<p>CoachC wrote:
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<p>I could not agree more!! In my line of work as well, and even reading this forum, I see lots of prospective MT college students with “I want to be on Broadway” as the goal. Now, of course, Broadway is a bit of the epitome of theater in many ways. But that goal is soooooooo narrowly defined, not to mention that very very few people will ever be on Broadway. So, if your goal in going to a college MT program is to be on Broadway, there is a very very very good chance that you will never reach the goal. </p>
<p>I do believe in dreaming big and setting high expectations but Broadway isn’t that realistic and if that is all you want in terms of thinking ahead to a career, you may likely end up sorely disappointed. It is my belief that a true actor/singer who has a passion for performing, will be happy with success in any facet of the professional theater/music world. I know my own kid who is a graduate of a college MT program, as well as myself, define success much differently than Broadway. To be a working actor, singer, or dancer and immersed in one’s field and being paid for it after graduation is a huge success in itself and is not even easily attainable (but more doable than Broadway). And if you love it that much, you will be happy with that success as you’ll be doing what you love and making a living at it! Is becoming an actor/singer/dancer just about Broadway or about DOING it? I think the latter. Success can be had in so many venues and aspects of theater and music. I think if you go into college thinking in these terms, your chance of success is a decent one. If you only have your sights set on Broadway, you may never achieve what you want. </p>
<p>I’m happy for my kid because in the three years since she graduated college at age 20, she has been working steadily and only in the fields of music and theater in many different aspects, all professional in nature, and in NYC, and has earned her living doing so. I don’t know what the future holds but so far she is “doin’ it” which is doing what she loves and so I see that as successful. She has not been on Broadway but has not focused on that, nor auditioned much for it at all. She does have peers/classmates who have been on Broadway since graduating, however, and so it is possible of course! But even those who have been on Broadway, it is not a PERMANENT job! Better be happy performing and doing theater, music, etc. in other places too!</p>