Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Ethics in theater

Message

   I
live in an adult community in southern Arizona. There are about 1,600
homes and we have a very sucessful theater group. Our first effort was
Caught in the Villain's Web and last year we did Neil Simon's Rumors.
Both of those shows were directed by the gal (Gloria) that got the
group going and she did a super job. I was in the first play and when I
said I would like to direct sometime, she encouraged me to be an
understudy when she directed Rumors and at the same time, I was elected
as president of the Players board. For some reason that made her angry
and she said it was a "conflict of interest", but I remained president
and tried to be her shadow. She never explained what she did (as in
teaching) and I never made any directorial suggestions either. 

My husband was ticket chairman and I helped sell tickets too, along
with doing publicity and sound effects plus overseaing the set
decoration, costumes and so on. One day she got furious because she
thought we weren't going to sell enough tickets and she chewed me our
royally and threatened to quit the show when I defended our ticket
selling plan and told her to worry about directing and we would take
care of all else. Well it was never the same after that. I got chewed
out numerous times right in front of the cast and the cast even began
to feel sorry for me.

Well, I am directing this year and have already cast the play,
Meanwhile, Back on the Couch. She was offered the job but said she
wanted to take a year off. Out of respect I sent her a note telling her
how I appreciated learning from her and told her who I had cast in the
new play. She is not involved with the players group at the moment by
her own choosing. 

But I recently learned that she decided to start a traveling theater
troupe and is going to do the female version of the Odd Couple. This
play will not be presented in our community but in other such
communities and RV parks in the valley. She went to two of the actors I
had cast and tried to steal them away from our show. She got one to my
dismay, and then when the other one (one of the leads in my new play)
who happens to be the wife of this year's producer, told me that she
wanted to be in Gloria's play rather than mine (the lead role), I was
shocked. I did convince her to stay with this play since she auditioned
for us first.  Last night I learned that although she will not do
that lead role in the Odd Couple, she is taking the role of Sylvia (a
smaller part with only 50 lines). 

Right now I am disappointed in both of them especially the former
director who ranted and raved when I became president about what is
right and what is just not done in theater.

What would you do? I can release my actress or just go on and act like nothing happened. 

Barb 

Author	Message
GoldCanyonLady Celebrity Joined: 2/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 172	Topic: Ethics in theater Posted: 7/09/05 at 8:17pm
	I live in an adult community in southern Arizona. There are about 1,600 homes and we have a very sucessful theater group. Our first effort was Caught in the Villain's Web and last year we did Neil Simon's Rumors. Both of those shows were directed by the gal (Gloria) that got the group going and she did a super job. I was in the first play and when I said I would like to direct sometime, she encouraged me to be an understudy when she directed Rumors and at the same time, I was elected as president of the Players board. For some reason that made her angry and she said it was a "conflict of interest", but I remained president and tried to be her shadow. She never explained what she did (as in teaching) and I never made any directorial suggestions either. My husband was ticket chairman and I helped sell tickets too, along with doing publicity and sound effects plus overseaing the set decoration, costumes and so on. One day she got furious because she thought we weren't going to sell enough tickets and she chewed me our royally and threatened to quit the show when I defended our ticket selling plan and told her to worry about directing and we would take care of all else. Well it was never the same after that. I got chewed out numerous times right in front of the cast and the cast even began to feel sorry for me. Well, I am directing this year and have already cast the play, Meanwhile, Back on the Couch. She was offered the job but said she wanted to take a year off. Out of respect I sent her a note telling her how I appreciated learning from her and told her who I had cast in the new play. She is not involved with the players group at the moment by her own choosing. But I recently learned that she decided to start a traveling theater troupe and is going to do the female version of the Odd Couple. This play will not be presented in our community but in other such communities and RV parks in the valley. She went to two of the actors I had cast and tried to steal them away from our show. She got one to my dismay, and then when the other one (one of the leads in my new play) who happens to be the wife of this year's producer, told me that she wanted to be in Gloria's play rather than mine (the lead role), I was shocked. I did convince her to stay with this play since she auditioned for us first. Last night I learned that although she will not do that lead role in the Odd Couple, she is taking the role of Sylvia (a smaller part with only 50 lines). Right now I am disappointed in both of them especially the former director who ranted and raved when I became president about what is right and what is just not done in theater. What would you do? I can release my actress or just go on and act like nothing happened. Barb
	Barb Hofmeister, MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

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Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:52am
	I'm afraid this isn't as uncommon as we all would hope. How much time do you have to replace your actress? The best thing you can do is forget about this fickle, disloyal cast member and replace her as soon as possible. If you try to shame her into staying, her performance will match the crappy attitude she will (no doubt) display -- and it will poison the whole show. Much easier to replace her -- if there are 1,600 homes in your community, it shouldn't be that tough to find someone suitable. Hang in there and break a leg -- (we know...there are probably a few you'd like to be breaking right now!)
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Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:56am
	Kathy is right! Go for it Barb - Let it wash past you. Replace them with others who have auditioned! Resist getting agro & carry on. like nothing has happened. Theatre has a way of leveling everything out in the end. Just look forward to the day when it does & smile! When 'it' all boils down, what we are about;- is making memories. You might have to push ?it' up hill with your nose - But let ?it? be a good one- for you!
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
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GoldCanyonLady Celebrity Joined: 2/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 172	Posted: 7/10/05 at 9:37am
	I can replace her easily, but my actress wants to do both roles at the same time. She is good, but won't that diminish her performance? Barb
	Barb Hofmeister, MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.
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Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 7/10/05 at 2:23pm
	Hi Barb, Faced with a similiar problem, I asked the performer to choose. I explained it wasn't about him. It was about the people he was performing with. That when he wasn't available or he was tired and stressed out, it wasn't fair to the rest of the cast. He was stunned that I replaced him, but it was best for the show. Besides, it was a real bad precedent to set. Oh yeah. . . he has worked with me again. L.
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Dustmac Lead Joined: 5/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Posted: 7/10/05 at 10:12pm
	Unfortunately I have seen this kind of thing happen before. There is no way to be completely dedicated to both. I am sure you had several other good actresses audition. Put the ball in her court and ask her to make a decision, if she doesn't like that replace her.
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pauliebonn Star Joined: 4/15/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 62	Posted: 7/22/05 at 1:39am
	At one point in my theatrical life, I was busy rehearsing 2 shows at the same time. At the same time, I was also performing in another. I was also working the night shift at the same time. I will never do that again. I had small roles in each of the productions, and was never detrimental to the cast of each, but it is tough to do that, not to mention insane. You need to tell people that when they audition, you need them for this show only, and that all other shows should be off limits. I wish that someone would have told me that. P
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GoldCanyonLady Celebrity Joined: 2/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 172	Posted: 7/22/05 at 9:11am
	Thanks for the help everyone. She is gone and I have a new actress in place. The show will go on and be in good form. Barb
	Barb Hofmeister, MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.
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