I will be directing my first show in January, "Sabrina Fair". There is a girl who will be a senior this year who has been in many shows at our theatre (although not in a lead role) who has approached me about being involved in the show for her final project either onstage, or behind as stagemanager. My dilema is since this is her graduating project do I make her sm and forgo her auditioning, or would it be acceptible to have her audition now, and if I like what she gives precast her as Sabrina... and if I feel she's not right then make her stage manager. She's a wonderful girl and I have no doubts about her sm abilities, I would just hate for her (and us) to miss the opportunity of a great character. But as an actor I know the frustration of a role that is 'precast', Especially a lead. Help please!!

Let's say you audition her now and she does well. What if when you cast the rest of the show it turns out her characterization doesn't mesh well with the other performers? When I've cast shows or been in on casting shows I find it best to have everyone there so you can see how they work as an ensemble. If you precast her, she could still be there, but I imagine that'd be pretty uncomfortable for everyone involved.

I've always been pretty anti-precasting.  If she needs to audition early, that's fine... take copious notes, even videotape the audition... but I wouldn't officially offer her the role until after you've seen all the other auditions in January (or whenever the real auditions are).  That's a fairly long ways off, who knows how many more offers are going to come her way before then.  Plus, you never know, you could get a better Sabrina when the actual time comes. 

So, early audition good, but let her know that you can't officially offer her a role until you've seen all the others.  I think that's fair.

Coincidentally, I'm TDing a production of Sabrina Fair right now.  It's a wonderful show.  Good luck with your casting!

K

Thanks for the imput, it's helped alot. Pretty much confirmed how I was feeling, so it's good to hear from all you as well. I think what we're going to do is if her project proposal can be vague (I will be working with ct on production) and she can wait until Jan to finalize we'll have her audition at that time. If she gets the part that's her project, if not cast she will SM.

Originally posted by MartyW And then again... Officially, or un officially.. conciously or unconciously It happens more than one might think.. Dare I say to some degree ALOT

I think this is true. Especially true when you get pretty much the same people always auditioning. I think most directors do a mental pre-cast and then see how auditions size up and find out how close they were.