Post graduate life

jeffandann
Fri, 20 Jul 2018 12:21:14 +0000

So for those having children just starting out, I thought I’d pass along the post grad experiences of my D.

Graduate May 2017. Decide not to move to NYC or Chicago right away but work in a big Midwest city.

Cast in Hunchback the summer right after graduation
Move right into Annie (as Grace Farrell) right after Hunchback
Move right into a dancer gig for a big Christmas show in town for all of December
Sang backup for a Broadway star’s album
Get two callbacks in equity theaters for spring shows, but don’t get cast (very complimentary though)
Go to UPTAs, get 10 callbacks, accept a 9 week contract for the summer, about halfway through that right now
Get cast in Merchant of Venice and start rehearsal right after the summer contract ends

All but two of the above were paid gigs, and one that wasn’t was for a very popular community theater group that has sent a number of people on to professional theater (and she auditioned at the request of the director)

And while doing these, work 30 hours a week at a local performing arts center, give voice lessons, also get paid for writing a blog. Making enough money with these as well as performing to buy her own car!

I suspect my D is working a lot more now than if she had moved to NYC right after graduation, and she’s making very good contacts and establishing a reputation as a performer who is easy to get along with and who works extremely hard for her directors.

So tell your kids, there’s a lot of ways to make it in this crazy world they call theater!