Brian Hutchison '00 (M.F.A.) got his first Broadway gig shortly after graduating from USD.

finished the master of fine arts program, packed my car and headed back to New York to once again make a go of it as an actor when, on a desert highway outside Albuquerque, my cell phone rang.

"Hi, this is the casting office of Lincoln Center Theatre," said the voice on the other end. "We saw your showcase presentation in New York, and were wondering if you were available for a role in 'The Invention of Love' on Broadway."

My reply? "Uh, yeah, I'm available. I'm just ... like ... in New Mexico."

I got the script faxed to me at a Kinko's and hightailed it to NYC. The audition went great, and I got the job. Maybe there was perfect planet alignment involved, and not everyone is that lucky, but here's some advice that might help.

First, get an agent. You can't get seen without a reputable one. Get a flexible job. My job as a proofreader allowed me to survive while waiting months for an audition, and then cramming as many as eight into one week.

Have a thick skin. There are minor and major letdowns, and it's important to learn how to handle them.

Finally, be patient. I auditioned four times for a national tour of the long-running Broadway play "Proof." I was set to do another play when I got a call that "Proof" needed a replacement. I went in, for the fifth time, and got the part.