Rebecca Burnham

At a time when Broadway is struggling to turn a profit on new musicals, Wicked: For Good is breaking box office records. And with good reason.  At this writing, I’ve seen the movie twice. I think I could watch it 5 more times and still see something new each time. I found it gorgeously crafted, flawlessly performed, and powerfully moving. There were many times when I wanted to burst into applause in the middle of the movie. I thought it was that good. 

Auditions are not about the director. They are an opportunity to discover “good actors that have not yet discovered they’re good actors.” Greeted with gentleness and treated with care, they can be molded into actors that deeply connect with their work. “The environment where things grow has to be cordial and kind and gentle.” 

There’s tremendous power and resonance in the skillful blending of music and drama to convey a story that revolves around the divine, as in Joseph King of Dreams and the 1998 version of Prince of Egypt. But it’s also exceedingly difficult to treat a subject on which people anchor their faith in a manner that is both inspirational and dramatically satisfying. Here are some tips on how to approach such stories effectively.