An insider's guide to achieving that dream career - by one of the brightest stars in musical theatre. Being in a West End or Broadway musical is the dream of thousands of talented performers. But competition is intense and reaching the spotlight can often require a leap into the dark. So You Want To Be In Musicals? by Ruthie Henshall is your comprehensive guide to building - and sustaining - a successful career in musical theatre, and introduces you to everything you need to know about: Training - how to select a drama school, what to do to get in, and what to do once you're there Auditioning - how to choose and prepare your pieces, and foster a positive attitude towards auditions Rehearsing - how to construct your character, work with the director, and develop your own creative process Performing - how to deal with nerves, what to do as an understudy, and how to sustain that eight-show-a-week routine Working - how to get an agent, how to market yourself effectively, and how to maintain a healthy body and mind Along with a wealth of honest, straightforward advice, the book is packed with instructive anecdotes from Ruthie's own glittering career.

Stage musical based on the 2000 film of the same name which is set in County Durham during the 1984 miners' strike. Young Billy Elliot (Matteo Zecca/Mitchell Tobin/Bradley Perret/Elliott Hanna) becomes fascinated with the ballet lessons which are being held in the same hall as his boxing class. The ballet teacher, Mrs Wilkinson (Ruthie Henshall), recognises his potential and encourages him to join her class. As his talent gradually reveals itself, it becomes clear that Billy should be attending the Royal Ballet School in London, but with his father (Deka Walmsley)'s opposition and the extreme poverty which descends on the area during the strike, Billy's future is far from certain.