Welcome to Gaia! :: Really competitive college theater. Advice.

I'm going to college in less than a month to major in theater. The school I'm going to is really competitive for theater, and I'm really nervous. What advice can you offer as far as differences between college and high school theater and what I can do to compete with everyone else? I would appreciate any advice.

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Mutability

"Naught may endure but Mutability." - Percy Bysshe Shelley

My first piece of advice is this: competition is good. In the field of performance art, competition is a healthy force that compels people forward and weeds out the artists who are only half-in half-out.

I am currently a sophomore in college, studying theatre, and having been through what you're about to go through, I have a couple pieces of advice:

1. Assume nothing. Little is more irritating to your fellow students than college freshman who think they know the ropes based upon high school theatre experiences (though, in all fairness, high school experience helps a ton!). Definitely don't go in thinking to show yourself Hot s**t...at the same time, don't be a doormat - if people start walking over you, they will not stop.

2. Have your s**t together. Directors and theatre professors will often assign exercises and projects that many people will overlook and seem trivial. Don't overlook them! If you show yourself to be someone who takes care of stuff, people will respect you (even as a freshman).

3. College is primarily for learning - never again in your life will you have so many tools and opportunities laid out in front of you for the express purpose of your own self-enrichment. Take advantage of this! Read like crazy. If you get offered the chance to do anything theatrical - from ushering to performing a major role - take it!! The more you do and learn to do, the better you will become as a respected artist and individual.

4. Study up on audition techniques - learn how to work with your life force and project "you" as a character, even when you're not "playing a character," if that makes any sense at all.

Really, the bottom line is this: be open-minded, and take all of the opportunity that comes your way. You should be so busy with project after project that your diet consists of caffiene. If you're tired all the time, you're doing something right (do take care of yourself though)!

Good luck on your new adventure - I hope to be with you onstage one day!

What an honor! Thank you very much! Enjoy yourself.