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 Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing |
 Topic: subtle way to uncast( Topic Closed) |
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avcastner
Star 
Joined: 12/21/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 85 |
 Posted: 1/19/07 at 3:35pm |
CT is not just a hobby. It's not like you're making a bird house that no one will see. It's not like an embroidery project you can put on a shelf when you're too busy and finish it years later.
CT affects not only every company member but also the reputation of the theatre. If cast members can't commit, it hurts everyone.
While I hate the confrontations this can cause as well as the stress of finding replacement actors, it's important that everyone involved in a show is not only committed to performing their role properly, but to being part of the team that produces a great play.
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eveharrington
Celebrity 
Joined: 8/28/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 198 |
Posted: 1/27/07 at 12:05am |
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CT is a hobby, people do it for free because they enjoy it. I do think it requires a much bigger commitment than a solo hobby because everything AV said about the rest of the company and theater reputation being affected by what you do is true. If someone can't put forth the commitment required for acting or directing or producing then they shouldn't pretend that they can, it's selfish and there are plenty of ways to be involved with productions that only require a couple of hours a month. CT's need ushers, and ticket takers, and prop people, and dressers, and makeup help, and a million other things that they only need for tech week and performances. I understand how disappointing it is to just not have time for the thing you really want to do, but that's life. CT is also a wonderful learning ground for a lot of people and they aren't helped by watching people get by with things that wouldn't fly for a second in a pro setting.
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"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."
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Nanette
Celebrity
Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399 |
Posted: 1/27/07 at 6:19am |
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(I'm posting to my original post ... how weird is that?!)
Anyway ... I've taken some of your imput and made it a point to tell the cast and their parents (it's a children's theatre) that if they miss 3 rehearsals ... with a good excuse or not! ... they'll be replaced. It doesn't help the others if they are not there, it doesn't help me, it doesn't make for a good show. They parents didn't have a problem with it at all. They're all on board with it. Many actually mentioned that it's about time we have something for the kids that's run more professionally and they themselves have volunteered to work the show in various areas from sets, to costumes, to ticket takers, to stage manager! Just because it's "community" theatre doesn't mean that it can't be run "professionally".
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In a world of margarine, be butter!
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falstaff29
Celebrity
Joined: 9/17/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 155 |
Posted: 1/27/07 at 10:57pm |
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Is CT a hobby? To steal a line from a Fellini film: "I'm too serious to be an amateur, but not enough to be a professional." That's how I approach theater, and that's how I think it should be approached. Unfortunately, this is not the only view of CT- there is a competing approach- the "aw, shucks" work ethic, where if everyone in the show is having some sort of fun, it doesn't matter how little you work at it. Guess what? Those companies produce crap. If you demand a high standard for your shows, maybe some people will quit (or get fired), but those who stick with you will appreciate the end result much more.
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eveharrington
Celebrity
Joined: 8/28/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 198 |
Posted: 1/29/07 at 12:04am |
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falstaff, I don't want to fight with you, but there is a lot of room between obsession and aw shucks who cares. A community theater is just that, for the community, not just for people who are Serious about theater. I happen to be very committed as well but you can't force everyone to operate at the same level as you. Thats what classes and professional theater are for.
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"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: 1/29/07 at 11:54am |
Perhaps falstaff's response is a bit harsh but it's nonetheless true I think. It's the garbage in, garbage out theory. I think people need to seek out ct's that are compatiable with the level of committment they are willing to bring.
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BD
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
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eveharrington
Celebrity
Joined: 8/28/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 198 |
Posted: 1/30/07 at 1:51am |
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Alright, I'm getting fired up now so let me just say it's the issue not the people I'm getting mad at. That being said, I'd sure like to know where you two live that there are infinite CT's to choose from and you can just look for the perfect match. I don't like putting out crap either, nonetheless, if we put out crap that our community views and enjoys, then we were successful as a COMMUNITY theater. Doing a show where everyone is available all the time and possesses professional level talent is icing on the cake. Or so I assume because that would never actually happen.
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"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."
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suzecue1
Star
Joined: 9/19/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 90 |
Posted: 1/30/07 at 9:37am |
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Thanks Eve! I couldn't have said it better! I also was a little frustrated when I was quoted at the top of this page. The part that was cut from my post was incomplete and made me sound like I didn't care. Truly I do care - and I put on the best shows possible with the people I have to work with. Small towns CT's just don't have the numbers to draw from. 9 times out of 10 you have to fit the 9 people who show up to auditions into the 10 characters you have to cast.
 Get it? Not enough to even cast the show - much less pick the perfect person, with a perfect level of commitment, for each part. You just take them as you get them! It took me a couple of trys at directing before I realized that it did no good to get frustrated because people didn't work as hard as I did, or commit the same amount of time that I did. It just seldom happens that way and you have to work with the situation you are given. Once in a while you will get the new cast member that goes that 110% - and trust me - when they come along - you have to treat them like gold and tell them (in front of the rest of the cast if possible) how much their extra effort was noticed and appreciated. I will usually give out an MVP (most valuable person) gift at the cast party. Sometimes two. Whoever qualifies. It can't hurt - my last MVP is now the producer for my upcoming show.
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Sue
***** So many hats.....so few heads! |
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B-M-D
Celebrity
Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346 |
Posted: 1/30/07 at 12:38pm |
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I'm fortunate to live in area where you can't swing a cat without hitting a ct. From time to time we do run into situations that suzecue1 describes.
I do not agree however as eveharrington states, "if we put out crap that our community views and enjoys, then we were successful as a COMMUNITY theater." I'm sorry but I don't view that as successfull just because the community is willing to settle for less. It seems to play to the lowest common denominator.
I believe that if you require certain standards and committement from cast and crew that you will get that or come very close to it. In any event your production will far better off than relying on those that are unable or unwilling to give you what you need. I'd frankly rather not do a show if the alternative is to do stereotypical community theatre show.
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BD
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
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Wuo duh ma
Walk-On 
Joined: 12/10/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Posted: 1/30/07 at 7:33pm |
I think I disagree with this because at the end of the day, our job is to make money to keep the theatre going. If the audience loves your shows, they come and you get to stay open. That makes you sucessful. Is it less than you want, artistically? Perhaps, but remember, for every Mamet play you do, you have to do a Simon.
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I am a leaf on the wind… watch how I soar.
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