Musical theatre: a behind-the-scenes perspective
The actors' agent | The casting director | The choreographer | The musical director
What is a choreographer?
The choreographer is the person who decides what dance steps and movements are required throughout the show, and leads the company in showing and teaching them what he or she wants.
Profile: Jenny Arnold
Current credits include: Jerry Springer – the Opera, Noddy Live! for Wembley Arena, and the film Confetti.
How did you start out as a dancer?
'I went to dance classes as a child in Richmond – my mum used to be a dancer in Ivor Novello's shows – and then I went to Arts Educational School at Tring when I was 11 and it became my vocation from there.'
And how did you start out as a choreographer?
'I was married with children and my husband was based in Cambridge, and they needed someone to help with choreography for something. Someone suggested me because I'd been a dancer. Of course, it's not the same thing at all – you don't say to someone who's an actor, "Will you write us a play?" – but I did it and liked it, and started doing the annual Footlights students pantomimes. I did 17 in all, working with some fabulously creative people like Hugh Laurie, Griff Rhys-Jones, Emma Thompson, John Lloyd, Clive Anderson, Stephen Fry, Nick Hytner and David Baddiel, when they were all still students!'
How did you start working on professional shows?
'After my children grew up, I decided to try this full-time. I spent a year re-training at the Laban Centre. I realised I was bored with my own work, and wanted to be inspired by someone else. It was great! And I started to get more and more work, which was even better, through some of my old Cambridge connections, like Jon Thoday, who is producing Jerry Springer – the Opera and whose TV company I also worked for, with comics like Harry Hill.'
What tips would you give a person coming to an audition?
'Never come in and say, "I only heard about this audition yesterday so I don't have a song prepared." Always have them ready. If you don't have what they're asking for, be sure to have a near alternative – we want to hear your voice, not an excuse! Auditions are scary, but they needn't be – we are just normal people out there, so be yourself and try not to let your nerves get in the way. The best way to make an impression is to come out confidently. And if you get to the very end and then you still don't get the part, don't despair – it's not personal, but at that stage is very much to do with balancing out the type of people we've got. So it's not always down to talent, but that someone else fitted the bill better for their size and shape.'
