College Audition Holiday Gift List

With the holidays rapidly approaching, everyone is getting a head start on their holiday shopping.  Have you put any thought to the gifts which you’d like to receive this year?  I have some ideas for you!  This is a great time to start thinking about the extra things you will need for your college auditions.

1)   The Audition Outfit:  Go shopping for the outfit that is the best representation of yourself.  Before you go shopping, take some time and go through your closet.  Notice what colors bring out your eyes.  Is there a particular style that is flattering on you?  It is imperative that you put together an outfit that is representative of you on your “best day.”

*Insider Tip!  Want them to remember who you are after receiving a callback from your pre-screen video?  Wear the same outfit in person that you wore in your pre-screen video!

2) The Dance Call:  Make sure you have the proper equipment for your dance auditions!  Ladies need a solid colored leotard and tights or jazz pants.  Gentleman need solid colored shirts, jazz pants, and should wear dance belts.  Choose clothing that highlights your physical assets and clothing that is form fitting.  We highly recommend Lululemon or Under Armor and La Duca character shoes because they are consistent with what is worn at professional auditions.

*Insider Tip!  As professionals, we don’t leave it up to chance at auditions.  We want to do everything in our power to make a strong impression on casting directors.  Often times, we will coordinate what we wear during our singing/acting portion of our auditions, to what we wear for a dance audition.  (i.e. If you wear a red dress to the singing audition, wear a red leotard.)  

3)  The Bag:  Remember, you need a bag big enough to hold all this stuff.  Ensure the bag fits your shoes, clothes, and your rep book.  They have some nice options at Lululemon.  Also, check your local dancewear store.  They always carry lots of bags.  Don’t forget,  you can always ask for a stainless steel water bottle as a stocking stuffer.

Happy Shopping!

College Audition Intensive!

Get Accepted is excited to announce its Summer College Audition Intensive!

Are you interested in a career in the performing arts?  Are you planning on auditioning for performing arts colleges?  Let Get Accepted take you to the next level!

Our intensive will include faculty from Pace University and Marymount Manhattan College; cast and creatives from Book of Mormon, Matilda, Kinky Boots, and Rock of Ages; and graduates of the Boston Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon University, and New York University.

*Instructors subject to change at any time.

 

Location:  Pearl Studios  (500 8^th Avenue  NY, NY 10018)

Date:            August 17^th & 18^th 2013

Time:            9:30 AM-4 PM

Ages:           13 & Up

Cost:            $399 (Registered Before August 1^st)

                   $499 (Registered After August 1^st)

 

SPACE IS LIMITED!

CONTACT US TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SLOT!

MUST BE PAID IN FULL

 

Call us at (646) 504-4177 or email info@gogetaccepted.com.   www.gogetaccepted.com

 

In 2013, Get Accepted students were accepted to the following schools for Theatre, Dance, and Voice Performance:

Albright College, Boston Conservatory, The Hartt School, Pace University, Point Park, Rider Unversity, Rowan University, Rutgers-Mason Gross, Stockton State College, and The University of the Arts.

I can say, “I Found It At The Colony!”

On September 16th, the doors closed to a business that was a landmark in our theatre community.  Before there was a Music Notes or a Sheet Music Online, Colony Records was the best place to find sheet music in New York.  Colony sold sheet music, records, CDs, along with rock and roll memorabilia, and an endless amount of kareoke tracks.

As an actor auditioning in New York, they were the perfect place to run to in a bind.  If you spilled coffee on your sheet music, No Worries!  You could just head over to the Colony and buy another copy.  Get called to teach a last minute ballet class?  No Worries!  Pop over to Colony and buy some beautiful accompaniment for class.

My personal favorite Colony memory?  I had to find audition music…IN SPANISH!  I ran into the Colony and they had an entire selection.  I went through the section while my father was on the phone, laughing at the crazy spanish language stuff they had in their stock.

Most importantly, the Colony was a home to me.  I would visit New York as a teenager and feel like I fit in with the other theatre geeks checking out rare cast recordings.  It showed me that I wasn’t alone in my passion for theatre.  People of all ages, sizes, colors, and creeds gathered there to buy some of the most fascinating music you could find in New York.  My heart aches to see it go.  Thanks for all you did for our community Colony Records!  I’m sure you helped us book many jobs over the years!

For more info, check out this wonderful article written by Kenneth Jones from Playbill.com.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/170449-For-Colony-Music-Store-in-NYC-the-Song-Has-Ended-Memories-Linger-On

Exciting Summer Master Classes!

So far, we’ve had some wonderful Master Classes with some extraordinary teachers this summer!  Constantine Maroulis from the upcoming Jekyll & Hyde taught us how to rock out our auditions, Jared Gertner from the National Tour of Book of Mormon made us laugh uncontrollably, and there’s plenty more good stuff to come!  Here’s some details about our upcoming Master Classes:

Making It Your Own:  Master Class with Nick Adams from Priscilla Queen of the Desert

When:  Saturday, August 18th from 10-12  Where:  Pearl Studios, NYC

 Cost: $75

Surviving the Dance Audition:  Master Class with Monette McKay from Memphis

When:  Saturday, August 25th from 10-12 Where:  Pearl Studios, NYC

Cost:  $75

If you are interested in attending, registration forms can be downloaded from http://www.gogetaccepted.com.  Any questions?  Email us at info@gogetaccepted.com or call us at (646) 504-4177.

Making the Most of Your Summer

When you think of summer what comes to mind? Trips to the beach, The ice cream man, Hanging with friends, Time to relax. Well, if you’re someone who is thinking about pursuing a career in the performing arts, this is actually go time for you-especially if you’re a junior or a senior in high school. Summer is the perfect time to sharpen your skills and hone your craft.
The first thing I recommend is participating in a summer Pre-College program. In between my junior and senior year, I participated in Pre-College at Carnegie Mellon University and had the time of my life. I hunkered down and worked hard, studied with some brilliant teachers, and made lifelong friends. I also think it taught me two things: that I was cut out for the elite college experience I desired to be a part of and that I was going to love immersing myself in the arts for four years! Other notable Pre-College programs include Northwestern’s Cherubs program and NYU’s Summer Program. Also, other comparable programs include the Broadway Theatre Project, Joffrey Ballet, and the Boston Conservatory’s Musical Theatre Dance Intensive. Plus, if you’re looking to add some credits to your resume, look into attending a performance based camp, such as Stage Door Manor, Frenchwoods, or Walnut Hill. These programs pump out shows as quickly as professional summer stock.
As for what I’ve been doing this summer, I just came back from judging for Nationals for both Dance Educators of America and Celebration Talent Competition. I’m getting ready to head to Boston to teach for BoCo’s MTDI and fly across the country doing some guest teaching. Plus, we are running our 2012 Summer Master Class Series in NYC. (There are still slots for Constantine’s class on July 21st! Contact us for details.) I am definitely keeping busy and working with some inspired, focused students, but the question is…are you one of them? Make sure you have an inspired, focused summer!

Wise words from a dear friend….
“Take your work seriously. Don’t take yourself seriously.”

Cheshire Fox

There are many things I wish I had been told as a theatre student. Most of them, I might not have understood until I had experiences of my own, but I felt compelled to share my thoughts with those who are graduating from theatre programs this month.

“Welcome to the theatre- you fool! You’ll love it so.” -Applause.

Cutting through the Cliché’s: Advice to Theatre Students.     

By Ashley Fox Linton

As a theatre student, I was never surprised by the repetitive advice professional actors would give to those pursuing a career in the arts. “If you could be happy doing anything else, do that,” followed by a collective groan. I would sit there and think, “We’re actors. We can do anything! We want to do so many things in our short lives that we’re choosing a career that taps into an endless amount of human experiences. We’ve been told a million times how…

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Our Time…

Thinking of all our friends approaching graduation this month…

On that note, here’s some of my favorite Sondheim lyrics.  I find them very fitting for the occasion.

Something is stirring,
Shifting ground …
It’s just begun.
Edges are blurring
All around,
And yesterday is done.

Feel the flow,
Hear what’s happening:
We’re what’s happening.
Don’t you know?
We’re the movers and we’re the shapers.
We’re the names in tomorrow’s papers.
Up to us, man, to show ’em …

It’s a big responsibility.  Don’t forget.  Best of luck to the Class of 2012!

Gotta Dance

For my theatre junkies out there….

I’m sure you all know about the awards that are given away in the Broadway community every year.  There’s the famous Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Awards, and the Outer Critics Circle Awards to name a few.  Have you ever heard about the Astaire Awards?

Established in 1982, the Fred & Adele Astaire Awards recognize outstanding achievement in dance on Broadway each season.  The award was established with the cooperation of Fred Astaire to honor him and his sister, Adele, who starred with her brother in ten Broadway musicals between 1917 and 1931.

Fred and Adele Astaire represented excellence. Their dedication, passion and artistic vision brought dance on stage and in films to new heights. The mission of the Astaire Awards is to continue that vision by not only celebrating the superb achievement of each nominee but by toasting the immeasurable talents and passion of each choreographer and dancer who continues that tradition of excellence.

I don’t know about you guys, but my money is on the cast and creatives of Newsies this season.  The choreography is stunning and the cast is just ridiculous!

In August, Get Accepted will feature a Master Class with Nick Adams from Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Nick was a nominee for Best Male Dancer in 2011 and we’re looking forward to having him work with our wonderful students.

For more information about the Astaire Awards, as well as a complete list of this year’s nominees, check out http://www.theastaireawards.org/2012-nominations.html.

We Are A Yes People

So…I’m sure some of you are chewing your nails down to the cuticle, pulling your hair out, and waiting with bated breath to hear about your acceptance to your top schools.  Some of you may be wait listed.  Some of you may have even been officially rejected.

Congratulations.  You have passed your first test.

They tell you, “If you can see yourself doing anything else besides show business, please by all means do it.”  Well, if you’ve gotten this far, most of you have decided that you are passionate enough about this business to try to make a living doing it.  Now, you have to learn how to own that choice.

I will tell you a secret…Anyone I know who has been successful in this industry has learned not to take “NO” for an answer.

I remember when I was in college, we had a master class with Kristin Chenowith.  She told us this amazing story about her voice and speech teachers in college and how they told her she would never work because of her speaking voice.  Turns out, her voice was something that not only made her unique, it was something that set her apart in her early career.  People remembered her because of that voice and eventually it was something on which she built a career.  (Can you imagine the role of Glinda sounding any other way?) My point is that if she would have listened to those teachers and let them bring her down, she never would have become the performer we know her to be today.

We are a “YES” people.  We are the people who show up to auditions, get cut, go back to the open call and book the job.  We are the people who crash the day of agent appointments, get seen, and book the job.  I myself auditioned for “Mamma Mia!” and after not getting the job at six call backs guess what?  I booked the job.

We do not take “NO”  for an answer.

Not to mention, Michael Jordan himself, the best basketball player of all time, was cut from his high school basketball team.  This my mother reminds me every time I don’t get a big job.  (PS-She’s awesome.  Thanks Mom!)

So…if you haven’t heard yet and your mailbox has got you down, or you have heard and you’re bummed, decide in your mind where you want to be and figure out how to get there.  I guarantee you will be much better off than those who never dared to try.

Good luck…and may the odds ever be in your favor!

A Walk Down Memory Lane

If you grew up doing theatre in New Jersey, you know what the “Rising Star Awards” are.  Heck, I have friends working on Broadway who still brag jokingly about winning, or even being nominated for “Rising Star Awards.”  The “Rising Star Awards” are the equivalent of the Tony Awards for high school students involved in theatre in New Jersey.  I have been fortunate enough to have been an adjudicator for them this year.

I have seen the good, the bad, and the mediocre of high school theatre across the state.  No matter what the quality of the show is, I have found that I am always inspired in some way.  (It brings me back to the good old days, when I used to cut class to help paint the set at my high school.)

During my adjudicating assignments for this year, I’ve seen some musicals that were huge undertakings for the school, JCS and Drowsy to name a few.   I’ve also seen some traditional musicals as well.  A few weeks ago, I saw a nice production of “The Sound of Music” at a local high school.  Now, I’ve been very fortunate to have been a part of the show, “The Sound of Music,” three different times and in three different capacities.  It wasn’t until sitting in the theatre that I realized I had performed in it in three different phases of my artistic journey.

The first time, I played Marta.  I was so excited because I was an elementary student who was chosen to be a part of the high school play.  Plus, I had seven whole lines! (I think I practiced saying that pink parasol line 47,000 ways.  So Meisner of me!)  It was also my first time acting in an ensemble group.  As the Von Trapp kids, it was very important that we read like a family onstage.  In turn, I spent most of the time torturing my older “siblings”backstage.  Sorry guys.  Regardless, it was a gateway experience to my love of being a part of musicals.

The next time I did the show, I was eighteen and got to play the teenage dream role of Liesl.  (Before “13,” it was the only decent role around for someone between the ages of twelve and seventeen.)  I got to sing, dance, kiss a boy, and show my range as an actress.  I was hooked.  Not to mention, I had the most wonderful cast with which to share the experience.  We bonded offstage, hanging out on the weekends and going out to eat between shows.  All I could think was, “People get paid to do this?  This is incredible!”  At this moment, I decided this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Little did I know, I would be doing the show again after a year’s worth of training at the Boston Conservatory.  This time, I was in the ensemble and got much needed respite in the middle of a season of summer stock at Surflight Theatre on the Jersey Shore.  While those Von Trapp kids were frolicking around in curtains, I was hanging out in the dressing room.  All of a sudden, the show became a great time to get in a lot of reading–three whole Harry Potter books to be exact!  (This trend sticks with me as a performer today.  I used to be seen hiding out in the booths backstage at Mamma Mia with Kindle in hand.)  This experience taught me that not only can you be paid to do theatre, but it can be a normal job.  We have good days, bad days, and birthdays at the office.   We do what we can do to pass the time and get vacation and sick days like anyone else.  At the end of the day, it’s just a job.  It’s just a different kind of “office.”

Still, how many people can say that they truly love what they do?   I’ve been a waitress, worked in retail, been a teacher, and answered phones at a day spa.  There is no doubt in my mind that I am most alive when I am performing.  After all these years, I still truly love what I do.

I am proud of the fact that I took a risk after high school and followed my dreams…it just took me a good old fashioned three hour production of “The Sound of Music” to remind me where I came from.  To the cast and crew of “The Sound of Music,”  thanks for giving me a guided tour down memory lane.  Until next time, I will continue to “follow every rainbow,” in search of fulfilling my dream.