Photo Credit: Broadway Tour via cc
Actor Hub asked some actors who have trod the boards in the West End and Broadway to tell us their stories and offer some advice on how they got to work in musical theatre.
If you are interested in taking part and sharing your knowledge and anecdotes then get in touch – we would love to hear from you.
My career has led me to meet wonderful people, sing in beautiful places, have truly great experiences on and off stage
We spoke to West End actor Lara Martins currently playing Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera at Her Majestys Theatre, Haymarket.
Lara began her studies in her native Portugal. She went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and graduated with a First Class Honours degree.
Since graduating, Lara has enjoyed an international career singing a wide-ranging repertoire, from the operas of Mozart to complex scores written on the 20th and 21st century.
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Where did you train and did it prepare you for the reality of life in musical theatre?I trained at the Guildhall School of music and Drama in London. I have not received any training in musical theatre, I am classically trained and I have not done any other kind of singing in my life – until I landed this role in Phantom of the Opera.So the answer is no – it did not prepare me for a life in musical theatre – but it gave me a solid vocal technique and discipline which comes in handy when you have to sing Carlotta 8 times a week. -
Is there a cringe moment during your career which made you think you might give up?When my daughter was born I returned to the stage a month after her birth. Playing leading roles in different opera productions and attending to the needs of a small baby brought me to the brink of exhaustion. At the time I questioned myself if I wanted to do this job!
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What is your current favourite audition ballad?I am enjoying learning an all new repertoire and new ways of using my voice.At the minute I am loving Unexpected Song by Andrew Lloyd Webber
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What is your current favourite up-tempo audition song?Never, from On the Twentieth Century by Cy Coleman
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When was the last time you had to choose and perform a monologue at a casting??Well its not really a monologue but I guess Carlotta’s speech at the end of the Hannibal scene in Phantom was the last speech I had to learn for an audition.
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Apparently the boys in the dressing room above me know my vocal warm up routine by heart now! Oops!!
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Do you have any showbiz superstitions or rituals?I don’t really have a superstition but I have this habit, I suppose you can call it a ritual; When I finish a show I get a box where I keep all the souvenirs from that show like the programme, good luck cards, presents, notepads.It makes great memories for the future, it’s always fun to go back to that box!
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What is your favourite warm-up exercise?I usually warm up my voice with different vocal exercises for at least 15 minutes, and I do some Brain Gym exercises for grounding and concentration.Apparently the boys in the dressing room above me know my vocal warm up routine by heart now! Oops!!
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What is your dream role?That is a really hard question as they are so many. I have recently played Cunegonde in a concert version of Candide in The National theatre in Lisbon – I would love to play that role in a full production.Another role that looks interesting is Lily Garland in On the Twentieth Century.
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What is the funniest thing (mishap, planned or accidental) that ever happened to you on stage?Oh! They are quite a few .. there is one that springs to mind.In a production of the opera Cosi fan Tutte by Mozart, I had a very quick change of costume and props, and in the rush the dresser forgot to button up the back of my dress so I did the entire scene showing my backside to the audience!
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What has been your best moment so far in your career?I have been really fortunate, my career has led me to meet wonderful people, sing in beautiful places and have truly great experiences on and off stage. So it is really hard to choose one moment, but I would say that doing Carlotta and entering the musical theatre world has been a life changing experience for me.Something that I had never thought I would do but that I am enjoying immensely.
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Which five musical theatre characters would you like to have at your fantasy Dinner Party?Carlotta From Phantom
Javert from Les Mis
Rizzo from Grease
Glinda from Wicked and
Roxie Hart from ChicagoWhat a mix!!!! -
What three things do you always have in your dressing room?Fisherman friends, water and a keyboard (even if its the Iphone one!!)
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Press shuffle on your ipod, what song comes on?Terrible Love by Birdy
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It is not possible to please everyone all the time – but as long as YOU know you gave your very best.
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What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start a life in Musical Theatre?Trust in yourself and be as well prepared as you can be.The competition is fierce out there, you need to be always at your best and be ready to accept rejection.It is not possible to please everyone all the time but as long as you know you gave your very best.When you go to an audition of course the goal is to get the job – but the focus of the audition should not be that thought – I often find that my best auditions are the ones when I focus on sharing my acting and singing with the audition panel in an honest, relaxed and competent way.
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Describe the life of a West End actor in a tweet (140 characters or less!)Trying to keep yourself fresh and motivated eight shows a week! Favourite time of the week: Saturday night drinks!!
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To find out more about Lara please click the Spotlight link to view her CV, photographs and agent details.
