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How to get into acting as a teenager?
I think if you want to be an actor it has a start as a kid to be more successful. Most successful actors now usually start as a kid because their parents might sign them up for kid shows as a kid and that usually grows into it and starts doing it more until their older.
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Martha’s Answer
Hi, Afua! We are active in our regional theater, and I want to assure you that it is not too late to start an acting career as a teenager. Travis has given you a lot of good ideas; here are my reiterations/expansions:
- There are a lot of acting schools in New York city, but I would start at your school, both taking classes and actually acting. Before advancing to an outside school, I would research them carefully for technique (pick one that makes sense to you) and connections to professional theater. Also, see who their graduates are; if they have many you have heard of, that is a good sign. I personally have heard good things about Stella Adler and Maggie Flanagan, but know there are other good ones.
- Depending upon the kind of acting you would like to do, consider dance and/or voice lessons. Even if you don't want to do musicals, dance might be good in making you more aware of how your body moves and how you could change that for different characters.
- Get some experience with auditions. A good place to start is Backstage (membership now on sale) - https://www.backstage.com/actors-and-performers/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=nonbrand&utm_content=CastingCalls&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA35urBhDCARIsAOU7QwldjGgIqygNON6XS4Pt4IXMENA-lN_F_RmS8F72EjbDbg57gAbMYk8aAscfEALw_wcB
- I agree that getting experience backstage would be good because it helps you get connections and understand better how lighting, props, and sound work together. And sometimes actors have to move props on or off stage so it is related.
Remember the old acting saying that there are no small parts, only small actors. If you try your best with every role (no matter how small), you never know who you impress or who will think of you for a later opportunity.
Good luck!
Get involved with theater at your school
- There are a lot of acting schools in New York city, but I would start at your school, both taking classes and actually acting. Before advancing to an outside school, I would research them carefully for technique (pick one that makes sense to you) and connections to professional theater. Also, see who their graduates are; if they have many you have heard of, that is a good sign. I personally have heard good things about Stella Adler and Maggie Flanagan, but know there are other good ones.
- Depending upon the kind of acting you would like to do, consider dance and/or voice lessons. Even if you don't want to do musicals, dance might be good in making you more aware of how your body moves and how you could change that for different characters.
- Get some experience with auditions. A good place to start is Backstage (membership now on sale) - https://www.backstage.com/actors-and-performers/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=nonbrand&utm_content=CastingCalls&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA35urBhDCARIsAOU7QwldjGgIqygNON6XS4Pt4IXMENA-lN_F_RmS8F72EjbDbg57gAbMYk8aAscfEALw_wcB
- I agree that getting experience backstage would be good because it helps you get connections and understand better how lighting, props, and sound work together. And sometimes actors have to move props on or off stage so it is related.
Remember the old acting saying that there are no small parts, only small actors. If you try your best with every role (no matter how small), you never know who you impress or who will think of you for a later opportunity.
Good luck!
Martha recommends the following next steps:
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TRAVIS’s Answer
Start taking theatre arts in school and in the community. You can join film groups and societies in your community as well and find out when film projects are looking for extras or actors. You can also write your own material and create stuff on youtube. There are many parts in acting that are not just on stage. Stage crew, set construction and other skills are good to have in order to find work.