Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Need actors!

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smvaz
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Topic: Need actors!
Posted: 3/05/08 at 8:55am

Oh dear, I really need some help. I have spent the last year beginning a new community theater group. We have a board of officers, members, rehearsal space for free and a performance space for very little. Sound good? I thought so until last night when, at auditions for our first play, I did not get enough people to cast the play. It was in the local papers more than once, flyers around town, the people in the group so supportive and BAM; the play is not fully cast.
What do I do?

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Nanette
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Posted: 3/05/08 at 10:13am

Get on the phone and call every person you (and your board members know) and ask them to call their friends, etc. and invite them to another audition. I've done this more than once to fill out a cast. People often don't think they'll get a part, but end up do because we're short people.

You should also look at your script and see if some of the parts can't be doubled.

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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Linda S
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Posted: 3/05/08 at 10:20am

What Nanette said. Do that. Even well established community theaters have to get on the phone sometimes.

Linda

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jayzehr
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Posted: 3/05/08 at 4:30pm

Just out of curiousity, how big is the cast for the show you're doing? Is it primarily men you need?

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stgdirector4
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Posted: 3/05/08 at 4:38pm

Exactly what Nanette and Linda S said! Here in NJ the situation is a little different, but the remedy is the same. There are so many theatres producing at the same time that many shows are cast by "who can email or phone the best actors first."

Are there any colleges nearby that have drama departments? They may know of available actors.

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smvaz
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Posted: 3/13/08 at 12:08pm

Thank you all soooo much for your help. I did exactly what you said and cast the show! That's the good news. Bad news, a couple of characters are not too great. Do you fire them for being lousy? Switch roles? When is it too late? We are in the 1st week of rehearsal. Thanks.

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Linda S
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Posted: 3/13/08 at 2:02pm

If they are working hard and want to be part of the show, I would keep them. Look for their strengths and and spend extra time with them. Everyone can get better. Keep it all positive and you'll be surprised how far they can come.

Linda

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jayzehr
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Posted: 3/13/08 at 6:10pm

You can't fire someone for just for being lousy. That's opening a huge can of worms not just for this show but the future of your theater group as well.

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TonyDi
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Posted: 3/14/08 at 8:02am

SMVAZ,

As Linda S said, don't fire someone just because they're lousy. Well they MAY be lousy NOW.....but I've always said that (in most cases) the actors are only as good as the director or at least as good as the director can make them or nurture them to be for the intended purpose. Means the onus is on YOU as director to get them to the point where they need to be by the time the show opens. That might mean extra work for you as director, but then oh, well!! I once cast a girl in Steel Magnolias for the role of Annelle. She had NEVER EVER set foot on a stage, never did a show, had ZERO experience, and just actually tried out on a chance for a first shot. During auditions - and GOD was THAT a near nightmare - we had 95 women audition in two days.....I spoke to her about what I wanted her to try just to see what she could do with it, and I was pleasantly surprised to see her respond VERY well to my instruction. I CAST HER. 6 weeks later she was one of the best elements of the show - keeping her own VERY VERY well with the more seasoned actresses.

So it CAN be done. Means more work, more time investment to help them BE BETTER than they are, and using techniques to get them to where they need to be. Just don't make up YOUR mind about them until YOU have given them the benefit of what YOU as director can do to help them get what they need to be the best they can possibly be FOR YOU and the show. Good luck. Let us know how it all turns out - it would be interesting to hear of the success and positive improvement of someone who while they might not be great, can certainly be helped to be good and even reasonably better than lousy.

TonyDi

"Almost famous"

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smvaz
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Posted: 3/14/08 at 9:36am

Thank you all so much for your help. We will just try harder. I did use the term "lousy" poorly though. Our lead (a talented and seasoned actor) has an extremely bad back, which I was unaware of, and spent the first night of blocking groaning and lying on the floor, leaving early. He since had a shot and has improved some. The role requires some energy and movement. Our cast ranges from 15 to 80 years of age, and the 80 year old is a bit off balance and confused. However, your posts have helped and we will find a way to do this! Thank you so much.

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

Author	Message
smvaz Walk-On Joined: 3/05/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Need actors! Posted: 3/05/08 at 8:55am
	Oh dear, I really need some help. I have spent the last year beginning a new community theater group. We have a board of officers, members, rehearsal space for free and a performance space for very little. Sound good? I thought so until last night when, at auditions for our first play, I did not get enough people to cast the play. It was in the local papers more than once, flyers around town, the people in the group so supportive and BAM; the play is not fully cast. What do I do?

	IP Logged

Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Posted: 3/05/08 at 10:13am
	Get on the phone and call every person you (and your board members know) and ask them to call their friends, etc. and invite them to another audition. I've done this more than once to fill out a cast. People often don't think they'll get a part, but end up do because we're short people. You should also look at your script and see if some of the parts can't be doubled.
	In a world of margarine, be butter!
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 3/05/08 at 10:20am
	What Nanette said. Do that. Even well established community theaters have to get on the phone sometimes. Linda
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jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 3/05/08 at 4:30pm
	Just out of curiousity, how big is the cast for the show you're doing? Is it primarily men you need?
	IP Logged

stgdirector4 Walk-On Joined: 12/29/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/05/08 at 4:38pm
	Exactly what Nanette and Linda S said! Here in NJ the situation is a little different, but the remedy is the same. There are so many theatres producing at the same time that many shows are cast by "who can email or phone the best actors first." Are there any colleges nearby that have drama departments? They may know of available actors.
	IP Logged

smvaz Walk-On Joined: 3/05/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/13/08 at 12:08pm
	Thank you all soooo much for your help. I did exactly what you said and cast the show! That's the good news. Bad news, a couple of characters are not too great. Do you fire them for being lousy? Switch roles? When is it too late? We are in the 1st week of rehearsal. Thanks.
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 3/13/08 at 2:02pm
	If they are working hard and want to be part of the show, I would keep them. Look for their strengths and and spend extra time with them. Everyone can get better. Keep it all positive and you'll be surprised how far they can come. Linda
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 3/13/08 at 6:10pm
	You can't fire someone for just for being lousy. That's opening a huge can of worms not just for this show but the future of your theater group as well.
	IP Logged

TonyDi Celebrity Joined: 9/13/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 3/14/08 at 8:02am
	SMVAZ, As Linda S said, don't fire someone just because they're lousy. Well they MAY be lousy NOW.....but I've always said that (in most cases) the actors are only as good as the director or at least as good as the director can make them or nurture them to be for the intended purpose. Means the onus is on YOU as director to get them to the point where they need to be by the time the show opens. That might mean extra work for you as director, but then oh, well!! I once cast a girl in Steel Magnolias for the role of Annelle. She had NEVER EVER set foot on a stage, never did a show, had ZERO experience, and just actually tried out on a chance for a first shot. During auditions - and GOD was THAT a near nightmare - we had 95 women audition in two days.....I spoke to her about what I wanted her to try just to see what she could do with it, and I was pleasantly surprised to see her respond VERY well to my instruction. I CAST HER. 6 weeks later she was one of the best elements of the show - keeping her own VERY VERY well with the more seasoned actresses. So it CAN be done. Means more work, more time investment to help them BE BETTER than they are, and using techniques to get them to where they need to be. Just don't make up YOUR mind about them until YOU have given them the benefit of what YOU as director can do to help them get what they need to be the best they can possibly be FOR YOU and the show. Good luck. Let us know how it all turns out - it would be interesting to hear of the success and positive improvement of someone who while they might not be great, can certainly be helped to be good and even reasonably better than lousy. TonyDi
	"Almost famous"
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smvaz Walk-On Joined: 3/05/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/14/08 at 9:36am
	Thank you all so much for your help. We will just try harder. I did use the term "lousy" poorly though. Our lead (a talented and seasoned actor) has an extremely bad back, which I was unaware of, and spent the first night of blocking groaning and lying on the floor, leaving early. He since had a shot and has improved some. The role requires some energy and movement. Our cast ranges from 15 to 80 years of age, and the 80 year old is a bit off balance and confused. However, your posts have helped and we will find a way to do this! Thank you so much.
	IP Logged

Topic: Need actors!( Topic Closed)
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