I know nothing about the community theatre in the Chicago area, but I do know that if you love this please don't give up.  There's no feeling on earth quite like being on a stage in front of an audience.  Keep trying!

Another suggestion is to volunteer to do some non-acting jobs at the theaters. Being involved in the theaters in other ways and getting to know the people there can only help your chances of being cast.

I'm a little farther out  (McHenry) but I've been really impressed since moving here about a year back -- there are at least 5-6 active companies within a 20 minute drive of home, and at least a dozen within an hour, which I know some people will drive.  I've auditioned for 3 shows since December and been cast in two, so it's not impossible to break in; it may just be the company/ies involved.

One other thing -- the part I DIDN'T get, I'm pretty convinced it just came down to the fact that while either I or the guy who got the part could have done a good job, it's a show with a small cast (4) and they went with the guy who's done a dozen or more shows rather than this guy they don't know from Adam who's done one show in 20 years -- what if I was a flake?  What if I was impossible to work with?  In a cast that small, it's dangerous to take the chance -- I don't blame them one bit.

BTW, if you don't know it, I'd recommend the NICOTH (Northern Illinois Community of Theatres) forum at www.nicoth.com to keep up on opportunities.

Originally posted by Rorgg I've auditioned for 3 shows since December and been cast in two, so it's not impossible to break in;

Of course, it looks like you're a male and Nightengale is a female. I don't know about the Chicago suburbs but that makes a big difference around here in getting a part.

It might take driving an hour to sing one song to get your foot in the door, assuming you wouldn't mind driving an hour to that theater for a larger part. Also, volunteering for other positions is a good idea, too, just so people know who you are. Unfortunately, the bottom line is that all things being equal a director is inclined to go with somebody they know versus somebody new in town that they don't know.

One of the things that no-one seems to have mentioned - and it's something that has plagued me from time to time - is the unusual and valid idea that some directors are jealous to a degree.  I literally have had directors (after the fact) tell me they were afraid to cast me because I was a director and "knew what I was doing" (just because I've had nearing 50 years experience) and they felt I wouldn't be able to "take direction".  GOD I HATE THAT PHRASE!!! And I've heard it so many times - but it comes from insecure directors who in MY opinion didn't have a very good view of their own abilities and used my misperceived "inability to take direction" as an excuse NOT to cast me - when the fact was they were'nt good enough directors (or not brave enough) to work with more seasoned actors.  Then too, I've had directors who didn't cast me because I had a reputation of being "difficult"!! There's another laugh.  Basically what that stemmed from were shows I was in where I worked my tail off to make it better than what it could be under the director's hand - NOT usurping ANYTHING they did, not arguing against anything they wanted, just pushing myself and everyone around me to do the best possible that could be done - collaboratively, collectively and with the best interest of the show in mind - nothing selfish, nothing ego-driven, nothing unfair or unreasonable. Who WANTS to be part of a show that fails?