About Arlene Schulman Expertise As a professional director, dramaturg, acting coach and actor for over 25 years in the NYC/NJ area, I can help with questions on acting technique, character development, audition and rehearsal techniques, dealing with directors and stage managers, what directors are looking for, and other aspects of the acting and directing professions.
Experience A professional director, dramaturg, acting coach and actor for over 25 years in the NYC/NJ area, I have directed in professional, university and amateur theatre and have directed and acted in dramas, comedies, musicals, Shakespeare as well as collaborating closely with playwrights in the development of original plays and musicals.
Organizations SSDC associate member Advisory Board - Isle of Shoals Productions Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of America associate member Shakespeare Association of America The Shakespesare Institute -
MA "Shakespeare & Theatre" candidate, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Question Dear Arlene:
I hope this question isn't too general and that I can give you enough information without boring you.
I am 43. I am fat but pretty. My husband supports me so I no longer teach first grade.
About three years ago I married and moved from a tiny town to the Silicon Valley. I feel that I am in a place and time of life now where I might be able to fulfill a lifelong dream of being in an amatuer production.
I have no aspirations to get paid, be even a local "star", etc. I just want to be a part of a production.
I am a trained singer, having sung all my life, taken lessons from time to time, and am now taking my 3'rd year of well regarded private lessons here. I have sung a couple of short solos and I sing with a choir. People tell me I have a beautiful voice without me even asking. My singing teacher calls me "advanced".
I cannot dance. I have the feeling that even with lessons I'd find dancing impossible. But if you say I need to learn to dance I'll try lessons.
I have briefly studied acting. I am gifted with some natural acting talent and have done crazy little roles (officer O'Hara, a man, in Arsenic and Old Lace in a town of 40,000 people - but the directors and audience members told me I did a great job.)I have stage presence.
I would like to be in a show or two before I die. I prefer musicals or light opera but would enjoy straight acting too. Being a tree and singing two lines would be better than nothing and make me proud.
My husband and I see many shows - the ones done by the amatuers seem almost as good as the official Broadway productions we see. When I watch those shows I get sad feeling that I'd never be good enough to be picked for even a small role. My husband points out that there are less talented amatuer groups probably but we just don't go see them. How would I find out about those groups?
What steps in training, networking, auditioning would be logical to take in order to get a role in the chorus or any tiny role in Light Opera or Musical Theatre or even non musical theatre? Do I have a chance of fulfilling that dream?
I have considered going to a community college and studying music or acting so I could be in their productions and get training.
Finally, I am thinking of auditioning for a Light Opera company. I am going to a workshop on Acting while singing with two of the producers of their next show. I am nervous about it. The performers sing beautifully but are all ages and all weights. I think I could pull off that audition, possibly, but I have never been to a formal audition before so I don't know what to expect.
I am trying to push on in a way that does not qualify as "pipe dreams" but that will pay off with the realization of a life long dream. I am ready to work hard in fulfilling a reasonable goal.
Thank you for even reading my question! Look forward to hearing from you.
Elizabeth Marie
Answer Hi Elizabeth Marie,
You are definitely not boring me! In fact, your story is alot like mine.
I have always been short and "round". I started doing community theatre when I was 34, and I found that it was a wonderful experience. It is now 26 years later and, while I now direct professionally, I still come back to community theatre once in a while because it's so much fun!
The joy of community theatre is that you don't have to be an expert. You don't need any training (although it can certainly make you feel more confident when you actually know what you are doing). In community theatre there is a place for actors (and stage crew) at every level of talent and training.
I'm currently directing "Fiddler on the Roof" with a local community theatre. We have actors who have been doing it for a long time, others who are acting for the very first time! Some who are extremely talented, others who just want to have fun and be on stage. Some who are wonderful singers, and others who can barely carry a tune. Some who can sing beautifully but can't dance at all, others who can dance, but have never sung or acted before. There is room for all of them! And I'm sure there would be lots of roles for you as well.
If you have an "advanced" voice and have had some acting lessons, you are probably way ahead of many others in your local groups. Sure it would be fun for you to take some dance lessons, but, trust me, you don't need them for community theatre. Keep in mind too that, just as in the shows you acted in before, not all community theatre is Musical Theatre. And not all musicals need dancers. And even in those that do, not every role is a dancing role. So don't worry about it. As long as you can move well and not trip over your own feet your directors and choreographers will figure out what roles work best for you.
How do you find these community theatre companies? You say you and your husband see many community theatre shows... why not just ask them the next time you are there how to go about finding out about auditions. Most companies these days have websites and mailing lists and they will be happy to add you to theirs. Most companies also post their auditions in the local newspapers. Call your newspaper to find out if they list them, what day and in what section of the paper. One other resource is your local Chamber of Commerce. They might have listings of local theatre companies.
Elizabeth Marie, you don't "need" training for community theatre. That's the point. It's there for those in the community. Of course those with greater ability generally get the better or bigger roles - that makes sense - but there are roles for everyone. All you have to do is audition.
Auditions generally consist of a song and either a cold reading from the script of the show you are auditioning for or a prepared monologue. If you can do that well, you stand just as good a chance of getting cast as anyone else.
One thing I'd like to suggest. Stop worrying about your weight and size! You are what you are. There are roles in theatre for everyone of every size. I've been a character actress all my life and have never had a problem getting cast (or getting directing jobs) because of my weight and size. Or any problem getting cast in musicals, despite the fact that I'm not really a singer, since I have learned how to "sell" my character voice. The trick is understanding what "type" you are and going for those parts. I may never be cast as Cosette, or, at my age now, Mame or even Dolly (in the musical). But I'm a fabulous Yente, Queen Aggravaine, Mother Superior, Jewish mother in any play you can name, or nurse in Romeo & Juliet, and I would get cast as Dolly in the play "Hello Dolly" was based on - "The Matchmaker"! I know what parts to go out for, and I get cast in them because I know I can. Oh not every role or every play. No actor does. But enough so that I'm never without a show when I want to be in one.
As for auditions - they are not anywhere near as hard as you probably think they are. If you are going to audition, simply read the audition notice - it will tell you exactly what you need to audition. If it doesn't, call or email them and ask what they require - a prepared song? For light opera I'm sure they do. A prepared monologue? Maybe, maybe not. Reading from the script? Again, maybe. Every company and director is different. Ask. Then you will know what to prepare.
I hope that helps a little, Elizabeth Marie. If you have any other questions, I'll be happy to try to answer them for you.
