It is really interesting reading other people's takes on double casting.  I haven't ever double cast, but as I stated in an earlier I've cast understudies for leads when I direct kid's shows.  That way someone is available to stand in for an "emergency".  And trust me - with directing kids - there are emergencies. It has also come in handy when a lead character is absent from a rehearsal.  Understudies came in handy as one lead came down with strep that last weekend of a performance, and another got laryngitis (had no singing voice at all).  It served my purpose, and I have had ZERO bad experiences with casting understudies.

Along the same topic, I have been involved with many shows who only have 2 shows (one weekend). I have been involved in just as many that only had 4 shows (two weekends).  In fact, our CT never does more than 2 weekends. I played Olive in female version of the Odd Couple and had 475 lines to learn, 2 months of rehearsals for 4 performances.

Please playback on how your daughter gets on, as I feel you & your daughter are part of the greenroom extenuated family.
I for one would like an update on any  outcomes & look forward to future postings.
I fondly recollect eons ago being actually tripled cast for a London production of a musical. However the show went on for 10 performances a week & ran for a number of years anyway,
I think I was about your daughters age at the time. Although each of our performance licence would only allowed a 3 months stint at a time. I did it a few times over a 2 year period. Which left me time to join up with the family for the summer seaside show seasons.
Honestly while it was great fun at times I didn?t know if I was Arthur or Maratha? Especially with the London City Council as it was the only town where you had to have a medical examination prior to performance. I missed out a few times with sniffles & what have you! All the other Councils through out England only bothered with wether or not I had adequate schooling, before I could renew my licences.
[Needless to say that?s why I?m as thick as a brick most  times!]
It stemmed from the Wilberforce Act a,k.a The Water Babies Act of the 1800?s. {"Eehup thee?s 11 noo, thur  t?be working down pit Lass"}
Actually I believe now in Britain they have finally got their collective back sides together & it all comes under one Act across the board. But each little local councils still get involved & have differing money grubbing arrangements as  usual!
I believe it is quite strict with the number of performance a child can do each week these days. So most of the pohmy theatre groups are forced into double casting their tin lids, especially when doing panto.
Here we don?t have these restrictions except under the child welfare act & those imposed by Equity & the Arts & Media Alliance Union.
Anyhow Tio Tio Tio Chookas for young Miss Ozark & I hope it all works out amicably & is able to write ?it? off as an experience, from the posts the young lady seems to have already got ?it? together!

Hi Ozrks.

   I wish your daughter the best of luck. And keep us posted. You asked a question about how we would react to her politely saying that she wouldn't  accept the role if it were 'double-cast'.  I'm going to be the devil's advocate here and say if I were directing and I want to be honest, I would hesitate a bit in casting her.  I know her reasons and they are very valid and totally understandable.  I know that as a director if an actor is uncomfortable with playing a role for what ever reason, then I won't cast them.  I want my actors to be happy and I don't want the added worry of an actor's discomfort.  And by casting them in a role they are uncomfortable with I'm not being fair to them, myself and the rest of the cast.  Now having said that- I fear her actions may paint her as a 'prima dona' or 'difficult'.   I'm not saying she is. Not at all.  But you know how quickly people judge others based on a first impression and will the director reading her note know her reasons.  And a worry I would have would be 'how connected is this CT or others?'  Is it likely that if your daughter writes on the form not wanting to take the part if it's double cast could that word spread to the other theatre companies in your area. 

If this show had just 4 performances, I don't think she'd have a problem doing just 4. It's about respect. She feels slighted. To her it's all about the adults not being double-cast. That's it in a nutshell.

Ok, first of all I want to apologize if I came off snippy in my last reply, after reading your subsequent posts I think perhaps I got the wrong first impression of your attitude about this. However I have to say that I just don't see were your daughter is being disrespected. They invited her to audition, they didn't offer her the role. They aren't breaking any promises made that I can see, and if they did decide to double-cast the adults I doubt they would encounter this problem. JMO

First, let me say that I have never double cast a show in 30 years and have no intentions of doing so in the future. I have a hard enough time getting one cast together for a performance. I can't even imagine two. Anyway, I have read and reread the posts on this subject. The director and/or producers have the right to cast the show the way want: double cast / triple cast / quadruple cast if the feel like it. It's their choice. They have their reasons whether you agree with them or not.  I wouldn't expect the director to change his mind. I wouldn't even ask. If I changed my vision for casting, directing, or designing everytime someone thought I should do something differently, I'ld never get a show off the ground. I am sure that Ozark's daughter is very talented, and so may be the other child that they cast. There is lots of theater out there. Have fun with it.

Linda