There's no business like Showbusiness it's true, and every Musical is wonderful and unique, but there are some universal experiences every performer will recognise no matter the show. Here are 12 of our favourite Memes every Musical Theatre Actor will understand...
The general view of what it means to be an actor seems to be one of glitz and glamour but the truth is far from it. We may get to wear the snazziest costumes onstage, but offstage it's blood, sweat and tears! And...hour upon hour upon HOUR of marking your script...
Once rehearsals are in full swing, it's not just a regular 9-5. There's the early morning runs to desperately try and get fit enough for the big chorus number, the warm-ups and warm-downs to keep your body and voice in shape and of course, the endless line learning.
Fancy a pint on a Friday night? No thanks, got to learn scene two!
Musicals can get a bad rap in the industry and we all know that's just not fair! So every time someone tries to say it's just the singing and dancing that matters in your show, pop on your morpheus-style sunglasses, calmly turn to them and utter these fine words...
Actors may be the ones who get the glory onstage but they're way down in the pecking order behind-the-scenes. It's the director who runs the rehearsal room and most of the time all we can do is swap a few pointed looks whilst smiling and obeying the orders...
But as much as we can be cynics, in reality we all desperately want the director to love us (and cast us again!) and watching them scribbling down notes during a scene fills us with utter dread...
Even when we think it's all in our heads, once we start putting it all together something strange happens and everybody seems to magically lose the ability to move, act and sing at the same time!
Even when the show is on its feel there's always one moment that stops your heart every single runthrough...
But what about after opening night? The show itself is running like a well-oiled machine and you're settling nicely into your role, but there's always something to complain about afterwards...
Every show is like a baby and everyone in it is a family. You're in the club and we all have inside jokes we love to bring out every night...but if anyone else tries it...
Half way through a run, everyone starts to get tired and there's always that scary period where your voice start to croak and that tickle goes right down your throat. When you're put on vocal rest it's important to take the advice of Mr. Aaron Burr...
And let's not forget those two-show days. Everyone knows how tiring a long day singing and dancing can be but it's the little things you might not think about, that can cause the most stress and silliness!
And finally, anyone involved in the creative process will know this last one. The final product may look effortless, but it's been a LONG journey to get there and nobody involved will ever forget the stress!
