In our Florida community there is a successful ( i.e. rich) amateur theater which has become a nearly closed shop to many actors who would like to perform there but don't have a family or staff connection.  Roles go repeatedly to the same people - who either work there (paid staff) or are related to an employee or are old timers. Newcomers aren't especially welcome in any capacity. Many times roles are precast - although they always go through the pretense of holding open auditions. THen when the cast is announced, someone who didn't even show up at the auditions has the role. I am wondering how other theater people have handled this kind of problem in their community. Everyone is afraid to say anything because we fear being totally blackballed forever. Is this any way to run a community theater or am I arguing with success? (THeir shows do well and they have a beautiful facility.) What's the solution?

I have seen a lot of community theaters accused of pre-casting, and in a lot of cases it's not really true. I have run into cases where someone who didn't audition got cast simply because no-one suitable auditioned. Even if you had people who where "physically" suitable the director may not have felt that they could handle the role. Also, when you are casting people (and I have been in this position) you are going to lean towards people you know, instead of new comers, especially for lead roles. You want to be confident that the person you are going to cast is going to work out so you go with someone you know you can rely on.

With this said, the group you are talking about may really be doing blantent, pre-casting. Casting people from inside as opposed to clearly better candidates from outside. If you are not part of this theaters board of directors, there might not be much you can do to change things. If they really want to run thier theater that way then that's thier choice, and if there are getting a good audiance, and enough people to crew shows and fill the cast, then there might not be an incentive to change.

Dan

thanks for your comments. I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers of other directors who precast and/or cast old friends, family, etc. because they feel it's best for the show....I understand how such decisions get made and why they are defended. I direct too and I know how aggravating it is to have no suitable candidates show up for an audition. But that is NOT the case here. I guess I wanted to know if other theaters have ever had to deal with this concern and adopted policies to force a change of the culture of the group....something akin to affirmative action to promote diversity at the theater...and I don't mean just racially but finding ways to bring in those now outside the select circle.  We community theater people  ARE about more than just putting on shows, aren't we? Aren't we?

If it is true and many people show up and the same people are always cast and I have seen it happen.  I luck out right now and have several community theatres in the area and semi and professional and they really do include everyone.  But what you could do is the following and I do agree talk to someone on the inside and try to find things out.  If you feel that doesn't work then possibly try to gather more information from patrons and maybe a general letter to the editor.  while doing this find out how many people in the commuity feel this way. 

If none of this works they probably have funding sources and are probably non profit in which case they have a mission statement which is open to the public for viewing.  Get a copy and find out what the statement says and if it contains certain things such as involve the community, reach a large portion of the community, educate new and up coming talent etc. then go to the funding sources and claim you ahve a problem that an "arts commission" is funding with your tax money a group that is closed to the general public.

You get my hints.  How big of a stink do you want to cause?