Marty.....well, we've only ever done two Sondheims, and I directed one of them (you know which one), so I guess I was referring to the other one.  In which I played Cinderella's stepmother.  And survived.

Excuse me while I resurrect this thread!

First of all... does it make me a pathetic geek that when Diva said "A Sondheim show" and she put down that she would accept "one of three roles" I knew which show she was referring to.  I believe that it does make me pathetic, although a good kind of pathetic.

I wanted to say however, to the directors in the group, what do you think about a Director who flat out ignores an actor who is being upfront about the roles that they will accept.   I recently auditioned for a production of West Side Story.  Now I'm pushing the age range where I could still conceivably play Maria, but I have the voice for it, and I'm fairly short (which more often than not lends to making me seem younger on stage)  The theater however is quite a distance from my house.  Going into the audition there was no place on the audition form for 'roles you will accept' so I spoke with the producer and director and let them know that due to the distance I would have to travel the only role that I would guarantee taking would be Maria but that I would also consider Anita.  I was cast in a walk-on role and told that they had gone with high school students for all of the principals.

As a director, would you even bother casting an actress in my position in the walk-on, or would you just say "Thank you for your time, but we've decided to go with High School aged talent for this production"

I'm glad I stumbled onto this page.  I'm sure I'll be spending a fair amount of time here from now on! :)

I recently turned down a part in The Curious Savage at our local playhouse.  The director had made up his own audition sheets, coosing not to use the regular sheets used by our group.  In his new sheet he did not include a "will you take a part other than....." section but he did put down if you are interested in any part write "any".  I did not write "any" and only the parts I was interested in (I wanted to be one of the residents of the nuthouse).  When the show was cast, the director called and offered me another part and seemed quite taken aback when I declined.  I feel I did the right thing for myself and my ethics.  It turns out maybe it was a good thing to turn down the role.  The next two people cast in the role both quit the show and the director is playing the part himself.

I know that I have everyone casting what roles they are interested in.  Many to tell me that they will only take ______ .   If I can't cast them in the role they were hoping for but I feel I could use them in another role, I will contact them and have a talk with them.  It usually goes like.....

Welcome Jim.... Wont be long and the whole gang will be here...