Why didn't you cast me?
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3347
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 1:43pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Why didn't you cast me?
Posted By: trutter
Subject: Why didn't you cast me?
Date Posted: 8/11/08 at 11:52am
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What do you do if someone questions your casting decisions, asking for an explanation why X got cast instead of them? Do you answer it at all, be brutally honest, or sugar-coat it? (edited to take out some specifics) ------------- ------ Troy A. Rutter Author, "Kids in the Biz: A Hollywood Handbook for Parents" http://www.kidsinthebiz.com/ - http://www.kidsinthebiz.com/ A Heinemann Drama Publication |
Replies:
Posted By: kaelidancer
Date Posted: 8/14/08 at 10:01am
I've been directing for a while now, and this is inevitable. Every situation is different, but the bottom line is you don't have to justify your casting choices to anyone except yourself. "I can't cast everyone in every show. A decision had to be made, and it was a difficult one, but it wasn't personal and I'd like to see you audition again in the future" usually works for me. Sometimes, if applicable I also find it useful to append "If you still want to be part of the show, and I hope you do, we will need help with (costumes, running crew, etc). I'd like to have you involved, if you're still available." K |
Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 8/14/08 at 10:25am
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This of course is one of the ackward issues that comes with directing. I try to be as fair as possible at auditions, giving everyone equal opportunity. Then when someone questions me on my choices, I always try to tell them the truth as to why they were not cast. Natually, diplomacy and tact is often required. There is no sense in hurting someones feelings. But honesty with suggestions for future auditions has always been the approach I have taken. ------------- "REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT" |
Posted By: TonyDi
Date Posted: 8/14/08 at 11:08am
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ONE of the things I learned early on to do, is to have a moment before auditions where I explain to ALL auditioners that there ARE only so many roles in the play. I go on to say that some will make it, some will not. That it isn't a reflection of their willingness to do the show or any sort of commentary on their talents. It's just MY interpretation for the needs of the show and mine alone. I let it be known that everyone will be given full and complete consideration but in the end it is finally MY decision as to whom I cast. If they are not pains in the butt, they'll accept that (and always have) save the one or two that INSISTED they know specifically WHY they didn't get the role they thought THEY were suited for if any role at all. THEN it's just a matter of having to be honest, tempering it with consideration for their strong feelings. I know as an actor - I've been there in that same position too so I know how hard it is. BUT once I realized that in community theater, this isn't my livlihood, that it's just a local production that isn't going to make me famous, then just learning to be gracious and move on to the next one - even to the point of being overly congenial and letting them know while I am disappointed, it won't deter me from the next audition or show. SOME people simply cannot be that way. And I had to learn it as well. But sometimes you just have to be brutal - especially if they're thick-headed and just don't get it. NOT a fun thing to have to deal with.
Good luck
TonyDi
------------- "Almost famous" |
Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 8/14/08 at 11:32am
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Agree with everything you say Tony...especially about the pains in the butts and the thick-headed. However, I have no problem with actors asking me why they were not cast if they are seeking to learn from the expierence. I always attempt to give them constuctive things to work on for future auditions and try to encourage them. ------------- "REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT" |
Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 8/14/08 at 8:26pm
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I try not to look at the questions as why you didn't cast me as (what ever part they wanted), but what can I do to improve my auditioning techniques?
Like everyone else, I explain that I can't cast everyone and that you didn't fit the image I was going for, that it wasn't personal, etc. But I go on to explain the importants of auditioning and how to objectively look at the work being auditioned for, selecting the correct audition material, preparing for the audition, and completing a professional audition.
99% of the time someone will think they did an outstanding job auditioning for a role without realizing that their nerves got the better of them.
Do any groups offer auditioning class or techniques? We have found that these have improved our auditions greatly and found we are getting better actors in the end. ------------- The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes. |
Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 8/14/08 at 9:25pm
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Oh how I hate that question. Because most of the time even if you're diplomatic they really don't want to understand to begin with. So rather than be diplomatic I'm honest and if they gave a lousy audition I'll tell them. But most folks that have been around the block a time or two know better than to ask the question of any director to begin with. ------------- BD 
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
Posted By: tonyboling
Date Posted: 8/14/08 at 9:33pm
| I never ask why I wasn't cast. I will ask what I can improve upon in my audition. |
Posted By: trutter
Date Posted: 8/19/08 at 9:46am
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thank you for your thoughts. In this particular case, which is why it is hard to "tell the truth" the actor/actress still thinks they can play 20-30 years younger than what they realistically can, and refuses to believe they can no longer play the romantic 20-30something lead. Talk about tiptoeing around the truth! ------------- ------ Troy A. Rutter Author, "Kids in the Biz: A Hollywood Handbook for Parents" http://www.kidsinthebiz.com/ - http://www.kidsinthebiz.com/ A Heinemann Drama Publication |
Posted By: imamember
Date Posted: 8/19/08 at 9:51am
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We recently did a production of The Miracle Worker and a women who played Annie Sullivan back in HS wanted to do it again. Trouble was....she's about 50 now. The director convinced her that playing Annie in the past and having that experience, coupled with being older now and having children would help her play Kate Keller better even though technically she'd be too old for Kate as well, but still a much better fit. It worked out in the end. For the question, I know what my skills are and strengths and weaknesses, so if I'm not cast, it's understood that I just didn't "fit" and it's nothing personal. |
Posted By: DaedalusAZ
Date Posted: 8/31/08 at 4:09am
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When questioned, particularly by an accomplished actor or actress, I have always been brutally honest; the final determination was the chemistry I felt I needed between characters. It's not that you aren't very good, you are, it's just that I needed a certain chemistry and I based my final choices on that. Everyone who attended the recall was equally talented, so it came donw to the chemistry I saw or felt was there. Has worked every single time. Of course that's because that's what it always comes to. |
Posted By: teridtiger
Date Posted: 9/02/08 at 7:45pm
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True story: An actress who has auditioned at the theatre where I am the Artistic Director came up to my significant other - AT A BAR - and asked him, "Why doesn't your girlfriend ever cast me in shows?" (By the way, she was cast in one of the two shows she auditioned for, a 50% success rate.)
Now my man is a regular guy, not involved in theatre and really has no idea what this whole world is about. It's one of the things I am most attracted to about him.
His response to her? "I don't know. Maybe you suck. Go ask her."
I knew nothing about this conversation until he told me about it the next day. But it did make me chuckle. Sometimes I *WISH* I could actually say that to some of the actors who audition and feel that because of the sheer number of times they've auditioned, that they are entitled to be cast.
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Posted By: eveharrington
Date Posted: 9/03/08 at 3:09am
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If someone asked me why I didn't cast them, it had better have been their first audition, I can understand someone who is new to the process simply not knowing how to phrase the question of how could I improve in the future. An experienced auditioner asking that only reveals their arrogance, why else would the answer of someone else was better suited in my opinion not be obvious. Not taking it personally is the first thing we learn. ------------- "If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights." |
Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 9/03/08 at 9:39am
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teridtiger ... ROFLOL ------------- In a world of margarine, be butter! |
Posted By: Nyria
Date Posted: 10/09/08 at 12:27pm
I once had a girl who was 6 feet tall, 200 pounds (and a bad singer) who was upset that she didn't get the part of Annie!! 
Anyhoo - I often go with the 'the other person fit my vision of the character' line =) ------------- NYRIA |
Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 10/09/08 at 1:05pm
So diplomatic. I applaud you.  I'd have said look in the mirror honey!------------- BD
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
Posted By: SDstoryteller
Date Posted: 10/13/08 at 5:04pm
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teridtiger.... NICE! I already like him...I like him even more now!! ------------- Watching someone struggle to maintain control is far more fascinating than watching them lose it. |
Posted By: dexter74656
Date Posted: 11/03/08 at 10:23am
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My standard line - that I use to try and smooth over any sore feelings, is that "we had lots of amazing individuals audition and we had to cut a *lot* of very talented people that could have made our cast, but we had to *cast for the very best ENSEMBLE CAST for our show*." Translated: It's not that you sucked. You just wouldn't have fit with the rest of the cast. If your male lead is hands down a 350 pound 6 foot guy... casting a 110 pound 4 foot 9 leading lady isn't a good match for that pairing. |
Posted By: Nyria
Date Posted: 11/16/08 at 10:00pm
LOL - I wish I could have said that! I actually told her she didn;t fit the part before summer (auditions were in Sept.) and she came back to school with her hair dyed red - ready for the part.  ------------- NYRIA |
Posted By: chel
Date Posted: 12/04/08 at 5:02pm
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How long after an audition can you ask a director how you can improve your audition techniques? I'll be seeing him but he's already started rehearsals...I feel stupid bringing it up. Should I just wait until another show that I don't get cast for? (lol, I'm more optimistic than that sounded, just realistic that one doesn't get every role they want)
I had two women who auditioned for my show convinced 100% that those parts were theirs. When neither was cast...let's just say I knew how much resentment there was without words. Never found the right way to say why...just gave the "I really liked their (the other women) energy."...I like the whole "chemistry" idea better.
------------- chel www.windhamtheaterguild.org |
Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 12/05/08 at 10:42am
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"How long after an audition can you ask a director how you can improve your audition techniques? I'll be seeing him but he's already started rehearsals...I feel stupid bringing it up. Should I just wait until another show that I don't get cast for? (lol, I'm more optimistic than that sounded, just realistic that one doesn't get every role they want) "
Ask him as soon as the cast list is up, or as soon as possible. Certainly don't wait until the next time you're not cast!
I don't think you've waited too long now. Waiting too long would be after the next time you auditioned. Even if he doesn't remember specifics about your auditions, he can tell you what he looks for and give you tips. Next time he'll probably remember the conversation as well.
Getting time with him to ask your question may be the hardest thing. I know I am distracted and have a lot of things I need to accomplish just before and just after rehearsals. I'm sure everyone is different, but for me a social setting is best ... maybe a party.
Also, if I'm alone having coffee or eating I generally welcome someone stopping by my table and engaging me in conversation, or even schedule a time to do so. For me, that would be my best time. I'm relaxed and can speak freely.
------------- KEB |
Posted By: sethnic
Date Posted: 12/29/08 at 5:01pm
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I draw a contrast between a talent contest and matchmaking. Auditions are not talent contests, they are matchmaking between the actor and the character.
------------- Creating a new company! |
Posted By: midgetking111
Date Posted: 1/17/09 at 10:09pm
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One thing you need to consider is that there will be a good amount of competition. No matter what you're auditioning for, there will probably always be someone who's better than you. ------------- Mystery of the Suffocated 7th Grader-Perry Paulson Willy Wonka Junior-Grandpa George Air Uganda-Swami Ramblenonada James and the Giant Peach-James Trotter Throughly Modern Millie-Bun Foo |