I really what to be a broadway actress but here's the problem

Question

Ok, i really want to be on broadway when i get older but there's a little problem:My parents aren't really supportive of me doing that. Their O.K with me doing summer shows at my community theatre but everywhere else either "too far out of the way"(even when its only 20 miles),"too big a commitment" or "interferes with school" even when it doesn't.. I have had to pass up amazing opprotunitites because of this like many lead roles and jobs with some MAJOR professional theatre companies in my area. I can't even take dance class or voice lessons. I know one of the reasons for this is that they don't want me to fall behind on my schoolwork but i have made it clear to them that i have a plan to make time for both. I know that i can not make my broadway dream a reality without this experience and training. What do i do?

Answer 1

You will have plenty of time to get the experience you need for Broadway. Excel in school now so you have choices later -- like a great school in NYC where you can study acting and have access to the opportunities in the theaters there and become a part of the acting community there.

Get the best parts you can in your community theater productions and school plays now and make sure there is video footage you can include in your applications to these colleges. You don't have to have a bunch of professional experience to get into the colleges, but you do have to have evidence of your acting ability.

Start finding out now what these places require in terms of academic record and auditions and start practicing for your audition now -- even if it is still 2-3 or more years away. Be in the theater productions but also try to earn some money in the summers so you can go audition in NYC on your own when you're a senior in high school and your parents can't say, "We can't afford it," or "it's too far."  

Even if you cannot feasibly go to an NYC college (though with all the colleges and universities in NYC I would find that very unlikely that you wouldn't get accepted SOMEWHERE) even taking acting and excelling in your state university's theater department can get you places.

Answer 2

Your parents mean well. Theatre colleges definitely won't accept you with bad grades. All you can do now is stay in school. Dance/voice lessons are practically required to go on in this, so I'm thinkin you should try to show your parents that you are capable enough to handle both school work and voice lessons at the same time.

Audition for as many theatre colleges as you can, you can even brag to them about you being offered those jobs and roles to the professors.

Look up good colleges for theatre on the internet, take as many classes at school about acting/singing as you can for right now. And if your parents think if it is too big of a commitment, well, with the passion you have for communicating, you are ready to take on that big commitment. Don't worry, as soon as you start applying for colleges, it'll be okay!

Answer 3

Excel in school first if you want to get family support. Moreover getting good grades in various classes will also help you to be a better actress as they will stimulate different brain functions (such as analytical or creative thinking ability) and will give you a different vision. If you know history you can understand and play better (for example the role of Queen Elizabeth). Same is true for literature even for math and biology. There are a lot of things to memorize in biology class, if you improve your memory you can memorize your (acting) lines easier.