I don't really have a lot to add beyond MY experiences in the last 20 years - but I DO have to agree on one hand with TristenRobin that in professional theater - you don't get called if you don't make the cut.  Simply put, if you WANT to try to run your theater as professionally as that, there is NO need to call everyone who auditioned.  If you're trying to give the impression, even in community theater, that you're a professional organization, then as many others have said, it goes with the territory.  You audition, you get called back or you don't, and you get CAST or you don't.  Simple as that.  I never needed to be called when I auditioned.  I simply was told at the outset that people would be contacted if they are cast. When the calls didn't come, I figured it out.  NO animosity, no regrets, nature of the beast.

ENTER THE INTERNET - thankfully that in many ways these days, takes care of a LOT of things.  A cast list gets posted on a website, actors check there for the list.  Those who MAKE IT ARE contacted personally to let them know details.  Those who don't read it and weep.  TOO traumatic to be the harbinger of bad news much less to recieve it by phone with whatever apologies are dished out in an attempt to make you feel better about losing out.  Sadly there are some who lose out who THINK they SHOULD HAVE gotten the role -whether they were good enough or not.  I make lists.  I've learned in my community who is who and what is what with most of the people I've worked with or directed or whatever.  I refer to the list often when directing/auditioning people.

There may have been mention - though I don't think I've seen it in most of the posts here - that if you set the parameters at the outset (auditions) then there is no question about how it is to be handled.  Doesn't mean you won't have people call you and ask you why they weren't cast after the fact but this helps preclude the problem.  My pat phrase to ALL auditioner AT AUDITIONS is this...."First of all thank you to all people who are auditioning.  However, there are only so many roles in this show.  Some will make it, some will not.  It is neither a reflection on your talent nor your willingness to be involved. It's simply my decision based upon MY needs and my concept for this particular production.  I encourage everyone to avail themselves of all the community productions going on and continue to audition for things you might want to be involved with."  END OF PHRASE.  It's NEVER failed me yet.  I never do call backs anymore either.  If after all these years I'm not good enough to figure out what I want when I see it- the first time around - then I need to quit doing it.  LUCKILY I've been blessed by whatever theater gods there are to usually always pick the right people and have enjoyed mostly successes with shows I've worked on.  NOT out of anything I do - save have the time and experience in at doing it - but to be smiled upon by someone watching over what I do in theater.  And THAT is my luck so far.

TonyDi

I was really on the fence on this whole issue until I read this.

I'm sure TonyDi didn't mean it this way, but this post (to me) gives off such an impression of arrogance and "I've done professional theatre and if you disagree with me you're unprofessional", that should I ever be lucky enough to direct again, I'm definitely calling everyone who auditions, just so that I don't come off that way.

Again, I'm sure it wasn't meant that way.  I'm just talking about the impression people get from phrases like "read it and weep" and "trying to give the impression that you're a professional organization."

The root meaning of "amateur" is "one who loves."

The root meaning of "professional" is "one who makes a public declaration."

I'm an amateur.

Well POB if I had NOT been on both sides of the fence - as director AND as one of those poor folks who was summarily REJECTED I could never speak to the issue.  But I am neither arrogant nor mean spirited.  It's simply a matter of what a community theater company wants to present themselves as.  Those who tout being run "professionally" - most of those I've ever come across don't require all actors who don't make the cut to be contacted.  It varies so widely from company to company I've worked for, that I have had to formulate my OWN personal opinions and devise my own processes for casting and/or contacting people who audition.  That's all.  I've been on both sides of this issue too, working FOR professional companies as well as (mostly) community theater organizations and EVERY ONE I've ever worked for did it differently and required different approaches.  I don't come on here to be called arrogant.  It's simply a matter of experience and if that's what makes me arrogant, professional or amateur - well I can't help that.  It is what it is.

I don't recall making any indication of the fact that ANYONE needs to agree with me at all.  I consider myself neither amateur nor professional.  Those to me are empty terms designed to exclude or include, by a lot of theater people I've run up against in my nearly 50 years of doing theater (there I guess I'm showing off now).  I was stating an opinion - not forcing anyone to accept it.  By the way the "read it and weep" phrase was not intended to be harsh - beyond it actually BEING the harsh reality of what it is in community theater and professinal theater alike...not to intimate that I'm that cold and heartless.  But as I said, being the harbinger of bad news to someone who really might have wanted to do a show and loses the role to someone else - is not what I really ever enjoy - and I've done it but didn't like it.  What else do you call it?  The auditioners don't want to hear bad news and I don't want to deliver it...so I don't.

You know I thought perhaps I could contribute on this forum but I didn't realize the expression of opinions based on experience was going to offend someone who thinks that just because someone MIGHT have more experience than them, that would qualify them automatically as arrogant.  I can leave as easily as I came, if you'd like and find someplace else to be.  Actually I have numerous other places where I certainly was made more welcome than this.  However I thought this was the best thing I could find like this.  Alas, another mistake perhaps?  We'll see.  Thanks for your kindness.

TonyDi

By the way, I certainly didn't come here to incite anyone's ire.  So perhaps it's best if you feel as you do that I just pack it up and leave.  Easy way out as it was an easy way in.

Tony baby lighten up!    Although I agree with just about everything you've stated on the topic there's an implicit arrogance and thin skin that seems to have been revealed in your last response to POB.   I don't see where anyone's made you feel un-welcome.   If I felt un-welcome any time someone took issue with my responses I'd have no fun with this forum at all.