In their book, "The Coddling of the American Mind," Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt talk about the lack of free play for kids, and how parents are already thinking about college admissions when their little ones are still in elementary school. I believe one of their central points has incredible salience in our field, "The decline of free play may be one reason why rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide have been rising for decades." We are in the business of “plays,” folks so creating an environment that says “you need to work hard at playing so you can get into a good school,” is pretty fucking stupid.

While doing research for this material I came across several websites offering strategies for auditions, listings of training programs, and guidance for how to succeed in the pursuit of these absurdly challenging ambitions.

In her 2019 article “Why I Didn't Want My Students to Do Summer Theater,” Suzanne Livesay offers some advice to students interested in attending a summer theater camp. “Take extreme caution when choosing summer training programs. Make sure they aren’t charging you a fee to use you as labor on shows that the organizers profit from. Be sure to check out these programs to ensure there is more emphasis on training and learning and less emphasis on cranking out multiple shows.”

While that seems like good advice, it completely ignores the fact that all of these training programs are preparing students to compete in a marketplace that does exactly that. I’d say this advice is about as practical as telling an aspiring plumber to avoid any shitty water.

The Broadway League is the best source of data on the business of Broadway, and I’ve relied on it extensively for this analysis. In this case, the League’s data for new and long-running shows combined with Miller’s analysis of cast sizes, offers a credible estimate of 1,392 roles available in an average season.

Musical Theater was the 426th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 995 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 60 over the prior year, a growth of 6.0%.

Acting was the 323rd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 1,793 degrees in this year alone. This 151 less than the prior year, a decrease of 8.4%.

If you look at the promotional materials of these training institutions. They proudly showcase their successful alumni and highlight the benefits of their training. "Our program helps increase your GPA!" they claim. But aren't they conveniently omitting the harsh realities of the industry? Where is the mention of the staggering training costs, or the high cost of living in cities like New York where most of the opportunities are based? This isn't just a case of misleading marketing - it's a deeply flawed system that preys on the dreams of young artists. The stark reality is that the majority of these hopefuls will end up with crippling debt, overwhelming frustration, and a challenging road to recovery.

The arts play a crucial role in human existence, and participation in them can provide significant benefits. We need artists, and we need people who are willing to pursue a career in the arts. But we also need a system that supports these aspirations in a realistic and sustainable way, instead of the current model which seems to doom these young dreamers to a harsh reality that they are ill-prepared for.