What to do about high school casting?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
101

<p>No, Times3, I am not laughing - I saw your S move at the BUSTI performance, and he can dance. Now, thinking of those diaper-pants, that might produce a giggle!</p>

<p>We are thrilled to be doing Sweeney - our high school likes to push the envelope. Recently, we’ve done Cabaret (lots of controversy since there are many, many Jewish students at our HS and they were cast as Natzis), Ajax (lots of blood in that one), Rent (yes, S’s first stage kiss was a guy . . .), and now Sweeney. There will be NO blood involved, though, and that is only because the tech crew and director couldn’t figure out how to clean everything up for the following night’s performance.</p>

<p>“Mrs. Lovett” also went to BUSTI over the summer with S, and they are hoping that BUSTI kids in the area will come see them (kill people . . .).</p>

102

<p>School edition version of Sweeney I assume? Congratulations to one and all.</p>

103

<p>My Son was also just cast as Sweeney Todd for his senior year. He has loved this musical for years so he was VERY excited. If fact, he and Mrs Lovett were practicing here this afternoon. When you watch them truly love all they do in the theatre…how could you wish anything else for them…you know?</p>

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<p>Reading this thread has been very helpful to me as a parent of a theatre kid. I’m sure it is very difficult casting these HS productions as I know it is tough being a parent of the child that auditions for them. There is so much great insight here.</p>

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<p>THANK GOD this thread exists, I’ve been worrying about this for a very long time! There is a lot of talent at my school (MT is very competitive in VT these days, partially because of the people around and partially because of the “Glee Factor” or whatever), and the director casts completely by fit. To be honest, she only seems to care what it looks like, and I’m not at all visually pleasing. My type is basically “large alto character actress” (I’m not technically plus sized, but definitely not built like an ingenue or sexy character), which limits my options. So I’ve been in the chorus, except for one show where I had a couple of small cameos. There is always someone better for the leads, so I’m really not bitter. I would likely cast myself the same way. But my voice teacher has said that the shows around contrast with the work he is doing (acting wise). So I’ve chosen to focus more on training than on actual shows. Outside of school, I decided I’d only do a show if I was going to learn from it, and not being the star was worth it to me. Sometimes I’m kind of amazed that I’m still trying! My resume is pretty pathetic!
I do have a friend who was asked at her NYU Tisch audition (acting) why she had stopped doing the school shows after sophomore year. She tried to explain politely that she didn’t get along with the director, but the auditor said something along the lines of “just tell us what it’s really like.” So my friend stopped trying to tone it down, and explained how she really felt. And she was accepted! I know you’re not supposed to talk negatively about previous educators in an audition…but they did ask! By the way, she is also very talented :).</p>

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This is a great thread. My daughter is not a theater major, actually, but wants to do opera. She loves theater, though, and I have done enough theater myself to know that she is pretty good. Our high school theater department, however, has a horrible reputation for favoring the new theater kid and overlooking the existing talent. As a result, she has never gotten a lead, and after today’s casting results, probably never will. They have a large, talented group of girls in the senior class, but not one of them got a lead in the fall production. The winter show is usually an ensemble piece with no leads, so that won’t provide an opportunity. I wouldn’t have been so mad if they had at least cast one senior, even if it wasn’t my daughter - I know these kids so well that I hurt for all of them.

Then, for the last three years, the spring musical leads have all gone to the fresh face and blatantly overlooked those who have put lots of time and effort into the drama department, even those more talented. The directors even went so far as to tell the cast that they didn’t necessarily cast the most talented in the lead roles. What a horrible thing to say! Those who got the leads felt awkward, and those who didn’t were very frustrated!

Giving opportunities to new people is fine, but if it isn’t done with care, you will see what has happened at our school. In the middle school, leads were usually given to younger students, by the same directors. As a result, by the time kids reached 8th grade, kids had given up and stopped auditioning. The high school drama club paid the price with fewer kids interested. Unfortunately, the same key people handle the high school casting, so those left go through it all over again. Plus the mis-casting really shows up on stage.

It’s high school, not a professional production. What’s wrong with doing at least a little rewarding of those who have stuck it out, by providing them with at least one opportunity. Especially when the seniors can carry the part just as well if not better than the freshman you gave the lead to? I do plan to talk to the directors about this, but not until my kids have graduated. I actually know them all very well, but I don’t want any backlash. It won’t probably make a difference, but it will make me feel like I have at least tried to expose to them the damage the are doing to these kids.