BackStage Utah

The following article was in this morning's Des News:

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705255833,00.html

I found it especially interesting that Chuck Morey from PTC asks for auditioners to sing a song from the show--not a usual practice.

I also found it interesting that Sally Dietlein from Hale agreed with others on the panel that auditioners should not show up in costume. I've been to several auditions at Hale where auditioners showed up in full costume--and they were called back. I guess directors/producers there are mostly looking for talent (costumed or not)--but to me, showing up in costume shows a lack of professionalism on the actor's part.

Thoughts?

Nah, I've seen what BlueRoses is talking about at Hale auditions too.  Seems not only strange but risky to walk in with a character interpretation so strong that you've even costumed yourself.

The advice to "know your type" is still a little troubling for me.  I'm sure there are some of you out there who "know your type".  How have you determined that's your type?  Have you been told it is?  Do you always get cast as the same type?  I just really don't know what to think on this count.  I get cast in wildly different roles.  I go into auditions thinking I'd like to read for a couple of different roles and am told I have to choose one.  Hrmmm.

spiker wrote on Oct 19^th, 2008 at 6:43pm:

Same here, although I would be keen to know how does one "stretch out" into other roles?

gcarp wrote on Oct 20^th, 2008 at 2:19pm:

Some of us are considered the "ingenue type" and enjoy trying to put a new, interesting spin on those kinds of roles. They don't have to be boring. They are if you decide they are. �

First, I think you have to start with knowing what your type is NOT. I'm amazed at how many people are not willing to acknowledge that they are not right for a role. If you're 60 years old, you're not entitled to throw a conniption fit when they don't cast you as the ingenue. I'm speaking from a painful recent experience when the woman was cast in the chorus and took out her anger on the cast and creative team when "her" part was given to someone else. It made the whole experience rather miserable. Likewise, If you're 17 and you were the Sterling Scholar in drama and have been offered 20 music scholarships, that doesn't mean you should be cast as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls (outside of a high school setting). You absolutely SHOULD NOT!! Nathan's been engaged to Adelaide since you were three years old!

Acting is not an EOE business. It discriminates based on gender, race, age, height, weight, and the sound of one's voice. �Some people whine and think that's discriminatory, but it's the nature of the business.

When first discussing type, it helped me to learn about the three main body types: Which best describes you?

* Ectomorphic: characterized by long and thin muscles/limbs and low fat storage; usually referred to as slim. Often tall.

* Mesomorphic: characterized by large bones, solid torso, low fat levels, wide shoulders with a narrow waist. Think any typical leading hero type of character--sometimes leads are not mesomorphs, but they usually are.

* Endomorphic: characterized by increased fat storage, a wide waist and a large bone structure; usually referred to as stocky or chubby.

Often these types play with each other for contrast or comic effect. Seinfeld is a good example of this. Jerry is the hero--presented as the most "normal"--a mesomorph. Proportionately, he is taller than George and shorter than Kramer. George is short and pudgy--the endomorph. Kramer is tall and lanky--the ectomorph.

Of course, your type definition may depend on how a show is cast and your relation to other actors, but you will never be in all three categories. For example: a thin woman may be seen as a perfect leading lady (mesomorph) if the leading man is tall and thin, but if he's shorter than she is, she will likely be seen as an ectomorph and end up being cast in a character role. She would never be seen, however, as an endomorph.

As has been mentioned several times--it also helps to read the play and see how other characters talk about the character you wish to portray. If they call him "the skinny boy" a lot, and you weigh 300 pounds, you likely won't get the part.

All this being said--if you want to get out of the box and explore other character options, audition for people who haven't seen you before. Sometimes those who know us well only see us in one particular type of role.