Note: Most of the information in this article pertains to working in Los Angeles, since background work in smaller markets tends to be handled by the local agents and casting directors. The terms “extra” and “background” are used interchangeably, and no offense is meant by either term. Many parents ask if working as an “extra”…
About Life on Broadway An Oral History of the Broadway Shutdown Series (COVID) by David Gordon (TheaterMania) (interesting stories from actors about how the shows closed in this unprecedented time) Road to the Tonys: The Life of a Kid Actor at School of Rock by Gordon Cox (Variety) School of Rock Faces Graduation by Alexis…
Education, On Stage and Off Almost all the parents we talked to admit that keeping up with education is the biggest struggle and that it is almost impossible to do a show and get a truly good education. They are just surviving. We encourage you to consider all your options ahead of time, in the…
Pay and Credit Negotiations The big myth: You aren’t getting rich or famous doing Broadway. The reality is, you do not usually break even when doing a Broadway show if you are from out of town. Even if you live there, money is tight. Every contract and every situation is different! It is strongly suggested…
Special Considerations – Understudies and Role Splitting Being cast as an understudy or splitting a role has unique issues. Typically Broadway shows are performed 8 times a week. Producers make the decision about how to handle the work load for the child actors. Before accepting an understudy or split/shared roled, parents would be wise to…
Special Considerations – Touring Companies Touring companies take Broadway on the road. They range from high budget shows that stay in large cities for weeks at a time, to those that travel around the world, to “bus and truck tours” where the entire company packs the show into buses and trucks, traveling from city to…
Broadway – Rules and Laws Child performers in theatre are governed by 2 sets of rules: state laws and union rules (if the show is a union signatory). True Broadway and Off Broadway shows are in New York City, and they fall under a section of New York Department of Labor regulations called Part 186. …
The Casting Process There is no real “season” for casting Broadway shows. New Broadway shows and some holiday shows open in October/November, with casting being done in the summer. This is why you often hear of kids going to NYC for the summer. Parents tell us that it has been slow in NYC for the…
Broadway Specific Training for Kids The universal advice from our experts is “Bloom where you are planted”. Take classes and do community theatre at home. Take classes at the local dance studio. Find a local voice teacher and learn to read music. Get some leading roles in a small market. If your child outgrows the…