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Maybe you've had that feeling before. You've just seen a great movie, play, or musical and you're blown away. Or, you're tired of just being in school plays and want to try something bigger. As you walk out of the theater or lay on your bed thinking about acting, you think, "I wish I could do that. I want to act." Community theater is a great way to started on your way as an actor. With this series, I'm going to help you get started on your journey.
The first step is to figure out which play you want to do. If you're interested in finding the next production or a community theater company near you, you can probably Google the company's name and get a link to their website. If you're looking for what shows the company's going to do over the year, click on the "season" link or something that looks like it belongs along those lines. If you're looking for audition information, it will probably be posted either on the front page of the "auditions" or "opportunities" page.
If you can get a hold of audition information for a show you're interested in, great! Make sure you can make the date(s) and time(s), and that there are part(s) available for someone your age and gender. Then, talk it over with your parents or guardians. Make sure your schedule allows time for rehearsals. If you get a ensemble or minor role, you might be rehearsing a couple times a week. If you get a bigger role, it could be more than that. A rehearsal schedule might be available at the auditions for you to look at as well.
Once you've decided you're going to try out at an audition, you might want to get some background on the show so you know what you're trying out for. If it's a musical, they might ask for you to prepare a song to sing or be ready to sing a certain song. Make sure that you're ready for them to expect you to sing your heart out. Check to see if there's a movie or book (or both!) that the play is based on. Rent it if you can, and get a general feeling for what the show is about. This will also help you get to know the characters and what parts would be best for you. Believe me, if you know what the play is about, you'll do better at the auditions.
If you can't make an audition for any reason, but still want to get involved as soon as possible, you might want to consider acting classes for kids or teens. Some theaters offer classes where you sign up for certain classes, and you automatically get a spot in the show (your role is undecided until the first few sessions) and you get instructed by a teacher who can teach you a lot about theater and acting. These classes are just as fun, and often don't take up as much of your schedule. If you want to try acting, but not have it take over your life, acting classes might be for you.
Now that you're all ready to join community theater, it's time for the next big step and next week's topic: the audition itself.
Dubblplay
"You'll always miss 100% of shots you don't take." - Source unknown
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