Theater...tips for getting in?

Question:I've always been interested in performing, acting, dancing, singing, etc. I've never had the money to have any lessons, and I've played a main character's best friend in a middle school play. I'm a fair actress, good singer, and I learn dancing quickly. My boyfriend's step mom does theater but her theater and stuff is a long ways away (an hour drive) and I don't have the money to pay for it. Do you know of any way/tips to getting a carreer in theater? I'mma freshman in highschool, with a lot of self motivation. I plan to go to a university (hopefully UCLA) and I have a lot of time to decide what to do, but I ireally really want this. Any tips or ideas so I can get into the performing arts?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I've always been interested in performing, acting, dancing, singing, etc. I've never had the money to have any lessons, and I've played a main character's best friend in a middle school play. I'm a fair actress, good singer, and I learn dancing quickly. My boyfriend's step mom does theater but her theater and stuff is a long ways away (an hour drive) and I don't have the money to pay for it. Do you know of any way/tips to getting a carreer in theater? I'mma freshman in highschool, with a lot of self motivation. I plan to go to a university (hopefully UCLA) and I have a lot of time to decide what to do, but I ireally really want this. Any tips or ideas so I can get into the performing arts?

1 Read
2 Check out the local papers for auditions in the arts section
3 Take a class. anywhere. everywhere.
4 Discipline. Do your homework. find roles you like. music you like. shows you like. Genres you like.
5 Take some initiative. There is no one single 'in'...,
I have always written my own shows and performed them. I found a local summer stock theatre program where I spent my summers. I took a job to pay for it. I worked in the mornings, then went to school, after school drama club, and worked again in the evenings nearly my entire senior year. To quote the Indigo Girls, "...there's more than one answer to these questions, pointed in a crooked line...."
Break a leg -SEC

Start by getting all the stage experience you can in high school plays. In a couple of years, you'll be old enough to get summer theatre apprentice and intern positions. Check this website for information on directories that list summer theatre and regional theatre all over the country:

http://www.theatredirectories.com/

When you get to college, major in theatre. Learn all you can in class and by performing in school plays. Ask your professors for advice about summer work that will supplement your college courses. Break a leg.