2 answers
Isabella
Student
Wentzville, Missouri
1
Question
Asked
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I really want to pursue a Broadway career. Will I be able to 1.) financially support myself and 2.) have a successful career.
I have been the leads in multiple musicals. I take vocal, dance( tap jazz and ballet), guitar and piano lessons. I take choir and theatre class at school and my overall vocal range is an E3 to a C#6. My belting range is from F#3 to a B4. I am thirteen soon to be fourteen so my voice has just started developing and I train my voice every day with proper care to help it belt higher. I am a mezzo soprano.
#broadway #musicaltheatre #actress
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2 answers
Alison Warren
Academic Administration
57
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Alison’s Answer
Hi Isabella,
It sounds like you’re really committed to your art! That’s great! You’ll need that commitment if you’re aiming for Broadway. I’ll give you the same advice that I give all of my students who are interested in pursuing a career based on physical skill:
-Yes, you can do it, BUT you’re going to have to work REALLY hard. You should also have a back up plan, in case an injury interrupts your career.
Being on Broadway will take lots of years of practice and actively working on your singing, dancing, and acting skills. You’ve already started doing that practice, which is wonderful. As you get older, start looking for parts in community theatre productions as well as those that your school presents. A lot of people find that majoring in performance arts in college is helpful.
When you’re ready to start working as an actor in New York, even with some experience it’s likely that you won’t get parts right away, let alone any major or lead roles. This is where your back up plan starts to come in. While you’re getting into the scene, you’ll need some way to support yourself; New York is super expensive. Your back up plan can take a few different forms. Some people get high demand jobs that are generally easy to find, such as waiting tables at a restaurant, tutoring, or working the cash register at a store. Other people prefer to stay in the theatre world, and spend some college time studying management, marketing, or some aspect of production so that even if they’re not performing they can still be connected with the theatre. You are in a good position right now since you have some years of high school and possibly even college left before you really have to decide what your back up plan will be. Think about what you enjoy in your classes now. Maybe you’ve got a talent for math and like working in teams with your classmates; going into business might be a good fit for you in that case. Take this time to do some exploring while you’re doing all of your dance practicing and vocal training.
If and when you do start getting cast in shows, expect to work really long hours and not necessarily a consistent schedule. There may also be stretches of time when you’re in between shows and not getting a paycheck from your performance (another moment for the back up plan). As of 2019, Broadway actors make about $950 to $1500 per week (here’s my source: https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/how-much-do-broadway-actors-make-15073771 - this is a great article, btw, I definitely recommend reading it for more details). So, as an established, successful actor, it is possible to support yourself financially. You’re just going to have to work for a bit before you get there.
So, break a leg! If you truly LOVE performing, I’m sure you’ll find a way to keep it in your life. Be ready to work long and hard, and don’t forget about having a back up plan.
It sounds like you’re really committed to your art! That’s great! You’ll need that commitment if you’re aiming for Broadway. I’ll give you the same advice that I give all of my students who are interested in pursuing a career based on physical skill:
-Yes, you can do it, BUT you’re going to have to work REALLY hard. You should also have a back up plan, in case an injury interrupts your career.
Being on Broadway will take lots of years of practice and actively working on your singing, dancing, and acting skills. You’ve already started doing that practice, which is wonderful. As you get older, start looking for parts in community theatre productions as well as those that your school presents. A lot of people find that majoring in performance arts in college is helpful.
When you’re ready to start working as an actor in New York, even with some experience it’s likely that you won’t get parts right away, let alone any major or lead roles. This is where your back up plan starts to come in. While you’re getting into the scene, you’ll need some way to support yourself; New York is super expensive. Your back up plan can take a few different forms. Some people get high demand jobs that are generally easy to find, such as waiting tables at a restaurant, tutoring, or working the cash register at a store. Other people prefer to stay in the theatre world, and spend some college time studying management, marketing, or some aspect of production so that even if they’re not performing they can still be connected with the theatre. You are in a good position right now since you have some years of high school and possibly even college left before you really have to decide what your back up plan will be. Think about what you enjoy in your classes now. Maybe you’ve got a talent for math and like working in teams with your classmates; going into business might be a good fit for you in that case. Take this time to do some exploring while you’re doing all of your dance practicing and vocal training.
If and when you do start getting cast in shows, expect to work really long hours and not necessarily a consistent schedule. There may also be stretches of time when you’re in between shows and not getting a paycheck from your performance (another moment for the back up plan). As of 2019, Broadway actors make about $950 to $1500 per week (here’s my source: https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/how-much-do-broadway-actors-make-15073771 - this is a great article, btw, I definitely recommend reading it for more details). So, as an established, successful actor, it is possible to support yourself financially. You’re just going to have to work for a bit before you get there.
So, break a leg! If you truly LOVE performing, I’m sure you’ll find a way to keep it in your life. Be ready to work long and hard, and don’t forget about having a back up plan.
Craig Allinson
65
Answers
Updated
Craig’s Answer
You have a passion and skills, my advice is don't worry too much about being able to financially support yourself at this point, keep honing your skills, be bright and cheerful and I hope to see you one day on that broadway stage :-)