So You Want to Put on a Show... (Part 4)

I started a series of entries over a month ago to give you a look behind the scenes at what goes into putting on a community theatre production, and then got bogged down with covering actual productions. Sorry about the extended pause.

In the first three parts we talked about the things you need before you start - namely: money; you need to decide which show you’re going to tackle (duh); and you need to assemble a team of directors. Next, it’s time for what may be the most stressful part of the process, next to the actual performance - auditions.

With few exceptions, the cast for a show is chosen through auditions. It’s stressful for the performers trying out for the show, but also for the directing team, who must decide which of the actors auditioning are right for each part, and which ones will receive the disappointing news that they didn’t get a part in the show. And that's the part that most directors hate - they want to include everyone who auditions, but each play can only use a certain number of performers - so some actors are left out. It's painful but virtually unavoidable.

The process is pretty much the same for any show. The auditions are announced for a certain date and time, and actors arrive and sign up. They're brought back to the audition room either one at a time or in groups.

If it’s a musical, the actor auditioning is expected to arrive ready to sing about 30 seconds of the song of their choice. A piano player is usually provided to accompany the singer (if needed). The directors use that short segment to get a sense of the actor’s vocal range and skills.

If the show includes spoken dialogue (and most shows do), a short selection from the script will be provided for the actor to read. The directors want to see if the actor can put some feeling into the part - in other words, can they “become” the character?

If the show includes choreography (a safe bet if there’s music involved), then the actors usually have to learn a short dance step when they arrive at the audition, or they may be tested to see if they can follow some basic moves.

An audition can take just a few minutes, but in that short time the directors have to evaluate the performers. It’s a common practice to do “callbacks” for the main roles. An actor chosen for a callback will be given a selection of music that’s key to the character he or she is being considered for. They’re given some time to learn the song and then return for a second audition.

As far as I’m concerned, the casting can be the most difficult and the most important part of any show. I’ll explain why... in the next part of this series (which I promise will arrive in a much shorter span of time).