Voice coach: career in theater a worthy dream

By Adam White

Students with a passion for drama who are worried about finding roles beyond school productions should breathe easier – because according to Bill Reed, there is a place for everyone on life’s grand stage.

One of the leading voice coaches working today, Reed has seen several of his students progress all the way from his studio in South Burlington to major roles in Broadway productions. He was recently commissioned by Random House to write a book about how to train and prepare to be a musical theater major.

“Parents ask me all the time, ‘does my kid have what it takes to make it?’” Reed said. “I no longer answer that question with a simple yes or no; I think the answer has to be philosophical.

“I’ve seen students, through hard work and determination, make sustained efforts and do absolutely amazing things.”

Born to play a role

The first mistake that many young thespians make is to start typecasting themselves, and thinking that certain physical characteristics will limit their potential for a career in theater.

He describes one of his students, a 5-foot-3, Korean-American male, who was pessimistic about his chances of landing a role – until he found a production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” looking to cast someone with that exact description.

“He could sing, he could dance – and physically, he was exactly what the role required,” Reed said. “It just proves that there are all different roles out there, for all different people. Very often, what you see as a handicap could be the very thing that gets you cast in a show.”

Smarter than a plant

Reed gets some quizzical looks when parents ask if their child has what it takes for a career in theater and he responds with a question of his own: is the child smarter than a plant?

The rather unorthodox approach is meant to illustrate the importance of finding one’s own path to success and following it, through the allegory provided by an old-fashioned science experiment.

“I remember in grade school, we’d take a bean plant and put a cardboard box over it,” Reed said. “When you lifted up the box later, the plant had wilted. But if you cut a whole in one corner of the box, when you lifted it up, the plant would be leaning in the direction of the light.

“That is how people can live happy lives: figure out where your light is coming from, and move toward it.”

For those interested in theater, that light might not necessarily be the spotlight of a starring role. Reed points out that at the conclusion of a feature film, the list of credits of those involved “goes on forever.” Each one of those credits is a job, and many of the people filling those positions likely began their careers hoping to be in front of the camera.

“You may start out with one idea, one direction you want to go in,” Reed said. “But pay attention to where your light is coming from.”

All the world’s a stage

The unfortunate reality the theater is that “everybody hits the wall somewhere,” according to Reed. No amount of talent can stave off the aging process, and major life changes such as marriage and raising children often spell curtains for an acting career. Reed says that women are usually out of the business by their early 30s, while men are prone to bloom later and thus hang on a bit longer.

But even if one’s career path leads him or her away from the theater, Reed points out that the skills acquired on stage can prove valuable in many other professional arenas.

“Many of the skills learned as a musical theater major – presenting yourself in front of people, speaking with authority, even listening intently – are huge life skills,” Reed said. He cites sales as one area in which those with acting experience often thrive.

“Knowing how to get people interested or excited about something is basically the essence of acting,” Reed said. “It is all about making magic around something, whether it’s a character, or a scene, or a product you’re trying to sell.”

And though life after theater may not come with a script, Reed is sure that anyone with a stage background should have no trouble hitting his or her marks.

“If nothing else, it teaches you to know yourself, and what you are capable of,” he said.

Bill Reed’s voice coaching service can be found online at www.theatricalsinger.com.