How I Landed My Dream Theatre Role by Auditioning on TikTok
Earlier this year, thousands of aspiring performers took to TikTok, posting videos of themselves singing in hopes of launching their big break. For one lucky individual, that dream became a reality.
In January, the producers of the UK version of the Broadway sensation “Dear Evan Hansen” initiated a nationwide talent search ahead of their upcoming tour. This multi-award-winning musical, which debuted in 2016, follows the story of Evan as he goes viral, making TikTok a fitting platform for the audition process.
Director Adam Penford kicked off the search with a video announcement, stating that his team was on the lookout for the “next generation of talent.” Hopeful actors were invited to upload audition tapes of themselves singing “You Will Be Found,” a pivotal song from the play, aiming to secure a real-life audition.
Out of the 2,000 hopefuls who applied, fewer than 2% were invited to audition. From this final pool of 36, Sonny Monaghan emerged as the standout and was recently revealed as the understudy for the lead role.
Monaghan’s success story highlights the evolving landscape of talent discovery, where social media platforms like TikTok can serve as launching pads for aspiring performers to land their dream roles in prestigious productions.