If you were doing one show in the community and then moving away or never being involved in theatre again, then maybe you could do it.  But to do so is going to hurt your reputation and you will have problems casting in the future.  I have seen it happen in my area.  We have a tremendously talented director that no one will audition for because they can't trust him.  There is another that people won't audition for because they don't like him. Both these guys have talent and have credentials you wouldn't believe.

 

For awhile one of them (the one people don't trust) was able to do shows because he would hand pick the cast (no one would audition), but after a couple shows he was not able to do even that.  Why?  He was upgrading talent.  He'd cast but if he was able to get a better actor he cut one and replace him.  Maybe that works for professional theatre but not CT. 

 

While I DO NOT advocate this - I think the BEST thing to do would be to use the dedicated actress you have, who will give you 110% no doubt from what you say.  Reward that dedication.  Then YOU as director can nurture that success and improvement - in fact it's YOUR JOB to get your choice to where they need to be to do their job if she needs the help. Means more investment of time on your part working extra to help her realize the success you seek for the show/role.  If you don't do that then you cheat her out of what has rightly become hers - the role you gave her.  Don't cry the blues because you couldn't get who you wanted and especially don't take away from the actress what she worked to get regardless of where she was on the list. I ALWAYS knew that no matter who I cast, it was up to me to get them to do better than they ever had before and at least to level the playing field with the actors who were seasoned and well established.  I have done numerous shows with what might have appeared to be last choices, only to be pleasantly surprised and often blown away by the person whose experience was limited and new...partly because I worked my tail off with them but also because they gave more than anyone else needed to in order to excel - and a few often did.

 

Just my opinion.  But if you do that to her then you will have established your record and lose respect not only for yourself, but the company AND MAYBE the other actress you want.  I would trust that the actress you want would NOT want to see this other person cheated out of the role that she deserves to give a try to building over time at hers and your investment.  Just wouldn't look right at all.

 

TonyDi