Walking out on a show you are in?

[jimmirae]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 5:44am

I was just curious, Has anyone else here besides me actually walked out on a show you were in? Mine was Over-Directed (and badly), Under Produced with a cast that couldn't care less. The over zealous director called us all in for an EARLY call for MORE blocking of a scene that simply didn't work (his fault) over 2 months into a 3 month run and I woke up and said "I Quit" and left. It was just wrong. Anyone else?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 8:59am

I walked out of a production of HELLO, DOLLY! in which I was cast as Dolly. This was during rehearsals. When the director told the cast that the title number could be cut without damaging the show, I realized that he didn't understand the material and I walked out. I was replaced but the show never opened.

Then there was a production of FUNNY THING/FORUM where I was the Psuedolus alternate. The cast learned that the production was being financed by drug money and we all walked out at the same time.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 9:09am

You should have stuck it out. The cast party could have proved very interesting.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 9:19am

Walking out is never a good idea. It's like international trade sanctions...it only hurts those it doesn't intend to hurt.

Now, if you talk to the director and mention your problem and say it is an issue you are willing to leave the show over, and the director STILL wants to do it, then leave the show. But, walking out without notice burns bridges. You'd be surprised how often that kind of thing comes back to haunt.

[roquat]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 11:38am

No, but I've been in shows where I--and everyone else--was on the brink. Shows where the director routinely yelled at everyone and showily stormed out to make a point. Does that ever work? It just turns everyone against you.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 11:40am

I find that yelling and basic public humiliation tactics don't create an environment of creativity. When a director acts like that, it is because they don't know what they are doing.

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 11:46am

I was in a really bad off broadway show. At each performance, there were more people in the cast than were in the audience. We still had to go on each time. It reached a point where we, in costume, were out on the sidewalk asking people to come in right before the show, by orders of the director. I auditioned and got a role in another show and quit the first one. (I only had a couple of lines and was in a chorus-could easily be replaced on the spot). When I told the director I was quitting, she told me I'd be sorry when her show was on broadway.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 11:47am

Walking out is a bad idea...when you commit to something, commit. Bad, bad karma there that will come back to you.
That said, when I broke my foot during a disastrous production of ROMEO AND JULIET (I was playing Benvolio) where the director didn't know his ass from an oboe, my thought process was something like: "OWWWWWWWW OH FAWK THIS FAWKING HURTS OWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!--HEY, waita minute...maybe I won't have to do this show anymore....oh, this ROCKS!!"

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 11:48am

It's a tricky situation. You have to weigh your options...will remaining with the production be more damaging to your reputation than if you leave it?

I left a production during the rehearsal process because it was obvious that assurances made by the theatre at the onset were not going to be honored.

In fact, the director later cast me in a much better production several years later.

Before auditioning for any theatre company and/or director, ask around town....find out from other actors what their experiences were like.

Having a credit on you resume from a less than reputable theatre is not going to help you in the future. It just looks like you're so desperate to work that you'll accept anything.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 1:23am

I definately gave my all to that show and yes, I called everyone and told the director that I would walk before re-blocking his awful work again so late in this run. Funny thing, Last I heard he was writing his own show and putting me in as a main character, lol! Someday...

[harris007]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 1:30am

i was in a orignal musical here in FL based on local history, the show wasnt bad, book ok, but it just wasnt gonna work, i got a call 4 weeks before we opened, i got a call from a friend directing greater tuna, he asked if i would audtion, i did and got cast , i had to drop out, and lord the problems it caused.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 2:37am

Yes. Two years ago, the demented, untalented composer of a certain show which shall remain nameless, refused to let me, the conductor/keyboardist, play the first preview because he was an insecure, egomaniacal lout and wanted to perform it himself. I told him, if he did that, he would play every other performance as well since I wouldn't tolerate such unprofessionalism. He refused to budge so I 'walked' on the afternoon of the first preview. And, as I was leaving, he had the nerve to ask me to talk him through the score and give him the cues! I kept on walking and never looked back. (The show was a dud.)

Mayella Ewell
Maycomb, Alabama




Updated On: 12/29/05 at 02:37 AM