pre-casting... when's it ok
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3359
Printed Date: 5/11/24 at 3:51am
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Topic: pre-casting... when's it ok
Posted By: chelserin
Subject: pre-casting... when's it ok
Date Posted: 8/17/08 at 6:23pm
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I will be directing my first show in January, "Sabrina Fair". There is a girl who will be a senior this year who has been in many shows at our theatre (although not in a lead role) who has approached me about being involved in the show for her final project either onstage, or behind as stagemanager. My dilema is since this is her graduating project do I make her sm and forgo her auditioning, or would it be acceptible to have her audition now, and if I like what she gives precast her as Sabrina... and if I feel she's not right then make her stage manager. She's a wonderful girl and I have no doubts about her sm abilities, I would just hate for her (and us) to miss the opportunity of a great character. But as an actor I know the frustration of a role that is 'precast', Especially a lead. Help please!!
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Replies:
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 7:23am
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Does your theater have any official policy on precasting?
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Posted By: tonyboling
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 7:49am
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Let's say you audition her now and she does well. What if when you cast the rest of the show it turns out her characterization doesn't mesh well with the other performers? When I've cast shows or been in on casting shows I find it best to have everyone there so you can see how they work as an ensemble. If you precast her, she could still be there, but I imagine that'd be pretty uncomfortable for everyone involved.
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Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 9:11am
Talk to your board, get their feelings on the matter.
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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse
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Posted By: kaelidancer
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 10:32am
I've always been pretty anti-precasting. If she needs to audition early, that's fine... take copious notes, even videotape the audition... but I wouldn't officially offer her the role until after you've seen all the other auditions in January (or whenever the real auditions are). That's a fairly long ways off, who knows how many more offers are going to come her way before then. Plus, you never know, you could get a better Sabrina when the actual time comes.
So, early audition good, but let her know that you can't officially offer her a role until you've seen all the others. I think that's fair.
Coincidentally, I'm TDing a production of Sabrina Fair right now. It's a wonderful show. Good luck with your casting!
K
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Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 10:54am
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In most community theatres pre casting is a pretty bad idea. Not only can it put you into some pretty ackward positions later but it can also really tick off the other actors if they find out......and trust me......they will find out.
Early auditions are fine. But in a volunteer theatre, pre casting is a definate no-no !
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"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"
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Posted By: chelserin
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:34am
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Thanks for the imput, it's helped alot. Pretty much confirmed how I was feeling, so it's good to hear from all you as well. I think what we're going to do is if her project proposal can be vague (I will be working with ct on production) and she can wait until Jan to finalize we'll have her audition at that time. If she gets the part that's her project, if not cast she will SM.
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Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 12:21pm
And then again... Officially, or un officially.. conciously or unconciously It happens more than one might think.. Dare I say to some degree ALOT
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Marty W
"Till next we trod the boards.."
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Posted By: tonyboling
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 12:36pm
Originally posted by MartyW
And then again... Officially, or un officially.. conciously or unconciously It happens more than one might think.. Dare I say to some degree ALOT |
I think this is true. Especially true when you get pretty much the same people always auditioning. I think most directors do a mental pre-cast and then see how auditions size up and find out how close they were.
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Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 1:36pm
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Of course it happens a lot. And I would imagine that all directors tend to precast in their heads. All I am saying is that to "openly" precast is a terrible idea.
There of course are certain occasions were precasting is unavoidable. Isn't that right Shirley & Svetlana ?
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"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"
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Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 1:52pm
Unavoidable doesn't make it right.
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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse
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Posted By: drose
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 8:35pm
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I'm on the fence about pre-casting. It can certainly blow up in your face if you precast and then someone better/amazing/gifted...whatever, shows up to audition. I do not necessarily think it wrong, however. Like most things in life, it depends on the circumstances. I do believe that if a role is pre-cast, it needs to be acknowledged clearly so as to not waste somebody elses time, effort, hopes etc.
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Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 8/18/08 at 11:31pm
Yes, precasting happens. I've yet to meet a director who, upon reading the script, hasn't already put a mental picture of the actors they want to use in the parts.
However, I believe the only time pre-casting gets someone in trouble is when it is done secretly. "I've got a part for you -- don't tell anybody!" This is simply not playing fairly. And NOBODY likes going through an unnecessary audition for a part that simply isn't available.
On the other hand, very few actors I've worked with have qualms when the pre-casting is done out in the open. I've seen many audition notices in our area where it calls for actors and then states frankly (for example) "The part of [Annie Oakley] has already been cast."
This gives the auditionees a fair warning. True, some may choose NOT to audition because the part they had their desires set on is already taken, but many will still participate knowing there are still other roles available.
(Oddly enough, I've since discovered those who refuse to audition most likely didn't have a snowball's chance of landing the pre-cast role anyway and are merely looking for an excuse to save face.)
Heck, I've even seen notices where practically the ENTIRE CAST has been set and the ad reads: "Looking to fill remaining parts" and then lists their character descriptions.
As long as you are honest with your participants, they likewise should be grown-up about it. Yes, it happens. Deal with it.
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"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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Posted By: drose
Date Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:36pm
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I agree. The important thing is to upfront and honest about.
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Posted By: Linda S
Date Posted: 8/19/08 at 12:56pm
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Topper, I agree. Be upfront if you have pre-cast the role. I don't do it often, but I have done it a couple of times. I am always open about it, and it has never been a problem. The first time I did it, I had some grumbles, and then they heard him sing. The reason I pre-cast was obvious to everyone. I don't want to waste my time auditioning people for a part that has already been cast either.
Linda
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Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 8/19/08 at 5:01pm
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Don't do it.
But at the same time I think you have to have some idea who COULD fill certain parts. This often goes on during play selection for the season.
One year we decided to do Hamlet because we had the right person to play the role. Of course that blew up on us. He moved away before auditions but well after we were committed to do the show. We survived and cast an able actor. So pre-casting can blow up on you, too.
It can also hurt your theatre in the long run. You can get a reputation that shows are pre-cast or that you have to have an "in" to get cast, etc.
I think you can go in with the attitude that she is the one to beat, but you have to give the others a true opportunity to do that.
If you have to make a choice, I say make her your SM. IMHO there are fewer good SMs that actors. I can get by with inexperienced actors and teach them as they go, but an SM has to hit the floor running on day one ... actually weeks before day one.
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KEB
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Posted By: SDstoryteller
Date Posted: 8/28/08 at 3:09pm
There you go, KEB. "The one to beat." That's typically been my approach, because most of what's been stated on here is completely true. Especially in terms of the inevitability of thinking of certain actors for certain roles. (Not saying it should be avoided.)
Speaking of inevitability...just as there's no way of avoiding directors who pre-cast (it happens), there's also no way for directors to avoid actors whining about pre-casting that, in reality, wasn't.
Yes, I try to think of actors who would be good in roles I'm going to cast. What good director wouldn't. Yes, I sometimes ask specific actors to audition for a show. What good director wouldn't. Yes, sometimes "The One To Beat" becomes "The One." Is that pre-casting? No. But don't try telling that to the actor who lost the role!
And just for the record, I'm not in the "NEVER" camp when it comes to pre-casting. Sometimes...SOMETIMES...it makes complete sense. But it should always be handled professionally and with class. If you're going to pre-cast a role, you need to be confident enough about your reasons to be confident enough to tell people from the get-go!
I'm just sayin'.
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Watching someone struggle to maintain control is far more fascinating than watching them lose it.
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Posted By: teridtiger
Date Posted: 8/28/08 at 4:08pm
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Hmm. "The One to Beat". Sounds familiar... :)
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Posted By: SDstoryteller
Date Posted: 8/28/08 at 6:50pm
Originally posted by teridtiger
Hmm. "The One to Beat". Sounds familiar... :) |
First I looked at the post...and it cracked me up!
THEN I looked at the Post-er! Ahhhh, Teri! Now that I see WHO it is, the number of things it could mean has multiplied!
Let's hear it for teridtiger! Keeping the dream of "theatre that pushes boundaries" alive in Chula Vista, California!! (Now THAT...is an Artistic Director, people!)
DK
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Watching someone struggle to maintain control is far more fascinating than watching them lose it.
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Posted By: eveharrington
Date Posted: 9/03/08 at 3:19am
my answer is never, you never know who will come to auditions. Think of it this way, every time you precast one person, you keep two more from bringing their talents to your theater, and frankly who can blame them, why bother when it's been decided before you see what they have to offer?
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"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."
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