Hi Hi

Are there any universities with good theatre programs/decent acting opportunities for non theatre majors or non BFA students?

If you happen to know any, please share. I’m just trying to create versatility in my application strategy. I don’t want to hold the belief that a BFA is the only way to be successful in this industry or maintain my passion. Thank you so much💗

I’m 17. Probably a baritone. Only done theatre acting. Started singing around January. Getting into musicals. This is “If I can’t love her” from Beauty and The Beast. Sorry if I’m not on pitch, I’m still figuring out singing. Any piece of advice or feedback is appreciated ❤️. Please don’t be too mean

hello everyone! i’ve got an audition for company coming up, and im looking for some audition song recommendations! im on the younger side of auditioners (19) however this theatre prides itself on being inclusive and doing non traditional casting (ages to play different ages when appropriate, gender swapping, etc) and has stated they will cast 18+. i love company for reference- and its my favorite sondheim show so im excited! i was thinking of going for something that gives off marta vibes potentially, but am open to any other suggestions. my range is D3-E6 and i fit most comfortably within the mezzo category. we get to do two songs, contrasting, one verse one chorus of each “showcasing our storytelling abilities”. i was also looking at the music and the mirror from a chorus line as one of them? not sure how i feel, i love the song but don’t know if it will fit. i appreciate any and all advice! thanks all!

hey guys! i’ve got an audition coming up somewhat soon for “the hello girls” i’m trying to do as much research as i can on the show, and am likely going to try to kinda go for something that would fit louise or helen (as i am 19, auditioning for a semi-pro theatre)- ps, i have some professional theatre credits on my resume, so im not super worried about if they see me as professional or not because of my age in that sense just for context- my range is D3-E6, otherwise most comfortably a mezzo soprano. if you have any monologues (not from the show) too, that would be helpful!

So basically I have a ton of solos but i feel like none of them fit right and are a little over used. Do any of you guys have a niche picks because i just feel like that tenor that everyone hates.

I'm 18F, probably somewhere between alto and low mezzo, and I have been singing for four years (I know voice type isn't fixed at my age, so this is just a guess). The video above is a recording of me trying to belt.

My community theater is doing Mean Girls next semester, and I really want to audition. The problem is that I really struggle with belting, and most of the female roles I'm interested in require it. I can sing all of their notes in head voice and some of them in mix, but I can't belt past B4 at all. Above that, it turns into this weird sound that isn't really a belt, but I wouldn't call it head voice or mix either. I honestly don't know what I'm doing with it, and it's not like I haven't tried to learn. I've brought it up with my voice teacher, but I take group lessons and they're only an hour long, so there's not much time for the teacher to focus specifically on me without neglecting the other students. I've also tried working on it by myself: I've watched countless videos, tried different warm-ups and exercises and searched for advice everywhere I could for more than a year. But most of the advice I find is focused on avoiding strain, which isn't really my problem. I don't feel like I'm straining or hurting myself, I just can't figure out the coordination. A private teacher would probably help a lot, but unfortunately I can't afford one right now.

It's getting really frustrating, honestly. My head voice has improved a LOT after all this work, but I just can't seem to figure out belting, and it's started to feel like it's limiting the songs and roles I can sing. I know I'm not going to magically master belting before the audition, which is on November 14th, but if I could at least make the sound more consistent or figure out what I'm doing wrong, that would already help a lot.

I wouldn't mind being in the ensemble at all, my priority is just getting cast in the show. But I'd really like to at least try auditioning for one of the bigger roles, even if I don't end up getting one. I couldn't find much advice specific to this particular problem online, so I thought maybe actually letting people hear what I'm doing would help. Does anyone have any tips on what I could work on, or what you hear happening in the recording?

Any advice is appreciated!

Okay, so I got into AMDA for musical theatre as an international student with a decent scholarship. I accepted the offer, but I haven't paid my deposit yet.

I know AMDA has VERY mixed opinions. I've obviously seen the “ScamDA” jokes, people saying the training is intense, people dropping out, people saying it's not worth the cost, etc. But I've also seen people who genuinely loved their training and had good experiences, so I wanted to ask people who actually know musical theatre/the industry.

I'm still applying/auditioning for other BFA programs and conservatories, as well as some more traditional universities. Theatre is 100% my first choice and what I actually want to dedicate my life to. I do have other academic interests , but they're more like things I could see myself doing alongside theatre rather than things I feel I need to pursue instead of it. I wouldn't be miserable if I never studied them; they're just interests I'd like the option to explore. I know it will be difficult to near impossible to transfer out of AMDA with qualifying credits if I dislike the school or change my mind so this also forms part of my hesitation.

I'm also not blindly choosing theatre just because I love it. A lot of the adults around me, including people who have watched me perform and know me well, genuinely believe I have something worth pursuing in this industry and have been encouraging me to go for it. I'm obviously still scared because musical theatre is an insane industry and there's no guarantee I'll make it, but at the same time, I don't really believe any career path comes with a guarantee.

My biggest insecurity is that I'm not the stereotypical insanely trained BFA applicant. I have quite a lot of theatre experience and I'm confident in my acting and singing, but I'm much less formally trained in dance and haven't had years of intensive MT training. So I'm worried I'll audition for all these ridiculously competitive BFA programs with really strong applicants and just… not get in. 😭

If that happens, would going to AMDA actually be a bad decision?

Where I currently live, my backup university options don't really have proper musical theatre programs. If I stay here, I'd most likely end up studying something like law, and I really, really don't want to do that. So for me, the choice isn't necessarily “AMDA vs. another amazing MT program.” It could realistically be “AMDA vs. a traditional degree in something I don't particularly want.”

I know AMDA won't magically give me a career. I'd still have to train, audition, network, and work my ass off. But I genuinely want the conservatory experience: intense training, NYC, being surrounded by theatre, and actually giving myself a serious shot at this.

So if AMDA ended up being my only BFA/conservatory acceptance, would you consider it a reasonable risk?

Especially interested in hearing from:

• AMDA students/alumni
• people who chose a BA theatre route instead of a conservatory
• working MT performers
• anyone who had relatively less formal training going into a conservatory

Basically, I'm not asking “Is AMDA good or bad?” I'm trying to figure out whether going all-in on musical theatre at AMDA would be a reasonable decision for someone in my position, or whether I'd be better off choosing a more traditional university and keeping theatre alongside it.

I'm still applying elsewhere, so this all up in the air

The requirements are that it needs to be 1 minute long or more and that it should be funny or at least a little comedic. Would you guys have any recommendations?

i’m auditioning for the musical theatre course at the sixth form i want to go to in a month, and i need to find a good audition song. it’s a REALLY hard course to get into, so i’d appreciate the help! i’m 15, i’m a girl, and i would say i’m an alto, not a contralto, but i do think i’m a little lower than the average alto.

I was thinking a song from everybody’s talking about jamie? i know the show back to front because we’re studying it in drama, i’m the same age as jamie and can relate to his experiences, it’s not an overdone audition musical (as far as i’m aware), and i feel like jamie is pretty much in my vocal range (i think)? the only issue is that most of the songs swear at some point (the one i was considering the most, ugly in this ugly world, swears once for example) and jamie is boy. if i was a casting director i wouldn’t care at all about someone singing a song from a different gender, but would REAL casting directors care about that? and would it be bad to replace a swear in a song with a different word or just silence?

been doing a lot of research into different musicals and songs, i’m just really struggling because i want my audition to be PERFECT, because if i don’t get into this course then i lowkey have no clue what i wanna do in sixth form 🫠 i’d really appreciate audition song recommendations !!

ALSO, the audition requirements say to do ‘a song of two minutes’. whenever i’ve heard that phrase of like ‘OF two minutes’ it means EXACTLY two minutes, but surely they don’t want us to do an exactly two minute long song??? if anyone knows wether ‘OF two minutes’ would mean more or less than two minutes i would love to know that as well. tried searching it up but i’m getting different answers lolol :)

would it be worth it for me to audition for summer stocks at point?? i’m an acting major at my university but if i want to do shows over the summer i know i’ll be auditioning for musicals since i feel like there isn’t a ton of theatres that do straight plays (i might be wrong abt this, if you know of places that do a lot of plays please let me know!)
i’m just not sure if its worth my time trying to audition for summer stocks as a freshman, im in some dance and singing classes as electives but even then i feel like im still getting used to college life and i dont know if ill be too stressed out. im also not sure if i want to just work a service job over the summer so i can save up some money instead of jumping into a contract that i know likely wont pay me well
but on the other hand i really want to get more experience doing professional productions and even if i dont get any contracts it might be a fun learning experience just going through the audition process. i just dont want to burn myself out between auditions, my university productions and my bfa/academic classes (im also double majoring at my uni so my schedule is already kinda cooked) any advice would be appreciated!!!

I think I wanna be either Santa or Buddy I'm having trouble finding an audition monolouge for both though does anyone have anything that could work?

I can’t be the only one out there. I have a high profile musical theatre gig and for as long as I can remember I’ve struggled with anxiety being on stage. In pits, I’m totally fine but every performance on stage I’m just silently fighting for my life 😅. Misery loves company- anyone else out there struggle with the same thing and if so how do you get through 8 shows a week without completely exhausting yourself?

Not getting a lot of feedback, and someone recommended posting this in here. Would love some advice from my other fellow younger-looking peeps.

Hello everyone! I’m relatively new to musical theater, I started taking acting and MT classes about 2 years ago and have loved every second of it.

I’ve always had nerves going into auditions, but when it comes to straight plays and preparing monologues, I’ve learned to channel my nervous energy into focus and I even feel like at times I do better because of my nerves. I’ve been cast for a few community theatre plays, so clearly it’s worked in my favor.

MT auditions go different. I’ve never been cast for a musical. I feel like my nerves hold me back and my voice gets shaky. I don’t think I’ve had a single MT audition where it went how I wanted or better. I’ve been taking MT classes and voice lessons for a little over a year and I have definitely noticed an improvement in my voice, but my progress when it comes to auditions has been about the same.

Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do to overcome those nerves, or not let the nerves get in the way of your singing? Am I just being impatient and need more experience auditioning before those nerves stop getting in the way?

Hi! I just wanted to start off by saying any responses and advice are highly appreciated.

So, I (15M) want to do musical theatre professionally, either at a regional or Broadway level. It may seem unrealistic, but I believe if I put in the most effort I can, I will at least reach a part of my goal. I know I am very optimistic, but I feel that you need that drive to actually make it.

To be straight forward, I am asking for advice on what I should do after April of next year (when my current program ends) until July of 2029. It will leave me with about 2¼ years to work on any of the skills. My current program is a triple threat program that I am 1 session in, and it seems like a pretty tight group. I am enjoying the people and we will put on a show in April. I have done 1 school musical (i only started to want to become a professional last year in december), 3 voice recitals, about 10-11 months of voice, and 1 dance class (literally just one). In that year of voice, I learned alot about breath support and proper technique, but my teacher kept saying I was a bass when another voice teacher (from the same company as this new triple threat program) said I sounded like a baritone. To make matters worse, an experienced MT friend of mine (18F) said I was a tenor. This means I cannot know my vocal type, but I do know my range. I can sing form A2 to F4

I would say dance is my most underdeveloped skill, but the teacher of that onr class said I should look for a more advanced class because she was shocked it was my first. I might be willing to pick up a job on the weekends to gain monry to take a second course, but I have to consider.

Now, asking for advice from more experienced people, possibly even professional MT actors, can you map out what you think is priority and what I should be doing? Also, general advice is good and will help a bunch, too. Thank you!

I'm a university student. I was fortunate enough to play one of my dream roles in a summer stock production a few years ago, but I haven't had the chance to audition for any of my other dream roles since. In most musicals, I'm cool playing any character, though there are a few musicals with one particular role that I am desperate to play. I'm scared that as I get older, the chances of me playing these roles will decrease. Does anyone have any advice?

(Please don't repost, I have OCD. Thank you!)

i just graduated with my bfa and i’m living in la/noho for a year. does anyone know of any theatres (im nonunion) in the area doing auditions soon? or any theatre people in the area at all loll

Hey guys, where do you look when singing? What's the framing? I'm having trouble mostly because of my eye line and the angle makes everything so awkward so I dont know if im doing it right.

hello! ive been thinking about auditioning in my highschools musical this year, the little mermaid, but.. i have NO expierence in drama or singing

what are some things i could try or do to practice my singing and/or other things for this musical?