From the book,
“Musical Theater Performance:
A Handbook for Young Actors”
by Linda Potter
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Auditioning and casting are two of the most difficult and crucial jobs of the directing team. Good directors have spent many weeks or months before the auditions studying and thinking about the show and each character in it. They have certain characteristics in mind that are necessary for each character in the play. They also have certain body types in mind for each character. In a perfect world, director would find everything they envision in all of the actors they audition. More realistically, directors must decide the most important traits they are looking for in each character and then match the actor who has most of those traits.
Casting a show is a difficult, emotionally draining, and complex process. Directors know that casting correctly is the single most important facet of what can be done to insure the success of any show.
You can't know what the director is looking for in each role, but this is what you can do to prepare:
• Find out what is expected at auditions and coming absolutely prepared and on time.
• Read the script ahead of time and become familiar with the characters.
• Be realistic about what character you are appropriate for in terms of age, body type, height, etc.
• Wear clothing that is appropriate for an interview situation. Dressing in costume, tight jeans, or low-cut blouses is not appropriate; wear comfortable shoes, no flip flops, boots, or high heels.
• Be positive and willing to take a risk during the audition.
• Listen for director’s suggestions and follow them as much as possible; the director is looking for someone who will take direction.
Casting the show is like a puzzle. Each cast member is a piece of that puzzle. In order to complete the picture, the director must arrange the pieces into the slots that fit. In the end, the directors must choose those who best fit the roles in many dimensions, both by the skills they show in auditions and in the dynamics that develop between actors.
Auditioning is a competitive and sometimes daunting process. The more you audition the better you will become, especially if you seek feedback and guidance. The feeling of rejection from not getting cast in a production is unavoidable and absolutely normal. Your audition is successful if you learned something and if you did your best. Not every role is right for every actor—even if that actor came prepared to the max, felt that they were better than everyone else, felt it was their turn for a role, or felt that they had paid their dues in minor roles. Casting is not done by seniority. Each student who is judged solely on his or her fit for a given role as revealed through a rigorous and thoughtful audition process.
The director’s job is to fill the roles with what she perceives to be the correct actors from the pool at hand. It is her ultimate responsibility to every student who auditions and person who come to see the show to be as objective and honest as she can be.
If you are not cast in a role, try joining a crew. PC students do lighting and sound, set construction and painting, set run, costumes, hair and makeup, props, stage managing, ushering, photos, publicity, and even work as student producers. If you want to learn more about crews, speak with Mrs. Potter about your interests.
If you are not satisfied with the casting decision and would like feedback about your audition, the first step is to make an appointment to meet with the director. She may ask that students wait for a week or so before getting feedback. The director also may ask that you fill out a self-evaluation form so that discussion points are thought about and considered before the meeting.
If you want to perform, we strongly encourage you to continue to audition, to ask for feedback, to take acting classes and to get on that stage. Acting is a skill that is sharpened with practice. In theater, as in life, we all have success and disappointments. It is in how we learn to handle both of these that real learning happens.
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