wardrobe, etc.?

Another thing I've always wondered is, when do performers eat? If a show is at 8:00 pm, do they eat before the show starts (wouldn't that affect their singing?), or do they wait until almost midnight to have dinner?

Can anyone provide any more insight? This is a fascinating topic to me for some reason.

[lcinva]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 10:52pm

I have wondered this too...especially about the meal thing. There is no way I could get up there and belt it out after eating anything more than a couple bites!

[Marianne2]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 10:57pm

If they eat anything, they probably know or are given a list of things they should and should not eat. Basically, anything with a ton of sugar, caffeine, or grease and salt is bad. Liquor is also extremely bad. But that goes for broadcasters too. It just isn't good for your voice, whether you are just talking or singing.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 11:01pm

Don't forget that anyone who understudies a role goes to understudy rehearsal two days a week during the day.
Also, when an understudy is to go on for the first time, the principal cast has to attend a put-in rehearsal during the day.

Add press events, other auditions, etc., and actors keep pretty busy.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 11:03pm

Many performers attend dance class or voice class or acting class. I would often see Donna McKechnie in dance class while she was in "State Fair".

The leads often do interviews and performances on tv and at bookstores to promote the show. Also if there are changes in the show or a new performer added, they attend rehearsals.

I think when they eat is a personal preference. I remember an interview with Katharine Hepburn when she was in "The West Side Waltz" said she had to eat lunch or her stomach would start growling in the middle of Act 2.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 11:06pm

I've never acted professionally, but I have been in musicals, and I've found that 2 hours before the show is a good time to have a meal. Enough of it has passed through your system to get the "full" feeling out, but you don't feel hungry halfway through the show. Even so, food doesn't affect ones singing all that drastically, unless you ate meal that had a lot of dairy, since milk increases phlegm production. I've also found that energy drinks (for me at least) make my throat feel very dry and tense.

A lot of Broadway and Off-Broadway (especially) performers have side jobs during the day (hence the term, "Don't quit your day job") to supplement their income, and stay employed while between shows.

If they're in a position to not need a day job, some choose to spend their days getting as much rest as they can so they can give their all on stage (this happens a lot in dance heavy shows like Hairspray, Drowsy Chaperone, Chorus Line, etc.)

A lot of people do a combo of the two, spending some days at home, and others working to find new projects, doing side gigs, trying to record an album...things like that.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 11:19pm

Sutton's day during "Little Women" (did a workshop with her - this is straight from her)...

she would wake up as late as possible. usually 10:30 or 11:00. hang around the apartment for a while.

take a steam shower and warm-up and vocalize... sometimes with a coach and sometimes by herself.

grab lunch and do her chores or errands. grocery shopping or go to the bank or whatever she needed to do. clean the apartment. bla bla bla.

get a heavy snack a couple of hours before the show and then head to the theatre. get her makeup and hair ready, then get on her laptop and answer emails/do business. then in costume and thenn SHOW TIME!

after the show, she always grabbed dinner and went home. watch television for a couple of hours and go to bed. she was on complete vocal rest (no talking) after every single performance.

repeat that for however long she was in LITTLE WOMEN. very interesting.

everyone is different, though.

[ragg_ballad]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 11:44pm

i know that performers aren't supposed to have any dairy either..

and btw, do the majority of performers have day jobs?

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 4/7/08 at 11:53pm

dairy creates phlem (or flem?) which is why it's not recommended.

very greasy foods (really bad fast food) is the best thing to eat before a show.

and no, most performers do not have day jobs as many of them have to be ON CALL for afternoon rehearsals.

for example, the cast of "Hairspray" has an all-day dress run when a standby/understudy is scheduled to replace a featured or starring character for more than one performance.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 12:27am

I'm surprised about the greasy food thing. I specifically remember being told that was one thing not good to eat in my voice for broadcasting class. But then, maybe broadcasting is a little bit different.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 12:32am

well, it depends.

if you have bad acid reflux or gas (yikes) then no... you shouldn't.

it helps many performers though. this sounds gross but the grease and remanants from the fried batter helps lube the vocal folds and creates a tiny coating.

obviously it's not something that you will feel but it's been proven.

[elphaba.scares.me]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 1:25am

This thread = the most telling thread EVER about who actually posts on this board.

[lcinva]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 8:22am

For whoever knows - when a principal role has a standby (as opposed to, or in addition to, an understudy), do they have to attend all rehearsals? When a cast is touring, what kind of rehearsal schedule does the principal cast actually have?

[Elphie3]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 10:54am

I can only speak for myself, but a typical day (on a two show day) might be...

- Wake up as late as possible. Sometimes this isn't possible as there are press related things in the morning, or put-in rehearsals (when understudies are rehearsed.)

- Take a steamy shower, have breakfast and some tea. Do some light vocalizing. Check e-mail, etc.

- Work out. Often this can just be doing some cardio/weight training/stretching at home. I love to use a tennis ball to get out any knots. On a one show day I'll try to go to dance class.

- Get to the theater after picking up something to eat. I like to get to the theater early since I don't want to feel rushed. I'll either do my full vocal warm-up right before I leave, or once I get to the theater.

- Do first show

- I like to leave the theater in between shows. I have some favorite resturants i like to go to that are one or two subway stops away. Get something to eat.

- Get back to the theater early, revocalize and physically warm up.

- Second show

- Have large after show snack when I get home. Watch some T.V to unwind, go to bed.

On one show days I'll use the extra time to do laundry, run errands, take class, have a lesson with my vocal coach, etc. I also try to make sure I plan in "unwinding" things. I love to try to go see other shows.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 11:45am

Very few actors in Broadway show have "Regular" day jobs. A few do some coaching or teach a dance class here and there, but you aren't going to find many chorus girls waiting tables during the lunch shift at the Olive Garden while they are doing a Broadway show.

[DryMartini]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 2:32pm

No alcohol? Clearly you haven't been in any of the bars on 9th Avenue after the shows are over. Tons of actors drinking. And, of course, I'm all for it!

[renaibr]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 3:13pm

I have asked some of the stars of curtains and
legally blonde what they do before a show.
They use that time for doctors appointments like for physical therapy due to injuries and run their errands.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 3:14pm

there's no clear cut answer.

some have their days scheduled out and some simply don't!