Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Not enough auditoners!! Help!!

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emro
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Topic: Not enough auditoners!! Help!!
Posted: 10/19/05 at 5:56pm

I have a horrible problem. I'm running a midlde school drama program. I had auditions this afternoon and only eight (eight!!!!) kids showed up. There are only six kids signed up to audition tomorrow (the last audition day) and the show has a cast of 14. That means I have no choice but to cast everyone. Dear lord! I need some major advice. What on earth should I do?!

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

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Posted: 10/19/05 at 6:06pm

I had the same problem this year. I ended up casting them all--and three of them are just above "horrible." Try to get some high school students who might be free to "stage manage" and have them understudy the parts. If you have some contacts from last year's play, you might have a good base. Generally, freshmen don't get cast or really good roles in their first year of high school.

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 10/19/05 at 9:01pm

I had this exact problem a few years ago.

I decided which of those auditioning were capable of doing
something on stage - made a list of what kind of actors I had
available - and made a fast play switch. I would have said they
were insane if anybody had told me that I would go - in 48
hours - from doing a production of "The Birds" (Aristophanes,
not Hitchcock LOL) to a production of (gasp) "You're A Good
Man, Charlie Brown." But it was the perfect play for the skills I
had available to me - and it turned out to be a pretty enjoyable
experience - which trying to get those same kids who were
fabulous in Charlie Brown to be able to do The Birds would not
have been. LOL

Don't freak out! Adapt! LOL

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falstaff29
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Posted: 10/19/05 at 10:36pm

It's a shame you couldn't do The Birds. I absolutely love Aristophanes.

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Kathy S
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Posted: 10/20/05 at 1:32am

Well, Emro, you can always look at it this way: at least you don't have to break anybody's heart by not casting him/her. We have always been short on people to audition and the first time we had to turn someone down it was really hard. (Believe it or not, we have even added parts when it meant that we'd have to turn one or two people down otherwise...)

Sometimes we get pretty full of ourselves and think that we need professional quality acting, singing, etc, etc. But really, what is our objective? Sometimes giving people a chance to participate and have a great experience has to be a part of that objective. Sometimes looking at the picture from a different point of view can make us more willing to accept and be grateful for what comes our way in the way of people, resources, etc.

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MartyW
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Posted: 10/20/05 at 8:25am

I do our High School plays. We are a small town and have only 230 Kids in our school. Thats K-12!! Needless to say, with only about 100 high school kids all trying to do baseball, softball, track, cross country, golf, basketball, band, choir, quiz bowl, etc... etc.. etc.., we have a dificult time getting enough kids motivated to take on one more thing. But we do have a very small, very dedicated group of kids who just love theater. We were doing very small straight shows, with minimal stage. (that is untill the guy with the terminal CT habit showed up) (Yup, me) The kids wanted MORE. They wanted to do some of the named shows. Two years ago, I got some of the teachers involved and with a better than average showing from the High School we were able to put on Once Upon A Mattress. Last year's approach was to look to ways of stretching the meager budget and do one of the biggies at the same time. As a member at 5 CT's, I have access to alot of help and materials. As it was something the core wanted to do AND something I had plenty of costumes and set peices available for, we decided on The Sound of Music. Now, even with teachers playing, thats a pretty tall order for our school. It got even worse, however, when one of the Cheerleaders decided she didnt like that show. Of course she talked to her click and they to their boyfreinds and before you know it, we have a VERY small showing of High Schoolers. Not ever to be out done by CT Boards or Precocious Pom Pom beaters, we decided to open not only to the teachers, but our community as well. As the play lends itself ( and requires) Middle School and Elementary age kids, we were able to combine all our assets and put together a cast of 45!!!!!!! Not bad...

I know you are dealing with a middle school problem, but maybe somekind of "expansion" of your working pool could help?

MartyW

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Linda S
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Posted: 10/20/05 at 9:38am

I had the same problem. Right out of college I took over a drama program at a high school that hadn't had a program for years. I got five people to audition, and one was there because he missed his bus. He came to watch auditions while he waited for his ride. The cheerleaders didn't have practice. I cast him.

I did what Tristan did. I selected a play to suit what I had to work with, and what the school gave me to work with. I was hired in April. The principal wanted a big musical before the end of the school year and there was $81.00 in the budget. We did Reader's Theater.

I ran the program for 8 years. The last show I did there was Grease. I had 65 students involved between the cast, tech and the pit, and there was way more the $81.00 in the budget.

My advice is work with what you've you got, and build your program. It is okay to switch gears and select a play that you know will work for you. Good luck.

Linda

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Shatcher
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Posted: 10/20/05 at 12:11pm

When I was in High School the Drama teacher always cast himself in the musical every year (he played Mr Doolittle in My Fair Lady) it always worked out great for and him. I would agree with the idea of picking the play to suit the kids you do have, after all this is about education, not pleasing the critics. pick a show and make it the best you can. if the rest of the kids in the school see how much fun the cast and crew are having maybe they will want to try out next year.

good luck.

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 10/20/05 at 1:36pm

wow - LOL - I can't imagine performing in a play with my students!
At least Henry never kisses Eliza LOL.

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Poppie
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Posted: 10/20/05 at 2:36pm

At one area high school/middle school, the drama teacher brings in a college student to play a lead role. This gives the college student "guest artist" credit on the resume, and the school students the chance to work with an almost-professional actor. She did this for "Ugly" in HONK and "Tevye" in FIDDLER. This method can give you a strong core to the show. I've worked on shows where everyone had to be cast. We just had to work through it and show that, no matter what, we could do a quality performance.

If we could read minds, we wouldn't need headsets.

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Author	Message
emro Player Joined: 8/02/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Not enough auditoners!! Help!! Posted: 10/19/05 at 5:56pm
	I have a horrible problem. I'm running a midlde school drama program. I had auditions this afternoon and only eight (eight!!!!) kids showed up. There are only six kids signed up to audition tomorrow (the last audition day) and the show has a cast of 14. That means I have no choice but to cast everyone. Dear lord! I need some major advice. What on earth should I do?!
	Cucumber sandwiches? Watercress sandwiches? The whole scene would stand or fall on his ultimate decision. -- Instant Lives & More: Oscar Wilde

	IP Logged

Guests Guest	Posted: 10/19/05 at 6:06pm
	I had the same problem this year. I ended up casting them all--and three of them are just above "horrible." Try to get some high school students who might be free to "stage manage" and have them understudy the parts. If you have some contacts from last year's play, you might have a good base. Generally, freshmen don't get cast or really good roles in their first year of high school.
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 10/19/05 at 9:01pm
	I had this exact problem a few years ago. I decided which of those auditioning were capable of doing something on stage - made a list of what kind of actors I had available - and made a fast play switch. I would have said they were insane if anybody had told me that I would go - in 48 hours - from doing a production of "The Birds" (Aristophanes, not Hitchcock LOL) to a production of (gasp) "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown." But it was the perfect play for the skills I had available to me - and it turned out to be a pretty enjoyable experience - which trying to get those same kids who were fabulous in Charlie Brown to be able to do The Birds would not have been. LOL Don't freak out! Adapt! LOL
	IP Logged

falstaff29 Celebrity Joined: 9/17/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 155	Posted: 10/19/05 at 10:36pm
	It's a shame you couldn't do The Birds. I absolutely love Aristophanes.
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 10/20/05 at 1:32am
	Well, Emro, you can always look at it this way: at least you don't have to break anybody's heart by not casting him/her. We have always been short on people to audition and the first time we had to turn someone down it was really hard. (Believe it or not, we have even added parts when it meant that we'd have to turn one or two people down otherwise...) Sometimes we get pretty full of ourselves and think that we need professional quality acting, singing, etc, etc. But really, what is our objective? Sometimes giving people a chance to participate and have a great experience has to be a part of that objective. Sometimes looking at the picture from a different point of view can make us more willing to accept and be grateful for what comes our way in the way of people, resources, etc.
	IP Logged

MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 10/20/05 at 8:25am
	I do our High School plays. We are a small town and have only 230 Kids in our school. Thats K-12!! Needless to say, with only about 100 high school kids all trying to do baseball, softball, track, cross country, golf, basketball, band, choir, quiz bowl, etc... etc.. etc.., we have a dificult time getting enough kids motivated to take on one more thing. But we do have a very small, very dedicated group of kids who just love theater. We were doing very small straight shows, with minimal stage. (that is untill the guy with the terminal CT habit showed up) (Yup, me) The kids wanted MORE. They wanted to do some of the named shows. Two years ago, I got some of the teachers involved and with a better than average showing from the High School we were able to put on Once Upon A Mattress. Last year's approach was to look to ways of stretching the meager budget and do one of the biggies at the same time. As a member at 5 CT's, I have access to alot of help and materials. As it was something the core wanted to do AND something I had plenty of costumes and set peices available for, we decided on The Sound of Music. Now, even with teachers playing, thats a pretty tall order for our school. It got even worse, however, when one of the Cheerleaders decided she didnt like that show. Of course she talked to her click and they to their boyfreinds and before you know it, we have a VERY small showing of High Schoolers. Not ever to be out done by CT Boards or Precocious Pom Pom beaters, we decided to open not only to the teachers, but our community as well. As the play lends itself ( and requires) Middle School and Elementary age kids, we were able to combine all our assets and put together a cast of 45!!!!!!! Not bad... I know you are dealing with a middle school problem, but maybe somekind of "expansion" of your working pool could help? MartyW
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 10/20/05 at 9:38am
	I had the same problem. Right out of college I took over a drama program at a high school that hadn't had a program for years. I got five people to audition, and one was there because he missed his bus. He came to watch auditions while he waited for his ride. The cheerleaders didn't have practice. I cast him. I did what Tristan did. I selected a play to suit what I had to work with, and what the school gave me to work with. I was hired in April. The principal wanted a big musical before the end of the school year and there was $81.00 in the budget. We did Reader's Theater. I ran the program for 8 years. The last show I did there was Grease. I had 65 students involved between the cast, tech and the pit, and there was way more the $81.00 in the budget. My advice is work with what you've you got, and build your program. It is okay to switch gears and select a play that you know will work for you. Good luck. Linda
	IP Logged

Shatcher Celebrity Joined: 2/21/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 251	Posted: 10/20/05 at 12:11pm
	When I was in High School the Drama teacher always cast himself in the musical every year (he played Mr Doolittle in My Fair Lady) it always worked out great for and him. I would agree with the idea of picking the play to suit the kids you do have, after all this is about education, not pleasing the critics. pick a show and make it the best you can. if the rest of the kids in the school see how much fun the cast and crew are having maybe they will want to try out next year. good luck.
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 10/20/05 at 1:36pm
	wow - LOL - I can't imagine performing in a play with my students! At least Henry never kisses Eliza LOL.
	IP Logged

Poppie Player Joined: 3/18/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 10/20/05 at 2:36pm
	At one area high school/middle school, the drama teacher brings in a college student to play a lead role. This gives the college student "guest artist" credit on the resume, and the school students the chance to work with an almost-professional actor. She did this for "Ugly" in HONK and "Tevye" in FIDDLER. This method can give you a strong core to the show. I've worked on shows where everyone had to be cast. We just had to work through it and show that, no matter what, we could do a quality performance.
	If we could read minds, we wouldn't need headsets.
	IP Logged

Topic: Not enough auditoners!! Help!!( Topic Closed)