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Kurt Muller
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bullet Posted: 5/04/07 at 5:12am
Originally posted by lola

hi. i'm an enthusiastic 18 year old in a community that is mostly retired people. the local community theatre is doing  "The Rainmaker", and i would love to play the role of lizzie. i have played older roles before because there arnt many people that do community theatre ...
 
For what it's worth, Lola, I'd like to say "Well done!" for wanting to appear in theatre that only caters for the oldies. You sound like an empathetic person, and that's what an actor needs to be.
 
As far as looking older is concerned, I think it's a trick. Not all older people behave like old people, and they're the ones who don't "look old". And it's a fact that some young people look rather old before their time.
 
Think of someone you know who looks or even seems older than she/he is. What exactly makes her/him that way? Get that right, and all you'll need is a little makeup to complete the illusion. 
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jaytee060
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bullet Posted: 5/12/07 at 3:00pm

    My best advise to you would be to prepare yourself for the audition well.  Know the play and know the character.  Get a copy of the script prior to auditions and become familiar with the dialogue and the style of writing.  If you give an excellent audition, being a bit younger or a bit older will not be a major factor.   

   As a director, I have often cast roles against type and age.  My main concern is getting the best possible performance.  If I believe you as an actor, I can overlook the age difference.  And so will the audience.  Best of luck to you and I am sure you will make a wonderful Lizzie.
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jdlewallen
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bullet Posted: 9/05/07 at 1:04pm

Wow...I wish OUR director had your attitude.  Don't get me wrong - I love her as a director for the most part, but her casting drives me insane!  We are currently auditioning for "All My Sons", and I would absolutely KILL for the part of Chris or even George.  However, I am 35 and the majority of people who show up are in their mid-20s.  Add to that the fact that this director gets tunnel vision regarding the "age" of actors/characters, and I am screwed, despite the fact that I totally blew everyone else off the stage with my reading last night.... *SIGH*

Soooo, I get the callback for the doctor, while it will be the meatier parts going to some young hack only because of their age.  What really kills me, though, is that if it were one of our other two usual directors, this wouldn't be an issue......

The one thing about this business that just makes me want to bash my head on the wall.....
"Every theatre is an insane asylum..." ---Franz Schalk (1863-1931)
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jayzehr
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bullet Posted: 9/05/07 at 6:57pm
What about the father? Isn't that the meatiest part in that script?
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jdlewallen
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bullet Posted: 9/06/07 at 9:32am

LOL...I'm not THAT old yet...besides, it seems our artistic director managed to somehow land that part... ;-)

I think Keller is an interesting character, but the real meat of it is Chris and his transformation.  Keller would probably be the next most complex, followed by George, who has only one scene, but it is the most pivotal of the script.

All of which is moot, since it seems I am to be shunted to the good doctor most likely....an interesting , yet almost pedestrian part by comparison....
"Every theatre is an insane asylum..." ---Franz Schalk (1863-1931)
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whitebat
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bullet Posted: 11/26/07 at 12:51am
I would suggest dressing to indicate the age of the character (maybe more formal or conservative than you usually wear).  I can't say it's worked spectacularly well in real life though.  I am 27 years old and a substitute teacher.  I routinely get asked if I am a "new student" at the middle school and high school.  Maybe if I wore a suit...  It may seem like looking younger than your age is a funny thing to complain about, but it really isn't funny, particularly when people don't take you seriously because of it.
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jclarinet
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bullet Posted: 3/16/09 at 4:10pm
Funny topic, my daughter did not get called back for Peter Pan, because she was "too young". She's 20. They chose an older woman, 30+ who could not sing as well and had a very flat affect.
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