‘Blonde Ambitions’ by Kaisa Hammarlund

“I’m standing in the wings in my sparkly, bright pink dress. The dress especially made for the bows and for me. I wear it for all of 4min max..crazy. I can hear the audience going nuts when the girl who plays Paulette takes her bow, rightly so, she’s hilarious and fab in the show. The music swells to a crescendo and soon it’ll be my turn to step out in the light.  I’m biting my cheek trying to stop the tears. I’m thinking about how lucky and grateful I am for this moment, for this job and this opportunity.

My cue. I round the Harvard pillars and I am faced with the deafening roar of the audience and the beaming faces of my dear collegues. So much for trying to stay cool. I weep uncontrollably all the way through the bows.”

My last night with little Miss Woods, Elle and the beautiful cast of Legally Blonde in Sweden.

This is my first big lead in a musical. I have stepped into many people’s big shoes as an understudy but my first time being solely responsible for a big part. It’s definitely been a dream come true for me.

However, a lot of hard work lies behind most leading performers careers. With a little bit of luck on the side to be the right person for the right part at the right time!

College and training came first. I can’t recommend it enough. That’s where you get into a routine with your singing, acting and dancing and have the chance to fail spectacularly within the safety of the college-walls. You also get the chance to meet people from the industry and create a network of helpful contacts for later.

By Michael Bolin

I went to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. I did a one year post-graduate course. I had a blast! And quite a few blisters..

I was lucky to get an agent from my showcase at college. They subsequently put me up for what was going to be my first job, Mamma Mia in the West End! I was absolutely over the moon! I remember howling down the phone to my agent when she told me. I was ensemble and covered one of the girls. I think I learned just as much that year working as I did in college. Eight shows a week is tough. You have to learn how to build up stamina and preserve your voice.

I also used that year to keep up training on the side. I had weekly singing-lessons and went to Pineapple a few times a week. I still do now whenever I have the time and money to do so.  I think it’s important to always try and improve. You’re never a “finished product”. Keep working hard, keep being curious and keep going to see other things.

You always learn from watching other performers.

From then on my career has certainly been varied. I’ve played massive arenas all over the world on the first World Tour of Mamma Mia. Tiny pub-theatre spaces with three people in the audience, fringe, UK tours, adverts, cartoon voice-overs, more West End and Wembley Stadium. I’ve been British, Swedish, an animal, Russian, naked, South African, Southern, Northern and insane. But everything has been useful and has taught me more about this bonkers business. I have also met countless wonderful people and made friends for life.

Let’s also take a moment and consider all the jobs I didn’t get!

That’s also a huge part of the business. Rejections and no’s. But you have to learn to deal with that. And remember that you are always part of a bigger plan, you have to “fit the puzzle”. The casting directors want you to do well and be right for the part but often there’s a simple thing like age, height or hair-colour in the way of you getting a recall.

Getting Legally Blonde was a dream scenario. I got an email from a director in Sweden asking about my availability the following year. He said they were thinking of candidates for Elle Woods and my name had been mentioned. I told him I was free and interested. When the time came for auditions, I was in the midst of technical rehearsals for The Three Musketeers at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, and couldn’t make it.

By Michael Bolin

Luckily I had just auditioned for Legally Blonde in town and had been put on tape. That tape then found it’s way to Sweden and two days later I had an email saying they’d be delighted for me to be their Elle Woods..if I wanted to? I didn’t have to think about it for very long.

Sometimes you can audition 8 times and still not get the job, and sometimes you don’t even have to audition!

I’ve had an amazing time with this show. It’s a very demanding part with a lot of singing, high-energy and alertness all the way through.

I’ve learned a great big heap of things. How to preserve my voice, my energy, do mega-quick costume changes and being up-staged by a dog;)

I don’t think I could have done this ten years ago. I think everything that I’ve done in my career so far has shaped me into becoming a better, nicer and more highly skilled performer. I am more humble towards my profession now than I ever was and I appreciate how hard it is. I’ll remember this whenever I see a show from now on. The leading ladies and men are working their little socks off.

And remember to see people. Everyone around you who do their up-most to make you look good. Dressers, lighting crew, sound crew, stage crew, assistants, front of house staff, stage door etc etc. Everyone has a purpose and place. And nobody likes to work with a snooty or rude actress;)

But I think I’ve also learned to have more fun. Enjoy those precious moments in the lights and think about how lucky you are. In the back of the chorus, or centre stage.

We get to have so much fun at work! There’s no business like it. Don’t give up and keep chasing those dreams.

Bring on the future!

Visit www.kaisahammarlund.com for all Kaisa’a latest news!

If you are interested in guest writing for Stage Door Mag, email advertise@stagedoormag.co.uk