Starting out as an actor or actress in New York City can be very overwhelming. There are so many people out there who all want the same job. When you are just beginning it is very hard to find out where the auditions are and when to show up for them. I have spent many a cold morning standing outside a sketchy theatre just to be turned away because too many people showed up ahead of me. Hopefully this will never happen to you. To make sure you always get in the door here are a few tips for how to audition for musical theatre in New York City.
First and foremost get the training. The auditions themselves are fierce. But, this is the part you should already be prepared for. You should have at least four great songs with you at any time and a good pair of character shoes you can move in. If you can dance all the better and bring a pair of taps and jazz shoes in case you need them. You can always tell an actor on the street because they are the ones with the huge dance bag or roller suitcase. Some people say that actors carry everything with them just in case, but if you are prepared then you only need one small bag.
The place you are going to find the auditions is in Backstage. This is a weekly paper with tons of auditions in it that you can get at any newsstand or you can sign up for it on-line. You may also find listings in Playbill, Show Business, and on-line at Actors Access. Backstage is just the best one I know of and you see everyone with a copy at the audition. Once you get your copy then go through it and find the shows you are right for. Even if you think you can play every role known to man type yourself and it will make your life a lot easier. While you are still figuring out your type just think of famous people who you look like and decide if they would fit the role that you are auditioning for.
When you have found the audition you want to go to then show up early. If the musical theatre audition starts at ten am at say Chelsea Studios then you need to be there by seven am. If the show is wildly popular like RENT or Hairspray then you should get there at six thirty. Yes, this is way too early and someone should put a stop to it, but for the moment it is the way it goes. By the time you get there you will already see five or ten blond girls with their hair in rollers calling out to one another about how they haven’t seen each other for the last five hours.
After a while of attending the auditions you will get to know people and you can pair up. Make a friend and alternate who gets there early to sign up on the un-official list and who shows up at nine with coffee and apples. If you follow this system then you will be able to get in and get out by noon and you will have the rest of your day to go to classes or work or go see a show. Keep it up every week and one day you will get cast. Break a leg!
