<p>You guys are so good with this stuff, I figured you could help. I auditioned for a production of West Side Story and was told on 2 different occasions that I did a good job, by the director. I auditioned for Anita. I did not get it, but apprently they had promised the parts away in advance and held auditions to cover their butts. There is no understudies even, no double casting, as of now no musical director, no coreographer,there using a cd as their music,they cut all the dancing, what is West Side without the dancing? Now they gave me a jet girl. The jets girls do nothing they are hardly ever on stage. I know that such is the politcs and its still experince and still ensemble, but and here comes the conflicting part. I auditioned and got a youth role in a production of oklahoma my voice teacher is directing. This is a pretty big deal because in NYC basiclly any and all community theater you must be over 18 unless the show calls for youth, and I would do both except they are on the same weekend. I see no point in doing the school show, I have literally no stagetime except to saunter back and forth one of two times, but I know it is bad to quit, Anyone have any advice? Thank you so much you guys are great.</p>
<p>I wonder if you could have a heart to heart with the director of West Side Story and explain the predicament. Maybe he/she'll be understanding, since they realize your part is not going to significantly impact the show. If you explain that this is a really good opportunity which would be looked upon positively for college interviews? Let him/her know that you'll stick by your part if he feels you're essential and would somehow mess up the show. Maybe the nicer you handle it, the better they would take it and let you bow out?</p>
<p>Defying, if you were my own D, I would advise you thusly:</p>
<p>Go to the teacher/director of West Side and explain in a nice, polite and respectful way that you have been offered a really good part in a production of Oklahoma and because of time constraints (school, college auditions, etc.) you cannot do both Oklahoma and West Side Story. Say that, because you are a senior and are still working on your acting/musical theater skills with college in sight, you want to take the role that you can learn the most from, and in this case, you believe that role is with the other production. Make sure that you don't say any of these things in a way that would degrade the high school production, or the director, or both! Express your appreciation for the role you were given/cast in and tell the director that you hope that bowing out gracefully right in the beginning not only won't cause him or her any major inconvenience, but also will give someone else who might not have been cast a chance to take that Jet Girl role. Of course, if you know that this director will be terribly upset and mad and you are depending on this person for college recommendations, scratch my advice and just be a Jet Girl! But I think that if you honestly talk this over with the hs director, it should all work out and you can maintain a respectful, good relationship with that director. Good luck, and let us know how it goes and what you decide to do.</p>
<p>Hi - Is this your H.S. production of WSS or a community theatre production? The Oklahoma opportuniy certainly sounds like the more educationally valuable. All of the advice you have gotten above is very good. You do not want to burn a bridge (even if the WSS production sounds like it is being organized by a production team with which you might not want to work in the future), but in the end you need to make the decision that is the best for you. As is suggested above, I think you can find a way to extricate yourself from the WSS production in a manner that will allow you to move forward without burning the bridge. There are times when you have to back out of one opportunity in order to take advantage of a better one. This is why most professional contracts have an out clause. </p>
<p>FYI - I am pretty sure that it is completely illegal to cut anything from WSS. I am directing a production this summer, and the company had to sign a rider stating that we wolud not alter material in any way. </p>
<p>Good Luck!!</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your suggestions. I told one of the director who was great about it and very civil and curtious. I am very very excited for Oklahoma and if anyone is in NYC during late April and wants to come see it you can pm me. Thank you so much again for your support. Off to go book college auditions eep.</p>
<p>Westside Story without dancing? Did I really read that right? If so that is crazy. Why did they pick such a musical that depends on movement so heavily to tell the story? I can't even imagine.</p>
<p>They picked it because apprently the kids really wanted to do it . :-/</p>