Brag, Brag, Brag, Part II

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>DG...wishing you some luck. My D has played Little Red before. Into the Woods is also a show that she loves. She is also very into Sondheim. She played Little Red in ninth grade in our HS production but I saw another great production of the show at SDM and in fact, some of the leads in that cast are now on National Tours. </p>

<p>I don't know when tickets go on sale for Into the Woods at Tisch but it is a very small theater, though there are seven performances. These shows sell out quickly, so giving you a heads up. As you can see, height also plays a factor...the role of Little Red is a good example. You can't control your height! :D</p>

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<p>My daughter, a freshman music (vocal) major at Otterbein, just called me with the wonderful news that she has been cast in both operas that the music department is doing this year (they're doing two one-acts). In the first, "Amelia Goes to the Ball", she is in the opera chorus (one of only four freshman cast); in the second opera, "Gianni Schicchi", she actually has a small role...playing a 7-year old boy! It's fairly standard in opera for mezzos to be cast in boy roles, so she's over the moon...and feeling particularly honored since she's the only freshman cast in both operas. I'm thrilled beyond belief for her...and for me; to think that last year I was thinking I'd never see her on stage again!</p>

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<p>Aww congrats mezzomom! That is quite the accomplishment!</p>

<p>Sadly I did not make Into the Woods, but I think it is better, in a way, becuase I have so much work and college stuff. My high school is not doing a musical this year ( we have no money) but I heard we might be doing The Larmie Project in March, so i guess it is better than nothing.</p>

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<p>Bravo mezzomom!!!</p>

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<p>Yay for your daughter mezzomom! That is certainly very exciting news! She is doing so well for a freshman! I bet you can't wait to see her in those productions. Thanks for sharing the happy news here. </p>

<p>Defying Gravity, sorry that Into the Woods did not work out as you had hoped. Still the audition experience was beneficial to you as you enter this audition season. Each audition really builds you up. You are right that working on a show during college audition season is very crazy. Been there, done that. Could never imagine how it would all get done but it did. Good luck as you prepare for the upcoming season. There will be many shows in your future. Every actor has to go through many rejections to get cast.</p>

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<p>My D has booked two adult ensemble parts in a local equity theater, LouAnn in the first regional premiere of "Hairspray", and A Christmas Carol.
She is so happy to be part of the adult cast.
"Hairspray" opened last week, and is playing to rave reviews with Paul Vogt (straight from Las Vegas)in the role of Edna.
My question is, my D will be earning her 50 points while in the second of these two back to back shows. Any advice if she should go for it, and join Equity? She can possible continue to audition for this theater over the next few months, and Idk if they would give her the same privilegs if she is Equity, as she is currently a non-U hire.
Appreciate all thoughts in advance!</p>

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<p>tashmu, You need to use the search function and find your topic, which has been discussed on several threads in the past, often in connection with a discussion of summer employment opportunities.</p>

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<p>I searched the forum and couldn't find an earlier thread on this.... although I am sure it is there... I just can't find it.</p>

<p>I am a member of Actor's Equity and believe that the union is a terrific organization. That being said, for a young performer, AEA membership can offer some challanges to obtaining work.</p>

<p>The good news... </p>

<p>...as a member of AEA your daughter would be able to petition the union for a waiver to perform in her school shows. So, AEA membership would not hinder that part of her training. </p>

<p>...as a member of AEA your daughter could earn credits toward health insurance, pension (since she is young, retirement is a LONG way off... but as they say, it's never to early to start!), and if there were any problems with a producer, the union will offen work to settle those problems, keeping your daughter out of the middle.</p>

<p>...as a member of AEA your daughter could audition for Equity productions, including Broadway and off-Broadway shows.</p>

<p>The not as good news...</p>

<p>...As a member of AEA you are prohibited from auditioning for, or accepting non-AEA work. For young performers many of thier opportunities are (a) like your daughter in Hairspray and Christmas Carol - as non-union cast members in union productions. It is much harder to find strong, older non-AEA performers. It is relatively easy to find incredibly strong, young non-AEA performers, so many companies will use their AEA cotracts to fill older roles, and fill the younger roles with non-AEA actors. (b) in non-union production companies (summer stock, regional, etc...), and on non-AEA tours - AEA has had a difficult time organizing the non-AEA touring market. These days many national tours (even the first tour going out after a production closes in NY) are non-AEA, so as an AEA member your daughter may miss out on some professional opportunites that could aid in her further development as a performer.</p>

<p>Another bit of good news...</p>

<p>...international tours and cruise ships are not bound by the same AEA laws, so an AEA member can audition for, and accept jobs in those markets.</p>

<p>One more thing to check into...</p>

<p>...unless the bi-laws have changed significantly since I was an EMC candidate years ago - once an actor in the EMC program has earned 50 points they cannot accept work at an AEA theatre without being under an AEA contract. So, if your daughter does audition for an AEA theatre in the future, and they want to hire her, she may have to join AEA. Also - I believe there is a certain number of years after which your EMC point expire... so, if you do not join AEA within that time period you lose those points. I am not sure if those rules are still the case, so you should check with AEA.</p>

<p>That is very exciting that your D is performing in two great production of terrific shows at an AEA theatre. When push comes to shove the decision to join AEA is a very personal one. There is no specific formula as to when it is the right time to join the union. Doing what you are doing... gathering information, and weighing the pros and cons is the way to go!</p>

<p>Congratulations!! :)</p>

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<p>Ah, thank you, what a thoughtful reaponse. I am weighing whether or not it's a good idea to run the question by the producers at this theater who have been so supportive all along. She would like to try out for more venues there, but obviously, it isn't clear whether showe would have more opportunities if she is required to be an E hire.</p>

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<p>tashmu - I just bumped up 2 threads for you, one quite lengthy, with discussions about earning equity cards at a young age. We actually struggled with this for several years!</p>

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<p>Ericsmom - Thank you for bumping the threads. Very interesting discussion!</p>

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<p>KatMT - Thanks for your great summary post above, which probably covers everything in those other threads!</p>

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<p>Well in the " is there life after college "world of musical theater, I though i'd offer an update. My S. graduated from NYU Playwrights Horizon school in 2005 after only 3 years. He worked with a Cap 21 student who was his musical director in a GAP show. NOW: TULLY( in no particular order) A new Musical will be opening in NYC at the THeatre for the NEW CITY. 155 FIRST AVE., BETWEEN 9TH AND10TH. Web site: <a href="http://myspace.comtullymusical%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://myspace.comtullymusical&lt;/a>, or for tickets($15) <a href="http://www.theatermania.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.theatermania.com&lt;/a> . It will be on December 8 at 8PM, Dec 9 at 2PM, and 8Pm and December 10 at 2:00 PM. This is a fully staged Equity worksop presentation. Help support our graduates! With Luck they will find a theatre company who would like to move it on! Thanks, Cam</p>

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<p>Congratulations camge! Thanks for sharing!!!</p>

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<p>Congrats Camge- That is so exciting. I wish I could see it.</p>

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<p>Wow! How proud you must be! Congrats!</p>

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<p>My daughter came home from show choir rehearsal tonight with the news that she and several other students had been asked to sing back-up vocals for Kenny Loggins this Saturday night in the Chicago area! They get a rehearsal track this week, then rehearse with him on Saturday before the concert. They're doing five songs with him - knowing them, I'm sure they all want to do Footloose!</p>

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<p>Congratulations!! What a wonderful opportunity!</p>

<p>:D</p>

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<p>teriwitt, congrats to your D and her classmates! Very exciting and sure to be super fun. I love this thread. :)</p>

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<p>I had to take a moment and brag about my girl-</p>

<p>She is a senior in high school, and she has been dual-enrolled at the local state university since the beginning of her junior year. She has been lucky enough to have been cast in several shows during this time (they have a small, but surprisingly GOOD theater program) as they are open to non-majors auditioning.</p>

<p>She just finished a production of the play A Piece Of My Heart, a very touching play about nurses in Vietnam. It was entered in ACTFs (the American College Theater Festival) so they had an adjudicator come and critique the show. He also has the option of nominating someone for an Irene Ryan award.</p>

<p>The director pulled my daughter aside today and told her that the adjudicator had chosen her as the nominee, but that since she was still in high school she wasn't eligible (we knew this.) But she feels wonderful, to have been chosen by the adjudicator out of the cast of college students. It's really boosted her confidence, I think. </p>

<p>And the girl the adjudicator did end up nominating (who is so, so talented) has asked my daughter to be her scene partner for the ACTFs competition, so she will get to go to the festival.</p>