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Thudster
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bullet Topic: Actors letting you down
    Posted: 8/29/10 at 2:04pm
I saw a couple of threads similar to mine, but thought I'd throw this out anyway.

Is there any way to get and keep actors?

I wrote a flash drama that was accepted for a festival in Minnesota. Back in June, I lined up 3 good actresses, ones I had worked with before. Performance was to be Sept 9th, so lots of lead time. At the end of July, when rehearsal time came, so did the excuses. They all eventually had to drop out, so I sent out the word and lined up 3 more who said they'd be glad to do it... and then I had to recast again... and finally, last Friday I had to drop out because 2 MORE of my actresses dropped out! In all, I had 11 actresses commit to my 3 parts, and with 2 weeks to go I had done a total of 4 rehearsals with various ones. There simply wasn't enough time anymore to prepare for the festival, so I had to cancel.

Is this just a general problem, or is it that I had to use younger actresses? (the characters were in high school). Does it ever get better?

    -- Daryl
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Tallsor
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bullet Posted: 8/30/10 at 10:38am
Thudster, see my posting ( http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4772 ) - about how we've just been having major problems with conflicts. Yeah, it's a big show (it's Shakespeare), but we added an extra week of rehearsal just because we knew we'd have problems with conflicts - but even then, we've had problems.
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Thudster
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bullet Posted: 8/30/10 at 11:56am
Okay, it always makes it better to know you're not the only one having problems. Thanks!
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Tallsor
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bullet Posted: 8/31/10 at 9:55am
Thudster, same here. Thank YOU.
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Thudster
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bullet Posted: 8/31/10 at 11:48am
Is this your first time directing? I can't say I was very thrilled with my first try. It was a small production, and there was STILL too much to do, even without worry about casting (which was about 90% of my efforts).
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Tallsor
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bullet Posted: 8/31/10 at 5:52pm
Well, I'm stage managing the production - my significant other was the director. It was his first full-length show, but had directed a number of one acts.
 
I directed last yea's play for this group, and directed about four other full-length shows. I don't know how much of it is the organization (it's not the best known organization) and how much of it was just a growing trend.
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KEB54
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bullet Posted: 9/03/10 at 3:18pm
We have a pretty tight-knit theatre community.  Everyone knows pretty much everyone else amonst the various theatres. Everyone tries to support one another. In other words, we communicate and respect each other.
 
If an actor ever drops out of a commitment, everyone, from all theatres, will know about it.  The actor better have a very good reason for it. I'm not saying they will be blacklisted, but it will certainly be a large consideration by any theatre come audition time.  Who wants an actor, regardless of how good he is, if he drops out before performances?
 
Another thing most theatres do is have the actors sign a contract of sorts. It is actually a list of key information such as show dates and times, and a agreement to policies such as not missing rehearsals in the final two weeks before opening, ect. They sign it when they accept the role. This is to avoid confussion and to layout expectations.
 
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Tallsor
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bullet Posted: 9/03/10 at 5:18pm
We have them sign an agreement on the audition form - didn't seem to help Tongue.
 
 
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KEB54
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bullet Posted: 9/05/10 at 1:55am
Originally posted by Tallsor

We have them sign an agreement on the audition form - didn't seem to help Tongue.
 
 
Are they ever cast again? If they are you're re-enforcing bad behavior.
 
If there are not consequences to their actions, why should they honor their commitments?
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Tallsor
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bullet Posted: 9/05/10 at 10:11am
This was the first time I worked with some of them; second time for one batch, but they were fine last year.
 
Trust me - if I ever direct again, I will not be working with them again - but I direct so rarely, that's not much of a threat....
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