Rachel Bickerton, the native Mebournite shares all about her US Green Card win and her big break of making a role in the USA Touring Company of Chicago, and she generously gave me an interview for you! My pals!

Here’s a Snippet of what she has to say + you can find out more on AussieTheatre.Com

So you’re in NY, What made you take the big plunge?

I visited NY for the first time 6 years ago on a world trip and fell in love instantly. It really is a dreamland for performers, artists anyone with a creative bone in their body. Every Street or Avenue you turn down there’s something going on, from theatre, fashion, food, photography you name it, its happening and that completely excites me.

I entered the lottery a few years ago after a dear friend who is a musician from NY pushed me to do it. I’ll never forget him saying, “Bicko you need to enter the green card lottery, if any one is gonna win it you are” …. and as we had a laugh about it, we still to this day recall that feeling of fate planting its seeds.

Six months later I received a letter in the mail and there it was I had been selected and was officially in the process of having a 10 year visa.

How Awesome!  But Some People might feel that leaving behind your contacts at home can be quite a risk?

You can look at it as a risk or an opportunity to make more. I have worked in the industry back home for the past 10 years. It takes time to make contacts and for people to know who you are, but I also believe if you’re a hard worker and have a good reputation people will always remember you.

What was the audition process like going in for your Chicago audition?  Was it an open call or agency call?  Were there any parts available or just a technicality?

I actually auditioned 3 times… I went to an EPA (Equity Principle Audition) back in December where I sang and met with the casting people. They weren’t looking to cast any roles back then it was just a general go see. I then attended another singing audition about a month ago where the guy on the panel didn’t even raise his head to look at me and say hello. I was in complete shock after that experience. Then I finally attended a dance audition a week after that and I knew as soon as I walked in the room this was a real audition. They explained exactly what they were looking for and the upcoming tours. We learnt “All that Jazz” and then they cut from about 40 of us down to 4. Once again it was an open equity call so there were a few hundred people there trying to be seen. All the auditions I attended were Equity calls, and only one out of the three were they actually looking to cast roles.

READ MORE AT AUSSIE THEATRE.COM