I'm directing a show that runs the first three weekends of December (a really tough time of the year to cast for I'm finding out). This is the kick off show for a brand new company, and we're doing The Eight: Reindeer Monologues.

I had an awesome cast of 8 people. Rehearsals started this past weekend, and I had an actress blow off the first rehearsal, get upset with me when I tried to discuss it with her and drop the show. She is very overwhelmed (grad school, work, serious illness) and I had discussed all of this with her prior to casting her and she assured me she could swing this show. Against my better judgement, I cast her.

Now I'm trying to fill the role. I've talked to five or six actresses and they all have conflicts with the performance dates due to the holidays. The rehearsal schedule is already as lean as I could have it and I have to plug a new person into slots around everyone else.

I want a good, strong person in the role and I'm not willing to just take anyone to have a body on stage. I know I need to compromise somewhere, but I don't want the worst case scenerio be me playing the role which is what I'm beginning to think is going to happen.

EEEEK! :)

Another option is to double cast it. If some of the people you have talked to have non-overlapping conflicts, ask them to split the run. This is obviously not ideal, especially if you have a lean rehersal schedule, but it might be an option.

Dan