Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: too old/ too young

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lola
Walk-On
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Joined: 4/02/07
Location: United States
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Topic: too old/ too young
Posted: 4/02/07 at 12:48pm

hi. i'm an enthusiastic 18 year old in a community that is mostly retired people. the local community theatre is doing "The Rainmaker", and i would love to play the role of lizzie. i have played older roles before because there arnt many people that do community theatre around here under 50, but it was always a favor-for-a-freind-after-auditions-when-they-cant-find-anyone-that-age-thats-any-good sort of thing.

of course, theres much more interest in this show than usual, and i wanted to know if anyone had any sugestions to posibly help me look 27. i thought about breaking out a little ben nye old age make up....i'm just kidding. i'm tall and already look mid-twenties, not 18. but is there something else i should try to do? maybe dress older or even a little shadow under the eyes?i really do read well for the part, but i just hate it when the director says "i wish you were just a little older/younger/thiner/chubbier/taller/shorter/ect.". any advice?

you know you work in community theatre when your couch has been in more shows than you have.

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eveharrington
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Joined: 8/28/06
Location: United States
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Posts: 198

Posted: 4/03/07 at 2:35am

unfortunately there is not a lot to be done about this issue of not "looking" right for a part, a director will always have at least a vague visualization of the characters in their mind before auditions even start, a smart director is able to look past that preconceived notion when appropriate and cast the person in front of them who is most likely to deliver the performance they want, but not all directors are smart, as for looking 27, well I'm 27 and the main thing I would tell you is to dress nice and simple so that it is easy for the director to imagine you in costume and make-up and see what a difference that alone can make, also, be confident! someone whos 27 should be a little more comfortable in their own skin than an 18yr old would normally be

"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."

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red diva
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Joined: 5/15/06
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Posts: 199

Posted: 4/03/07 at 7:34pm

PLEASE don't mess around with trying to make yourself look older! By far the best approach is to give the best darned reading that you can at auditions. Know the character, prepare, read and reread the play, and arrive at the auditions full of confidence that you are ready to give a good, honest reading.

It really depends on who else shows up. If someone else of the right age is there and gives a reading equal or superior to yours, well..... But if not, then......!!

Go for it, and break a leg!!

"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"

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lola
Walk-On
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Joined: 4/02/07
Location: United States
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Posted: 4/03/07 at 9:22pm

thanks, but i just came back from the audition and i dont think its good news. i got a call back from last nights audition, but it dident go so hot tonight. its just an age thig i geuss, but its just so frustrating to think that its something i just cant change. oh well. thanks for your help!

you know you work in community theatre when your couch has been in more shows than you have.

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eveharrington
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Joined: 8/28/06
Location: United States
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Posts: 198

Posted: 4/03/07 at 10:53pm

Don't be discouraged, I got a rejection call for the Odd Couple once where the director just said right out that he liked my reading but the actors playing Felix and Oscar would come off as perverts if he cast me as a pigeon sister. It happens, you just have to get on stage wherever you can, learn everything possible and then when you're 24 and the right age for everything, you'll be prepared.

"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."

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lola
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 4/02/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 4/04/07 at 8:01am

thanks again.24? i have something to look forward to

you know you work in community theatre when your couch has been in more shows than you have.

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jayzehr
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Joined: 8/11/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 537

Posted: 4/05/07 at 5:55pm

I'm sure there are at least a few of us here who wish we had the problem of looking too young for a part :)

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theGeneral96
Player
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Joined: 4/06/07
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 4/06/07 at 2:45pm

Been where you are. When I was in my early twebties, all the shows in our area called for 30-40 yearold characters. After a few years with no luck at auditions,("you just look too young for-insert char. name here") I managed to convince a long time director that I could look like what she needed. I usuall do 1-2 shows a year since. Best of luck and don't get discouraged!

ps-I'm 34 now and playing 45-50 yearolds! How I wish I looked too young now!!!!

It's been Surreal!

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avcastner
Star
Star

Joined: 12/21/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 85

Posted: 4/11/07 at 11:21pm

Working with youthful actors (teens), I am constantly casting teenagers as older people. If you want to be believable, work on a higher-pitched, thin voice, a change in posture, and a change in walk. If it is a comedic role, bring a cane and use it hilariously. You can do it!

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falstaff29
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Joined: 9/17/04
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 155

Posted: 4/17/07 at 5:28pm

Lola,

Don't worry about it too much. Speaking as a director, I can say that appearance (unfortunately) does matter. As an actor, I can say that it'll even out- I've been rejected from roles because of my appearance, but it's also on occasion given me the edge to beat out my competitors.

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Acting
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Acting

Author	Message
lola Walk-On Joined: 4/02/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: too old/ too young Posted: 4/02/07 at 12:48pm
	hi. i'm an enthusiastic 18 year old in a community that is mostly retired people. the local community theatre is doing "The Rainmaker", and i would love to play the role of lizzie. i have played older roles before because there arnt many people that do community theatre around here under 50, but it was always a favor-for-a-freind-after-auditions-when-they-cant-find-anyone-that-age-thats-any-good sort of thing. of course, theres much more interest in this show than usual, and i wanted to know if anyone had any sugestions to posibly help me look 27. i thought about breaking out a little ben nye old age make up....i'm just kidding. i'm tall and already look mid-twenties, not 18. but is there something else i should try to do? maybe dress older or even a little shadow under the eyes?i really do read well for the part, but i just hate it when the director says "i wish you were just a little older/younger/thiner/chubbier/taller/shorter/ect.". any advice?
	you know you work in community theatre when your couch has been in more shows than you have.

	IP Logged

eveharrington Celebrity Joined: 8/28/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 198	Posted: 4/03/07 at 2:35am
	unfortunately there is not a lot to be done about this issue of not "looking" right for a part, a director will always have at least a vague visualization of the characters in their mind before auditions even start, a smart director is able to look past that preconceived notion when appropriate and cast the person in front of them who is most likely to deliver the performance they want, but not all directors are smart, as for looking 27, well I'm 27 and the main thing I would tell you is to dress nice and simple so that it is easy for the director to imagine you in costume and make-up and see what a difference that alone can make, also, be confident! someone whos 27 should be a little more comfortable in their own skin than an 18yr old would normally be
	"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."
	IP Logged

red diva Celebrity Joined: 5/15/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 199	Posted: 4/03/07 at 7:34pm
	PLEASE don't mess around with trying to make yourself look older! By far the best approach is to give the best darned reading that you can at auditions. Know the character, prepare, read and reread the play, and arrive at the auditions full of confidence that you are ready to give a good, honest reading. It really depends on who else shows up. If someone else of the right age is there and gives a reading equal or superior to yours, well..... But if not, then......!! Go for it, and break a leg!!
	"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"
	IP Logged

lola Walk-On Joined: 4/02/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/03/07 at 9:22pm
	thanks, but i just came back from the audition and i dont think its good news. i got a call back from last nights audition, but it dident go so hot tonight. its just an age thig i geuss, but its just so frustrating to think that its something i just cant change. oh well. thanks for your help!
	you know you work in community theatre when your couch has been in more shows than you have.
	IP Logged

eveharrington Celebrity Joined: 8/28/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 198	Posted: 4/03/07 at 10:53pm
	Don't be discouraged, I got a rejection call for the Odd Couple once where the director just said right out that he liked my reading but the actors playing Felix and Oscar would come off as perverts if he cast me as a pigeon sister. It happens, you just have to get on stage wherever you can, learn everything possible and then when you're 24 and the right age for everything, you'll be prepared.
	"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."
	IP Logged

lola Walk-On Joined: 4/02/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/04/07 at 8:01am
	thanks again.24? i have something to look forward to
	you know you work in community theatre when your couch has been in more shows than you have.
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 4/05/07 at 5:55pm
	I'm sure there are at least a few of us here who wish we had the problem of looking too young for a part :)
	IP Logged

theGeneral96 Player Joined: 4/06/07 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/06/07 at 2:45pm
	Been where you are. When I was in my early twebties, all the shows in our area called for 30-40 yearold characters. After a few years with no luck at auditions,("you just look too young for-insert char. name here") I managed to convince a long time director that I could look like what she needed. I usuall do 1-2 shows a year since. Best of luck and don't get discouraged! ps-I'm 34 now and playing 45-50 yearolds! How I wish I looked too young now!!!!
	It's been Surreal!
	IP Logged

avcastner Star Joined: 12/21/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 85	Posted: 4/11/07 at 11:21pm
	Working with youthful actors (teens), I am constantly casting teenagers as older people. If you want to be believable, work on a higher-pitched, thin voice, a change in posture, and a change in walk. If it is a comedic role, bring a cane and use it hilariously. You can do it!
	IP Logged

falstaff29 Celebrity Joined: 9/17/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 155	Posted: 4/17/07 at 5:28pm
	Lola, Don't worry about it too much. Speaking as a director, I can say that appearance (unfortunately) does matter. As an actor, I can say that it'll even out- I've been rejected from roles because of my appearance, but it's also on occasion given me the edge to beat out my competitors.
	IP Logged

Topic: too old/ too young( Topic Closed)
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