Directing: Done with auditions!

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Done with 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=5154
Printed Date: 10/30/25 at 9:21pm
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Topic: Done with auditions!

Posted By: MusicManD
Subject: Done with auditions!
Date Posted: 8/26/11 at 12:09am

Well, auditions for another show are done. I saw 28 students for the fall musical (Seussical), and I didn't want to cast more than 30, so that's perfect. Last year's show only ended up with 16 cast members and about 20 auditionees, so we're moving forward.

I always hate the audition process... I'm always afraid of hurting kids' feelings, especially those who are actually good actors (they usually end up anywhere but the lead). But now my cast is set (hopefully) and I'll post tomorrow right before going home for the weekend.

One of the particular advantages of doing theatre in a high school is that you generally know what kids you'll have to work with. This proves an immense advantage when picking shows (for example, I have already picked our 2013 show, knowing that I have extremely strong freshman and sophomore classes that will be juniors and seniors then), but can sometimes be a challenge. You don't want to precast the show, but again, when you know the kids, you get a pretty good sense of where they'll fit. It went pretty well how I expected when I picked the show.

This time around I had two girls who I expected to audition and didn't. Luckily, a couple of other girls who I hadn't considered stepped up and will fit perfectly into the scheme. I ended up with 11 guys, almost all solid singers (which is WAY up from last year, when I struggled to fill my three male leads).

Now the only thing to see is how many of them stick. Last year, 3 or 4 of my chorus members dropped out over the course of the production, which seems okay until you realize I only had seven or eight to begin with. I think my chorus is safe this year- some of them actually asked to be in the chorus- but I do have a freshman and a junior who might be disappointed. Oh well, what can you do?

Monday is the read-through, and then we're off on an 11 week journey through Dr. Seuss!

Replies:

Posted By: Majicwrench
Date Posted: 8/26/11 at 1:32pm

Thanks for keeping us posted. Tis always an interesting process.

Eleven guys?? Wow, what is your secret?? I can only dream....

Precasting..yup, I deal with a middle school, and know the good kids, and it is hard not to. I did cast a new girl in the lead in this springs show and she rocked!

Looking forward to hearing more..

Keith

Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 8/26/11 at 2:48pm

Congrats!

Posted By: MusicManD
Date Posted: 8/26/11 at 5:15pm

Originally posted by Majicwrench

Thanks for keeping us posted. Tis always an interesting process.

Eleven guys?? Wow, what is your secret?? I can only dream....

Precasting..yup, I deal with a middle school, and know the good kids, and it is hard not to. I did cast a new girl in the lead in this springs show and she rocked!

Looking forward to hearing more..

Keith

My guys this year are up in general. I teach choir too, and I have almost double the number of men this year than I had last year. I do a lot of talking up of the show, starting at the end of the previous year, so a lot of these guys decide to try out even before the summer. I also know my male leaders and have them help keep theatre "cool" in the school community.