NYMT-2019

Oh! Your right! Hmmmmm I don’t know why they’ve done that, seems a bit of a shame! DS isn’t auditioning for BYMT this year so hadn’t noticed they’d changed it. I would say communication is not their strong point...

That's great to hear. We are down for both this year and DD is 11 so will be in the youngest group. That's interesting regarding the song at BYMT, they've told us to not prepare anything as they have a group singing lesson where they learn a song and than perform it one by one. It must've changed than or I'm misunderstanding it.
I'm getting much better vibes with NYMT tbh as it seems much cosier and my correspondence with them has been much nicer. But that's just my gut feeling and it may be completely false.

Hi Dodgeritornot, with regards to going with a prepared song to BYMT, I do think the choices they give you are enough to show them what you can do. The songs are never my DS’s favourite to be fair but I do think they choose the list so they show a good range. For the Arts Ed Sixth form audition they also give you a list to choose from rather than your own choice. I haven’t seen this years BYMT choice so don’t know what’s on it but there’s usually enough to find something they like. And interestingly at his NYMT audition some children were asked to do a range test after their songs so their own choices obviously didn’t show enough range. It is undoubtedly easier to get into BYMT, they simply take twice as many children and they are looking at ‘are they good enough’ rather than ‘are they good enough’ AND ‘do they fit the part’. BYMT can be an excellent training ground for children who want to do MT and at the other end NYMT provides vocational children an opportunity to polish their professional skills. That’s not to say amazing non-vocational kids don’t get into NYMT and amazing vocational kids don’t do BYMT! I’ve come across stories to know they have both provided amazing opportunities and experiences for a wide range of children!

Absolutely right Dodge.

We haven't yet auditioned for NYMT and I doubt we will get in but I haven't yet come across a person who wasn't happy with it once they have got in. I don't think it's fair to make suggestions about them just because good children haven't got in. It's simple supply and demand and there will always be people moaning they haven't got in. I personally think for children that age there are a lot more opportunities for 'just a hobby' type roles in local theatres etc than there are for very serious children so im happy something does exist for them. If it was easy to get in it may not serve as such a push for a lot of extremely talented and passionate kids.

Well I don't want to say too much about individual cases but that boy was in a show with DS and his part was more than ensemble. Named character, plenty of lines, solo verses in various numbers. He's phenomenal and there was never any suggestion NYMT thought he wasn't. He then came back and played a small part in Parade last summer. He would have known already that he had the DEH gig by then so I think it's very telling that he didn't pull out of NYMT. He must have felt it still had something to offer him and that he wasn't being slighted in any way. He was excellent in his small role but so were the rest of the cast. That is the standard, and that is why it's so difficult to get in, and particularly with the older casts any one of the people they pick is good enough to end up working in the West End. He is a natural Evan; he might not have been right for the larger NYMT parts that year. @janinlondon I've seen your daughter on stage and I am absolutely sure she has what it takes to perform professionally too.

I'm late to this thread, but I'm kind of surprised that no one above seems to have mentioned the ex-NYMT boy who was only considered good enough for ensemble parts, who is now playing Evan Hansen three days a week on the West End.....I agree there is a bit of odd political stuff in the casting at NYMT.

Thanks @Lonecatwithkitten. Good to know!

@Lonecatwithkitten, interesting thoughts. Agree that confidence is everything - maybe that's why some kids get recast for a few years running? Venue, creatives, even some other auditionees, are familiar and that must help.
Can I ask please which audition prep course your DD did? I tale it you would recommend? DS not at that point yet but always keen to hear people's experiences.

Just to add a POV from someone at the lower end of the age range just starting out on this path.... many of those older young adults now in pro training are there precisely because of passion and experience that was developed through performing with the likes of NYMT when they were younger. They all started somewhere. And generally, opportunities are hard won. You don't just get to walk into top vocational training schools... I get that it must be really frustrating to see your very talented and able child losing out to these people (and believe me, I can't imagine I will find it very easy when it's us!!!) but it's a tough, tough industry and NYMT is a national level, prestigious organisation which is bound to attract the top talent....

Resilience is key though, and it sounds like you've both got plenty of that @FANTINE2 - glad to hear she's doing well.

Don't disappear @FANTINE2! It sounds as if your daughter is doing very well in MT and you must have much wisdom to offer! I think you're making 2 different points, and I agree with you on the latter. You're right - NYMT takes kids up to age 23, so for the shows with the oldest casts it is likely that many of the 18+ auditionees will be in full-time vocational training. And yes, recently many of the leads in arguably the most high profile shows have indeed been in pro training. That isn't to say there aren't opportunities for those who have opted to do something else at 18; I can think of leads from each of DS' shows who had chosen the university, academic subject route or who were still living at home and auditioning for drama school when cast. But since it's open to people up to age 23 and is rightly considered to be a wonderful experience it's hardly surprising those in vocational colleges apply and then get cast. Do they have an unfair advantage because they are in full-time training, or are they in vocational training because performing is where they excel and they just represent the very best talent available? Difficult to tell, but ultimately NYMT will cast the closest fit for the role. So I would agree the competition gets a lot fiercer from about 17 upwards, but it doesn't mean it's impossible to get in - far from it. Your original argument that NYMT tends to re-cast the same people and that there is some kind of impregnable 'in-crowd' just isn't fair - if people are cast repeatedly it's because they are too good not to cast, but actually if you take any individual's history you can see they probably also had their fallow years when they weren't chosen.
Anyway, I'm not trying to have an argument - not my style - but wouldn't want anyone with talent to be put off auditioning.

FANTINE the thing is, the upper age limit allows that, so it’s inevitable. FWIW, the elder of my two students was in Sleepy Hollow when he was at secondary school - he was at a fairly crappy rural secondary and had never done anything other than school plays and our local youth theatre. He’s now at LIPA, but that’s probably the route you would expect a talented and committed performing arts kid to take.

I promise that I will disappear after this post but I would just like to enlarge a little on my comments. Biscuits,the majority of people you quote were /are in full time vocational education when they were cast; The Hammond, MST, Emil Dale, to name but a few.
I am not trying to put people off auditioning. I do accept that NYMT do occasionally cast complete unknowns in their flagship show. However, I do not think that people realise that some really talented teenagers, are missing out to students in full time Drama Schools, ie they are already in training to become professionals. It is very difficult for ordinary students to compete against someone in their second/ third year of professional training. Of course it is about the right fit for parts, but some students are able to "fit" those parts in consecutive shows, whilst others never do!
At the younger age groups this scenario does not really come into play, but i believe it is an issue in the older age groups.
For me it is not so much about talent, but having the opportunity to compete for roles on a level playing field.
Good Luck to everybody auditioning this year.

Hi Biscuits My DS isn't going for it this year as he has got commitments already over the summer.

Best of luck to all those auditioning.

Oooh good luck to them @EvilTwins. Please update, either here or on the 2020 thread.

Hello! Yep - same old for me. My usual (now ex-!) student plus his younger brother who is now with me for 6th form. Both auditioned yesterday in Bristol.

Anyway, less contentiously, any former thread participants' DC/students going again? @EvilTwins @janinlondon @NotEnoughTime?

Not true not true. The lead male in Sunday in the Park had tried for 3 years to get in and then got the lead. One female lead from Parade had tried for 3 years to get in, got ensemble in 2018 and a lead in 2019. The female lead in Anything Goes had got in once when much younger as ensemble but had also had 2 or 3 fruitless attempts and then got Reno. It is way more competitive when you're older and they turn away amazing young people because year on year it is all about the right fit for the parts available. @FANTINE2 it doesn't mean your DD isn't hugely talented - she must be to have got into a great drama school. But I can't let you discourage newbies from trying because despite what you say NYMT needs to replenish its talent stocks every year - the same old names don't hang around forever (in fact many are now in Hamilton, the Boyfriend, &Juliet, Mamma Mia, Six etc) so it's just not true to say the same people get cast every year.

Probably too late to this thread but yes, there is, in my experience some truth in what you say about NYMT.
Of course the standard is high, it should be and it is extremely difficult to get in, however NYMT do in the older age group have a tendency to pick kids already known to them, and in particular to pick those who already have some profile, ie an agent/representation. These kids are often already at Performing Arts schools, Italia Conti, Brit School etc.My D tried for 3 years to get in, but never had any luck, despite being recalled.
Each time she found herself in the same recall as people who had been cast previously, and according to her it was very obvious who would be cast.
I know that there are people on here who will not agree with me. My D is now at Drama School, incidentally with two of the leads from one of last year's productions, so no sour grapes.
I do think though that people should perhaps take on board that even though everyone is very welcoming etc etc NYMT know who they ultimately want and in the older age groups, this is rarely an unknown performer.

@Dodgeitornot Just take a guess then about the voice part. She will either be soprano or alto! It won't matter if you guess wrongly. NYMT attracts kids and young people who have had lead roles in West End shows and those who have only ever been in a school show but who are keen to do more and learn in a very professional setting. Your DD will be judged on what she does on the day, not on her CV or lack of. It's also worth knowing that NYMT will divide them all into groups according to age and your DD will spend the day with kids her own age. They do 3 sessions - one acting, one singing and one movement - and the groups rotate so that everyone has done everything by the end of the day. You're absolutely right to think of it as a workshop. We told DS the first time to just treat it as a workshop with some fabulous professional creatives! It would absolutely be good practice for school show auditions. At age 11 your DD would be in the youngest age group and it would be absolutely fine to sing eg a Disney song she knows well - something age appropriate rather than a huge ballad. I hope she has a great time.

Woops! @Biscuitsneeded just realised I tagged myself lol.

@Dodgeitornot thats given me a lot of food for thought. There's no unbroken or other options, just soprano, alto etc. She may end up going to BYMT and hating the song they've asked her to sing and she may feel a lot more comfortable doing a song she's rehearsed at home. She's only 11 and really likes performing at school, we have no other experience and some people on these threads make me think we're mad even auditioning. I've told her I've signed her up to a workshop and at the end of the workshop some kids get asked to join a big show. But we're putting a lot more emphasis on the workshop part and it was to help her with an audition for the school musical. I do also think that the fact NYMT has a lot more kids at the audition would make DD a bit more comfortable as you can kind of hide in the crowd if you want. At the moment she's keen on it helping her get a part in the school musical, not that fussed about performing for them although after showing her the website she said it would be cool but scary as the productions look huge. I think it would be a great confidence boost. I think I'll email NYMT and see what they say. We're in London so we could try both.

@Dodgeitornot I do agree about the bringing a prepared song and sheet music etc. My DS had never had singing lessons, we can't play piano etc so we managed to find the music to Consider Yourself the first time and he went with that - I am sure he wasn't very polished. But the only year he went to BYMT they said there was nothing to prepare and then a week before decided there was and then he had to learn one of their set songs and a monologue with just a week to go! (I can't comment on BYMT otherwise as he did get offered a show that year but had already committed to NYMT, and he hasn't tried again since.) I think the thought behind bringing your own song as opposed to learning one on the day is that you can pick one that's right for you, but I agree it can seem offputting. But if your child knows any musical theatre songs at all and you can find the sheet music on the internet and get a music teacher or someone just to run through it with them so they know how the accompaniment sounds, that's good enough. They are looking for potential rather than perfection. And the question about voice is also strange if you don't know - we just wrote unbroken, I think! They are very lovely people and I'm sure wouldn't want anyone to be intimidated by the application form.