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1. Get Experience.
   Do everything. Try out for every play, take dance lessons, singing lessons, fencing lessons, anything that could be remotely useful on the stage. Join school theatre, community theatre, kids theatre (if you're a kid), modeling competitions, talent shows, any kind of performing experience you can. But remember that experience isn't just about getting better and making your resume longer. It's also about making sure this is really what you want to do. After getting a taste of what the world of acting is really like, you might change your mind.

2. Make Contacts.
   This is where community theatre really comes in. School theatre is well and good, but especially at the elementary level, you aren't likely to meet anyone except teachers and other "wanna-be's". But in community theatre you have access to, well, the whole community. Who knows what kind of influence some of these people may have. The important thing to note is that as well as being friendly and nice to everyone, let them know what your goals are. Tell them you want to be on Broadway someday. If someone's uncle's cousin's boyfriend's sister knows the second cousin of Andrew Lloyd Webber on his mother's side, don't be afraid to ask a favor.
   
3. Do Your Homework
   Research anything and everything to do with your potential career. Read books, there are lots available. Look up some people on the net who are already acting professionaly. E-mail them, ask them questions. Hopefully, they will be more than happy to respond.

    

   Children in Community Theatre

   I think it's a shame and pure stupidity when community theatre groups exclude young people. It's important to remember that someday these children will be teenagers (an age so often needed in musicals for the part of the 'lovers') who won't want to take part if they were shunned when they were younger. Most musicals can use a small children's chorus for town/crowd scenes, ect.

   If you are young and you can get yourself into a community theatre group, you are in an excellent position to make some contacts. If you are hardworking and co-operative and stay with a company all through your highschool career, when it comes time for you to take off to a performing arts program in college or university, you are going to have a crowd of eager mentors and supporters (some of whom just might know someone).

   Am I Too Old To Start Acting?

   Never! Remember that all scripts are not written for a single age group. There are children's characters and old fogie characters and everything in between, and actors are needed at the right age for all of these roles. And remember that even if you just can't face the idea of switching careers this late in the game, there is no reason at all why you can't take advantage of community theatre. Just do it!

If the whole thing seems very foreign to you and you aren't sure if you are ready to jump into an audition, an excellent way to become familiar with the whole theatre process is to volunteer as a member of the crew. You will have a chance to see how things work as well as learn some valuable hands-on skills.