Reality Casting - How do you feel about it, and how many have there been?

The UK Hairspray show may not count. As I understand it, it's not for casting anyone in a professional production. Although the facts as I understand them are so confused in my head that I couldn't possibly recount them here without sounding like a blithering fool. O_O

I never really used to mind reality casting shows. Not here in the UK, at least. After all, the people who were getting through and winning were pros or had at least had formal training. As long as the professionals in charge of the show made sure that those who got through to the final would certainly be suitable, then there's no harm in opening up voting to the public. It gets people interested in the theatre, which gets them buying tickets, which gives the producers more money to do more things with. Okay, the TV shows are rubbish, but I handle that by not watching them. Wow, something involving John Barrowman that I *won't* watch!

However, I don't think 'I'd Do Anything' was handled very well. I didn't pay that much attention, but weren't two of the three finalists teenagers? Personally, I'd be very wary about giving someone under 20 a lead role in a West End show; give their voices time to develop, give them training to build up their stamina, but don't give them a lead. Also, Nancy isn't exactly the biggest lead - four songs, two reprises, and only one of the songs is a solo - but the faceless They have apparently decided that the winner is only definitely allowed to do four shows a week at the moment, possibly increasing as they find out what Jodie can handle. And not even Saturday night, which is probably when voters from the provinces will be wanting to bring their darlings in. O_O

Nope, even though I've never felt particularly strongly against reality casting, I think 'I'd Do Anything' has sailed merrily over the head of the shark, and this method should DEFINITELY be given a rest for a while. Why doesn't Kevin Spacey put his money where his mouth is and do something jaunty with plays on television instead?

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Updated On: 6/1/08 at 06:57 PM

depends, but it does kind of annoy me b/c i too would rather see people who have worked hard and auditioned rather than america casting a show basically

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There's also the Austrian show from last year (forgot the title and what show the winners actually got into...) and a new German one coming up to cast roles in Starlight Express.

Yes, in Starlight Express. A show that still sells remarkably well and is coming up on its 20th anniversary. I guess it'll do a good job of freshening things up, but at the same time I have to wonder how smart casting that show via TV is - the injury rate is already insane and it takes a lot of extra work to get everyone trained to do all the skate work, not to mention how expensive it is to alter or recreate the costumes for cast members who go outside the standard size.

If the product is a good preformer, then why not?

I love watching clips of 'How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria' on youtube. Connie is fantastic!

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"when there are people living in NYC who have years and years of training and go to audition after audition

How do you know these people have not also had years of training and have gone to audition after audition

"i too would rather see people who have worked hard and auditioned rather than america casting a show basically"

Who said these people haven't worked hard and auditioned?

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dramamama, it may be cruel, but it reels viewers in. Sad, but true.

I love all these shows and just wish there were more of them.

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I actually love the reality shows. I feel that it makes alot of publicity for the show and that can boost the sales and what not.

off-topic but...

"I feel like it commercializes theatre and degrades what should be a beautiful, complex art form."

That's how I felt about Sweeney. It took a fantastic musical and turned it into pure garbage. I left during the movie because I couldn't stand how terrible it was. They "commercialized" it by casting Johnny Depp who can't sing himself out of a bucket to make the film more popular by his fanbase.

I too am looking forward to 'Mamma Mia!' despite never having seen the show or particularly caring to. When it comes to the West End or Broadway, there's WAY better stuff to see than jukebox musicals. But when it comes to cinema, they don't differentiate the way we do; they don't say "here's a jukebox musical movie, and here's a Sondheim musical movie, and here's a Lloyd Webber musical movie"; there are "musical movies" and that's it. I support all musical movies, whatever the source material, in the hopes they'll make more.

It's kinda like family; you may fight bitterly with your sister, but that's just within the confines of your family. If someone non-related tries to make fun of her, they'll be spitting teeth for weeks. Does that make sense? XD

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Further illustration of a great art form turning into Vegas-style kitsch by money hungry, non-creative parasites.


I hope and pray that this Elle Woods monstrosity is an embarassing failure for all involved.

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