Nine Things To Know Before Beginning Your Community Theater Journey

Have you ever seen a live musical- whether amateur, community, professional, or Broadway?

Maybe you noticed the intricate way every moment of the show was perfectly coordinated between lights, sound, actors, musicians, and set changes- or maybe it was so flawless and magical that you hardly noticed because you were so dazzled! Bringing together every aspect of a show is not easy to do and it takes time, commitment, and a lot of passion for theater! Community theater shows are no exception and come with their own specific set of challenges and quirks. If you are thinking about auditioning for a community show- whether you have never performed in a show or performed frequently with your high school/university- there are a few things you should know to set you on a successful path.

#1 Time

Being involved in a show takes a lot of time and hard work. Sometimes people love the idea of helping or singing in front of an audience but they don't actually want to devote the time to rehearsals or outside prep work. It doesn't matter if you are a lead, ensemble, a crew member, or a player in the orchestra- you should expect to commit fully to your time obligations- the time in the theater working and the time outside the theater prepping/reviewing. For most community theater performers, theater is a hobby after their day job so it is not like you will be cut from a show for missing a rehearsal or you are un-castable because you can never rehearse on Tuesdays. Typically a rough estimate rehearsal schedule will be given at auditions so you are able to check your life schedule and determine your ability to commit. There is also a place on your audition form to identify schedule conflicts you may have. Directors and stage managers may use the information from those casting forms to create the fully realized rehearsal schedule after casting has taken place so it is important to show up ready with conflict dates.

And life happens! One day you may wake up feeling sick or have a family emergency that causes you to miss a rehearsal. That is okay! Just make sure you communicate with your director and stage manager as early as possible and obviously don't make a habit of it. You may feel that missing rehearsal only affects you but even one person missing can drastically hinder the progression of the show.

#2 It's not about the money, honey

- cause truthfully you may not get any! GASP!

I feel lucky to have received money for most of the shows I have performed in but the range of pay has varied from like $36 to $300- the difference of a fancy dinner and a month's worth of groceries! Not only will you not get paid much (if at all)- you're gonna have to spend some money, too. You will have to provide your own transportation to and from rehearsals and shows. I recommend working out a carpool situation to cut down on gas costs- plus it's a great way to get to know your cast mates. You will not usually be required to provide your own costumes but if your designer wants you in character shoes- there is a good chance you will be expected to provide your own. The good news about character shoes is that a pair will last you a couple shows/couple years depending on use/quality. I definitely recommend spending the extra bucks on a pair of good quality character shoes like Bloch or Capezio because you want a shoe that will look great, feel great, and last a long time. For Legally Blonde I shelled out over $150 for three pairs of 3" Bloch's; two years later I am still using those same three pairs! It is an investment but well worth it. I especially enjoy not having to break in a new pair of shoes for every single production. Another good investment is a skin color bra (or 2) with multi way straps for the ladies. Find something flattering that also keeps you sturdy during dance numbers. Finally, you will probably need to provide your own makeup.

So yeah it definitely adds up BUT interestingly enough you may be able to write off your community theater expenses on your Federal taxes- more on that in another post! And don't be afraid to communicate with your director and costumer if you are unable to purchase something you may need due to financial issues- they may be able to help more than you'd imagine! At the end of the day- community theater is not a full-time job- but it is every bit as important: it is truly a labor of love!

#3 The best kind of people are show people!

(Curtains- anyone? I LOVE that show!)

Community theater attracts all types of people! Think about your high school drama class- now increase the age range from 14-18 to 14-70+! Some people in community theater have decades of experience, others only a few shows so don't feel weird about being new to the community scene- the more the merrier! I have met some of the most intriguing people through community theater- I even fell in love while in rehearsals for a community show! I had never dated a fellow actor before- Dante joined our cast of Spring Awakening after an actor quit and we hit it off pretty quickly. We are celebrating our two year anniversary soon so needless to say it was more than a "showmance" (showmance: when two actors hook up during a show and quickly break up after the show closes). Community theater is a wonderful chance to meet people who share your passion for musical theater!

#4 Auditioning

So you want to get involved with community theater? Well a good first start is auditioning! But how do you find out about auditions? Do a little research about theater in your area; most theaters now have websites that offer a lot of information including upcoming shows and auditions as well as ways to get involved. Facebook is another great resource being utilized by many theaters to spread the word so follow your local theaters and join their mailing lists to get information on upcoming auditions. Next, start preparing a song or monologue or combination of the two for your audition. I plan on writing a few posts specifically tackling auditioning since there is SO much I could say but in short a well prepared audition is most likely to be a good audition! Choose something that you feel confident performing- something that you know very well and feel emotionally connected to so you are able to bring your best self to the audition even if nerves get in the way! Finally, show up to auditions feeling calm and confident! Act professionally and be courteous to everyone you meet.

An aspect of auditioning in community theater that sometimes surprises people is the process itself. I have had auditions that were just the production staff, accompanist, and me but other auditions have consisted of everyone auditioning in the house watching as 1 by 1 we all pour our hearts out! Both have their pros and cons but it is important to be prepared for the possibility that you will be auditioning for more than just your casting crew.

#5 Commitment

As I mentioned before, theater is a commitment! But it's worth repeating. I have been in more than a few shows where someone has decided to quit the show- sometimes it is early in the process and sometimes.. well.. it's not. Either way it is a disappointing situation and will affect the show long term. Before you agree to a role, make sure you are really willing to commit to the show and the time necessary to do your best work. Look at your class schedule, work schedule, and life events- and imagine your life with the added commitment of rehearsals. If it seems manageable- DO IT- but if you have even the slightest doubts, it is worth discussing with the director. And be warned: quitting a show may result in that theater not wanting to cast you in future productions.

#6 Take A Chance On Me

Community theater is a great place to "try on new hats" or give new roles in theater a try. Maybe you have only been on the actor side of theater but you are too busy to commit to the early rehearsal schedule, give the tech side of theater a go! Have you always wanted to direct a show- well you just may get that opportunity in community theater! It is important to have many tools in your theatrical tool box and that includes the ability to perform "off stage". Even if you aren't sure you will be good at something, community theater will give you a less stress inducing opportunity to try on some new theatrical hats.

This is also means that you may be working with a director, stage manager, choreographer, or stagehand that is inexperienced so be sure to bring your patience and support to help them feel comfortable and confident in their new position. Community theater is a great place to learn and enhance your craft (and social skills)!

#7 Attitude

Remember that saying "this can be as fun as you make it" well that principle applies to community theater as well!

It is as ___________ as you make it! If you want it to be a fun experience, it can be. If you want it to be a learning experience, it can be! And if you want to make it a hard and miserable experience, it can be! Everyone has bad days where nothing seems to go right and the theater is no exception! And it's not uncommon to feel "burnt out" after performing in back to back (to back to back) shows. But it's important to remember that you are choosing to do community theater- and therefore you are choosing to be at rehearsals and shows- so you should be choosing to bring your best self to rehearsals and shows regardless of what is going on outside of the theater. Attitude is a big deal in theater and having a bad attitude may affect people's willingness to work with you.

#8 Size Doesn't Matter

My first community theater show was Les Miserables in a small intimate theater. The show was close to sold out/oversold every single night! Standing ovations were recurring and reviews were rave! My second community theater show How to Succeed in Business had one person at the first day of auditions and maybe a 1/2 sold opening night house. It was quite shocking! Big name shows bring in a lot of effortless attention- but what's big in the theater community isn't necessarily big in the theater patron community- so house sizes can vary and sometimes to a baffling degree! Publicity is essential to small community theaters so be sure to spread the word and post as many posters around town as you can to get those seats filled. It can be disheartening to perform to a small house after months of dedication but even a small crowd can be a mighty crowd so give your all at every performance regardless of house size!

#9 Ch-ch-change

This next one probably comes to no surprise: no two shows are exactly the same. Even if you have done the same show at two different times in your life- it is not the exact same show both times. Directors, designers, venues, and casts change- really only the script and libretto (mostly) stay the same. Community theater where I live changes production team with each show so you are never working with the same director, music director, stage manager, choreographer combination but you may have worked with most or all of them before separately. Same goes with casting! In a small community there are only so many players so it's not uncommon to have mini show reunions (sometimes multiple) within a new cast. There are familiar faces from show to show and it's likely to see an actor directing and vice versa.

At the end of the day- community theater is a labor of love and offers a lot of great experience when it comes to growing your craft. The last 4 years of performing in my local community have taught me a lot about myself and performing plus I have formed so many meaningful relationships with the people I have met through community theater. If you are on the fence about joining your local community theater, I say DO IT! Community theater is a welcoming place for performers of all levels.

Did you find this list helpful in making your decision? Are you a seasoned community theater veteran with additional need to knows about community theater? Tell me about it in the comments below!