You nailed the dance audition, sang the pants off your up-tempo number, and after five recalls and a lot of waiting, you got the part in a West End show! You’re set for life, right? Actually, now the hard graft really begins.
This year, we’ve interviewed many established West End performers and asked them for tips for those entering the business. Clearly, a career in Musical Theatre is hard work –as the TV show says:
“Fame costs… and right here’s where you start payin’ – in sweat!”
Michael Xavier, who recently played Joe Gillis opposite Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard (in addition to leads in Mamma Mia & Phantom of the Opera ) attributes his theatrical career to sheer hard work: “I’m rehearsing from 10am-6pm every day and then at the gym in the evening. I go home, I eat, I go to bed, I wake up and press repeat.”
Michael’s entry into musical theatre came later than many. Maybe one day we can too work with Glenn Close? Read the full interview here.
Gemma Sutton has enjoyed leading roles in Gypsy, The Go-Between and Strictly Ballroom, but she explained that her career got off to a bumpy start:
“After graduating from the Arts Ed Musical Theatre course, I was cast in Gone with The Wind…We had a fantastic cast, but sadly the show closed and I was absolutely devastated. Straight after that I was cast in Imagine This, also at the New London Theatre and that closed early too!”
Her advice to those entering the profession? “Find a part time job that doesn’t make you want to cry.” – Full interview here.
Cassidy Janson is Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Her big break came in Tick Tick Boom! with Neil Patrick Harris. In our interview, we asked what advice Cassidy would give her younger self: “Don’t worry about what people think of you and don’t beat yourself up so much during rehearsals”.
We have also spoken to Tiffany Graves. After leading roles in Chicago and Sweet Charity, Tiffany toured the UK as Ulla in a No.1 Tour of The Producers, in addition to her own cabaret show, Desperate Divas. She said she looks for inspiration on Spotify! Head now to our Blog for the full interview.
And Good Luck!
