Open Calls/AEA Equity Calls

[menzelphaba]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 1:26pm

Does anyone on here actually KNOW of someone, or have themselves been cast from an open call, or gone to an equity call as a non-equity actor and gotten cast? I was just curious to see if it is actually worth the time as a non-equity actor to attend some of those equity chorus and principal calls? I've been to a couple, but it just seems to be a requirement that they fulfill, and not that they are actually looking at anyone seriously for roles? Thanks for the input

[RunswithScissors]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 1:35pm

I know someone who is not Equity and not only got in but also had several callbacks for Les Miserables last spring.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 1:37pm

Non-Equity members definitely get cast from open calls. It's not a myth.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 1:39pm

"gone to an equity call as a non-equity actor and gotten cast"

Kristin Chenoweth is a famous example...

[menzelphaba]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 1:43pm

oh wow...so true..I totally forgot about Kristin Cheno. Interesting....

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 2:07pm

Jose Llana for The King And I.

[beyondblessed]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 2:13pm

What show was Kristin Cheno cast in as non-equity?

[allvocal]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 2:28pm

I got cast in the Shrek worshop from the first EPA... although with about 20 people in the show.. I think 2 of us actually auditioned at EPA

[menzelphaba]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 2:37pm

Kristin was cast at the Paper Mill Playhouse. I can't remember the show right off-hand. She was there to just support a friend who was going to audition and decided to audition as well. She has the story on the Actor's Equity website, under the "how I got my card" section.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 2:38pm

"She was there to just support a friend who was going to audition"

With support like that...

[menzelphaba]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 4:31pm

lol..>THANK YOU...at least be smart enough to bring someone who sucks with you..

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 4:37pm

Donna Murphy got her first Broadway job (THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG) through an open call while still an undergrad at NYU. Most of the OBC of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (Jason Alexander, Tonya Pinkins, et al) were college students with no Equity credits when they were cast.

Didn't the 42ND STREET revival have a tap dance contest open to the public to cast a couple members of the ensemble?

There are LOTS of performers who got their first Broadway gig through non-Equity open calls.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 4:39pm

A large number of the cast of the 1989 GYPSY revival were non-Equity when they were cast through open calls as well.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 4:41pm

"Kristin was cast at the Paper Mill Playhouse. I can't remember the show right off-hand. She was there to just support a friend who was going to audition and decided to audition as well. She has the story on the Actor's Equity website, under the "how I got my card" section."

Was it Animal Crackers? I think it was, but I'm not sure.

[Flash-In-The-Pan]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 6:14pm

Allvocal -- Who did you play in the Shrek workshop? Tell me it was Gingy - my favorite!

[menzelphaba]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 9:08pm

this is all such great info...thank you guys so much...I guess my other part to this question is this...you have all mentioned college-age people that have gotten jobs on open calls...what about adults? Like those of us in the over 40 range.....anyone gotten their first Broadway gig from an open call as an adult? Again, thanks for all the info...it's been great!

[I3ella.Rosa]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 9:24pm

I'm pretty sure it was Charlie Brown.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 9:56pm

Rosa, YAGMCB was Kristin's second Broadway show.

[menzelphaba]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 9:28am

I just went back and read the Actor's Equity article from her....it was Animal Crackers at the Paper Mill