Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 2/27/2011

Question
Hi, I am Valentina and I am 17 years old, I have the dream of becoming a Broadway performer, but as much as I dream, I also know all the sacrifice it takes, I go to a conservatory school where Iīve been in several dance shows, I have been the host every year and every time I am on stage Iīm the happiest person in the world, I also like writing a lot, I already wrote an original choreographic musical that will be presented on June, so we are already in rehearsals, about the singing, it is my biggest fear, because I have never taken any singing lessons, I am not a bad singer but I am not Broadway's good. I have been auditioning for musicals lately and got a part in one of them, unfortunately I had to drop off because the rehearsals where at the same time that my other playīs ones. I am currently in a Jazz dance academy, I can dance all the Latino genders but I still have a long way to go before I can call my self a dancer.I really would like to perform in Broadway, and I am giving my 110% , but for years I had to stop acting due to synchronized swimming, I practiced this sport for 7 years and got to professional level but in the end, I discovered that it was not what I wanted to do, and that I was only doing it because of my friends. I have been told that I donīt stand a chance because I am too old to learn how to sing, and that I am just going to end up as another failed aspiring actor, my family wants a college degree that is not musical theater, but I just canīt take those arguments, my music teacher(I am my schoolīs first flute) told me that the air principles of singing and traverse flute are exactly the same, and that I should be able to progress very fast if I use my musical knowledge the right way, and I also started writing an original musical which I intend to finish while I'm in college getting a fine arts and a journalismīs BA, of course this new musical needs more work than the last one, and I am not old enough to finish it yet, but I intend to take the draft to an agency to know their opinion.Am I on the right track? Or am I just doing what any aspiring actress is?

Answer
Hello Valnetina,  Whew! Kind of hard to sort you out.  But first of all, there are non-musical plays on Broadway, in Regional theatres and Resident professional theatres and dinner theatres and more all over the country, so there is work for the talented, trained and experienced actress. If you are going to make it as an actress, you are going to have to concentrate on that, as I am sure you are realizing (dropping swimming, for example). If you are going to succeed as an actress you also will not take "no" for an answer regarding your chances and further education. You really need to do a two year conservatory or four year BFA Acting program to further your dreams, but I think you are too far behind and it will be too hard for you to pursue Musical theatre. I advise you to go to http://tao-of-acting.org and read my free ebook and all of my blog back a couple of years and ask me lots of questions.  God bless, Doc