NYMT/BYMT 2023 thread

[Comefromaway]

Ok, I know we technically haven't finished 2022 yet as there is still the Christmas Concert for some (my ds is not taking part due to his conservatoire concert) but NYMT have released details of their 2023 season & auditions here

mailchi.mp/nymt/nymt-2022-season-announcement-5919443?fbclid=IwAR2nM_B-gUzYyvEzUTMDFUt2c4RiuW5ElKjmdxG6qJIgIPS2W6owl8GY7NY

Good luck everyone whose dc are applying this year

We're on this weekend... DC seems pretty chilled although I definitely won't be once the waiting starts!! 4th year of auditions and success in previous 3 years as performer, musician or both so to not be involved would suck majorly... but it happens and we need to prepare for that!

Biscuitsneeded, DS 17, auditioning 22nd Jan IF he ever uploads a song.

montimom, DD 18, DD 16 and DD 13 auditioning 21st Jan

aplo, Dd 18 and DS 13 auditioning 15th January (DS still needs to upload a song!)

minimits DS is 19 auditioning 21st

Sleepisoverrated, DS 11, auditioning 15th Jan

Doesanybodyhaveamap, DC 15, auditioning 15th Jan

🤞🏻🤞🏻

Adding in mini @Alakazam8 to the list!!

Biscuitsneeded, DS 17, auditioning 22nd Jan IF he ever uploads a song.

montimom, DD 18, DD 16 and DD 13 auditioning 21st Jan

aplo, Dd 18 and DS 13 auditioning 15th January (DS still needs to upload a song!)

minimits DS is 19 auditioning 21st

Sleepisoverrated, DS 11, auditioning 15th Jan

Doesanybodyhaveamap, DC 15, auditioning 15th Jan

Mini-Alakazam, 28th Jan

I'll add my DD12, auditioning on 29 Jan for BYMT

Biscuitsneeded, DS 17, auditioning 22nd Jan IF he ever uploads a song.

montimom, DD 18, DD 16 and DD 13 auditioning 28th Jan

aplo, Dd 18 and DS 13 auditioning 15th January (DS still needs to upload a song!)

minimits DS is 19 auditioning 21st

Sleepisoverrated, DS 11, auditioning 15th Jan

Doesanybodyhaveamap, DC 15, auditioning 15th Jan

Mini-Alakazam, 28th Jan

notevenslightlyreasonable, DD 12, 29th Jan BYMT

@allhailthebrain yes 🤪 28th not 21st see I’m already confused and it hasn’t started yet

@Montimom Im not surprised you are confused with having 3 auditioning. It’s hard enough with one!

So ds got NYMT audition booked, waiting to see what the shows are before deciding whether to audition for BYMT. Still no song uploaded though 🙄.

What is considered the ‘star’ venue for NYMT? I caught the end of the Instagram live and they didn’t give anything away on venues- said they had meetings and were finalising things. Also didn’t give too much away on creatives other than say Alex Sutton was back doing KMK.

Biscuitsneeded, DS 17, auditioning 22nd Jan IF he ever uploads a song.

montimom, DD 18, DD 16 and DD 13 auditioning 28th Jan

aplo, Dd 18 and DS 13 auditioning 15th January (DS still needs to upload a song!)

minimits DS is 19 auditioning 21st

Sleepisoverrated, DS 11, auditioning 15th Jan

Doesanybodyhaveamap, DC 15, auditioning 15th Jan

Mini-Alakazam, 28th Jan

notevenslightlyreasonable, DD 12, 29th Jan BYMT

mcmumager, DS17 NYMT 21st Jan

Much as Kylie is I am sure VERY much missed - what a woman- I don't think anyone needs to worry. Before Kylie joined NYMT, that side of things was done by Jeremy, and barring unforeseen circumstances I am confident you'll find things very smooth.

That surprises me too.

Armchair is the one ds wants, but to be honest he will accept anything.

Does anyone know what type/age cast armchair likely to have? My ds is ruled out of merrily due to hols so it’s only really armchair or KMK as options for full shows.

All I know about it is from a brief synopsis of the book it is based on. It has adult and child characters

They mentioned ages in the Insta live. For Armchair and showcase they stated that they were aiming those at the younger age groups. Someone asked a direct question about age. However they said several times they do not want auditionees to go in to the audition aiming for a particular show…

Honestly I don’t think NYMT do a “headline” show. The only genuinely headline show over the last decade has been the 40th anniversary gala. Yes sometimes there are very special shows such as west side story that was the first version of WSS that had brand new choreography that was site specific, 13 because it had Jason Robert Brown as the director and was in the Apollo theatre, and hunchback because it embraced diversity so amazingly and was played in an actual cathedral, but other than that I don’t think there are “headline shows”.

Because of the venue last year Chess was eligible for (very well deserved) award nominations but for me without doubt Ragtime was the best show of the season and of many other seasons before too (and I had no children or students involved in Ragtime)

In the years when NYMT were lucky enough to be able to have productions in the Other Palace some would have possibly considered those shows to be more prestigious. I’m sure the venue and dates for each show come down more to availability of both venue and creatives than anything else.

Kylie is undoubtedly a loss to NYMT but things ran like clockwork before she joined and I have no doubt will again this year. Kylie had to deal with the most difficult years with the pandemic and all that it brought. We are hopefully going to have a much smoother run this year after such a fabulous season last year.

I typed out a whole long post and somehow my phone ate it, but I basically said what Aplo said. I don't think there is ever any intention to have a 'flagship' show, or venue. Some shows become special because of a combination of factors, but that isn't to the detriment of any of the others. Which show goes in which venue may just be about availability of the venues in the week the show is scheduled, unless there is a conscious decision to use a particular venue because of its suitability for the show, eg Brass at Leeds Royal Armouries or Humchback at Manchester Cathedral. Curve is a great venue because people know of it, it's near the station and good accommodation options etc. My DS' first NYMT experience was a week's run at the Kingston Rose which was fabulous because you had all the eateries and the river right there and the type of theatre worked well for the production. And we don't know yet what the London venue will be but there's always the advantage with London that people can get there from all parts of the country by train. But I absolutely agree that it's maybe not so wise to aim for a particular show, unless holiday dates dictate. DS has faith in the creatives to choose the best performers for each particular show, and by 'best' I mean most suited to the roles.
@Mcmumager I caught the end of the Instagram chat and I think they said there would be opportunities for all ages in pretty much all the shows. Maybe your DS could just remind them at audition which dates he is unavailable.

I think the reason ds wold like a particular show is more to do with what he'd like in terms of experience etc.

Last year he was chosen for showcase because he has a very particular set of skills (that were not needed the year before for those shows). He then got asked to fill in on Chess and so got experience of simply being a pit band player. Since Chess he has been given the opportunity to be an MD for a musical theatre cabaret and play for amateur but paid shows with three more coming up soon. He is convinced that having NYMT on his CV has helped him to get this work.

This year he'd love the opportunity to work on a brand new show. But he realises that his skill set might be preferred elsewhere (or not at all)

Undoubtedly NYMT was a lifechanging experience for ds but it is also important to remember that not everyone has the same experience. As with ANY organisation it does not suit everyone, we know a young person who did not have a good experience last year.

Hi All, lovely to hear about all the exciting auditions coming up. For the benefit of the newbies, my DD is 16 (Year 12) and has taken part in BYMT shows over the last two years. Both times she was in the same shows as @Mcmumager’s DS.

She is undecided whether to audition this year, as she’s thinking she maybe should do a summer course with one of the drama schools she hopes to audition for next year (e.g. Arts Ed, Mountview, Italia Conti). Does anyone with an older DC have any experience of these at all?

Thank you.

Hi DalekFan, My DS does not have any experience of the summer schools but did go to one of those schools pre-degree and still didn’t get a degree offer (he did get a foundation offer however). This year he has had recalls for everywhere he has applied to and I truly believe having NYMT on his personal statement and having worked with professional directors, choreographers etc etc and working as part of a team has made a huge difference to his initial success. If she needs the summer school to advance her skills then that is a different kettle of fish and it is probably much cheaper! Not sure if that helps…

@DalekFan My DS hasn't done any of the summer schools either. I'm sure somebody who knows more than me will have good advice, but I would want to be sure they are being taught by the permanent staff at those schools and will get good audition technique advice - as opposed to it being a kind of MT summer camp that happens to be hosted in one of those schools. I do know that places like GSA (and maybe others) do offer a pre-audition weekend in September which your DD might find more focused on tips and practice for the process of getting into drama school.

Can indeed highly recommended the GSA pre-audition weekend, taken by degree staff and really helpful advice and guidance. DS thought it was brilliant.

This is extremely unlike me, but I felt the need to rearrange the auditions list in date order! Hope I haven't missed anyone - please add your DC if I have. And to anyone joining the thread, or on the thread but yet to fix a date, welcome, and do copy and paste and add your DC!

aplo, Dd 18 and DS 13 auditioning 15th January (DS still needs to upload a song!)
Sleepisoverrated, DS 11, auditioning 15th Jan
Doesanybodyhaveamap, DC 15, auditioning 15th Jan

minimits DS is 19 auditioning 21st
mcmumager, DS17 NYMT 21st Jan

Biscuitsneeded, DS 17, auditioning 22nd Jan IF he ever uploads a song.

montimom, DD 18, DD 16 and DD 13 auditioning 28th Jan
Mini-Alakazam, 28th Jan

notevenslightlyreasonable, DD 12, 29th Jan BYMT

Ha ha @Biscuitsneeded I’ve wanted to put them in date order all day so thank you 😂

My take on it is that it's felt the last few years like one of the shows has more focus/bigger venue/more social media time etc - and a slightly biggest cast, certainly with HBOND. It felt in previous years like HB had the cool venue and the others had the out of town one, and similar last year with Chess. I don't mean this as a bad thing! It just feels like the structure - and that generally that 'hero' show (marketing background - again that's not a negative term) has a predominantly older cast.
The casting process is the same for all, and cast just as strictly. I just think of it as the 'big' show with the bigger cast, bigger kids (older) and has had a different venue. Definitely no more prestigious for any one show over another. Hope that helps clear up what I meant...

However, this year, if Armchair is at the Leicester Curve then who knows!

This show will need some younger kids, some to play the adults, and one to play a snail... 😅

Am I too old to be a snail...? #dreamrole

@doesanybodyhaveamap I think max age for NYMT is 2023

In your own, in-house production? Definitely not - you go and nail that snail audition!! 👊