Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Kids trying out for Community Theatre

Author

Message

MartyW
Celebrity

Joined: 2/02/04
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 555

Posted: 10/05/07 at 11:41am

Again, I agree with all. That a good training program helps, if not cast join the crew, keep trying theater comes with rejection... But I do want to add one more thing... Its not fair, but very often directors will go with proven commodities or, in the adult world, thier friends.. it happens.. ALOT.. Getting a "chance" can be a long time in comming.. Hopefully thier desire wont give out first... Break a leg!

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

IP Logged

4ofustogether
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 10/03/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 10/05/07 at 1:32pm

Thank you for saying that. Now I know the feelings I had about the auditions were not just far fetched. One child that made a part for this next play, and to my knowlegde has only tried out for two plays and made a speaker part in that one too, is related to a big star and I just knew there was more too it then being the right person for the part. This child does have talent, but I saw (and not my kids though) many other kids that didn't get parts that really out shined this child. It just doesn't seem fair, but that's life. It isn't fair and the rich and powerful will always get their way more then us common folk. Thanks for listen, your comments have help a lot.

IP Logged

Gaafa
Celebrity

Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181

Posted: 10/05/07 at 11:45pm

Your feelings would be more than likely be inline with the other parents, as you have outlined the situation.
But it is not so stange that this does go on in ameatre & even with the pros. Lets face it this kind of things happen, even in the best of circles.
I think this is added value grounding for you daughters, to grow from in this game.
In fact the time will come when only one will miss out, which can be a drama in it's self!
I know my grand daughter went thru something similar with so called drama school & theatre for the tin lids.
I though I had messed it up, when I directed 'a chorus line' & excluded her because she was just too young & also being my grand daughter.
She was 16 & they had to be 17 as a minimum age to be in the show.
We had about 400 who auditioned, yet there was only 17 needed on the Line. So I boosted the cast by adding 8 extras & created dance pieces to back songs like 'At the Balet' by having them dance behind a scrim, along with other supporting scenes. To give them something to do besides at the beginning & end of the show.
Anyway we had video taped all the auditionees & I was over ruled By the production team to include my grand daughter.
I advised my daughter & explained she was on her own & would have to handle things like, "you only got in because of your grand dad" - which I didn't want to exspose her to. But she gave as good as she got & learnt how to handle it - [They are like water, they will find thier own level.]
I had to recast & promote all the male extras & 2 of the females into the Line for the show. My grand daughter was not one of them, although she was old enough by then, could dance, sing, play the piano & Trombone. She was still my grand daughter!
I know she learnt a lot from the situation, so much so she wants to start her up a theatre group.
I believe it did her more good than harm & it would stand her in good stead in the future - at least that's my hope!
Anyway besides all my woffle, I think your girls will be far better prepared to take the knocks, by doing it the hard way, they will gain a great attitude - Get them to keep on keeping on & pushing it up the hill.
As there is plenty of room at the top apparently! Wink

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

IP Logged

Nanette
Celebrity

Joined: 8/01/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 399

Posted: 10/08/07 at 7:09am

The one thing I haven't seen mentioned anywhere here is the fact that someone is often cast because they look the part. I've personally cast someone because they look like I want a character to look over someone who might be a bit more talented. (Face it, Tiny Tim can't be 6' tall and weigh 200 lbs!) :o)

In a world of margarine, be butter!

IP Logged

MartyW
Celebrity

Joined: 2/02/04
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 555

Posted: 10/08/07 at 11:44am

True.... Nan.. True.. I was just going on the assumption that all things were actually equal... Not fair, but equal..

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

IP Logged

whitebat
Celebrity

Joined: 8/05/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 137

Posted: 11/26/07 at 9:11pm

I know the kids who got into our last show had some special qualities. Being a child of one of the actors (or dragging Mom to the audition and making her audition too!), being able to sing, being able to play the recorder, previous experience acting. Oh, and parent/guardian willing to work backstage. It is not mainly a troupe for kids, but a lot of shows have roles for a few kids. Our biggest problem with the kids was parents who didn't want them out that late on a school night, or couldn't figure out how to feed them supper at a decent time. I have to say, many of them were better behaved and more professional than members of the adult CT I acted in one show with in HS. I have also seen directors kids and HS kids younger siblings cast in shows because of the family connection.

IP Logged

Other Topics
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Other Topics

Topic: Kids trying out for Community Theatre( Topic Closed)
	<< Prev Page of 2

Author	Message
MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 10/05/07 at 11:41am
	Again, I agree with all. That a good training program helps, if not cast join the crew, keep trying theater comes with rejection... But I do want to add one more thing... Its not fair, but very often directors will go with proven commodities or, in the adult world, thier friends.. it happens.. ALOT.. Getting a "chance" can be a long time in comming.. Hopefully thier desire wont give out first... Break a leg!
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."
	IP Logged

4ofustogether Walk-On Joined: 10/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/05/07 at 1:32pm
	Thank you for saying that. Now I know the feelings I had about the auditions were not just far fetched. One child that made a part for this next play, and to my knowlegde has only tried out for two plays and made a speaker part in that one too, is related to a big star and I just knew there was more too it then being the right person for the part. This child does have talent, but I saw (and not my kids though) many other kids that didn't get parts that really out shined this child. It just doesn't seem fair, but that's life. It isn't fair and the rich and powerful will always get their way more then us common folk. Thanks for listen, your comments have help a lot.
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 10/05/07 at 11:45pm
	Your feelings would be more than likely be inline with the other parents, as you have outlined the situation. But it is not so stange that this does go on in ameatre & even with the pros. Lets face it this kind of things happen, even in the best of circles. I think this is added value grounding for you daughters, to grow from in this game. In fact the time will come when only one will miss out, which can be a drama in it's self! I know my grand daughter went thru something similar with so called drama school & theatre for the tin lids. I though I had messed it up, when I directed 'a chorus line' & excluded her because she was just too young & also being my grand daughter. She was 16 & they had to be 17 as a minimum age to be in the show. We had about 400 who auditioned, yet there was only 17 needed on the Line. So I boosted the cast by adding 8 extras & created dance pieces to back songs like 'At the Balet' by having them dance behind a scrim, along with other supporting scenes. To give them something to do besides at the beginning & end of the show. Anyway we had video taped all the auditionees & I was over ruled By the production team to include my grand daughter. I advised my daughter & explained she was on her own & would have to handle things like, "you only got in because of your grand dad" - which I didn't want to exspose her to. But she gave as good as she got & learnt how to handle it - [They are like water, they will find thier own level.] I had to recast & promote all the male extras & 2 of the females into the Line for the show. My grand daughter was not one of them, although she was old enough by then, could dance, sing, play the piano & Trombone. She was still my grand daughter! I know she learnt a lot from the situation, so much so she wants to start her up a theatre group. I believe it did her more good than harm & it would stand her in good stead in the future - at least that's my hope! Anyway besides all my woffle, I think your girls will be far better prepared to take the knocks, by doing it the hard way, they will gain a great attitude - Get them to keep on keeping on & pushing it up the hill. As there is plenty of room at the top apparently!
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Posted: 10/08/07 at 7:09am
	The one thing I haven't seen mentioned anywhere here is the fact that someone is often cast because they look the part. I've personally cast someone because they look like I want a character to look over someone who might be a bit more talented. (Face it, Tiny Tim can't be 6' tall and weigh 200 lbs!) :o)
	In a world of margarine, be butter!
	IP Logged

MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 10/08/07 at 11:44am
	True.... Nan.. True.. I was just going on the assumption that all things were actually equal... Not fair, but equal..
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."
	IP Logged

whitebat Celebrity Joined: 8/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 137	Posted: 11/26/07 at 9:11pm
	I know the kids who got into our last show had some special qualities. Being a child of one of the actors (or dragging Mom to the audition and making her audition too!), being able to sing, being able to play the recorder, previous experience acting. Oh, and parent/guardian willing to work backstage. It is not mainly a troupe for kids, but a lot of shows have roles for a few kids. Our biggest problem with the kids was parents who didn't want them out that late on a school night, or couldn't figure out how to feed them supper at a decent time. I have to say, many of them were better behaved and more professional than members of the adult CT I acted in one show with in HS. I have also seen directors kids and HS kids younger siblings cast in shows because of the family connection.
	IP Logged