So You Want to Be in Musicals?

by Ruthie Henshall, Daniel Bowling

Overview

Celebrated actress Ruthie Henshall has starred on Broadway and the West End in Chicago, Les Misérables, Cats, and Oliver! among others. She brings her extraordinary knowledge and personal experiences to this insider account of how to make it in this very tough business. An essential guide to turning dreams into reality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848421509
Publisher:	Theatre Communications Group
Publication date:	12/25/2012
Series:	So You Want to Be... (Nick Hern Books)
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Ruthie Henshall's stage performances include Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly in Chicago on both sides of the Atlantic, Nancy in Oliver!, Marian Halcombe in The Woman in While, Grizabella in Cats, and Polly Brown in the UK premiere of Crazy for You. She created the title roles in Peggy Sue Gol Married and in Boublil and Schönberg's Marguerile. She played Fantine in Les Misérables at the Palace Theatre and for the lenth-anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Ruthie has been nominated for an Olivier Award for several of these roles, and won for her leading performance in She Loves Me.

Daniel Bowling is a music supervisor and music director for Cameron Mackintosh Ltd, and has worked on The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables. Miss Saigon, Cats, Mary Poppins and Avenue Q.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements xi

'Do You Hear the People Sing?' 1

Introduction

'I'd Do Anything'

Part 1 Training

School 15

Outside School 17

Applying to Drama School 22

Going to Drama School 27

Your Attitude for Training 30

Your Health and Well-being 32

Leaving Drama School 35

Other Options 36

'I Hope I Get It' 39

Part 2 Auditioning

Preparation for Your Audition 44

Before Your Audition 55

Your Audition Day 58

Your Audition 59

Your Attitude for Auditioning 63

After Your Audition 66

'Putting It Together' 69

Part 3 Rehearsing

The Journey Begins 71

Rehearsal Preparation 73

Day One 78

The Rehearsal Schedule 81

Your Attitude for Rehearsing 82

Working with the Director 85

Rehearsing Your Performance 87

Different Types of Role 95

Different Types of Production 100

Technical Rehearsals 104

The Dress Rehearsal 109

Previews 110

'Razzle Dazzle' 113

Part 4 Performing

Opening Night 115

Your Theatre Family 117

The Press 118

Anxiety and Nerves 121

Settling In 124

Audiences 125

Performance Protocol 126

Performance Behaviour 129

Publicity 136

Sustaining a Long Run 139

Saying Goodbye 143

Getting Your Notice 144

'Nice Work If You Can Get It' 147

Part 5 Working

Getting Started 149

Your 'Business Plan' 150

Agents 153

Contracts 157

Managers 158

Coaches and Classes 159

Photographers and Headshots 160

Social Media 163

Developing Your Career 165

Developing Your Craft 166

Beyond Musicals 168

Working Overseas 172

Fame 173

Not Working 175

Staying Employed 176

Finale 177

Appendices

Training in the UK 180

Useful Websites 187