The Classic "I JUST FEEL LIKE QUITTING!" Rant...

[TheatreJunkie3]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 4:40pm

GAH! Do any of you guys ever just feel like not even trying anymore when it comes to theatre stuff? My school's music/theatre department is so biased and picks favorites. It's so obvious. Sometimes it seems like those "amazing opprotunities" are only handed out to their pets!

I work my butt off to produce each audition I go into. I stress out, practice lines, sing the songs over and over...and then their basically like, "Good job Brooke," and go off to baby their little stars who often seem like they don't even HAVE to try.

I know I'm still an underclassman at my highschool (I'm 16, sophomore) but STILL, I just wish they'd recognize that I am trying really hard. I mean, it's not like I don't get roles in the shows, I do...but they're just not the ones I really wanted. It seems like everyone BUT the teachers and musical directors tell me I'm doing good.

Anyone else ever feel this way??

...Sorry guys, had to get that one off my chest. :) Thanks if you took time to read it.


~Brooke

Updated On: 5/5/06 at 04:40 PM

[PalaceRent06]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 5:20pm

YEP!! all the time this happens to me...not only at school...but at my regional pro. theatre

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 5:26pm

You really can't let it get you down, especially if you're a soph. I know you don't want to hear that, but if you really have the talent, the roles WILL come.

I have a friend who is a senior now. Her freshman year, she was a daughter in Pirates, the next year she was written into Guys & Dolls, and was onstage twice. Last year, she was Lady Larken in Once Upon a Mattress, and this year, Marian in The Music Man... because she didn't let it get her down.

Even if you don't get the parts you want, you have to realize what good experience you're getting now for the future. One of these days, they will notice you.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 5:34pm

GAH! Story of my life!!! I don't want to sound stuck up or anything but I am so much better than some of the people who get leads. I really don't want to stoop down to their level and suck up to the teachers but it looks like I just might have to.

When I was in Grease in 7th grade I didn't miss ONE SINGLE REHERSAL. The director was all "If you guys come to rehersals I'll put you in more scenes" and did I get put in more scenes? NO! The leads little sister and friends did however. lol wow. I'm in high school now and I still can't get over that. Sigh it's all an inside buisiness.

Hopefully It'll start getting better. I'm only a freshman, I didn't get put into any shows but I was involved in the pit with them. And teachers are starting to notice I have talent. I wish next year would hurry up and get here already so I can wow them.
Updated On: 5/5/06 at 05:34 PM

[forni-kate]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 6:24pm

Ugh, my drama teacher only gave me a "good job, Kate..." THIS YEAR, after four years of taking her drama class and being in SEVEN of her productions. And it was only after I won two huge awards are the provincial theatre competition and ended up completely saving both of the plays we entered. And even then, she made a point to say that she would have never expected someone "like me" to win any awards.

I just learned to get by without her, or anyone elses, approval. I mean, getting approval from people you respect is always nice, but just realize that you are great with or without it.

[lilprima2b]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 8:16pm

AUGH, I'm going through this in my dance class at school right now... I'm finally in the level I want to be in, I'm going to be in the top level next year, but it's just not what I wanted to be because I tend to get overlooked at school. Our dance department is really focused on modern, and I'm strongest in ballet, and although I've improved A LOT at modern, it's still not good enough to get noticed that much. The only teacher that ever pays attention to me is our crazy little British ballet teacher that comes in on Tuesdays, who I love very dearly because she does pay attention to me. Ha.

But yeah, it's unfair because the girls that get all the attention are the ones that don't work as hard, that skip class all the time for BS reasons... it's SO irritating!!

[BroadwayBaby21]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 8:58pm

I know EXACTLY how you feel. Stupid high school directors playing favorites and stupid politics too.

Two of the directors of my shows had praised me for my voice even before they fully met me, during my 8th grade solo in the spring choral concert. But NO, when I go to audition frosh year, I don't make it. and don't make it sophomore year again. and who makes it over me? Girls who can't sing for their life, but their older sisters/brothers were in past shows or their parents are friends with the directors.
GAHHHH.

and this one girl inparticular. The entire school seems to be in her spell or something... She's had the lead since her frosh year (she's a year younger than me), and she's won the school talent show two years in a row. This year she def shouldn't have won since her song was HORRIBLE in comparison to the others. but no, the teachers absolutely ADORE her and they decided who won.

THANK GOD I only have 30 days left in that stupid school. I've never been so happy to be a senior...

Updated On: 5/5/06 at 08:58 PM

[Kristen_0509]

Posted: 5/5/06 at 9:53pm

Politics follow you everywhere you go

[mrslovett7]

Posted: 5/6/06 at 1:07am

at my school the same people are type cast for every single show/play we do but they are fantastic so i mean i don't blame our director but still, give someone else a chance!

like last time for auditions the two plays were Museum and Anne Frank. So in theatre the day before, i don't want to sound like i'm bragging but I did my monologue for a grade and I made everyone in the class cry and they gave me a standing ovation and told me how great it was. the next day i do the monolgue same as the day before and i get one call back for Museum. and i know this sounds mean but it's sadly true, my friend did her monologue and it was really bad and everyone kept trying to help her and she couldnt change it and she got 2 callbacks and one was for a large role in Anne Frank.

AHHH i don't get it!!! why is life so cruel!?

Updated On: 5/6/06 at 01:07 AM

[justagirl2]

Posted: 5/6/06 at 3:20pm

You really can't let it get you down, no matter how much it sucks. I know exactly how you feel...my freshman year, I tried out for Fiddler on the Roof at my high school and got chorus. I was OK with that, but the next year, when we did Joseph, I kicked ass on my audition for the narrator (and was the only one who could hit the notes), but got stuck as a dancer. That basically meant that we were chorus, only treated worse. So, the next year, I auditioned for Annie Get Your Gun, rocked the audition for Winnie, and STILL got dancer. This year I auditioned kind of spur of the moment, and got the part of Dolly in Hello, Dolly! The same type of thing happened to me in community theatre, too...after being screwed out of a LOT of roles and being stuck in chorus, I finally got leads in Fiddler on the Roof and Grease. You just have to believe you have the talent to do it, and not give in to the politics of theatre. They'll follow you everywhere, but you CAN overcome them. If you can't, that particular show, director, or group isn't worth your time.

[dramaqueen3]

Posted: 5/6/06 at 10:29pm

yes, politics will still exsist once your out of high school.

but also, not gettting cast doesn't always mean that they don't like you. as a director, talent isn't all that factors into my casting process. it can be anything from attitude to availabillity to the look of the overall show i'm going for.

for instance, at my last auditions (for my college's production of Much Ado About Nothing), this one girl came in, and she had probably the best monologue we'd seen all day, but because she looked so much older than the rest of the people who had auditioned (who had mostly been freshmen), I had to cast her as a small supporting role.

just keep at.

[theatrebabe]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 12:05am

Tell me about it. Community high school production of Les Miz this summer. We just had auditions. The girl who got Eponine is in 6th grade and has a very choral voice. She doesn't belt. Isn't that what Eponine is supposed to do? However, she's been in zillions of shows with this company. Ever since she was tiny. I'm not saying I should have gotten it necessarily. But it kind of pisses me off.

[dramaqueen3]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 12:15am

a 6th grader playing eponine? that just strikes me as awkward in general

[theatrebabe]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 1:11am

She looks older. But I still think it should have gone to an older girl. Just...cause.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 3:25pm

This happens everywhere. My school is usually pretty good about casting the best people in the lead roles, but there definitely are SOME politics. This year we've double-cast the roles, giving a part to everyone who deserves one. Community theaters are usually worse, but I realize if I stick with it and be in the chorus for a year and they get to know me then I can get a really good leading/supporting role the next year. So hang in there.

[downtowndiva84]

Posted: 5/8/06 at 7:42pm

My college's theater department exhibits favoritism when it comes to auditions--so yeah it doesn't die with high school.

Honestly, I think not being one of the favored darlings has built character. Hang in there and whatever you do DON'T GIVE UP!!!
Your eventual success will only be that much sweeter.