Grease: thoughts on Equity Actors auditioning for the lead roles!

I think it's fair...I mean, it's their profession, so I'd say they have every right to be there...

Besides, I'm sure Equity itself has something to do with it. Would I be incorrect in saying this?

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Updated On: 1/15/07 at 12:18 AM

Totally fair. It's their life. Personally, I would much much rather see an Equity performer go in than someone who has never performed before. They should just do away with the show all together. But I digress.

Weren't they required to hold EPA auditions anyway?

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Probably not, Equity does have a say I am sure. There are certain equity rules that have already broken on this show if equity did not have a say. So, I am sure they are aware of it!

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Just because you're in Equity, doesn't mean you have a successful career. They deserve their big break as much as anyone.

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Its unlikely that two unknowns with absolutely *no* training or experience could handle starring 8 shows a week on Broadway for a year.

I'm sure as the show progresses, there will be a bigger divide between those with professional experience and those "under-dogs" with raw talent - and I think its very possible the American public will go for the under-dogs.

But as others have said, there are Equity actors in NYC fighting to get a gig - most of them don't have an agent, have never been on Broadway or in a national tour or even in a "LORT A" regional theatre production. They are just as deserving of a chance as anyone.

As for the show itself - I find it a harmless experiment - its certainly a good plu for Broadway - of course its not very "original" - and its expected that we are going to see a lot of bad talent on the first few episodes - but I think you will be surprised what some of the talent is like when they reveal the top 12.

Totally agree Michael Bennett. And you are right, there are actors out there who have performed on Broadway and have nothing at this time.

But in Austin Millers case he has been on Broadway and National Tours, but I guess a job is a job after all.

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It sounds to me like these are just like any other auditions, expect with a lot more people who don't have professional experience.

I'd rather see the parts go to those people who were the best at the auditions, be it that they have had past experience or not.

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Kathleen Marshall said herself, I think in the first or second episode, that this is an open casting call and that she's concerned that an inexperienced performer won't have the stamina to do 8 shows a week. If a trained performer was up against a newbie and all other things were considered equal, I'd bet Kathleen would choose the trained performer with a track record of being able to keep up with the pace in prepping and doing the production. I wish the PR folks wouldn't promote this show to be a Broadway version of "American Idol" where they're looking for unpolished, undiscovered talent, but rather a pseudo-documentary on the process of casting of a Broadway show. (My editorial is it's hardly that either!)

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I bet you were Doody.....

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Let me ask this, what is happening to the rejects: are they being put in ensamble roles or supporting roles, or are those going to be filled with people who actually have lots of talents.

In general let alone Equity or not... some hopefuls out there who wish to perform on Broadway spend thousands of dollars towards a college education majoring in Acting, Musical Theatre, and or Dance. So I feel on a college student's level it's disconcerting about all this when selected people all over the country are in training for a job hopefully on the Broadway Stage. But I just have to keep reminding myself, no.1 the show is Grease... and reality tv shows are apparently in these days. I just wish the best to Kathleen Marshall and the creative staff of the production!! I'm sure she'll do well with whatever she has.