No real rules in the theaters I usually work in regarding un-castable parts.  In the past when there's a part I haven't been able to cast thru auditions, I've gone to the phones asking someone who hasn't read.  Sometimes its a matter of needing a young woman or man and simply not having anyone young enough at auditions. (Or old enough, or tall enough or whatever)  Other times, its a matter of talent with the pool not being deep enough for me to feel safe casting someone with less experience or talent.  That's not to say I haven't cast what I think of as "projects" knowing I may need to spend more time with this person or that, but ultimately I feel I owe it to my actors, theater company and audience to put the best product possible on stage.  If that means I don't cast someone others might feel is "just right" for the role, so be it.  It has never (up to now) become an issue.

Has anyone had problems with this?   (Boy, there's a stupid question)

Originally posted by castMe   Other times, its a matter of talent with the pool not being deep enough for me to feel safe casting someone with less experience or talent.  That's not to say I haven't cast what I think of as "projects" knowing I may need to spend more time with this person or that, but ultimately I feel I owe it to my actors, theater company and audience to put the best product possible on stage.  If that means I don't cast someone others might feel is "just right" for the role, so be it.  It has never (up to now) become an issue. Has anyone had problems with this?   (Boy, there's a stupid question)

I was on the casting committee for a production of City of Angels and the director and I agreed that we didn't have an Alura that was quite right but insisted on casting from those that had auditioned.   My suggestion was to either have another casting call for Alura or call someone that was appropriate for the role.   The woman that was cast was talented but I felt didn't have the stage presence and sensuality that the role needs to convey.  As a matter of fact I had directed her in another production the previous season and was wonderful in that show.   The woman was cast and as I had predicted she made a valiant effort but fell far short of what the role required.

For me if I don't get what I want at auditions I have no problem going out and seeking who I need.   Unlike the director of City I do not believe that it's affront to the people who auditioned.   My first obligation is to give an audience the show they paid to see with talented performers that fit the requirements of their roles.

At our theater, actors who are not cast are not called.  Thank you cards are sent to them.  I can understand the sentiments of those who feel people should be contacted, but I wonder how many would tell someone the real reason they were not cast but would come up with some lame, general, all-purpose comment designed not to offend.  When I am not cast, I usually know the reason(s).  Sometimes those reasons are fair in my eyes, sometimes not.  I live with it.  As a director and actor, I have worked with people that frankly, I would never want to work with again, from people who are chronically late or do not show at all, to those who never learn lines as written and don't care that they cause problems for every one else in the cast, to those who have no talent and think they do.  Those people, I will avoid because they will never change or make an effort to improve.

Also, regarding the other issue discussed here, about rules for how you finish casting if you don't have what you want at auditions, whether you go with Person A, who is not so talented but actually auditioned, versus Person B, who didn't audition, but would do a better job, that's a tough call, and it depends on the situation, but I've tended to rule more on the side of casting the better actor.  It may tick off the theater board and make them less likely to hire me back, but I figure, I have an obligation to THIS show: I can either do it on their terms, and it will be p.c. but eh or on my terms and it will be a better show.  I've cast actors I wasn't crazy about but who showed up to auditions, and I ended up getting decent performances out of them, but they were never that great, and what I did get was the result of a lot of work and wasted time.

I'm resurrecting an old thread just to complain.  How rude is that?    Nevertheless: