Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: "Private Auditions"

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Playwright
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Joined: 4/01/06
Location: Canada
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Posts: 126

Topic: "Private Auditions"
Posted: 10/14/06 at 10:41pm

Hey,

Have any of you directors out there had auditions for just one actor before your actual auditons? I have an actor very interested in auditioning for me for a play I'm directing. My auditions are in mid-November. He's going to be in South Africa on business when I have my actual auditons. He wants to audition for me.

Have any of you done this for a very interested actor before? Just wondering. I suppose if I'm really impressed by what he does then I could hold off my call backs but that would push them into December. I really want to have the play cast by then.

Any sage advice out there. Do I audition this guy? I have seem him on stage and he's a fairly goood actor. He played a lead role.

Sidebar note- Male actors up here are very difficult to find as the large number of CT's. A lot of time CT's are phoning and begging actors to come out to auditions.

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eveharrington
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Posted: 10/14/06 at 11:11pm

I've never had to do that but I don't see anything wrong with it if the person comes to you ahead of time with the conflict and it ONLY affects auditions. Just be sure to give the same weight to the audition as you do everyone else. It could be considered a leg up or a hinderance depending on the person and how they audition best.

"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."

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B-M-D
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Posted: 10/14/06 at 11:38pm

I've done it, though only for people that I know and if I can also arrange to have the other members of the casting comittee present. I wouldn't consider it an advantage, probably the contrary depending on how close it is to the actual audition. It's a courtesy that's fairly well accepted in my ct community.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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Sueshoo
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Posted: 10/15/06 at 3:36pm

I say to give him the private audition.

A) Male actors are few and far between.

B) He has a legit excuse for missing the official auditions

C) You might want to kick yourself if he is "the one".

Susan
Life is not a Dress Rehearsal

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red diva
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Posted: 10/15/06 at 5:00pm

We often schedule private auditions at our theatre in the days or weeks prior to casting the show. I always try to have my producer, Board advisor, and/or assistant director present. I always announce at the regular auditions that I have conducted a private audition. I tell them how many people auditioned, but don't inform them of the names of the auditioners.

As long as the person has a legitimate excuse and is not just expecting preferential treatment, I don't seen anything wrong with it. (We don't generally have call-backs, so that isn't an issue).

"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"

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castMe
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Posted: 10/15/06 at 5:18pm

Put me in the I've-done-it-before-and-would-do-it-again camp. I would think allowing a pre- or private audition is preferable to the grief one might get for casting someone who hadn't auditioned at all. That being said, I've never had any fallout personally from either situation.

B-M-D. Would you start a new thread and explain what a casting committee is and what it does. Thanks

Investigate. Imagine. Choose.

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A-M-K
Walk-On
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Joined: 10/15/06
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Posted: 10/15/06 at 5:35pm

I agree with castMe. Let him audition, and if he's fabulous, cast him!

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MikeO
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Joined: 9/15/06
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Posted: 10/15/06 at 11:05pm

I have been on both sides of this. I would audition him. Although others say to give him equal weight, you will be asking yourself if he's worth changing your callback scedule. You won't know until you try. Good Luck!

I'd rather act, but they found out I can do tech & sets!!

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Playwright
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Joined: 4/01/06
Location: Canada
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Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:10am

Thanks for the advice. I will give him his private audition and have arranged for somebody I know who is planning on auditioning to come and help with the readings.

If I feel I need him at call-backs, epecially to read with his romantic interest, then I'll move my call-backs. They'd only be moved by 10 days. And play doesn't start rehearsing until early in the New Year.

I'll keep you posted.

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suzecue1
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Joined: 9/19/06
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Posted: 10/16/06 at 1:05pm

I definiately would do a private audition if I could schedule it. You already know he is motivated to be involved in your show because he contacted you. Go for it! Like someone else said, it is better than having to kick yourself later, if the "right" person doesn't show up for auditions.

Sue
*****
So many hats.....so few heads!

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Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Author	Message
Playwright Celebrity Joined: 4/01/06 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 126	Topic: "Private Auditions" Posted: 10/14/06 at 10:41pm
	Hey, Have any of you directors out there had auditions for just one actor before your actual auditons? I have an actor very interested in auditioning for me for a play I'm directing. My auditions are in mid-November. He's going to be in South Africa on business when I have my actual auditons. He wants to audition for me. Have any of you done this for a very interested actor before? Just wondering. I suppose if I'm really impressed by what he does then I could hold off my call backs but that would push them into December. I really want to have the play cast by then. Any sage advice out there. Do I audition this guy? I have seem him on stage and he's a fairly goood actor. He played a lead role. Sidebar note- Male actors up here are very difficult to find as the large number of CT's. A lot of time CT's are phoning and begging actors to come out to auditions.

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eveharrington Celebrity Joined: 8/28/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 198	Posted: 10/14/06 at 11:11pm
	I've never had to do that but I don't see anything wrong with it if the person comes to you ahead of time with the conflict and it ONLY affects auditions. Just be sure to give the same weight to the audition as you do everyone else. It could be considered a leg up or a hinderance depending on the person and how they audition best.
	"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."
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B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 10/14/06 at 11:38pm
	I've done it, though only for people that I know and if I can also arrange to have the other members of the casting comittee present. I wouldn't consider it an advantage, probably the contrary depending on how close it is to the actual audition. It's a courtesy that's fairly well accepted in my ct community.
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
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Sueshoo Player Joined: 4/29/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Posted: 10/15/06 at 3:36pm
	I say to give him the private audition. A) Male actors are few and far between. B) He has a legit excuse for missing the official auditions C) You might want to kick yourself if he is "the one".
	Susan Life is not a Dress Rehearsal
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red diva Celebrity Joined: 5/15/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 199	Posted: 10/15/06 at 5:00pm
	We often schedule private auditions at our theatre in the days or weeks prior to casting the show. I always try to have my producer, Board advisor, and/or assistant director present. I always announce at the regular auditions that I have conducted a private audition. I tell them how many people auditioned, but don't inform them of the names of the auditioners. As long as the person has a legitimate excuse and is not just expecting preferential treatment, I don't seen anything wrong with it. (We don't generally have call-backs, so that isn't an issue).
	"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"
	IP Logged

castMe Celebrity Joined: 11/02/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 206	Posted: 10/15/06 at 5:18pm
	Put me in the I've-done-it-before-and-would-do-it-again camp. I would think allowing a pre- or private audition is preferable to the grief one might get for casting someone who hadn't auditioned at all. That being said, I've never had any fallout personally from either situation. B-M-D. Would you start a new thread and explain what a casting committee is and what it does. Thanks
	Investigate. Imagine. Choose.
	IP Logged

A-M-K Walk-On Joined: 10/15/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/15/06 at 5:35pm
	I agree with castMe. Let him audition, and if he's fabulous, cast him!
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MikeO Lead Joined: 9/15/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Posted: 10/15/06 at 11:05pm
	I have been on both sides of this. I would audition him. Although others say to give him equal weight, you will be asking yourself if he's worth changing your callback scedule. You won't know until you try. Good Luck!
	I'd rather act, but they found out I can do tech & sets!!
	IP Logged

Playwright Celebrity Joined: 4/01/06 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 126	Posted: 10/16/06 at 12:10am
	Thanks for the advice. I will give him his private audition and have arranged for somebody I know who is planning on auditioning to come and help with the readings. If I feel I need him at call-backs, epecially to read with his romantic interest, then I'll move my call-backs. They'd only be moved by 10 days. And play doesn't start rehearsing until early in the New Year. I'll keep you posted.
	IP Logged

suzecue1 Star Joined: 9/19/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 90	Posted: 10/16/06 at 1:05pm
	I definiately would do a private audition if I could schedule it. You already know he is motivated to be involved in your show because he contacted you. Go for it! Like someone else said, it is better than having to kick yourself later, if the "right" person doesn't show up for auditions.
	Sue ***** So many hats.....so few heads!
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Topic: "Private Auditions"( Topic Closed)
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