Possible Clues:

• Avoid elimination
• Triumph at a salon?
• Survive an audition, and what one may do to the start of 18-, 23-, 36-, or 54-Across?
• Avoid elimination, or a hint to 17-, 31- and 46-Across
• Qualify direction to one in The Theatre
• Survive elimination ... or what one may do to the ends of 17-, 31-, 38- and 50-Across?
• Qualify encouragement for a surgeon
• Qualify for final rounds of a golf tournament
• Win a place on a team
• Stay in contention to perform as surgeon