[Amy_Vocalist]

The "Too Fat for Broadway" Got me thinking, back to an audition last year (Amatuer) I was singing away (nervous as hell) and the Panel stopped me and the conversation went something like this:

Audition Panel: "Yes, we can hear you can sing, but do you ever smile"

Me: "Yes I do, but I'm really nervous right now" (They had kept me waiting for nearly 2 hours)

AP: "Ok. We understand, How tall are you"

ME: "5ft 6"

AP: "You're very tall, you will have to smile all the time when you're on stage as you're so tall people will notice you first"

I mean, is that pretencious or what! They acted like they were pro auditions!
Question is, is 5ft6 too tall! I don't think I'm that tall!!

How tall are you and what are your views.

[The Very Angry Woman]

Tell them Sutton Foster is 5' 9".

[MademoiselleMusicals]

[jazzygirlsings]

[Amy_Vocalist]

I can understand what you're saying, of course I love getting noticed, who doesn't!! Her tone of voice was completly derogetory though, it was definatly a negative comment!

[jazzygirlsings]

Well, I guess you'll just have to show her next time by being more aware of your own presence...

There are some really good exercises I could share with you to get rid of nervousness, if you would like...You can PM me...

That way, you could focus on kicking butt! Just like I'm sure you do in the privacy of your own home! LOL!

[MsDivaKate]

My sister is 5'2" and being trained by a woman who was a vocal coach for Broadway Shows back in the '60s-ish and was told she was too SHORT for Broadway!

Opinions? (Because she was devestated and I had to make a whole list of Broadway actresses 5'4" and shorter)

[Amy_Vocalist]

LOL, did u mention Kristen Chenoworth ?

[MsDivaKate]

[SpinCycle]

Hmm, well I'm a 5'10'' female, so if 5'6'' is too tall, I'm in big trouble. I don't really think such a thing as too tall/short exists in Broadway. Certainly some parts require certain heights, but as previously mentioned by others on this thread, there have been very short and tall successful actresses.
In amateur theater, the only thing my height seems to do is make me more likely to be cast as an 'adult' character, which doesn't seem like such a bad thing.

[broadwaybaby124]

It's pretty stinky that height matters in the world. I'm 4'11 and 3/4" and I've been hurt by it, but I've also been helped. For example, I'm always the "little kid". Sometimes though, I can get around that. For instance, I'm doing Into the Woods with a theater workshop this summer and basically the whole cast is on the small end and I got Lucinda. I'm very pleased with that part. But yet again, I didn't get the supporting role in one show I was in in middle school because I wasn't tall enough.
So I guess, take the good with the bad.

[NoOneMournsTheWicked]

I'm really scared about getting stuck in crappy roles later on, because I'm only 5'1" and I look really young. I'm seventeen, and I'm the only one of my friends to get carded for R rated movies. I suppose it could help me, since I do want to play ingenue roles, but I'm afraid of always being stuck as the little sister, like I am now.

[Blonde Twin]

Yeah I'm 5'8 but I've gotten leads Loads of times. I think as long as you stand out (and not just in height) and you're talented, then you'll be fine.

For girls, it might mean you won't exactly be considered for little kid roles or you may be taller then some guys (or that just might mean HE'S too short ), and THAT might be the only things working against you. I think it works alot more for the kind of older/mature roles, especially in schools just to kinda show contrasts. But you know it ALWAYS varies.

[purplepolkadot]

Yeah, I'm 4'11 3/4 too.... Its horrible sometimes. But its also really nice.
You never have to worry about being too tall for the lead male. So the heights always look nice.
You can play old people, beacuse apparently they shrink?
You can play young people, because they havent fully grown yet.
You can play people in the middle...most of the time.

[pinkstiletto510]

I think 5' 6" is a perfect height for Broadway but I guess it all depends on who youre playing oposite of.....I think chorus members tend to be on the shorter side (and I'm thinking with character shoes on....most heels are 1"- 1 1/2")

[Chevstriss]

5'6" is considered tall in musical theatre for females. Most of the men are very short, and being taller than the leading man is simply not allowed.

Since CDs are always desparate for men, and women are a dime a dozen at auditions, the women chosen will have to fit the mold and look good against the available men.

Sux, but That's just the way it is.

[Tiny-Tot]

I'm still very small for the age of 13. 4'9" and 85 llbs. I am hoping for somewhat of a growth spurt, but I image I won't be that tall since my parents are both rather short.

[bwaybrunette21]

omg ^ you're like almost the same size as my sister. she's 13.

[Tiny-Tot]

Right now I am totlly happy with my size because I have gotten to play the role of Annie 3 times now.

[bwaybrunette21]

Omg that's really freaky...my sister is trying out for Annie in Annie in our community theater..the show is in December.

And I was Annie in Annie in seventh grade.

[Tiny-Tot]

That is too awesome. Tell your sister good luck. Let me know how it goes.

[bwaybrunette21]

Thank you, I will.

[stlgurl702]

[lunarimage]

no, 5"6 is definetly not to tall. (I'm 5"6)There are plenty of people on stage who are a lot taller, both in main parts and in the background, though it is nice to smile at auditions. I know what you mean because I get nerves pretty bad for auditions and was always really stiff, but if you're auditioning with a song or monolouge that you can really get into ( like I just sang Popular from Wicked and was forced into animation) you usually can let loose a little bit.

[s1ng4m3]

I'm 5'10 and I've had my share of leads. You're not too tall!

[broadwaybaby124]