In our Florida community there is a successful ( i.e. rich) amateur theater which has become a nearly closed shop to many actors who would like to perform there but don't have a family or staff connection.  Roles go repeatedly to the same people - who either work there (paid staff) or are related to an employee or are old timers. Newcomers aren't especially welcome in any capacity. Many times roles are precast - although they always go through the pretense of holding open auditions. THen when the cast is announced, someone who didn't even show up at the auditions has the role. I am wondering how other theater people have handled this kind of problem in their community. Everyone is afraid to say anything because we fear being totally blackballed forever. Is this any way to run a community theater or am I arguing with success? (THeir shows do well and they have a beautiful facility.) What's the solution?

Are there hordes of people showing up to audition and still the roles go to family and insiders?  That doesn't look good, does it?  Or is it a case of not enough people to fill out the cast? We have all been in those shoes before, of having to twist arms and legs of family members to get a full cast.

I have seen a lot of community theaters accused of pre-casting, and in a lot of cases it's not really true. I have run into cases where someone who didn't audition got cast simply because no-one suitable auditioned. Even if you had people who where "physically" suitable the director may not have felt that they could handle the role. Also, when you are casting people (and I have been in this position) you are going to lean towards people you know, instead of new comers, especially for lead roles. You want to be confident that the person you are going to cast is going to work out so you go with someone you know you can rely on.

With this said, the group you are talking about may really be doing blantent, pre-casting. Casting people from inside as opposed to clearly better candidates from outside. If you are not part of this theaters board of directors, there might not be much you can do to change things. If they really want to run thier theater that way then that's thier choice, and if there are getting a good audiance, and enough people to crew shows and fill the cast, then there might not be an incentive to change.

Dan

We never get enough people at our Community Theatre's open auditions so often will ask family members or actors we have worked with previously.  One of our casting guidelines is that we must choose members over non-members, all things being equal.  But we love 'new blood' and try not to pick the same people over and over again.  It's difficult when there are only a handfull of middle aged men who will come to auditions.

Is this amateur theatre the only community theatre in your area?  Do they have general meetings that you could attend and voice concerns?  Perhaps contact someone on the Board of Directors?

thanks for your comments. I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers of other directors who precast and/or cast old friends, family, etc. because they feel it's best for the show....I understand how such decisions get made and why they are defended. I direct too and I know how aggravating it is to have no suitable candidates show up for an audition. But that is NOT the case here. I guess I wanted to know if other theaters have ever had to deal with this concern and adopted policies to force a change of the culture of the group....something akin to affirmative action to promote diversity at the theater...and I don't mean just racially but finding ways to bring in those now outside the select circle.  We community theater people  ARE about more than just putting on shows, aren't we? Aren't we?

Clelia -

I don't think you will get far with this 'cliquey' theatre group unless you get to talk to someone on the inside.  If they are bringing in sold-out audiences they may not want to change.  Have you spoken to any of their patrons?  Do they complain about seeing the same people cast again and again?  Perhaps a discreetly worded review of one of the plays in the community newsletter/newspaper would bring this to the group's attention. Does this group have feedback forms for their patrons/audiences?

One way we try to get new blood is by holding workshops on directing, acting, etc.  But we are non-profit and part of our mandate is to educate the community.

Good luck.  You could start your own theatre group.  Are there enough people to support two Community Theatres in your area?

If it is true and many people show up and the same people are always cast and I have seen it happen.  I luck out right now and have several community theatres in the area and semi and professional and they really do include everyone.  But what you could do is the following and I do agree talk to someone on the inside and try to find things out.  If you feel that doesn't work then possibly try to gather more information from patrons and maybe a general letter to the editor.  while doing this find out how many people in the commuity feel this way. 

If none of this works they probably have funding sources and are probably non profit in which case they have a mission statement which is open to the public for viewing.  Get a copy and find out what the statement says and if it contains certain things such as involve the community, reach a large portion of the community, educate new and up coming talent etc. then go to the funding sources and claim you ahve a problem that an "arts commission" is funding with your tax money a group that is closed to the general public.

You get my hints.  How big of a stink do you want to cause?

You probably could do something like that and the group probably "has it coming" but the key, I think is in Theatre 13's final question:  How big of a stink do you want to cause?  Getting the company in hot water won't do you any good.

I have an alternative plan for you, but it means taking TIME.   You might have to do more than show up for auditions and knock their socks off -- you might have to come to several work days to scrub toilets, clean out grease traps, organize and repair costumes, tidy up the shop, etc. etc. etc. before you get cast in a show. 

If you have already tried that and still don't get cast there may be a problem....

Good luck.