PROCESSING THE PROCESS - Auditioning for College Musical Theatre Programs, A Parent’s Perspective

How are you all doing with the wait? If I had to guess your child is processing better than you are, their parent! Let me just tell you, you are in good company! I am a Mamma Bear more than most anything else. When my kids hearts struggle or hurt, it almost takes me out. BUT, it doesn’t actually, I become a whirlwind of emotions. I definitely plummet, hit the bottom, and come to the surface fighting. Anyone else relate? Each of our children are approaching this differently. Most will have low lows & high highs! Thinking of you and hoping you feel validated by our sharing!

Learn from my experiences in this process! Hopefully, what we’ve done wrong and/or right will help you to avoid some things, to do some things and to prepare for some things. I’m publishing this episode just as Giovanni, my auditioning son, is about to go to Chicago Unifieds 2024. So, it’s by the skin of my teeth. Details shared in this episode, I believe, will be helpful at which ever stage you are at in the process with your child and most helpful to those looking ahead at this with your rising Junior. Man! It can be confusing. Hope this will make it a little less-so after you listen. To your children - BREAK LEGS!

This is much delayed in being published! If your child is auditioning this year, for Fall 2024 admission, these are steps you’ve already taken with them. Nonetheless, if you are anything like me, it is validating to hear that you’ve considered all the points I share. For those of you looking ahead at the process, these will be helpful points that you’ll want to think ahead about. Hope everyone is staying sane and grounded. Sending my best out to you all!

Has your student been seen by a Laryngologist - an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor, specializing in Vocal Health, specifically, vocal fold nodules and cysts, laryngeal cancer, spasmodic dysphonia, laryngopharyngeal reflux, papillomas, and voice misuse/abuse/overuse syndromes? This is your reminder to have this done ASAP!!!! Seriously, schedule that NOW. Best case scenario is that your child is seen while in optimal vocal health to get a baseline and then checked annually or sooner, as needed for any issues that may arise. Singing through illness and/or over straining vocally can result in vocal cord damage. Untreated, the injury can worsen and can become a path changing obstacle. In this episode I am sharing experiences and thoughts. For more medical perspective go back and listen to Episode 4, where Dr. Rubin, our ENT and author of The Vocal Pitstop: Keeping Your Voice on Track, available on Amazon, chats with me about all thing vocal fitness. Go and get his book. It’s an excellent resource.

This is a response to a question sent to me by a student listener who is aspiring to show her best self at workshop while performing for adjudicaters who will be evaluating and also in front of participating peers. My response is informed by attending workshops and training sessions that demonstrated strategies to get out of your head and immersed in the character and the story that’s being told. Enjoy listening! And please send me questions, feedback, topic suggestions and comments to [email protected] (include “PTP” somewhere in the subject line) or text me at +12485156832. Be well🤗

This episode is an update on my son Tommy Thams and his path to date pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. Our chat includes honest, open talk about his COVID prompted Gap Year and reflections on his choices, growth, lessons learned, his summer spent training in NYC, the future and many other miscellaneous insights. A great listen for parents and students. Enjoy!

This episode is jam packed with amazingness! There is so much to benefit from in listening. Mark Christine is an incredible resource and such a nice and genuine person. We focused on sharing his knowledge about the process in three areas - timing, coach -vs- no coach and money. Lots of valuable information and tips to save you time, stress and money. Please subscribe. Rate my podcast on Apple podcasts and leave comments. Oh! And if you do decide to get a Chase Sapphire Card, please list me as your referral. I’d love the extra points. Be well!

For many of you the topics & thoughts shared in this episode will be a familiar now or in your future. I want to do my best to share accurate information. My chat with this mom is current, relevant and, I think, will be helpful. It’s a valuable articulation of the potential overwhelm and realization of the magnitude of the demands of this process.

I am wowed by the commitment that so many kids, in this time ,have made to move forward, doing zoom sessions for skill development, etc. Which, actually, lends itself well to the requirements of auditioning in this time where the pandemic exists and the comfort level that is needed for self tapes, zoom live auditions and interviews. It is the norm now and I think it will stay to some degree going forward.

Our conversation touches on: the Project Manager role as the parent, the dilemma of the mask requirement of being in-person versus being on zoom with no mask, Walk-ins, Headshots, when all things considered equal what does it come down to, deadlines & parent versus student interface/outreach with college program contacts. God bless and my best to every one of you and your children!

Erin & Michael met in college as they were both MT students. They’ve journeyed together working in the industry…on ships & land. Today they are using their experiences as actors in interesting ways. I love hearing what life up the road could entail for BFA grads. Throughout this chat you’ll also get a brief update on what my boys are up to. Please rate, comment or reach me at [email protected] or on instagram @processingtheprocessptp or @308lat. Would love to hear from you. Any input or feedback is a gift to me;)