Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Directing a Double Cast Play

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BeJa
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Topic: Directing a Double Cast Play
Posted: 5/31/05 at 1:00pm

Our little theater has a lot of members who want to act. I am considering double casting for our smaller plays. As we only have a certain amount of rehearsal time and space available (about 30 rehearsals, each 2 1/2 hours long, which we have had in the past), how can I divide the rehearsals so that each cast will have enough time? Or will each cast need the full amount of time? I'm inclined to believe that each cast will need 30 rehearsals. Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 5/31/05 at 9:15pm

If you feel a cast requires 30 rehearsals, why do you feel in this
instance that 1/2 that amount of time will suffice?

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BeJa
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Posted: 6/04/05 at 9:01am

I had hoped someone with double casting experience could tell me if they had combined certain parts of the rehearsal process for the two casts...for example, had both casts for the play read through, play/character analysis, or for blocking, etc.

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 6/04/05 at 12:51pm

I've never had a completely double cast play - but I've used
double casting for a few of the leads a several times.

Frankly, LOL, I found it to be a real pain in the proverbial.

Every rehearsal that involved a double cast character(s) had to
be doubled, so that not only each actor had a chance to
rehearse, but every other actor had the chance to rehearse with
BOTH of the double cast characters (no two actors do
everything the same way - hopefully - LOL - except
choreography).

I would make up your ideal rehearsal schedule for one cast.
Then realize you need to have twice as many rehearsals as
that, for the casts to get the necessary rehearsal. And, of
course, realizing that each cast will different problems with
different scenes. (i.e. cast A may find ActI/Scene 2 a breeze -
but needs extra rehearsals for ActII/Scene 1. While the exact
opposite is true of cast B.) This caused me some scheduling
headaches a few times - especially in musicals.

Though, individually, each cast member will have the same
rehearsal time spent as a 'normal' production - remember!
YOU'RE going to have TWICE the rehearsals as everybody
else.

But, what's theatre if not a big challenge? LOL Good luck!

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Topper
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Posted: 6/04/05 at 3:26pm

Have you considered doing two shows in repertory?
This would avoid having an "A-List" cast and a
"B-List" cast for the same play.

Two separate plays (perhaps by the same author or
dealing with the same theme - ideally with a similar
set) would give you more freedom to cast each play
as you see fit. Shows could be performed on
alternate evenings. Both could be drawing room
comedies or something.

It would also (I believe) be less tedious than
rehearsing the same scenes over and over with
different actors. Comparisons will be inevitable
("Well, the OTHER cast does it THIS way") and might
be opening up another can of worms.

Just a suggestion. Cheers!

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Nyria
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Posted: 6/06/05 at 4:23pm

What I do is have both cast attend all the rehearsals at the beginning. Cast 1 will watch while cast 2 is on stage. I will work through the scene with the one cast while the other is watching and taking notes. Then the second cast should get up and already know blocking and such (with a little stumble through).

Near the end of the rehearsal period (during the polish rehearsals) I will have seperate rehearsals for each cast.

If I don't have exactly equal numbers I will double cast the bigger parts and then have the smaller parts played by the same person in each cast.

Another tip - name your casts colour or something. Like (in Wiz of Oz) I had the Ruby cast and the Emerald cast - Because Casts 1 & 2 or A & B can sound like the second is lesser.

I like double casting because it gives more people a chance and because it gives built in understudies. That way you put up with less crap - someone's not pulling their weight they can be easily replaced -- also better ticket sales

NYRIA

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 6/06/05 at 8:45pm

don't you find young actors will start 'copying' the performances
of the "other" cast, if they're watching each other?

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Nyria
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Posted: 6/07/05 at 12:33am

"don't you find young actors will start 'copying' the performances
of the "other" cast, if they're watching each other?"

I never really thought of that - but they don't. The casts I've worked with always seem to be very different. If they started to you could always give them a talk on finding the character themselves and that you cast them because you wanted what they both offered - which was equally great but unique

NYRIA

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WestSacCT
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Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:24pm

Director BeJa,

I understand your situation well. I have read lots of good advise on this subjest from our fello "Green Room" Members so not to sound redundant, I would suggest looking at this from their perspective(s). However I do want to stress that this is not as hard as it looks.

I have worked a double cast within the same rehearsal time I would have alotted for a single cast. Have each cast member and their double work the scenes together and with their respective cast. There is little time for fooling around during these type of rehearsals so your focus and command needs to be clear from the get go so that the actors will do the same.

As for the natural ranking of the casts (Which you can not change- actors will discover their own pecking order) I address the cast by their opening night (Friday's show, Saturdays show...) Each of my double cast get their own equal amount of shows (usually 3) This way I am putting the responsibility of the show on the actors themselves. They each have an opening and a closing and they need to have the professional attitude and dedication to focus on their performance, not what the other cast is or is not doing.

Let blocking be different for both shows. It will naturally happen anyway because of different actors. Each show will have a life of its own.

Phillip E. Stommel
Artistic Director
West Sacramento Community Theater

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emro
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Posted: 10/03/05 at 4:30pm

I feel very negatively about double casting. We have a local company that double casts a lot, and it's not a good scene (no pun intended). One cast is inevitably stronger, and everyone inevitably finds out which one it is and goes to that show instead of the other one. If you have to do twice as many rehearsals anyway, why not perform two smaller repertory shows with similar theme/set as Topper suggested?

Cucumber sandwiches? Watercress sandwiches? The whole scene would stand or fall on his ultimate decision. -- Instant Lives & More: Oscar Wilde

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Author	Message
BeJa Walk-On Joined: 5/31/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Directing a Double Cast Play Posted: 5/31/05 at 1:00pm
	Our little theater has a lot of members who want to act. I am considering double casting for our smaller plays. As we only have a certain amount of rehearsal time and space available (about 30 rehearsals, each 2 1/2 hours long, which we have had in the past), how can I divide the rehearsals so that each cast will have enough time? Or will each cast need the full amount of time? I'm inclined to believe that each cast will need 30 rehearsals. Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 5/31/05 at 9:15pm
	If you feel a cast requires 30 rehearsals, why do you feel in this instance that 1/2 that amount of time will suffice?
	IP Logged

BeJa Walk-On Joined: 5/31/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 6/04/05 at 9:01am
	I had hoped someone with double casting experience could tell me if they had combined certain parts of the rehearsal process for the two casts...for example, had both casts for the play read through, play/character analysis, or for blocking, etc.
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 6/04/05 at 12:51pm
	I've never had a completely double cast play - but I've used double casting for a few of the leads a several times. Frankly, LOL, I found it to be a real pain in the proverbial. Every rehearsal that involved a double cast character(s) had to be doubled, so that not only each actor had a chance to rehearse, but every other actor had the chance to rehearse with BOTH of the double cast characters (no two actors do everything the same way - hopefully - LOL - except choreography). I would make up your ideal rehearsal schedule for one cast. Then realize you need to have twice as many rehearsals as that, for the casts to get the necessary rehearsal. And, of course, realizing that each cast will different problems with different scenes. (i.e. cast A may find ActI/Scene 2 a breeze - but needs extra rehearsals for ActII/Scene 1. While the exact opposite is true of cast B.) This caused me some scheduling headaches a few times - especially in musicals. Though, individually, each cast member will have the same rehearsal time spent as a 'normal' production - remember! YOU'RE going to have TWICE the rehearsals as everybody else. But, what's theatre if not a big challenge? LOL Good luck!
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 6/04/05 at 3:26pm
	Have you considered doing two shows in repertory? This would avoid having an "A-List" cast and a "B-List" cast for the same play. Two separate plays (perhaps by the same author or dealing with the same theme - ideally with a similar set) would give you more freedom to cast each play as you see fit. Shows could be performed on alternate evenings. Both could be drawing room comedies or something. It would also (I believe) be less tedious than rehearsing the same scenes over and over with different actors. Comparisons will be inevitable ("Well, the OTHER cast does it THIS way") and might be opening up another can of worms. Just a suggestion. Cheers!
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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Nyria Celebrity Joined: 1/20/05 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 157	Posted: 6/06/05 at 4:23pm
	What I do is have both cast attend all the rehearsals at the beginning. Cast 1 will watch while cast 2 is on stage. I will work through the scene with the one cast while the other is watching and taking notes. Then the second cast should get up and already know blocking and such (with a little stumble through). Near the end of the rehearsal period (during the polish rehearsals) I will have seperate rehearsals for each cast. If I don't have exactly equal numbers I will double cast the bigger parts and then have the smaller parts played by the same person in each cast. Another tip - name your casts colour or something. Like (in Wiz of Oz) I had the Ruby cast and the Emerald cast - Because Casts 1 & 2 or A & B can sound like the second is lesser. I like double casting because it gives more people a chance and because it gives built in understudies. That way you put up with less crap - someone's not pulling their weight they can be easily replaced -- also better ticket sales
	NYRIA
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 6/06/05 at 8:45pm
	don't you find young actors will start 'copying' the performances of the "other" cast, if they're watching each other?
	IP Logged

Nyria Celebrity Joined: 1/20/05 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 157	Posted: 6/07/05 at 12:33am
	"don't you find young actors will start 'copying' the performances of the "other" cast, if they're watching each other?" I never really thought of that - but they don't. The casts I've worked with always seem to be very different. If they started to you could always give them a talk on finding the character themselves and that you cast them because you wanted what they both offered - which was equally great but unique
	NYRIA
	IP Logged

WestSacCT Walk-On Joined: 6/06/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 6/15/05 at 3:24pm
	Director BeJa, I understand your situation well. I have read lots of good advise on this subjest from our fello "Green Room" Members so not to sound redundant, I would suggest looking at this from their perspective(s). However I do want to stress that this is not as hard as it looks. I have worked a double cast within the same rehearsal time I would have alotted for a single cast. Have each cast member and their double work the scenes together and with their respective cast. There is little time for fooling around during these type of rehearsals so your focus and command needs to be clear from the get go so that the actors will do the same. As for the natural ranking of the casts (Which you can not change- actors will discover their own pecking order) I address the cast by their opening night (Friday's show, Saturdays show...) Each of my double cast get their own equal amount of shows (usually 3) This way I am putting the responsibility of the show on the actors themselves. They each have an opening and a closing and they need to have the professional attitude and dedication to focus on their performance, not what the other cast is or is not doing. Let blocking be different for both shows. It will naturally happen anyway because of different actors. Each show will have a life of its own.
	Phillip E. Stommel Artistic Director West Sacramento Community Theater
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emro Player Joined: 8/02/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/03/05 at 4:30pm
	I feel very negatively about double casting. We have a local company that double casts a lot, and it's not a good scene (no pun intended). One cast is inevitably stronger, and everyone inevitably finds out which one it is and goes to that show instead of the other one. If you have to do twice as many rehearsals anyway, why not perform two smaller repertory shows with similar theme/set as Topper suggested?
	Cucumber sandwiches? Watercress sandwiches? The whole scene would stand or fall on his ultimate decision. -- Instant Lives & More: Oscar Wilde
	IP Logged

Topic: Directing a Double Cast Play( Topic Closed)