Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Kids trying out for Community Theatre

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4ofustogether
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Topic: Kids trying out for Community Theatre
Posted: 10/03/07 at 3:38pm

I just wanted to hear others options on children in community theatre. I have two daughters that love to be in plays. The first one they tryout for they made, but since then they have not made another callback, but I notice that it is always the sames kids that get callback again and again and make the cast. Is there some kinda of trick? I know every parent believe their child is talented but, how can my kids improve if they are never giving another chance. I have put them into acting workshops and classes. I just want to know if this is just how community theatre works and if my kids just have to keep at it, if this is truly what they want to be involved with. Thanks

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Debflo
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Posted: 10/03/07 at 4:49pm

At my Ct we do cast some kids in our mainstage shows (usually as chorus or small parts,) but for the most part the kids have their own programs. We have a Teens program and a young childrens program. The few kids that do get cast in mainstage as chorus are the ones that help other areas as well (paying their dues, so to speak) so those kids may be running the box office for a show, or painting the set, etc. Our kids and teens program is always popular and casting is diverse and fair. I'm not sure if this is how its done at other CTs but it seems to work for us.

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Linda S
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Posted: 10/03/07 at 5:00pm

Same here. There is a kids' program and a teens' program. They have their own shows. There are also performances that are the culmination of classes. When there is large main stage production, some kids are cast in the chorus. To be honest for those small parts, so the town doesn't look like it is made up of only people over 20, they are often the children of the adult performers and technical people. It is just easier. For named roles ie. "Winthrop" in the Music Man. It is the same criteria as for an adult actor. Can they do it?

Linda

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pdavis69
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Posted: 10/04/07 at 4:58pm

First of all let me start with your children may not fit into any of what I am about to say. I don't know them, I only know the kids I have worked with in the past. I happen to believe in the old WCFields addage "never work with dogs and kids". However we still do it on a regular basis. I certainly hope that your kids are trying out for children's parts and not adult parts. Kids are no different than adults when it comes to how we want to work with. Directors and producers are looking for good all around people. Sometimes the child may be wonderful onstage and a terror off. I'll be blunt there are kids that have been in a show we have done that we simpley blacklist in our minds for one reason or another. They may have been mean or hard to handle or not listen or most annoyingly thought they were adults. The other thing that some kids have that hold them back is (and once again I'm not saying you are) their parents. We once had a parent that threatened to sue the theatre because her child wore a diamond necklace to the theatre and lost it. The parent was sure we stole it. Needless to say it would be very difficult for that child to get another part. Your kids may be angels and the best on stage since Mickey Rooney, I'm just offering another possibility.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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MartyW
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Posted: 10/04/07 at 7:31pm

Patrick, I knew you would bite rise to this one... I do agree with the general premis of all the responses... And yes, the best place for kids is in kids shows... If there is one done at your theater and a kids still not getting parts, some of patricks comments about that childs "history" could be valid in that case.. If however the kid is trying out for parts way outside thier age range, they should not be surprised when they are not selected. If however, we are talking about kids roles in an other wise adult main stage show, the most important thing for them to remember is that it is an adult community theater show and they want to be the kids who get selected to "play" again than thier best plan is to "act" like adults.. (not as in Patricks complaint, but as in their decorum and responsibities) It has to be remembered that most of the adults in the show are there to relax and be adults and not have to worry that their are kids in the show.. They need to be as serious about thier responsiblities as everyone else.. Many kids fit this bill and are really a pleasure to work with (and though he probably wont admit it, I've heard patrick say it) Unfortunalty, many kids dont fit this paradigm and they and or thier parents become a problem (or just an "annoyance" . Another recomendation is for them to hone thier skills in school shows and kiddie theater.. I'm afraid some of this sounds harsh, but I assume your here to actually hear why your kids "might" be being passed over...

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

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4ofustogether
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Posted: 10/05/07 at 10:00am

The plays my children have tried out for are under 18 cast ONLY. I know my kids are not perfect angels, but the production my children were in, I worked behind stage as a kid rangler and they were very well behaved. They do understand that being in a play is a great honor and appropriate behavior is always needed. All I am saying it that I sat through all the tryouts and there we many talented kids that tryout and didn't make it, I don't necessary thinks my kids should make every play or any. I am not one of those stage moms that hovers over my kids, my kids have just had a lot of disappointment in their lives and it is hard to see them not succeed in something they really enjoy. My kids are going to continue to take acting classes and tryout and maybe they will have better luck in the future. Thanks for the advise and I also know that my children's behavior is a reflection on me and that is why I always except them to respect all adults and always give their all.

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Gaafa
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Posted: 10/05/07 at 10:20am

Is there another theatre group near you or are you stuck with this one?

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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4ofustogether
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Posted: 10/05/07 at 10:53am

I am pretty sure it is the only one that using kids on a regular basis. It is their bread and butter. They have lots of workshop and classes for kids and summer camp, school day off programs. Really it is a wonderful community theatre. I think I took that last tryout too personal, but I am over it now and if my kids really want to do this, they do have to learn that there come a lot of rejection with it. I did this stuff when I was young because my older sister loved acting and she was very successful as an Adult. She moved to New York and would have made on Broadway, but she died during a Europene Tour of Jesus Christ Super Star. I couldn't handle the rejection, so I stopped trying out and did other activites I enjoyed. I will let my kids decide on whether they want to tryout again or not. The next tryouts are for many months, so my kids will take class and be better prepared. I think they got a false since of security when the first time they tried out, they made it, so I know this is a good learning experience for my kids and I am super proud of them for even being able to up infront of a large crowd and do the tryouts.

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Debflo
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Posted: 10/05/07 at 11:08am

It sounds like you are very well prepared, and you are preparing your kids very well for how theatre works. Not knowing this theatre, it could be that they play favorites with the other kids, or it could be that those other kids (that get cast alot) are just the best they have. Either way - if your kids really want to be involved then I would suggest they take any role they are offered, and if not offered a role, they ask to help with sets, costumes, tech crew - anything to show the director they will be good to work with. That will raise the chance of them getting cast in the future. I do direct shows for our Teens program in my CT, and that is what I would be looking for. If I had a kid that really wanted to be in a production, but I didn't think they were right for it, and they offered to work on crew I would be much more inclined to cast them in the future.

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4ofustogether
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Posted: 10/05/07 at 11:13am

Thanks for the advise. My kids will keep trying.

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Topic: Kids trying out for Community Theatre( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
4ofustogether Walk-On Joined: 10/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Kids trying out for Community Theatre Posted: 10/03/07 at 3:38pm
	I just wanted to hear others options on children in community theatre. I have two daughters that love to be in plays. The first one they tryout for they made, but since then they have not made another callback, but I notice that it is always the sames kids that get callback again and again and make the cast. Is there some kinda of trick? I know every parent believe their child is talented but, how can my kids improve if they are never giving another chance. I have put them into acting workshops and classes. I just want to know if this is just how community theatre works and if my kids just have to keep at it, if this is truly what they want to be involved with. Thanks

	IP Logged

Debflo Star Joined: 6/06/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 60	Posted: 10/03/07 at 4:49pm
	At my Ct we do cast some kids in our mainstage shows (usually as chorus or small parts,) but for the most part the kids have their own programs. We have a Teens program and a young childrens program. The few kids that do get cast in mainstage as chorus are the ones that help other areas as well (paying their dues, so to speak) so those kids may be running the box office for a show, or painting the set, etc. Our kids and teens program is always popular and casting is diverse and fair. I'm not sure if this is how its done at other CTs but it seems to work for us.
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 10/03/07 at 5:00pm
	Same here. There is a kids' program and a teens' program. They have their own shows. There are also performances that are the culmination of classes. When there is large main stage production, some kids are cast in the chorus. To be honest for those small parts, so the town doesn't look like it is made up of only people over 20, they are often the children of the adult performers and technical people. It is just easier. For named roles ie. "Winthrop" in the Music Man. It is the same criteria as for an adult actor. Can they do it? Linda
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pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 10/04/07 at 4:58pm
	First of all let me start with your children may not fit into any of what I am about to say. I don't know them, I only know the kids I have worked with in the past. I happen to believe in the old WCFields addage "never work with dogs and kids". However we still do it on a regular basis. I certainly hope that your kids are trying out for children's parts and not adult parts. Kids are no different than adults when it comes to how we want to work with. Directors and producers are looking for good all around people. Sometimes the child may be wonderful onstage and a terror off. I'll be blunt there are kids that have been in a show we have done that we simpley blacklist in our minds for one reason or another. They may have been mean or hard to handle or not listen or most annoyingly thought they were adults. The other thing that some kids have that hold them back is (and once again I'm not saying you are) their parents. We once had a parent that threatened to sue the theatre because her child wore a diamond necklace to the theatre and lost it. The parent was sure we stole it. Needless to say it would be very difficult for that child to get another part. Your kids may be angels and the best on stage since Mickey Rooney, I'm just offering another possibility.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
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MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 10/04/07 at 7:31pm
	Patrick, I knew you would bite rise to this one... I do agree with the general premis of all the responses... And yes, the best place for kids is in kids shows... If there is one done at your theater and a kids still not getting parts, some of patricks comments about that childs "history" could be valid in that case.. If however the kid is trying out for parts way outside thier age range, they should not be surprised when they are not selected. If however, we are talking about kids roles in an other wise adult main stage show, the most important thing for them to remember is that it is an adult community theater show and they want to be the kids who get selected to "play" again than thier best plan is to "act" like adults.. (not as in Patricks complaint, but as in their decorum and responsibities) It has to be remembered that most of the adults in the show are there to relax and be adults and not have to worry that their are kids in the show.. They need to be as serious about thier responsiblities as everyone else.. Many kids fit this bill and are really a pleasure to work with (and though he probably wont admit it, I've heard patrick say it) Unfortunalty, many kids dont fit this paradigm and they and or thier parents become a problem (or just an "annoyance" . Another recomendation is for them to hone thier skills in school shows and kiddie theater.. I'm afraid some of this sounds harsh, but I assume your here to actually hear why your kids "might" be being passed over...
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."
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4ofustogether Walk-On Joined: 10/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/05/07 at 10:00am
	The plays my children have tried out for are under 18 cast ONLY. I know my kids are not perfect angels, but the production my children were in, I worked behind stage as a kid rangler and they were very well behaved. They do understand that being in a play is a great honor and appropriate behavior is always needed. All I am saying it that I sat through all the tryouts and there we many talented kids that tryout and didn't make it, I don't necessary thinks my kids should make every play or any. I am not one of those stage moms that hovers over my kids, my kids have just had a lot of disappointment in their lives and it is hard to see them not succeed in something they really enjoy. My kids are going to continue to take acting classes and tryout and maybe they will have better luck in the future. Thanks for the advise and I also know that my children's behavior is a reflection on me and that is why I always except them to respect all adults and always give their all.
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 10/05/07 at 10:20am
	Is there another theatre group near you or are you stuck with this one?
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
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4ofustogether Walk-On Joined: 10/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/05/07 at 10:53am
	I am pretty sure it is the only one that using kids on a regular basis. It is their bread and butter. They have lots of workshop and classes for kids and summer camp, school day off programs. Really it is a wonderful community theatre. I think I took that last tryout too personal, but I am over it now and if my kids really want to do this, they do have to learn that there come a lot of rejection with it. I did this stuff when I was young because my older sister loved acting and she was very successful as an Adult. She moved to New York and would have made on Broadway, but she died during a Europene Tour of Jesus Christ Super Star. I couldn't handle the rejection, so I stopped trying out and did other activites I enjoyed. I will let my kids decide on whether they want to tryout again or not. The next tryouts are for many months, so my kids will take class and be better prepared. I think they got a false since of security when the first time they tried out, they made it, so I know this is a good learning experience for my kids and I am super proud of them for even being able to up infront of a large crowd and do the tryouts.
	IP Logged

Debflo Star Joined: 6/06/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 60	Posted: 10/05/07 at 11:08am
	It sounds like you are very well prepared, and you are preparing your kids very well for how theatre works. Not knowing this theatre, it could be that they play favorites with the other kids, or it could be that those other kids (that get cast alot) are just the best they have. Either way - if your kids really want to be involved then I would suggest they take any role they are offered, and if not offered a role, they ask to help with sets, costumes, tech crew - anything to show the director they will be good to work with. That will raise the chance of them getting cast in the future. I do direct shows for our Teens program in my CT, and that is what I would be looking for. If I had a kid that really wanted to be in a production, but I didn't think they were right for it, and they offered to work on crew I would be much more inclined to cast them in the future.
	IP Logged

4ofustogether Walk-On Joined: 10/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/05/07 at 11:13am
	Thanks for the advise. My kids will keep trying.
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