Young kids in theatre?

mezzo_soprano · Young kids in theatre?

What are some qualifications that young children in theatre need to have?

What can help them be able to perform?

I want my little neighbor to join Les Mis as young Cossette. Its a play so she wouldnt have to sing. (she's seven and a half, and dances so she has some experience. Tips?

Beagle On Stage

In terms of qualifications to get their foot in the door, they don't need much of anything. I was seven when I did my first adult community theatre production, and the only "credits" I had at the time were two Missoula Children's Theatre shows. What a child does need is to have lots of personality, as one of the biggest concerns with casting kids is that they're going to get shy on you. They also need to demonstrate their best maturity and professionalism - no one expects them to BE an adult, but they are expected to conduct themselves like one (showing the attention span to be still, quiet, and focused for an extended period of time...first the auditions, and eventually the rehearsals). It will impress the hell out of the audition panel if the child shows excellent cold reading skills (that was the main thing that got me in back in the day). If that doesn't come naturally to the kid, get your hands on a copy of the script and practice.

Another thing that really helps is to have the child escorted by an adult who shows responsibility but not a trace of Mama Rose syndrome. In my first community theatre show, my mother attended the auditions with me and introduced herself to the director, then sat in the back of the house while I sat up front with the other hopefuls (adults and children both). This showed the director that I was a step above the others in terms of maturity - it was my audition and my bag, and my mother was in charge of driving me there and being the adult responsible for me, not holding my hand through the whole process.

Believe it or not, most of the kids at the auditions will not demonstrate any of this, and their parents will be completely clueless that it would have been a good idea. Three-quarters of the competition will be eliminated that way, and half of that will turn out to be talentless. Have your neighbor be prepared and professional, and she'll be in.

mezzo_soprano

Thanks Beagle. I don't know if there will be enough kids to have them audition, or if she will just screen them.

I will get working with her on some acting when she gets back from vacation. Any ideas of material for a 7 year old?

emmy05

Beagle - you just reminded me of my Misoula experience - i loved that as a kid! Did you see Little Red Truck? It was a documentary about that theatre group. A must watch for any theatre enthusiast.

sopranodespair

^
Hee hee. I loved Missoula too. I looked forward to it every year in elementary school.

Beagle On Stage

It was such a big deal when you finally graduated to playing humans.

The local arts society used to sponsor two Missoula shows a year at each middle school. My friend and I were always something or other #1 and #2. The trolls in Sleeping Beauty, the pirates in Treasure Island, etc. For our very last one we were the Giant and Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk. The Giant has to be the best non-director role in their whole canon.

sopranodespair

My favorite role was when I played a knight in The Frog Prince (I think thats what it was).
Good times.

Beagle On Stage

Something, something, right, always be....a knight.

sopranodespair

"Be a knight, do what's right. Helping when life isn't fair..."
God, how do I even remember those lyrics? I was in like 5th or 6th grade.

Beagle On Stage

That stuff sticks with you long after you'd rather it didn't. lol.

So, let's come up with a plan with a fool-proof scheme,
One that can't possibly fail (Wah-wah-wah)
It's got to be nasty, and it's got to be mean,
It's got to be beyond the pale.

Patch

About fifteen years ago I was offered a gig with Missoula...turned it down. Just wasn't up to the grind they put their actors through.

Beagle On Stage

I thought when I was like fourteen that I would like to do it when I was older. Now I just don't have the goddamned energy.

emmy05

I remember thinking how fun it would have been to work for them. I got int oit late but auditioned twice and got cast once when I was in high school. I didn't technically get cast but my second time around I was asked if I would rather do back stage or be on stage. I just wanted the community theatre experience - and after not being cast the previous year - said I'd do either but would take back stage work. I found out after it was between me & one other girl for Beauty Lou and she said she'd do either but would prefer to be on stage. I'll never forget my almost lead in a show outside of HS. Aww memories - County Fair, County Fair - a down home feelin' in the air...

Beagle On Stage

Yahoo!
So get up out of your rocking chair,
Come to the county fair.

mezzo_soprano

*clears throat*

kozafluitmusique

(Oh, nice number of posts ^ 1337)

Anyways, personally, I wouldn't mind putting kids in theatre as long as the parents know what they're getting into the kids as well as the moms aren't stage moms. I personally am annoyed because if I did theatre at a young age, I'm sure I would have been a lot better, but c'est la vie. I may not have been.

mezzo_soprano	Young kids in theatre? What are some qualifications that young children in theatre need to have? What can help them be able to perform? I want my little neighbor to join Les Mis as young Cossette. Its a play so she wouldnt have to sing. (she's seven and a half, and dances so she has some experience. Tips?
Beagle On Stage	In terms of qualifications to get their foot in the door, they don't need much of anything. I was seven when I did my first adult community theatre production, and the only "credits" I had at the time were two Missoula Children's Theatre shows. What a child does need is to have lots of personality, as one of the biggest concerns with casting kids is that they're going to get shy on you. They also need to demonstrate their best maturity and professionalism - no one expects them to BE an adult, but they are expected to conduct themselves like one (showing the attention span to be still, quiet, and focused for an extended period of time...first the auditions, and eventually the rehearsals). It will impress the hell out of the audition panel if the child shows excellent cold reading skills (that was the main thing that got me in back in the day). If that doesn't come naturally to the kid, get your hands on a copy of the script and practice. Another thing that really helps is to have the child escorted by an adult who shows responsibility but not a trace of Mama Rose syndrome. In my first community theatre show, my mother attended the auditions with me and introduced herself to the director, then sat in the back of the house while I sat up front with the other hopefuls (adults and children both). This showed the director that I was a step above the others in terms of maturity - it was my audition and my bag, and my mother was in charge of driving me there and being the adult responsible for me, not holding my hand through the whole process. Believe it or not, most of the kids at the auditions will not demonstrate any of this, and their parents will be completely clueless that it would have been a good idea. Three-quarters of the competition will be eliminated that way, and half of that will turn out to be talentless. Have your neighbor be prepared and professional, and she'll be in.
mezzo_soprano	Thanks Beagle. I don't know if there will be enough kids to have them audition, or if she will just screen them. I will get working with her on some acting when she gets back from vacation. Any ideas of material for a 7 year old?
emmy05	Beagle - you just reminded me of my Misoula experience - i loved that as a kid! Did you see Little Red Truck? It was a documentary about that theatre group. A must watch for any theatre enthusiast.
sopranodespair	^ Hee hee. I loved Missoula too. I looked forward to it every year in elementary school.
Beagle On Stage	It was such a big deal when you finally graduated to playing humans. The local arts society used to sponsor two Missoula shows a year at each middle school. My friend and I were always something or other #1 and #2. The trolls in Sleeping Beauty, the pirates in Treasure Island, etc. For our very last one we were the Giant and Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk. The Giant has to be the best non-director role in their whole canon.
sopranodespair	My favorite role was when I played a knight in The Frog Prince (I think thats what it was). Good times.
Beagle On Stage	Something, something, right, always be....a knight.
sopranodespair	"Be a knight, do what's right. Helping when life isn't fair..." God, how do I even remember those lyrics? I was in like 5th or 6th grade.
Beagle On Stage	That stuff sticks with you long after you'd rather it didn't. lol. So, let's come up with a plan with a fool-proof scheme, One that can't possibly fail (Wah-wah-wah) It's got to be nasty, and it's got to be mean, It's got to be beyond the pale.
Patch	About fifteen years ago I was offered a gig with Missoula...turned it down. Just wasn't up to the grind they put their actors through.
Beagle On Stage	I thought when I was like fourteen that I would like to do it when I was older. Now I just don't have the goddamned energy.
emmy05	I remember thinking how fun it would have been to work for them. I got int oit late but auditioned twice and got cast once when I was in high school. I didn't technically get cast but my second time around I was asked if I would rather do back stage or be on stage. I just wanted the community theatre experience - and after not being cast the previous year - said I'd do either but would take back stage work. I found out after it was between me & one other girl for Beauty Lou and she said she'd do either but would prefer to be on stage. I'll never forget my almost lead in a show outside of HS. Aww memories - County Fair, County Fair - a down home feelin' in the air...
Beagle On Stage	Yahoo! So get up out of your rocking chair, Come to the county fair.
mezzo_soprano	clears throat
kozafluitmusique	(Oh, nice number of posts ^ 1337) Anyways, personally, I wouldn't mind putting kids in theatre as long as the parents know what they're getting into the kids as well as the moms aren't stage moms. I personally am annoyed because if I did theatre at a young age, I'm sure I would have been a lot better, but c'est la vie. I may not have been.

The Resource For Musicals

Young kids in theatre?