Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 6/1/2008

Question
Dear Ms. Reinholdt,

I have just recently discovered the gem that AllExperts.com is, and I would like to throw my hat into the proverbial ring.

I am an 18-year-old girl with a multitude of interests: the top one being singing. I attended a conservatory for the past academic year as a Voice major, but I've decided to transfer to pursue a double major in Theatre and French. (It is my hope that I will be able to use my fluency in French as a ticket to some sort of stable job, whether it be teaching or translating or whichever occupation requires bilingualism.)

I know that I want more than anything to work as a singing actress, a star in musical theatre. But in the meantime, I am terrified by the sheer amount of UNCERTAINTY that seems to be presented by this field. -- I have a few problems that may or may not kill my chance at a career, and I don't want to be so naive as to think that I'll "hit it big" when I may not. For example: 1) While I have plenty of attitude and classical training, I haven't done a huge number of shows. 2) I would say my dancing is so-so; I am not at all a dancer first. 3) While I have my moments of being extremely confident and invincible, I feel I often take rejection hard.

^ I truly do love this field, and I have no problem taking out my piercings or growing out my hair or slimming down to be more aesthetically pleasing. I don't even think I'd mind the hours in line or the tedious memorization of lines and the exhausting work it takes just to get one's name established.

But I guess I just want to know what it is I need to do.

I've heard you shouldn't think about agents until you're more professional, so... how do I differentiate myself from the simple "theatre kids" who view acting as a hobby? Do I just take a part in every low-level show I can find? Should I move to NYC after college and intend to work in a sort of office-y "real" job, while auditioning for whatever I can? Should I start thinking of myself as ACTRESS first, and not a singer first? Should I widen my horizons to commercial acting and modeling just to build more "extracurricular" credit as a musical theatre person?

I'm sorry to bombard you with questions; I am just so confused and frustrated.

I could truly benefit from some expert advice.

Thank you so much in advance.

~ Liz

Answer
Hey Liz...Wanda here.  I'm sorry that it has taken me a while to get back to you.  I have been prepping for a show that I am producing and directing.  So it's been a little wild around here :).  It's all good.

Unfortunately, I tried to reply once earlier today and I lost my response (the power went out in my area just as I was going to send it).  So, I will hopefully get a response to you soon.

If it happens to be longer than this evening before I get back to you, the brief version of what I was going to say is that you just need to do theatre.  Find opportunities in community theatre and audition wherever you can for any opportunity.  Any experience is good experience.  The more you do, the better you will become.  

Does that help?

Until I hopefully write more thoroughly...

Wanda