Breaking into Broadway requires plenty of experience; you need to prove to directors that you’ve got what it takes. Get involved and take roles at as many smaller gigs as you can, especially in the New York City area. If you’re still at school, go in for amateur productions even before you head into the wider world. This will hopefully get you into the sights of casting directors or other insiders, or at least provide you with work for your resume. Another step is to get as well-connected as you can in the Broadway community. If you’re a musician for example, you should aim to meet other performers, since, as composer Stephen Schwartz’s website points out, many Broadway jobs go to those established within the Broadway community.
You need to be at the top of your game to enter Broadway since you’ll be facing some tough competition for roles and positions in pit orchestras. It’s wise to take dance or singing lessons, while if you’re a musician, ensure you’re up-to-date with current trends in Broadway musically. For example, in 2010 Stephen Schwartz’s website advised would-be performers to ensure their keyboard is capable of playing the soft synth styles favored by Broadway orchestras.
It can help in auditions if you’re reasonably familiar with the Broadway tunes that have become popular and recognizable over the years. These tunes and compositions are likely to appear in auditions and you may be asked to sing or play them, so it’ll save time and make you more comfortable if you’re already familiar with these tunes. For example, you could learn works by Adam Guettal and Andrew Lippa. Watch as many Broadway shows as you can on video, for example. Everything you see will help prepare you for the industry.
Auditions are challenging enough but are even tougher if you’re going for a role that’s not even your type. For example, a role might obviously demand a certain physique, so there’s little point wasting your time if you don’t have the look from the start. Pay attention to the role and what it requires so that when you go to the audition, you’re ready for the style of dancing you’ll be asked for and are dressed appropriately. Broadway performer Hayley Podschun recommends styling your audition outfit to the role; for instance, if the character you’re going for is a ballerina, wear a pink leotard and your hair back.