Madeline
Whitworth
S292919
G17- Using Personal Development Plans to Refine Skills.
Introduction
My name is Madeline Whitworth, I am an 18 year old singer, actor, and performer based in the North West. I aspire to pursue Musical Theatre as a career, taking part in as many avenues of the industry that I can. I am a hard working and dedicated student yet I understand there are many areas for me to strengthen in order to make me more of a well rounded performer that the industry seeks. Within my G17 project I will analyze my skills and work efficiently to improve in my weaker areas and document this progress.
My career aspirations and relevant skills.
My career aspiration is to work professionally beginning with performing on cruise ships. I hope to be part of an ensemble within the entertainment team. I then want to move to performing in the cast of tours and west end shows. I hope to be in the ensemble of shows such as A Chorus Line, Hairspray and Wicked. Eventually, I hope to gain enough experience to be a leading lady in shows such as Mamma Mia, Phantom of the Opera, Anastasia and Les Misérables. I also hope to get the opportunity to work as a swing in shows like six and moulin rouge. I think working as a swing would be extremely fun and challenging. I think it would push my ability of pick up skills but also would give me the opportunity to broaden the roles I could play.
For all of these roles I know the skill set I need to calibrate. For dance heavy shows like Hairspray and Mamma Mia I know that my pickup and recall in dance classes will have to be improved to meet the demands of West End choreographers. I also know my voice needs to be able to project enough whilst staying healthy to do eight shows a week. I will need to build stamina in my voice and make sure my technique is correct to make the lines I deliver in both scenes and songs will feel effortless. In order to achieve this goal, I understand that I need to be a well-rounded triple threat. I am definitely aware that all three disciplines need to be equally as strong as each other to lead a company.
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(26) Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and MAMMA MIA! London at the 2014 Olivier Awards - YouTube
Skill I need and Skills I have.
After watching professionals and analyzing the skills that have got them to the place they are and made them successful I have been able to think about how I can achieve their skill set. So far, I have analyzed performances of myself to identify strengths and weaknesses within my performance skill. I have taken part in extra classes in those designated weaknesses to try and gain experience and knowledge in those areas. For example, I have been taking part in Jazz and Ballet classes outside of college to improve my technique and help me feel more confident going into auditions. This improvement in technique will carry through into the rest of my career and will stand me in better stead whilst auditioning for shows. I have also identified projection and power behind my vocal delivery in both singing and acting. To try and improve this I have been taking part in singing lessons to attempt to strengthen my voice and give it the power it needs for a West End lead. Building power in my voice will help me in two of my disciplines and will go on to help my diction and clarity. All of which are essential for a West End performer. I also want to improve upon the use of my dynamics. in both singing and dance. Utilizing the use of dynamics adds an element of excitement into performance and will help to captivate an audience as well as adding an extra level to my individual performance. I have also identified musicality and dynamics within dance areas to work on in order to elevate the performances I give within dance.
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I believe I do have some skills already that are strengths that will continue to develop overtime. One of these is being able to learn harmonies quickly and retain them. This is important when working professionally in order to meet the expectations of rehearsals and the standards of performance. I also think my ability to pick up choreography is good, this will help me when achieving my short and long term goals. Pick up skills will be vital in drama school auditions, as the dance calls we will fast paced and quick to move on from step to step. In professional auditions this is very likely to be the same. Once working professionally dances will be taught at a professional pace with the expectation for everyone to pick up the choreography and be able to perform it in a short space of time. Similarly to the other two skills, I believe a strength of mine is being able to learn lines quickly. This will also help when working professionally to meet the demands and speed of the rehearsal process. It will also help for me to hopefully achieve one of my career aspirations of working as a swing. This would require me to learn multiple roles quickly and be expected to be able to switch back and fourth.
My Short Term, Mid Term and Long Term Goals.
Short Term Goals.
My short-term goal is to feel prepared and confident heading into my drama school auditions. I want to finish my current course to the highest standard I can, giving 100% effort into all course aspects. I want to build upon my projection within my voice, this will help me in my delivery in both singing and acting. I will improve this by working on my lung capacity, heling me to take bigger breaths. Meaning my breath control will be better, so more powerful, sustained notes will follow. I also see weakness within areas of my dance such as my flexibility and mobility within my hamstrings and hip flexors. I will work on these identified areas of weakness to increase my confidence and ability going into auditions.
Mid Term Goals.
I hope to complete my time at drama school feeling accomplished as a performer and ready to work professionally. I hope to have concentrated time to harness my skills and polish my craft. I want to distinguish who I am as a performer, meaning I'm sure of what roles I suit and how to pitch myself correctly for them. During my three years at university, I want to feel as though I am I would be prepared for any challenges I might face whilst working in the industry, I hope to strengthen my skills within all three disciplines to allow me to feel more confident within my skill as a triple threat.
Long Term Goals.
My long-term goal is to work professionally within several shows in Musical Theatre industry, Having concentrated time to focus on improving areas that might let me down in auditions will mean I will feel confident in my abilities heading into professional auditions. Working on my flexibility throughout my training will improve lots of essential skills needed for auditions. Improved flexibility will mean my kicks, leaps and movements will be more impressive, hopefully helping me to stand out in auditions and professional work. After a career working professionally, I hope to open my own amateur dramatics company specializing in working with children. This would help me achieve many dreams, such as teaching, performing and creating theatre. All of which will require the skills I will have developed from years of training and working preofessionally.