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Message Icon Topic: Graciously saying, "No Thanks" ?(Topic Closed Topic Closed) Post Reply Post New Topic
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KL Murphy
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bullet Topic: Graciously saying, "No Thanks" ?
    Posted: 8/03/06 at 10:25am

Do you (directors and actors chime in here) feel it is snobby or rude to turn down a part because it's not the one you want or not as big as you'd want?

I do theater and wrestle professionally.  I don't mind taking time off of wrestling to do shows, but when I get parts I don't want or ensemble I both feel weird about turning them down, but also feel weird about telling my wrestling promoter I can't make X, Y and Z shows because of theater.  Than the promoter asks if I got a big part and I must honestly explain my 3 mins of on stage time.

Thoughts?

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dougb
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bullet Posted: 8/03/06 at 11:11am
Our Audition form has a section to indicate whether you want a specific role or roles or if you are willing to accept any role.  If you say you are willing to take any role than I expect you to do it. 

On more than one occasion I have had actors who indicated they would take any role suddenly find a conflict that keeps them from taking the role.  If that happens more than once I will not consider them for a role again.

Casting a play is a difficult process to make sure all the pieces fit - it isn't always just putting the best actor into the biggest role and so on.  If a person withdraws after I have cast them it may mess up all the casting selections.  If I have already offered roles to others, I can't change that and I end up trying to put a square peg into a round hole.  This is not just acting ability but how the actors look together or relate to each other - a lot of considerations.
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KL Murphy
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bullet Posted: 8/03/06 at 11:13am
That makes sense, so your suggestion would be to just be honest upfront with my concerns?
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dboris
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bullet Posted: 8/03/06 at 12:52pm

I perfectly understand when actors are only interested in large roles. I show is a big time commitment and for certain actors it may only be worth while for a large challenging role.

As dougb said, it is best to make this know up front at auditions. When my theater does auditions we also stress to people that they should be honest about what roles they will accept and which one they won't.

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KL Murphy
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bullet Posted: 8/03/06 at 1:11pm
Thank you for the reply.  I'll do that!
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B-M-D
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bullet Posted: 8/03/06 at 1:28pm

I think being honest about what you'll accept is the biggest help to a director and casting committee.   For me the fact that an actor will only accept a specific role or roles makes my job easier.

BD

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
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KL Murphy
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bullet Posted: 8/03/06 at 1:57pm

I guess what I should do is clear.  Have you been with casting committees that have said, "Oh here's a Primadonna/Diva that will only accept the lead..."

I just don't want to come across like that.  For me it's just about not being worth the time spent... and less about me being full of myself. 

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bullet Posted: 8/03/06 at 3:43pm
I don't see a problem in turning down a part you've been offered, for any reason. I don't think you neccesarily even need to give an explanation anymore than the director needs to explain casting decisions.  Just showing up to read at an audition is not an iron-clad committment to do the show. As an actor, I think I have a right to decline a part. And as a director, I would much rather have someone bow out than accept a part they're not going to be happy with, no matter what the reason.  Sure, it might mess up your well laid casting plans, but that's the way it goes. Just one of the hazards of directing. 
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bullet Posted: 8/03/06 at 4:25pm

Just be certain to take the time to familiarize yourself with the play before you decide which roles you'll accept.

I remember one "prima-donna" who would only accept the lead roles -- no matter if he was right for them or not.  When casting a production of "Harvey" the audition form specifically asked for which role would he like to perform.

Of course, he wrote in "Harvey."

The director was tempted to cast him without ever informing him the title character of the play is an imaginary rabbit and never appears onstage.  Much amusement was garnered at the idea of making this fellow sit backstage wearing a rabbit suit for hours on end.

Unfortunately, cooler heads prevailed and the actor was too embarrassed to admit his mistake.  He was certain to read the play before his next audition.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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bullet Posted: 8/03/06 at 5:31pm
I'm in the "no need to accept any old role" camp.  If there is a particular role or two I'm interested in, I speak with the director and let them know.  I usually phrase it "My schedule is such that commiting to be in the show for anything other than X or Y part is not possible."  I have also had actors inform me of their preferences at auditions.  I have never heard, in my community at least, people complain about people not wanting to commit to anything other than the role their interested in.  and believe me, there are many, many of us.  Many times, it's not even the lead, sometimes its a small juicy role which won't require attendence at all or even most rehearsals.

If you voice your feelings and the director has a serious problem with that...too bad for them. 

Hope you haven't wrestled too long with this problem.
Investigate. Imagine. Choose.
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