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About Arlene Schulman
Expertise
I have been a director, dramaturg, actor and acting coach for over twenty-five years and am happy to share my expertise in learning to act, character development, taking direction, acting styles and techniques, auditioning techniques, how to choose an audition monologue or song (but NOT specific audition songs or monologues), learning lines, script analysis, acting in musicals, dramas, comedies, farces, mysteries and even new plays in their first productions.
I am NOT a voice teacher or vocal coach. My expertise is in acting and directing, not in singing. I can not advise you on specific audition songs, vocal exercises, how to stretch your range or on solving vocal problems. For that you need an expert on singing and vocal work. And there is at least one very good one on this list.
Experience
I have been a director, dramaturg, actor and acting coach in the NYC/NJ area for over twenty-four years. I have directed dramas, comedies, musicals, mysteries, thrillers and farces as well as directing original plays in staged readings, workshops, showcases and world premieres. I have worked with all level of actors from amateurs to Equity, from children to seniors.
Organizations
Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers - associate member
Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of America - associate member
Shakespeare Association of America
The Shakespeare Instititute - MA candidate - "Shakespeare & Theatre"
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You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Performing Arts > Acting in Plays, Singing > grading
Expert: Arlene Schulman
Date: 4/27/2008
Subject: grading
Question
When you audition for acting and singing how do the judges judge you? do they judge hard? if you get chosen do they call you? if you get chosen do you have to write a whole bunch of songs for a cd of your own? and can you not live in California but still become a professional actress and singer and stay in your own state with ur family?
Answer
Hi Alexa,
I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I just had a new grandson and was away taking care of my daughter and her family. A happy occasion, but one that leaves little time for answering questions. Sorry.
I am a stage director and my expertise is with auditioning for theatre (musicals and non-musicals) so I can answer for that, but not so much for singing auditions (as for records or night clubs or such).
When you audition for a show there are no "judges". The ones you audition for are directors like myself, along with producers, musical directors, casting directors, playwrights, stage managers and other theatre professionals. They are not there to "judge" you, or to give you a grade of any kind. The only reason they are there is to choose the actors who they will cast in their show.
Those directors are looking for actors who are right to play the roles they are casting for - who have the look, physicality, vocal qualities and acting ability to be able to play those characters. They see lots of very good actors and singers and all of those might be right for some roles. But they are only looking for the ones who are right for their role.
So I can't exactly say that they judge "hard". It's not like getting a grade at school. You may be a great singer or actor, and even give a great audition. But you could still not be the best one to play that particular role. So it's not entirely about how good you are, or even how well you do. It's about how right you are for a particular role
Certainly, if you get chosen they call you. Otherwise what would be the point. If you are cast in the role, you have to know it and they have to know that you want the role. So they call you and offer you the role and you accept it or not depending on what you want to do.
As for writing songs, I think you are confused. Some singers are also songwriters. Some are not. Being a singer doesn't mean that you can write songs. Many singers sing songs written by other people - by songwriters who do not sing professionally. So, no, if someone hires you to sing, they hire you to sing, not to write. And many singers sing, in clubs and such, without making records. Singing, recording, and songwriting are all different aspects of the business and not everyone does all three.
As far as living in California is concerned, it all depends what you are doing and what kind of career you are looking for and what you are hired for. Many actors and singers live all over the country. California is the center of the film industry, just as NYC is the center of the theatre industry in the US. But not all film actors live in CA and not all theatre actors live in NYC. There is film and theatre all over the country, and the world, and many places to work.
However, if you are going to be a professional actor (or singer) it is likely that you will have to travel to lots of different places to work. It is very hard to make a living in the arts. Actors, singers and other people in the arts have to go where the work is, and actors often travel all over the country and even all over the world, and live in different places for extended periods of time while they are working there. If you want to stay at home with your family - or have any kind of financial or social stability or security, then acting (or singing) is not the right career for you.
Best,
Arlene (MsDirector)
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