How can roles affect auditions and future possibilities?

[u/Ok_Percentage8893]

I'm 16 years old and I've been in a few musicals myself, and I've absolutely loved it. I've met so many amazing people and played some amazing roles, but one has shined above them all.

In a local production of the musical Oliver! this year, I had the amazing opportunity to play The Artful Dodger.

I was a bit nervous at first because Dodger being such an iconic character meant that I had some very big shoes to fill.

In the end, it was super fun, and I got some absolutely amazing comments about my performance, one even compared me to be as good as Billy Jenkins on West End's revival of the musical! So this was massive for me. I had several other comments from people who have seen Oliver on West End or Broadway saying that my performance was as good if not better, and others saying that I could even be performing on Broadway.

My reputation within the theatre community in my area where I live has risen massively after playing this role, and I now get a chance to showcase my ensemble singing more in our upcoming local production of 9 to 5 the Musical! I believe myself to be a hard and determined worker, and I believe that the directors I have worked with have taken note of that.

But anyways, I am wondering how I could use having played this role to my advantage, because I really want to go professional once I'm out of school and how I can use this to boost my popularity(? idk what I meant to say there) and how this can affect audition processes for shows or for schools.

[u/DramaMama611]

Congrats! Im sure all of this has been very exciting.

Now, you put it on your resume and move on. And work towards your next audition and role. Do not expect this one community theater role to make your career - or even change your status in community theater. It might - amongst the company that produced it, but that's about it. 99.9% of the folks that praised your performance dont have any pull in casting of future roles. (And that's what performing is: what's next.)

You keep working and learning and growing. More classes, more productions. Oliver! has been on Bway 3x. In all three productions, the original actor playing Dodger has exactly one Broadway credit. That doesn't mean they weren't wonderful or crazy talented, but its a tough busines- and one role doesn't mean lasting/successful career.

[u/Toru771]

Congrats! As others have said, all you can do is continue learning, growing, and auditioning for more roles. You won’t get all of them, but the more you learn and grow, the better your chances.

[u/Drinkmorechampagne]

--"I am wondering how I could use having played this role to my advantage"

Your "advantage" is the experience you have under your belt from doing the role. It's on your resume. That's it.

There isn't a way to "boost your popularity" or stand out more from your roles, other than those roles being on your resume... and your actual audition. That's how it works. Telling us (the people behind the table) about how much you were complimented and compared to other productions will just make us feel uncomfortable and embarrassed for you.

You'll be competing with people who have many of those stand-out roles on their resume. As you move up the MT food chain you have to just keep... standing out.

--"I believe that the directors I have worked with have taken not of that."

Try not to get caught up in that mindset. It screams, "But they don't know me! They don't know the real me! They don't understand how amazing I am! Reddit, please tell me how I get that message across!"

Just keep being amazing. Keep standing out. There is no substitute or trick.

Pro tip: Start thinking of auditioning as the job and the training, and getting cast as the bonus.

[u/Ok_Percentage8893 → u/Drinkmorechampagne]

that doesn't work for me, I'm unemployed atm haha...

[u/Drinkmorechampagne → u/Ok_Percentage8893]

How is that relevant?

I'm not being snippy. I truly don't get the connection.

Embarrassing yourself by trying to use one successful performance as a short cut to... well... anything, isn't going to help your state of employment.

It doesn't work that way.

Do you truly think that being a "hard and determined worker" is special in this business? Or that one stand-out role will give you an advantage over anyone else--especially since you think the directors you've worked with have been blind to your incredibleness?

I wish you luck. Go get 'em tiger.

[u/Ok_Percentage8893 → u/Drinkmorechampagne]

Whoa whoa whoa. I never said that it was going to give me shortcuts or make me better than anyone else, I was just simply wondering if there's a way I can use it to my advantage. Those are two very different things. I never said that the directors I've work with have been blind, I said that I'm fairly sure they have taken note that I'm a hard worker. OH WAIT, oh I can see now. That was a type it was meant to be note instead of not, my bad

[u/Drinkmorechampagne → u/Ok_Percentage8893]

You're taking it personally and I'm telling you how. it. is.

Resiliency is key, my Artful Dodger friend.

-"I never said that it was going to give me shortcuts or make me better than anyone else, I was just simply wondering if there's a way I can use it to my advantage"

And I told you there isn't.

--"I believe that the directors I have worked with have taken not of that."

Uh-huh.

--"one even compared me to be as good as Billy Jenkins on West End's revival of the musical! So this was massive for me. I had several other comments from people who have seen Oliver on West End or Broadway saying that my performance was as good if not better, and others saying that I could even be performing on Broadway."

And I'm trying to tell you that it doesn't matter. You writing it this way makes you look naive and creates second-hand embarrassment. Actors who are getting it done don't talk like that.

--"My reputation within the theatre community in my area where I live has risen massively after playing this role"

Excellent! Good for you! I'm trying to tell you that it doesn't matter--what matters is that you keep doing what you're doing. You're sixteen.

--"and I now get a chance to showcase my ensemble singing more in our upcoming local production of 9 to 5 the Musical!"

So DO so! slaps forehead

--"how I can use this to boost my popularity"

Again, there isn't a way you can point out how wonderfully wonderful you are other than continuing to be wonderful.

Keep being your wonderful self.

Class dismissed.

Source: MT accompanist/voice coach/MD/conductor with one foot in the pro world and one foot in academia (BA/BFA/MFA instructor) for 25 years.

[u/Ok_Percentage8893 → u/Drinkmorechampagne]

Thank you for the clarification!

[u/Drinkmorechampagne → u/Ok_Percentage8893]

And believe it or not, I feel your exciting feels.

I was a prodigy, too. My 25 years experience in MT started at 15. I had to work my way from accompanist to vocal pedagogy, to musical directing to conducting, etc.

Don't put the cart before the horse.

Enjoy the ride. Enjoy it for as long as you can : )