Directing: Audition difficulties

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Audition difficulties

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=3963
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 3:07pm
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Topic: Audition difficulties

Posted By: bigfishtheatre
Subject: Audition difficulties
Date Posted: 4/19/09 at 12:38am

I have a question about auditions.

I am the head of an organization in the middle of its second season. The theater community we have opened into have developed a history of pre-casting and more significantly, recruiting actors to do a show. When auditions are held with other organizations, it is often to fill lesser positions as they will not perform shows without their leads and most supporting roles predetermined.

This has led actors in our area to grow unaccustomed to auditions and not seek out acting opportunities on their own. As a result, we as a new but talented organization, have yet to be able to fully cast a show through auditions because nobody shows up.

It is the position of my theater that auditions are a necessary and rewarding experience for both the company and actors. We have seen in the past, numerous instances where talented and dedicated individuals have been overlooked in a history based, rather than merit based casting process, so I do not want to lead my theater down a path of creating a similar atmosphere of closed casting, opting instead to give everyone an equal footing at the beginning of every show.

Does anybody have experience or tips on how to develop support and interest when the acting community has grown hostile or otherwise unwilling to seek out auditions? If so, I would love to hear how this has been overcome, because we seem a bit stuck right now.

Thanks for all your help!

Replies:

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 4/19/09 at 5:20pm

I don't see where you are stuck. As an organization you have the choice of choosing whom you do shows with. Just don't do shows with that other group. You can still have a working relationship without commingling for shows. Put in your advertisements a section stating no parts have been pre cast all parts open.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

Posted By: bigfishtheatre
Date Posted: 4/19/09 at 6:11pm

I see what you're getting at and adding the no pre-cast disclaimer is a very good idea and I wil be taking that into consideration, but perhaps I didn't make the root of the problem clear.

It isn't in collaboration with other organizations (though there is a barrier to that as well) it is more to the point that actors in our community do not seek out auditions, rather the reverse; companies seek out actors to the point where an audition process in our area is relatively meaningless - so when we try to hold one, our time passes empty.

I understand that this is a unique problem, I have been doing theater for ten years and have never experienced something like this until I relocated two years ago. I am stumped and at a loss of what to do.

Posted By: chelserin
Date Posted: 4/19/09 at 6:40pm

I feel your pain. It's still a question mark who/how many people we'll get at auditions, and scrambling to find people is not unusual, (unless it's a big name musical show). My suggestion is start small, if you know you won't get big turnouts look to do shows that are well known but don't require a big cast. Then make a point of using the people you get. May not be the cream of the crop to start with, but you could also get those diamonds in the rough that the other theatre hasn't tapped into. Over time, hopefully, people will realize you are putting on quality shows and those actors who are used to being handpicked will get interested and show up for an audition. Just focus on the quality of productions and making it the best experience for those who do audition and get cast.

Best of luck!

- you could also send personal invitations to auditions to those people who are used to being precast. Make it clear you are NOT precasting but that you would very much like to see them at auditions. If you have as few people as you say chances are if they show up they'll get a part. Might be a little lightbulb for them, "Oh, this audition thing isn't so bad".

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To be in the world, and of the world, and never to stand aside and watch.

Posted By: eveharrington
Date Posted: 4/20/09 at 1:34am

this is why I fight pre-casting so hard in my community, no one will come to an audition where they assume they are wasting their time because the roles have already been decided, I think unfortunately all you can do is put the disclaimer in your ads and with any luck the tide will turn once people start to see that you aren't just casting the two or three town stars in all your leads, if nothing else, eventually the regulars will outgrow the leads age-wise and new people will have to show up.

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

Posted By: lalunabella
Date Posted: 4/22/09 at 7:36am

I think one of the questions you have to ask is why aren't actors auditioning? Do they feel that auditioning is beneath them? Are they intimidated by the idea of auditioning because they are out of practice or inexperienced with auditions? Could it be that they are reluctant to initiate participation with so many undetermined variables i.e Will I be cast? What part will I play if I am cast? Who else is in the show? etc.

If you can determine the influencing factors then you can develop a strategy to speak to them.

I was thinking it might help to appeal to them through the work. Choose plays that are known to draw the kinds of actors you're seeking to recruit- you know, those juicy or fun roles that everyone can't wait to get their hands on. Find shows that make them think, "I gotta be in this show!"

I really like chelserin's idea of sending out personal invitations. It's a nice touch, and may go far to soothe egos as well as fears (if either one should be a factor).

I don't know much about your community so I don't know what it would take to get their attention, but just off the cuff, and this may be reaching a little too far.. but what if you tried to make audition more "social gathering" in atmosphere with some food and drink (this could work well combined with the invitations). Since it sounds like these are more seasoned performers- instead of cold reading maybe prepared auditions would work well for you (or a combo of both).. and create a more performance, dare I say, talent show atmosphere for the audition.

Sometimes if you can get just a few key peoples buy in the rest will follow, and creating those personal connections can go a long way.

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"Yes I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one that can find his way by moonlight and sees the dawn before the rest of the world." ~Oscar Wilde