HOW to become a West End/Broadway performer and the set skills you need. This will also show what skills I need to improve.
Read MoreBelieving You're
a
Triple Threat Performer
"I don't find my life that interesting.
The shows, maybe. But not me."
Stephen Sondheim
About Me
Hey! I'm Theo Edmondson and I am a Musical Theatre performer. I am currently studying Musical Theatre at The Manchester College and I hope to pursue it as my career when I am older whether that is performing, teaching or directing etc. My dream is to do either one of these as you will see in this blog. My ambition is to make an impact on people/the world and let everyone know that anything is possible.
Other than, singing, acting and dancing, I also have other interests of sports (whether that be running, cycling or going to the gym), motorbikes and building computers.
Other than, singing, acting and dancing, I also have other interests of sports (whether that be running, cycling or going to the gym), motorbikes and building computers.
Career Goals
Drama Schools
When applying for drama schools, I wanted a course that was an equal split between all three disciplines (singing, acting and dancing) with very minimal academic work as I am not very academic.
I applied for...
1. Mountview
2. ArtsEd
3. Performers College
4. The Hammond
5. LMA
6. Sharpe Academy
7. Bird College
All these schools are achievable with a successful audition which had to include a monologue (contemporary for them all except ArtsEd which you have to have a contemporary and Shakespeare) a contemporary and legit song and either a set dance routine or your own solo.
The material I chose was...
Contemporary Monologue: Hospital Food - Eugene O'Hare
Shakespeare Monologue: Twelfth Night
Contemporary Song: Giants In The Sky - Into The Woods
Legit Song: Maria - West Side Story
Dance Routine - Jazz Dance to Fireball - Pitbull
Mountview
So for this school, the first round audition was self tapes where you had to sing a contemporary and legit song, any monologue and do set dance exercises and a set dance routine. The monologue I did was Hospital Food, the contemporary song I did was Once Upon a Time from Bare and my legit song was With So Little To Be Sure Of from Anyone Can Whistle (I know these songs are different to what is said above but this was my second audition and I was stuck with what to sing and I chose songs that I already knew very well). The dance exercises were kicks, pirouettes and a set dance.
Performers College
This audition was in person where I had to take a contemporary monologue (Hospital Food), a contemporary song (Giants In The Sky) and participate in an acting workshop, ballet class and jazz class. In the acting workshop, we did improvisation exercises and a few games, in the ballet class, we did exercises at the barre and then some centre exercises and in jazz, we did corner work and then a routine which I really enjoyed.
The Hammond
This was also an in person where I did a contemporary monologue (Hospital Food), a contemporary and legit song (Giants In The Sky and Maria) and a jazz class where we did corner exercises and a routine to "I Hope I Get It" from A Chorus Line.
LMA
This was a self tape audition where I did a monologue (Hospital Food), a contemporary song (If I Can't Love Her - Beauty and the Beast) and a 30 second dance solo (FireBall - Pitbull).
Sharpe Academy
This was an in person audition where we did a ballet class with exercises at the barre, centre and corner, jazz class where we did centre kicks, pirouettes, corner leaps and a jazz dance routine and then my contemporary monologue (Hospital Food) and contemporary song (Giants In The Sky).
Bird College and ArtsEd, I have had to miss these auditions as I wasn't able to travel to them for the in person auditions.
After doing all these auditions, I have been offered a place at them all except Mountview. I've been offered degree places on them all with a scholarship and accommodation bursary at Sharpe Academy. I really enjoyed all the auditions especially Performers and Sharpe and I have to now choose which ones are suitable for me.
DEVELOPMENT Plan
Skills I need to achieve my Goals
What do I need to do/what skills can I develop now to help me achieve this goal?
1. I need to extend my repertoire by finding songs/roles in musicals that suit my cast ability (12-17 years old)
2. Learn about different choreographers/show writers/lyricists to extend my knowledge of the era musicals were directed, choreographed and written in
Development On skills
Targets AND Progress
Top AUDITIION Tips
1
Being Prepared
Know the material inside and out. For your monologue you should know: what play it's from, your character (age, name, mental state, where they are, who they are with, where they have been and where they are going), when the play was written, who wrote the play etc. For you song(s) you should know: what musical the song are from, who wrote the musical, when the musical was written, who is singing the song (characters name, age, mental state, their background, who they're singing to, where they have been and where they are going).
2
Setting a good impression
If your at an audition and you are with other candidates, be friendly with them because they are probably feeling the exact same as you. And when it comes to the audition panel, make sure that your sheet music is taped, speak to the pianist and show them the tempo you want to sing the song at, make the audition panel want you , be professional. When it comes to the dance audition round, don't stand at the back, go the the front, show the auditioned that you are keen, where clothing that makes you stand out.
3
Using your time wisely
Whilst waiting for your audition, make sure your voice is fully warmed up, go over your songs, go over your monologue, and make sure that (for the dance part of the audition) your body is warm and that you are stretching and the you don't get cold as injures could occur.
4
Have a Personality
Don’t walk into an audition room being all awkward and not say barely anything, engage in conversation with the audition panel and pianist (if there is one). Having a good personality would make the audition panel more comfortable with you which will make you as an auditionee more comfortable too. This will also make the panels life easier with will make you stand out and mean that you could be easy to work with.
5
Practice, Practice and more PRACTICE!!!
When it comes to finding material to bring to an audition, make sure you know you know it inside out back to front and every little word. Make sure you understand what your talking/singing about, why is the character there etc. When it mes to staging your song or monologue, move with intention, don’t make it look like you hesitated, move with meaning. You as an auditionee knowing your material impeccably well, will come across well to your audition panel and they will know that your a hard worker.
6
Give your voice a rest
I know in the point above that I mentioned about practicing all the time, well make sure your doing a thorough vocal warm up to make sure your your voice isn’t straining and drink/eat things that are healthy for your voice (no diary AT ALL) drink water. The last thing you want is for your voice to not be the best at an audition baring in mind you knowing that you have done so much preparation.
7
Don’t Look at the audition panel
As silly as it sounds, whilst performing, don’t look/or make eye contact with any member of the audition panel as it will be off putting and you won’t be fully focused on your acting and with what you’re saying/singing.
8
Have a back up Plan
Theres nothing worse than having a song or monologue prepared and then hearing someone else perform the same material as you. Bring along your rep folder with all the material you know so you can whip out a song if someone has sung the same song as you
9
Be prepared to be asked questions about your material
Research your material thoroughly eg (for monologues) who’s your character, what’s the play, how old is the character etc and for songs, what musical is it from, who’s the character, what’s the story about, how old is the character, who are they singing to, why are they singing.
10
Have FUN!!!
You are being given an opportunity to do what you love to do, perform with the passion you have for your specialism.
Self Evaluation
G18 - Personal Project blog
So far the only song I have practiced, with my teacher, is Words...
Up to now, with the show being tomorrow, I have practiced...
Gallery
Contact
- 07460937173
- edmondson.theo1@gmail.com
- Mon-Fri - 08:00-17:00
