The Green Room - An Open Letter

Reply #10 - Jun 20^th, 2010 at 11:35pm

The Childrens Theatre Offline
Ensemble
You will be surprised.
Downtown Salt Lake City

Posts: 66

Theatre is an emotional medium by nature. Actors put themselves out on the line in auditions, rehearsals and performances. It is completely understandable for feelings of frustration to accompany the processes.
Community theatre can be especially difficult in it's widely varying levels as groups work towards their productions. A little slack for those hard working people with little resources would ease the process for actors. A more critical eye should be expected from companies who have more resources at their disposal.

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Reply #11 - Jun 21^st, 2010 at 8:11am

Diane Offline
Scenery
Layton

Gender:
Posts: 14

Dexter the Halls wrote on Jun 20^th, 2010 at 11:19pm:

Great sentiment.� The only other thing I would add is that if I am directing a show, and I know someone who would be a great lead, I might invite them to audition.� If someone better auditions, great, I will cast them. If not, I will probably go with the person I invited to audition.� That is not pre-casting.� That is casting.� Just because some communication goes on outside of the audition room doesn't mean it isn't legitimate; it just means you didn't change the mind of the director even though you were given a chance.

Great point! As a director, as part of the preparation for auditions, I always contact people I know or have worked with, send general emails, etc. I want to make sure I have enough people at auditions to help make the right casting choices. Also, I have found that sometimes it's more difficult finding enough men for a small community theater production, so if you know actors you encourage them to audition. It doesn't mean that you are promising to cast them.

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Reply #12 - Jun 21^st, 2010 at 8:41am

sassyjose Offline
Ingenue
Look what I can do...
Midvale, Utah

Gender:
Posts: 586

Dexter the Halls wrote on Jun 20^th, 2010 at 11:19pm:

Great sentiment.� The only other thing I would add is that if I am directing a show, and I know someone who would be a great lead, I might invite them to audition.� If someone better auditions, great, I will cast them. If not, I will probably go with the person I invited to audition.� That is not pre-casting.� That is casting.� Just because some communication goes on outside of the audition room doesn't mean it isn't legitimate; it just means you didn't change the mind of the director even though you were given a chance.

A good director invites everyone they know to audition. A great director will ensure that there will be people audition that he or she KNOWS can play the parts. If they end up casting someone they specifically invite to audition it is not the same as pre-casting.

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Reply #13 - Jun 21^st, 2010 at 12:18pm

Silent Knight Offline
All Access
www.maniccity.tv
Manic City

Posts: 1793

The Childrens Theatre wrote on Jun 20^th, 2010 at 11:35pm:

Theatre is an emotional medium by nature. Actors put themselves out on the line in auditions, rehearsals and performances. It is completely understandable for feelings of frustration to accompany the processes.
Community theatre can be especially difficult in it's widely varying levels as groups work towards their productions. A little slack for those hard working people with little resources would ease the process for actors. A more critical eye should be expected from companies who have more resources at their disposal.

Interesting. I've thought a lot about this. In general, the bigger theatres with more resources are the ones that have left me feeling like I've been respected and treated with professionalism at an audition, but it's an interesting point that it may be easier for them to do so in some cases.

Thanks for joining th conversation

« Last Edit: Jun 21^st, 2010 at 1:23pm by Silent Knight »

http://www.maniccity.tv/

"The power is not in the mask. It's in whether we chose to wear it."
-Peter Blustrinsky

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Reply #14 - Jun 21^st, 2010 at 1:54pm

Silent Knight Offline
All Access
www.maniccity.tv
Manic City

Posts: 1793

Dexter the Halls wrote on Jun 20^th, 2010 at 11:19pm:

Great sentiment.� The only other thing I would add is that if I am directing a show, and I know someone who would be a great lead, I might invite them to audition.� If someone better auditions, great, I will cast them. If not, I will probably go with the person I invited to audition.� That is not pre-casting.� That is casting.� Just because some communication goes on outside of the audition room doesn't mean it isn't legitimate; it just means you didn't change the mind of the director even though you were given a chance.

A great addition to the conversation. Might I add something from my experience? For those people we as directors ask to audition, it's vital that we make it clear we a re asking them to to AUDITION, not to play the role. Words like "no guarantees" help. I have been on both sides of situations where an actor invited to audition assumes that they have been more or less offered the part and doesn't get it, and that creates terrible feelings. It's good to make sure the person asked to audition knows they have not been pre-cast.

I like the way this has lead into something of a calm and rational dialogue on how we, as directors or actors, can improve the situation. I see potential for great value in that.

http://www.maniccity.tv/

"The power is not in the mask. It's in whether we chose to wear it."
-Peter Blustrinsky

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Reply #15 - Jun 21^st, 2010 at 2:16pm

Cheeky Monkey Offline
Diva
Austin, TX

Gender:
Posts: 7832

Yeah I'm not seeing how what y'all suggest (i.e. specifically asking a person to audition) doesn't backfire. On the one hand, it looks to the person like they all but have the part (despite your assertion of "no guarantees") and it looks to the other auditioners like pre-casting.

If you can pull it off, good on ya. I'm just saying it would be really hard to do so.

"Depends. Did you feel anything for the pumpkin? The midgets?" -Wildcard&&&&If Mary Matalin and James Carville can make it work, ANYONE can. The end.

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Reply #16 - Jun 21^st, 2010 at 2:30pm

spiker Offline
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I'm a fruitcake.
Salt Lake City, UT

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Cheeky Monkey wrote on Jun 21^st, 2010 at 2:16pm:

Yeah I'm not seeing how what y'all suggest (i.e. specifically asking a person to audition) doesn't backfire. On the one hand, it looks to the person like they all but have the part (despite your assertion of "no guarantees") and it looks to the other auditioners like pre-casting.

If you can pull it off, good on ya. I'm just saying it would be really hard to do so.

I've seen it happen A LOT. And in almost all situations, everybody is fine with the way it works out.

"...there are more people alive now than have died in all of human history. �In other words, if everyone wanted to play Hamlet at once, they couldn't, because there aren't enough skulls!"

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Reply #17 - Jun 21^st, 2010 at 2:42pm

The Kaylee and the Ivy Offline
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Come along, Pond.
Coeur de Coeurs

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Silent Knight wrote on Jun 21^st, 2010 at 1:54pm:

Dexter the Halls wrote on Jun 20^th, 2010 at 11:19pm:

Great sentiment.� The only other thing I would add is that if I am directing a show, and I know someone who would be a great lead, I might invite them to audition.� If someone better auditions, great, I will cast them. If not, I will probably go with the person I invited to audition.� That is not pre-casting.� That is casting.� Just because some communication goes on outside of the audition room doesn't mean it isn't legitimate; it just means you didn't change the mind of the director even though you were given a chance.

A great addition to the conversation. Might I add something from my experience? For those people we as directors ask to audition, it's vital that we make it clear we a re asking them to to AUDITION, not to play the role. Words like "no guarantees" help. I have been on both sides of situations where an actor invited to audition assumes that they have been more or less offered the part and doesn't get it, and that creates terrible feelings. It's good to make sure the person asked to audition knows they have not been pre-cast.

I like the way this has lead into something of a calm and rational dialogue on how we, as directors or actors, can improve the situation. I see potential for great value in that.

I've been asked to audition before, and frankly there was no reason for the other folks auditioning to even know I had been asked. How do people even find that out? Good gravy. The only difference I felt in treatment was an added boost of confidence, knowing the director specifically wanted to see me-- it was no different than the way I feel at a callback.

Don't make assumptions. That's pretty much what auditioning has taught me. If someone asks you to audition, don't assume-- even if they're your dear friend! even if they're someone that you've worked with numerous times!-- that you have the part. That's what I think gets feelings hurt. Don't blame a pro team. Solve it yourself: don't make any assumptions. About anyone.

If we're going to die, let's die looking like a Peruvian folk band.

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Reply #18 - Jun 21^st, 2010 at 5:48pm

Silent Knight Offline
All Access
www.maniccity.tv
Manic City

Posts: 1793

An actor wants any explanation other than "you weren't right for the part" or "somebody did it better" (I know this was always true of me). As such, we look for another explanation, and you can always find a way in which it looks bad. I had an experience where I directed a play in which all but two (out of about six) leads (one of them double cast) and one ensemble member were people who I had never before met. They just showed up at the auditions, did great, and got their parts. Pretty soon the rumor mill at the theatre was saying I had cast the whole show with friends I brought in from the outside and screwed over the hard working regulars at the theatre who had been working toward leads.

There is no way a director or theatre can avoid "the apperance of evil". Again, in order to create a good show, they need to be focused on the show. A director or producer also needs a thick skin, because no matter what they do there will always be people saying nasty things about them out of hurt feelings. They have to push past this and focus on the show.

http://www.maniccity.tv/

"The power is not in the mask. It's in whether we chose to wear it."
-Peter Blustrinsky

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Reply #19 - Jun 22^nd, 2010 at 9:18am

gem2477 Offline
Ensemble
I Love PA!

Posts: 111

The Kaylee and the Ivy wrote on Jun 21^st, 2010 at 2:42pm:

Silent Knight wrote on Jun 21^st, 2010 at 1:54pm:

Dexter the Halls wrote on Jun 20^th, 2010 at 11:19pm:

Great sentiment.� The only other thing I would add is that if I am directing a show, and I know someone who would be a great lead, I might invite them to audition.� If someone better auditions, great, I will cast them. If not, I will probably go with the person I invited to audition.� That is not pre-casting.� That is casting.� Just because some communication goes on outside of the audition room doesn't mean it isn't legitimate; it just means you didn't change the mind of the director even though you were given a chance.

A great addition to the conversation. Might I add something from my experience? For those people we as directors ask to audition, it's vital that we make it clear we a re asking them to to AUDITION, not to play the role. Words like "no guarantees" help. I have been on both sides of situations where an actor invited to audition assumes that they have been more or less offered the part and doesn't get it, and that creates terrible feelings. It's good to make sure the person asked to audition knows they have not been pre-cast.

I like the way this has lead into something of a calm and rational dialogue on how we, as directors or actors, can improve the situation. I see potential for great value in that.

I've been asked to audition before, and frankly there was no reason for the other folks auditioning to even know I had been asked. How do people even find that out? Good gravy. The only difference I felt in treatment was an added boost of confidence, knowing the director specifically wanted to see me-- it was no different than the way I feel at a callback.

Don't make assumptions. That's pretty much what auditioning has taught me. If someone asks you to audition, don't assume-- even if they're your dear friend! even if they're someone that you've worked with numerous times!-- that you have the part. That's what I think gets feelings hurt. Don't blame a pro team. Solve it yourself: don't make any assumptions. About anyone.

Kaylee, I agree with you. I usually don't care who plays the parts as long as they can do it well, so I am not usually bugged by "precasting" or try to figure out who in my cast was. There are things that raise eyebrows, though.

I think people find out if someone was asked because they "notice" things and the people involved make passing comments. For example, they were at call backs and noticed that someone was cast who wasn't even there. I have a good friend who had his name read at callbacks and he didn't even audition - or was even thinking about auditioning for that show. He made a comment that he is usually is asked to be in the plays at this theater, and he gets the lead most of the time. I figured this theater did this kind of thing, even though they profess to not do it. I don't have bad feelings or start rumors, it just makes me go "hmmm"

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