Directing: Nobody auditions

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Nobody auditions

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=4212
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 8:41pm
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Topic: Nobody auditions

Posted By: RoseColored Gla
Subject: Nobody auditions
Date Posted: 8/26/09 at 4:19pm

Okay, so in the two weeks before auditions, we sent out press releases three times to the local media (print and radio), put posters in libraries, emailed lists, reminded on FB and Myspace, and we had nobody show up for auditions!

Anyone ever have this happen? Suggestions? HELP!!!
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Dennis Dippary
Artistic Director
Songs for a New World http://rosecoloredglassestheater.com - RoseColored Glasses
May Dionysus smile upon your every performance!

Replies:

Posted By: vickifrank
Date Posted: 8/26/09 at 8:15pm

I've not usually seen a total no-show. But several groups that I've worked with kept a list of males, just in case. It wasn't uncommon to have too few males, and VERY common in local community theatres to have the director personally invite specific actors to try out knowing that they have too few to take a chance. (That's a problem because frequently the actors feel they have an implied promise).

Once I directed the female Odd Couple and someone encouraged a local radio personality to audition. No promises, but he was very funny. ..and so he got the role. He improvised a little too much, which was hard on the actor who played his brother, but otherwise he was smashing good fun in the role.

In your case, I'd have a second audition and this time try the personal touch. Have the assistant director call everyone who has auditioned in the past two years. Encourage them to bring a friend or send a friend. Then hit up the closest college. Ask the professor of the theater or even of the speech class to send his best to you. And remember my Odd Couple experience and consider talking to a radio jock or two--asking them to announce auditions on air and maybe tryout themselves. (The publicity for my show was a plus! and would have been even if we had not cast the celebrity.) It may even be fun to talk a DJ into a short spot about the show as part of early publicity. Have the DJ read a short cutting on air (assuming you can do that in a way without violating rights)--like a game, have him read the line ten different ways with ten different character voices.

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Posted By: georgiadirector
Date Posted: 8/27/09 at 11:23pm

Could it be a show no one's heard of? A theater with a less than pristine reputation? Other local theaters casting shows for similar production dates? Other timing issues like the start of school? First, I'd analyze why no one showed up. If it's something you can educate the public on, discuss the issue with the local newspaper and ask their help in putting together a story. You don't want to raise the issue in the story but say some positive things that make it clear those issues won't be there. Of course, there could be no problem and it's just rotten luck.

I haven't been involved in a production yet that the director doesn't put some feelers out ahead of time -- even one with 100 people auditioning for 20 spots. So definitely take Vicki's suggestion. I'm six weeks into a production right now; still don't have the number of men I'd like, but I'm working around it and did add a cast member last week. So if you can get good leads cast, you might have to keep adding ensemble long after you'd prefer.

Good luck!

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"I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for the last 40 years!" Ouiser, Steel Magnolias

Posted By: ReACT01
Date Posted: 8/31/09 at 1:29am

We are a new company in our 5th year. We have had to really work hard to get the word out about auditions. I just had auditions tonight for a new show that nobody has ever heard of.....I found it helped to list the acting age and gender.....ie. Henny male can play around 10 years old.... Only had 11 bodies show up ....Just needed 7 so I am ahead of the game.

I would try to do shows that you know you will get cast. If it is two person shows for now then do them as well as you can. Trust me if people know you do good work they will come.

all the best

Chris

http://www.reactatnoc.com - www.reactatnoc.com

Posted By: bigfishtheatre
Date Posted: 10/27/09 at 10:51pm

RoseColored Gla,

This is a problem that my organization deals with on a fairly regular basis. We (attempt to) mix workshops with free events with full blown productions and are careful to schedule in times that don't conflict with the more established theaters and colleges in our area.

Generally, our standard operating procedure has been to pursue auditions actively, through facebook, myspace, the local arts organizations, colleges, newspaper and radio in an all out blitz with the intention of having another show in our back pocket to audition a few weeks later because of proven no-show auditions time and time again. Seems like we aren't able to garner any traction in between events to keep people coming back (or around for the first place, it often seems.)

I share your sentiment of frustration and I wish I had an easy answer, but it seems like it's a case of slow and steady wins the race. I know that my board is hoping that in a few years we won't have to thumb through our address books every night of auditions; but in the meantime, scheduling auditions early enough to be able to go grab a pint afterwards seems to be the only strategy that I can recommend.

Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 10/29/09 at 5:13pm

I hear ya. Personal contact is the answer. You and other staff need to get on the phone and call everyone. Twist arms if necessary.

Of course building the personal relationships needs to happen wayyyyy before the calls. Go to lots of theatre. Help out other theatres when you can. Become known in theatre circles. Make friends.

I'd never strictly rely on the written word for auditions for community theatre.

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KEB