Originally posted by pdavis69 Open vs closed I run my auditions open.  I want people all together so I can try pairing people up.  We only run two nights of auditions with no call backs.  As far as lowering the stress level for the actors, if they are too stressed performing with their fellow actors at auditions, I have serious concerns about their stress level when confronted with a full house on opening night.

That's what we've been doing but I think I'm going to change next time. I'm thinking of having people come in one at a time for a short reading and then have open auditions for callbacks. That way we can take a little time to regroup and identify who we want to read again and who we don't.

Originally posted by pdavis69 This is the nice thing about these discussion boards, people have the opportunity to hear many different opinions and then decide what is right for them.

I agree.

However, if everyone has the attitude of "but I don't really care what anyone else thinks they know" an exchange of ideas just become a lecture.

You say that like it is a bad thing.

I stated my opinion on open vs. closed auditions - suggesting that auditioning in front of other actors can place unneeded stress on them.  You explicitly refuted my opinion with yours - saying that, "...if they are too stressed performing with their fellow actors at auditions..."  I then attempted to clarify that there is a huge difference between performing in front of an audience vs. fellow auditioners.  And that's where you stopped rebutting my argument.  You replied with almost the same exact attitude: "...if they cant sing above a whisper because they are nervous about people hearing them, maybe they arent the best choice for the musical."  Nothing about that helped you support your opinion that open auditions are better.  If you want to provide a substantial argument, it helps to support your statements.  Not to just repeat the same thing.  Therefore, it appears to me that you have not provided any compelling argument in support of your opinion.

Now, maybe my last response was a little brash.  And in all honesty, I need to apologize for the statement in which you called me out on.  I worded it very poorly in an attempt that I not attack you, personally (or anyone else for that matter).  What ended up happening is that I made a very careless and presumptuous statement.

What I truly meant was that I felt you were not being very permeable to other people's experiences.  To me, your comments suggested a few different things.  That you have little experience auditioning yourself, or that you don't get nervous when auditioning in front of other actors.  Your comments also suggested that actors competing for roles in front of each other should be no different than those same actors performing in front of an audience (after rehearsing their parts for several weeks).  It was my attempt to explain that there is a big difference between the two.  And if you can't honestly see that there is a difference, then I feel you better provide some sort of intelligent discussion on the matter.

Furthermore, it also suggested to me that you don't try to maintain a low-stress environment in your productions.  That you expect CT actors to be on similar levels as professionals.  And that you don't offer opportunities for the less experienced actors to rise up.  In my opinion, this is an elitist attitude.  And perhaps I am overly sensitive about this because I've had some very poor experiences with directors that were insensitive and rigid.  But that's what I feel nonetheless.

At the end of the day I was trying to explain my point of view and give evidence and support as to why I feel that way.  So yes, I suppose I was giving a lecture.  But my intention really was not to reprimand, rather, it was to provide information based on my experiences and knowledge.

I can't force you to change your opinion.  I can't even force you to listen to me.  At the end of the day, I really don't even care how you hold your auditions.  But I do care about theatre.  And I am very passionate about the purpose of CT.  I think I have explained that quite well, and those are some of the reasons why I maintain my opinion on this matter.

Finally, I would still be very interested to hear some evidence as to why you favor open auditions.  If nothing else, for the sake of the original discussion.

Settle it down people, the Republic doesn't rise and fall over this.

Sorry about that Mike.

Legacy,