On Stage, Ready, Go!

On Stage, Ready, Go!

"On Stage, Ready, Go!" is the podcast of the Musicalschule Ahrensburg. Hauke Wendt offers behind-the-scenes insights into a theatre school for acting, dance and singing — from trial lessons and safeguarding to questions of tolerance and community. Honest conversations about everyday life at a school that trains young and adult performers.

🎧 15 Episoden
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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Hobbys statt Schulstress: Warum Freizeitaktivitäten wichtiger sind 34 Minuten 50 Sekunden
S02E03

Hobbys statt Schulstress: Warum Freizeitaktivitäten wichtiger sind

Bereiten wir unsere Kinder auf Prüfungen oder auf das Leben vor? In dieser Episode der Musicalschule Ahrensburg diskutieren Hauke Wendt und Marc Brendemühl, warum Hobbys für die Entwicklung junger Menschen oft wichtiger sind als gute Schulnoten. Sie sprechen über den enormen Druck im Schulsystem, fehlende Freiräume für persönliche Interessen und wie außerschulische Aktivitäten – ob Theater, Sport oder andere Leidenschaften – Kindern helfen, ihre Stärken zu entdecken und soziale Kompetenzen zu entwickeln. Ein offenes Gespräch über Berufswahl, Umwege im Leben und warum "Failure" in unserer Gesellschaft zu wenig akzeptiert wird.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – The Loud and the Quiet: Who Gets Heard? 25 Minuten 38 Sekunden
S02E02

The Loud and the Quiet: Who Gets Heard?

At Musicalschule Ahrensburg near Hamburg, founder Hauke Wendt and co-host Marc Brendemühl have noticed a fascinating phenomenon: parents worry that their quiet children won't be able to hold their own on stage, but the opposite is often true. In this episode, they provocatively discuss whether it's really the loud who get heard while the quiet get overlooked. They reveal why many theatre professionals are far quieter in private than you might think, how being loud is sometimes just a displacement activity, and why empathy and teamwork ultimately matter more than a loud voice.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Is talent overrated? Hard work over natural ability 19 Minuten 49 Sekunden
S02E01

Is talent overrated? Hard work over natural ability

Is talent really the most important thing for success? In the first episode of the second season of "Auf die Bühne, fertig, los!", Hauke Wendt and Marc Brendemühl discuss a surprising topic: talent is massively overrated. The hosts of the Musicalschule Ahrensburg podcast (near Hamburg) look at why hard work and perseverance are often more important than supposed natural ability – and why the saying "Talent doesn't buy bread rolls" is so central for every artist. An honest conversation about the path to professional success in the performing arts.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – The leap into the unknown: making decisions without a guarantee 16 Minuten 18 Sekunden
S01E11

The leap into the unknown: making decisions without a guarantee

In this solo episode from Musicalschule Ahrensburg (near Hamburg), Hauke Wendt talks about a philosophical question that affects everyone: why do we sometimes know exactly what we should do, and still not do it? He explores the concept of "akrasia" and the difference between rational decisions and decisions made out of fear. The focus is particularly on artistic careers, but also on all the other big and small changes in life that we keep putting off. It's an invitation to take an honest look: am I really deciding against something, or am I just deciding not to have to find out?

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Finding your own path: why success isn't the first question 10 Minuten 32 Sekunden
S01E10

Finding your own path: why success isn't the first question

In this episode, Hauke Wendt talks about the most important decision aspiring performers make: not the question of success, but whether you want to start finding out where the path could lead at all. Musicalschule Ahrensburg has observed that many young people need exactly this permission – and so it launched the MSA On Track programme. Hauke tells the story of a student who showed how a real decision can inspire others, and explains why intensive mentoring should be accessible to everyone, not just those with the biggest budget.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – From Maybe to Yes: How We Rediscover Firm Commitment 12 Minuten 50 Sekunden
S01E09

From Maybe to Yes: How We Rediscover Firm Commitment

In this episode, Hauke Wendt explores how we make decisions today — and why an abundance of choice can leave us paralysed rather than inspired. Starting from Facebook’s “Maybe” button, he traces how our culture of commitment has changed, and what that means for genuine community. The managing director of Musicalschule Ahrensburg (near Hamburg) shows why, in ensembles and projects as in so many areas of life, a story never begins with “maybe” — it begins with “yes”. A thought-provoking talk about flexibility, responsibility, and the things that truly matter in life.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Growth Happens Through Persistence – 7 Insights From a School Year 11 Minuten 51 Sekunden
S01E08

Growth Happens Through Persistence – 7 Insights From a School Year

In this special episode, headmaster Hauke Wendt takes a personal look back at a full school year at the Musicalschule Ahrensburg (near Hamburg). Instead of a list of events, he shares seven profound insights into what really makes people grow: the difference between talent and hard work, the underrated power of community, and why the biggest things often start small. This episode is less a typical podcast instalment and more a reflection on what it means to build something together – and why it's sometimes so hard to hold on to the very thing we want most.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Why musical theatre students learn acting, dance and singing [S01E07] 14 Minuten 38 Sekunden
S01E07

Why musical theatre students learn acting, dance and singing [S01E07]

What exactly is a musical theatre course and how is it structured? Hauke Wendt and Marc Brendemühl explain the core of the Ahrensburg Musical Theatre School: the combination of acting, dance and singing in 90 minutes a week. They discuss age groups ranging from 3-year-olds to adults, the specific curriculum agreed with the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, flexible lesson planning, and why English musical theatre training serves as the model.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Performances at the musical theatre school: compulsory or voluntary? 24 Minuten 10 Sekunden
S01E06

Performances at the musical theatre school: compulsory or voluntary?

Performances are at the heart of a performing arts school – but do all pupils really have to go on stage? In this episode from the Ahrensburg Musical Theatre School (near Hamburg), Hauke Wendt and Marc Brendemühl discuss the importance of performances, how the school deals with students who suffer from performance anxiety, and why even former professionals choose to teach without appearing on stage themselves. They recount spectacular guest performances – from the ‘Thriller’ dance featuring 150 dancers at Hamburg Central Station to the ‘Back to the 50’s’ revue. An in-depth conversation about the balance between performance and craft.

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Podcast On Stage, Ready, Go! – Singing Lessons: Quality, Not Compromise 14 Minuten 42 Sekunden
S01E05

Singing Lessons: Quality, Not Compromise

In this episode, Hauke Wendt and Marc Brendemühl talk about the singing tuition on offer at Musicalschule Ahrensburg, near Hamburg. The focus: the new one-to-one singing lessons with experienced instructors Tony Kent and Katrin Redepenning, who has newly joined as Head of Voice & Acting. Hauke talks about his long-standing collaboration with Tony (over 25 years!) and explains why the school deliberately prioritises quality over low prices. Hear how quickly beginners make progress, who the offer is right for, and how you can even give a lesson as a voucher.

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