Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Auditioning for 2 shows at once?

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Hopefull
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Topic: Auditioning for 2 shows at once?
Posted: 5/18/04 at 9:33am

I have a question about audition etiquette. A community theatre in my area is doing a musical and I want to audition for it. The auditions are on May 29-30. Because I will be out of town then, I called them to see if I could schedule a special audition before I leave. I haven?t solidified anything, but they seem to be willing to let me set one up. I just found out yesterday that another theatre is having auditions this Sunday for a play. I have worked with this director before and I would really like to audition for that play, too, but I don?t know if it?s completely tacky to audition for two shows at the same time. What would happen if I got cast in both? I highly doubt I could actually *be* in both productions. I?m dying to be cast in something, though, so I want to maximize the chance of that by attending as many auditions as possible. Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks!

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countbio
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Posted: 5/18/04 at 11:56am

It is completely acceptable to audition for several shows during the same period. Auditioning for shows is like looking for a job....you send your resume out all over town, you go out on lots of interviews ...unitil you get an offer. The potentially rude part comes when you get offers of parts. It is rude to hold up one show while you wait to hear from another. It is rude to drop out of a show you have already committed to because you got a "better" part elsewhere. I suggest you have a clear policy for yourself on how you accept or decline part offers.

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Jenny
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Posted: 5/19/04 at 8:00pm

In addition to countbio's great answer, may I add:

There may be local protocols, so you may want to ask around to be sure. In my area, the several theatre groups do NOT cooperate with each other, and certain persons involved in casting decisions can react negatively if they think they are being played off each other.

My advice is to be open and honest with whatever you decide. Break a leg!

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Doug
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Posted: 5/20/04 at 11:56am

I have seen it go both ways.

In one show I was casting To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday and another theater was casting The Crucible. We each needed young girls. We worked together and each got the ones we wanted most. I never knew if the girls got the play they wanted though.

In another case, a director I know had the woman he cast in the lead decline to take the part. The director told me that if she had known that the woman would not take the part she would have cast another man in the male lead but it was too late. Casting a play is so complicated that losing a person in any major role can throw all the casting off.

If you are looking at another play, let the director know.

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EvaB
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Posted: 5/20/04 at 11:58pm

I second what Doug has said here. It is very awkward after your first choice has turned you down to go back to someone else who perhaps has accepted a smaller role which you have offered and ask this actor to take the part that your first choice turned down. Doesn't get things off on the best foot with the second-choice actor with whom you now must establish good rapport, but he is aware that he was not the first choice... I've been there. Luckily, it all turned out. But I will avoid in the future casting the person who presented me with these problems in the past.

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Hopefull
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Posted: 5/24/04 at 8:34am

Wow. Thanks for all the replies! I think what I'm going to do is accept a part in the play that had auditions yesterday (and today) if I get offered one. The regular auditions for the other show aren't until this weekend, so even though *my* audition is tomorrow, they won't have made any decisions by the time I hear about the first play. (okay, that was a really confusing sentence) Anyway, I should hear one way or another about the first play by Wednesday and if I get cast, then I'll just call the people who I auditioned for on Tuesday and tell them I won't be able to do the show after all. That way, they can disregard me by the time their regular auditions come up. I hope that's not too tacky . . . . If anyone has anything else to add, I'd love to hear it!

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Hopefull
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Posted: 5/25/04 at 10:09am

I just wanted to post an update. I found out that I got cast in the first show I auditioned for. Yay! Luckily, I found out about it before the audition I was supposed to have today, so I was able to cancel it. This was *way* too stressful! I'm never going to try to audition for more than one thing in the same 3 days again . . . Thanks again to all who posted their opinions.

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Jenny
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Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:51pm

Congratulations!

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Gaafa
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Posted: 5/26/04 at 1:27am

G?donya Hopeful!
The stress gets easier & you can even come to enjoy auditioning. Believe me -I?m almost a Doctor?
But stick to your principles & commit to only one at the same time - as suggested by the others here!
But that still does not say you can?t hedge your bets as well!

Chookas

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Wishbone
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Posted: 8/28/05 at 3:15pm

Yay! Glad it all worked out.

Wishbone

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Author	Message
Hopefull Walk-On Joined: 5/18/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Auditioning for 2 shows at once? Posted: 5/18/04 at 9:33am
	I have a question about audition etiquette. A community theatre in my area is doing a musical and I want to audition for it. The auditions are on May 29-30. Because I will be out of town then, I called them to see if I could schedule a special audition before I leave. I haven?t solidified anything, but they seem to be willing to let me set one up. I just found out yesterday that another theatre is having auditions this Sunday for a play. I have worked with this director before and I would really like to audition for that play, too, but I don?t know if it?s completely tacky to audition for two shows at the same time. What would happen if I got cast in both? I highly doubt I could actually be in both productions. I?m dying to be cast in something, though, so I want to maximize the chance of that by attending as many auditions as possible. Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks!

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countbio Player Joined: 5/03/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 5/18/04 at 11:56am
	It is completely acceptable to audition for several shows during the same period. Auditioning for shows is like looking for a job....you send your resume out all over town, you go out on lots of interviews ...unitil you get an offer. The potentially rude part comes when you get offers of parts. It is rude to hold up one show while you wait to hear from another. It is rude to drop out of a show you have already committed to because you got a "better" part elsewhere. I suggest you have a clear policy for yourself on how you accept or decline part offers.
	IP Logged

Jenny Player Joined: 4/12/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/19/04 at 8:00pm
	In addition to countbio's great answer, may I add: There may be local protocols, so you may want to ask around to be sure. In my area, the several theatre groups do NOT cooperate with each other, and certain persons involved in casting decisions can react negatively if they think they are being played off each other. My advice is to be open and honest with whatever you decide. Break a leg!
	IP Logged

Doug Celebrity Joined: 2/03/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 119	Posted: 5/20/04 at 11:56am
	I have seen it go both ways. In one show I was casting To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday and another theater was casting The Crucible. We each needed young girls. We worked together and each got the ones we wanted most. I never knew if the girls got the play they wanted though. In another case, a director I know had the woman he cast in the lead decline to take the part. The director told me that if she had known that the woman would not take the part she would have cast another man in the male lead but it was too late. Casting a play is so complicated that losing a person in any major role can throw all the casting off. If you are looking at another play, let the director know.
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EvaB Walk-On Joined: 3/26/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/20/04 at 11:58pm
	I second what Doug has said here. It is very awkward after your first choice has turned you down to go back to someone else who perhaps has accepted a smaller role which you have offered and ask this actor to take the part that your first choice turned down. Doesn't get things off on the best foot with the second-choice actor with whom you now must establish good rapport, but he is aware that he was not the first choice... I've been there. Luckily, it all turned out. But I will avoid in the future casting the person who presented me with these problems in the past.
	IP Logged

Hopefull Walk-On Joined: 5/18/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/24/04 at 8:34am
	Wow. Thanks for all the replies! I think what I'm going to do is accept a part in the play that had auditions yesterday (and today) if I get offered one. The regular auditions for the other show aren't until this weekend, so even though my audition is tomorrow, they won't have made any decisions by the time I hear about the first play. (okay, that was a really confusing sentence) Anyway, I should hear one way or another about the first play by Wednesday and if I get cast, then I'll just call the people who I auditioned for on Tuesday and tell them I won't be able to do the show after all. That way, they can disregard me by the time their regular auditions come up. I hope that's not too tacky . . . . If anyone has anything else to add, I'd love to hear it!
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Hopefull Walk-On Joined: 5/18/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/25/04 at 10:09am
	I just wanted to post an update. I found out that I got cast in the first show I auditioned for. Yay! Luckily, I found out about it before the audition I was supposed to have today, so I was able to cancel it. This was way too stressful! I'm never going to try to audition for more than one thing in the same 3 days again . . . Thanks again to all who posted their opinions.
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Jenny Player Joined: 4/12/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:51pm
	Congratulations!
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Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 5/26/04 at 1:27am
	G?donya Hopeful! The stress gets easier & you can even come to enjoy auditioning. Believe me -I?m almost a Doctor? But stick to your principles & commit to only one at the same time - as suggested by the others here! But that still does not say you can?t hedge your bets as well! Chookas
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Wishbone Player Joined: 8/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 22	Posted: 8/28/05 at 3:15pm
	Yay! Glad it all worked out. Wishbone
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Topic: Auditioning for 2 shows at once?( Topic Closed)