RIALTO CHATTER: Daryl Eisenberg Casting - 'My ears are bleeding'

Posted: 8/13/09 at 9:02pm

Click Here to Read RIALTO CHATTER: Daryl Eisenberg Casting - 'My ears are bleeding'
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/RIALTO_CHATTER_Daryl_Eisenberg_Casting_My_ears_are_bleeding_20090813

[singtopher]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 9:38pm

sick

[TheatreDiva612]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 9:52pm

Well she does mention people's numbers and more specific information.... So it would be easy to figure out who she is talking about if it were you or knew the people that were there.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 11:35pm

God, and I thought the most recent ones were bad.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 12:29am

The question is: Does this woman know how despicable she has made herself?

Is she doing it for her 15 minutes of infamy?

Or is she genuinely clueless as to how devoid of integrity and respect for theater this makes her seem?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 10:02am

Well, these are all old, so it's really kind of BWW that's stoking the fire now and continuing the debate.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 10:13am

Ok...so kinda related:
1) Why is Gay Bride of Frankenstien under consternation?
2) What is an EPA?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 10:15am

I thought the same thing, Phillys.

Husk, DE Casting was casting Gay Bride of Frankenstein when Daryl made those tweets.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 10:33am

I still don't get why BWW has a gossip column in the first place, but whatever, a lot of things don't make sense to me.

But this case is totally BWW fanning the flames.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 10:37am

lizzie-
Thanks!

Phyllis-
Well, someone has to take up the slack, considering Reidel is getting off on Spiderman Hate.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 10:56am

Husk --- EPA = Equity Principle Audition

Sometimes you'll see a call for an EPI, too.

That's an Equity Principle Interview.

Or an ECA - Equity Chorus Audition.

Equity contracts for musicals are divided between "principle" and "chorus." There was one point, many years ago, when the two unions were split (Actors Equity and Chorus Equity). They merged in 1955 into one union, but the contracts are still separate. Different colors too (white for principle, pink for chorus).

Updated On: 8/14/09 at 10:56 AM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 11:04am

Thanks Besty!

So far I've learned 3 things today!

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 11:34am

Slight correction. Chorus auditions are known as ECCs/Equity Chorus Calls, not ECAs.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 11:45am

I don't know about "fanning the flames". In light of what has happened I think it's important that it be known that her behavior is ongoing as opposed to a one time thing.

[Craig]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 12:03pm

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/should-you-twitter-at-an-audition/?src=twt&twt=artsbeat

[Goodoneinlou]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 12:58pm

I don't know why the physical proof of these kind of comments is so shocking to folks. Broadway can be a horrifically cruel business.

I learned first hand at a very young age. I was living in Cincinnati in the early 1990's when I went, as a personal challenge, to an open call of "Showboat." Many shows, as they tour, will hold calls in Cincinnati mostly due to talent at CCM.

Well, I auditioned on a lark, and actually had a very good experience. Didn't get me a job, but I came out of it unscathed and was proud that I hadn't gotten pooh pooh'd or cut off.

However, as I was first entering the audition room, I could hear the off handed comments that were being made about the person who had auditioned ahead of me. It was a middle-aged gal who had actually performed as Madame Thenadier. They must have known who she was because I was made privvy to several remarks being made about her demeanor, how she had become a "fattie" etc etc etc.

Ouch.

Now, who knows what they said about me after I left, and quite frankly who cares. But none-the-less, this kind of superior derrogatory attitude has existed far longer than "Twitter" ever will.

It doesn't make it right, but it's surely no surprise to anyone. Hasn't Simon Cowell made an entire career out of it?


Updated On: 8/14/09 at 12:58 PM

[singtopher]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 1:07pm

The producers of Gay Bride of Frakenstein just can't buy this kind of publicity.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 1:23pm

"Hasn't Simon Cowell made an entire career out of it?"

The difference with Simon Cowell and American Idol is that contestants sign contracts and people expect others to be ridiculed and/or heavily commented upon. It is expected because it is a reality TV show; that is the point. Unfortunately for the contestants, that is how the show attracts viewers. Broadway auditions are not reality TV shows.

The fact that her ridiculing posts were broadcast in a public business Twitter account that was marketed as "helpful advice for actors" show DE's unprofessionalism. She claims she doesn't name names, but a couple of people have been able to recognize who they are.

In regards to your audition, despite you hearing the casting director, the offhand remarks were still made in the privacy of the audition room, sparing the actor of any public embarrassment. DE could have written the comments down in her own private notes or in another private outlet, but she didn't, and now she is suffering the consequences of her actions.

The fact that Broadway can be a horrific business does not justify what DE did. Yes, casting directors, producers, directors, etc. do have negative things to say about people, but your public business Twitter account is not the place to do so.

Updated On: 8/14/09 at 01:23 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 1:33pm

Very well said, Millie.

The audition and rehearsal room need to be safe place for the actor. It's enough that they have to worry about every little critique of their actual performance being put out there by anyone and everyone. They should not have to worry about their process also being subject to such scrutiny.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 2:32pm

So much has been posted on this topic that I cannot read it all.

All the commentary has been from the auditioner's point of view--the actors.

No one that I have read has expressed an idea of what might go through the client's heads reading all of this. Were I a producer/general manager and this was my casting director, she would be out the door on her ass as fast as you can say "Thank you very much".

I think she has made clients look bad and that will be her downfall.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 3:05pm

No one that I have read has expressed an idea of what might go through the client's heads reading all of this.

Does Marc Shaiman count? I'd have to imagine that a lot of people on the creative side will fall in behind him.


Shaiman tells her what's what

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 8:28pm

this kind of superior derrogatory attitude has existed far longer than "Twitter" ever will.

I don't think it's so much her attitude, which it is her prerogative to have, as it is the way in which she publicized it.

And I thought Shaiman's statement was excellent.