Being a famous actor on Broadway is considered a true crowning achievement in a person’s acting career. The strip of theatres in New York City have been home to countless well-known actors, many of which eventually moved on to the big screen to become common household names.
Like any career, getting to the stage on Broadway can take years of dedication and sacrifice, and only a few people who are able to give it their everything will be able to fulfil their dreams. This is what it takes to become an actor on Broadway.
A Lifetime of Training
We tend to think that actors have a natural talent for standing in front of a large group of people while being able to retain their nerve enough to put on a performance, but there are few things more unnatural.
No matter how famous an actor or actress is, there was a point in their life where being in front of a large amount of people was too much to deal with, but their training was what kept them calm and cool. Training is what a person needs to base everything on, whether it’s vocal, dance, or acting training, it forms the fundamental building block of a person’s talent.
Without the years of training in place, it can be almost impossible to make it big, as the dedication and acquired skills are what set people apart.
Building a Network
It’s not possible to make it in any industry without knowing the right people, and this is especially true for those working in theatre. Those actors that gained the most success in their careers also tended to be the ones that knew the right people, and they knew those people from networking correctly.
This can mean going out to the right parties, making friends with the right people, or simply making sure to be in the right place at the right time. Anyone with a passion to make it on to a Broadway stage will do whatever it takes to find a role that showcases their talents, and often the only way to do this is by having the right connection.
Being Healthy
We tend to think of the famous as being unhealthy, especially when it comes to substance abuse. The truth, however, is that most of the famous need to do everything they can to always be in their best shape, both mentally and physically.
This can mean completely abstaining from processed foods and being physically active by hitting the gym every day – part of the deal is that an actor will always need to look their best, which requires a fair amount of dedication on its own.
Don’t Give Up
The acting business is well known for being quite difficult to get into, and even more so to stay in, and it takes resilience and hard work to hold on to a role.
For those that want to become Broadway actors, there are no shortcuts that can be taken to get out on to the stage in front of a group of people.