Active TopicsActive Topics  Display List of Forum MembersMemberlist  CalendarCalendar  Search The ForumSearch  HelpHelp
  RegisterRegister  LoginLogin
Acting
 Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Acting
Message Icon Topic: audition styles(Topic Closed Topic Closed) Post Reply Post New Topic
Author Message
opalviolet
Lead
Lead
Avatar

Joined: 9/09/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 33
bullet Topic: audition styles
    Posted: 9/09/06 at 11:38am
I auditioned this week for a show.  To get an audition, you had to schedule a time slot.  At the audition, I performed one song in front of the director and musical director who barely looked at me.  The audition notice said callbacks would be on another night.  Since no reading was done, I assumed that's when readings would occur.  They indicated I'd be hearing from them, which I took to mean for a callback.  On the morning of the day for which the callbacks were scheduled, I got a call from the director offering me a role.  This director has never worked with me, as I'm new to the community.  She stated that they felt they could cast based solely on vocal auditions.  I've directed shows.  When I audition actors, I like to not only hear them sing and read, but see their stage presence, movement, facial expression, and the chemistry between them and other actors.  Do you find my recent audition to be a common experience?  Comments, please.
IP IP Logged
Topper
Celebrity
Celebrity
Avatar

Joined: 1/27/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 543
bullet Posted: 9/09/06 at 12:46pm

First of all, congratulations on being cast. Well done!

Secondly, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.  Your director has given you a great compliment by saying she felt she could cast you based solely on your singing audition.  It's not all that unusual.

You said you were offered "... a role" and didn't specify whether or not it was THE role you wanted.  Since I don't know which play or which part is in question I can only assume the director cast you because

A) The part given you is primarily a singing part that requires little or no acting.

B) The director looked at your resume and saw you've done other roles with theaters or directors she knows and trusts.

C) The director called up a past director from your resume and said "Hey, this [OpalViolet] auditioned for me last night and I thought she was terrific.  Do you think she could handle the part of "----" in this show?"  And then got a glowing recommendation from somebody with whom you've previously worked.

 

Either way, congratulations!

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

Joined: 9/09/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 33
bullet Posted: 9/09/06 at 12:57pm

Topper:

Well, actually I turned the role down.  It's not the one I wanted and I'd have to travel one hour each way to get to rehearsal.  What with gas prices the way they are, I'd only spend the money for that specific role.  If I could have read for the part I wanted, things may have turned out differently.  I do have an extensive resume, have acted professionally, and have previously played the role for which I auditioned, but I am an unknown entity to the director.  The person cast has done numerous roles with the group.  I did do one show with the group this past summer that had the same music director.  The role I wanted was Nancy in Oliver! and was offered Mrs. Sowerberry.  I auditioned with It's a Fine Life.  The theater company is associated with a college, so usually casts shows young.

IP IP Logged
Topper
Celebrity
Celebrity
Avatar

Joined: 1/27/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 543
bullet Posted: 9/09/06 at 4:47pm

Sorry to hear that.

Don't be too hard on yourself.  I'm sure you gave a great audition but Mrs. Sowerberry is a role typically cast with a more mature actress and if the "casts shows young" as you put it, then it's entirely possible you were either too old (in their eyes) for the role of Nancy or you were the only actress in the right age range (and musically suitable) to play Mrs. Sowerberry.

Read my previous post under "Directing" in the thread titled "Audition Aftermath" to commiserate along with everybody else on a simliar topic.

Better luck next time.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
IP IP Logged
B-M-D
Celebrity
Celebrity
Avatar

Joined: 11/03/05
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 346
bullet Posted: 9/09/06 at 6:22pm

Rather unusual to be cast just from a singing audition but given the role you were offered understandable.

A humorous side story:  I played Mr. Sowerberry in a less than memorable production of Oliver!   Playing Mrs. Sowerberry was my mother-in-law who had coaxed me into taking the role after refusing it because I really wanted Bill Sykes.

BD

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
IP IP Logged
opalviolet
Lead
Lead
Avatar

Joined: 9/09/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 33
bullet Posted: 9/09/06 at 8:34pm

B-M-D:

That is funny, having your mother-in-law play your wife!  In a church play, I once played my ex-husband's mother.  We were married at the time.  How incestuous!

I didn't mean to imply Mrs. Sowerberry wasn't a good role, just not the one I wanted.  I played Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music this past summer with the same company, so wonder if they can't see me doing a role that requires belting.  That's why I chose to do a song that showed I could belt and do something other than a sophisticated lyric soprano.

Since there is no community theater in my hometown, it severely limits opportunities.  I hate to pass up a good role, but there's too much emotionally involved with the part.  I never got to play Nancy on stage because on Opening Night, we had a bomb threat and the show was shut down.  We never got to do it before an audience.  I was featured with a large photo and the best review of my life, so I was actually concerned the crazy person might come after me.  To have played the role would have been a sorta divine justice, fulfilling a longing I've had, like closing a chapter in an unfinished book.  That's why that role meant so much to me and it would have been too much to watch someone else play it.  I don't like to turn down roles, but this time, I felt I had to.

 

 

IP IP Logged
Post Reply Post New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums version 8.05
Copyright ©2001-2006 Web Wiz Guide
buy generic cialis are in line cialis canada outcome for yourself viagra sales cost saving benefit viagra uk convert your buy phentermine online pay phentermine cod payment Lenders Everything xanax online your existing xanax overnight absolute must free incest stories online The value gay incest advance The key free dog sex pics cash flow dog sex the reduced noise free gay college guys of the period gay guys