Watching People Who Were Cast In Roles You Auditioned For And Lost — Page 2

Actually, there is one thing that DOES piss me off... and that is when people get in who didn't even bother coming to the auditions. If you're too "important" to audition, then I guess you're too important to be IN the show. Even if you've already been told you have the part, showing up and going through the motions is classier.

I might be saying this beacuse I'm a primary singer, but some roles are just singer's roles. Anywho, I recently lost a role to someone less qualified beacuse there wasn't a talented African-American actor enough actor to play Scrooge. (I audtioned for Fred, and this company is not one for colorblind casting. They didn't even let me read for the role and stuck me in a smaller part.) There's really nothing you can do about it. But, I normally don't see the musicals unless I am in them.

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Yes, but when it's a role in something like Into the Woods where acting is all too important...

I wouldn't know what this is like because I always KILL the person first.

Kidding.

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I especially hate it when these so called "singers" see musical theatre as just singing
Again, it depends on the Musical. Without strong singers musicals like LITP, Evita, Les Mis, and South Pacific would be just bleh. There's roles for everyone! Strong Singer, Strong Actors,Strong Dancers, those werid triple thread people that I wish to push down a flight of stairs, everyone.

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Oh I didnt mean so called singers in a bad way, I completely understand that some roles are just for singers and theres nothing wrong with that, it just bugs me when non actor singers go out for roles that require acting and dont care, meaning that its not important when the acting could mean everything to the role...more particularly I just dont like this girl in my acting class..lol..

-Amanda*

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For my college's production last year, I got a callback for two roles. In the end, I was cast in the ensemble. One of the roles ended up being perfectly cast (onstage.... he was a nuisance off-stage, but I digress), but the other was just awful.

But, thats ok, I was up against the same person this semester, but I beat him this time. So, we are even.

yes...its kinda snobbish not to...people need to except that person got the part for a reason...go see the show, see why they got the part and evaluate why you didn't...learn from your losses so you can win one here and there...thats what theatre's about anyway...you can always get the part you want...you keep trying and eventually a good part will come your way...

Well, sorta kinda the same...

There have been a few times when I had to audition to be the designer for a production (twice for an opera, once for a musical). In the case of one of the operas, I didnt get the assignment because the director wanted his wife (a design wanna be, and that, truly, is being kind) to do it. The result was a mess... but I have to admit I enjoyed seeing that mess onstage.

We all get validation from the strangest of circumstances... :)

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(Warning: Looong story)

For the most part, I've handled that kind of stuff really well.

But there was this one time... I auditioned for my high school production of Footloose, and was desperate to get the role of Reverend Moore. I know it's not the most exciting role, but I knew that I could sing and act the **** out of it. Besides, I was a senior and it would have been a great role to go out on.

So, I auditioned and gave it my all. I turned out to be the only person called back for Moore, and was very relieved. So, I go to my callback, kill it, and leave. Over the four-day weekend, the director was calling the cast with their respective roles. I picked up the phone, and was stunned that I had been offered the role of Chuck, the bully of the show. I am not Chuck. As an actor, I'm the complete opposite of Chuck. I was stunned, but he assured me that I would be great.

However, that didn't answer the question: Who the **** got the part that I was this close to getting? Answer: A junior, and a very untalented one at that. I'm sorry, but there is no other way to say it. Still, I kept my mouth shut. Thankfully, I wasn't the only one confused. The actors playing Ren, Vi, and Ethel (unprofessionally) complained to the director, asking him what he was thinking when he cast this particular person over me. He said that said that the actor was just better suited for the role. I can say, without ego, that this answer didn't make any sense.

Throughout the rehearsal process, I was very unhappy and self-concious about my work, but I eventually found the role of Chuck surprisingly easy for me to jump into. I had no idea I could play such an asshole. Needless to say, it opened a lot of doors for me, acting wise. My range had expanded. After the show began performances, I was recognized by many as a standout in the cast. And, as I had figured, the guy who played Shaw was regarded as the weak link. Keep in mind that through all of this, I never complained to anyone. Not once.

A year later, I was having a phone conversation with the assistant director of Footloose when she told me a little secret: The only reason the kid got the role was because his father had given our drama club a large sum of money towards our trip to Europe. While I was thankful that his dad helped us out, I was bummed that a (generous) donation cost me a role that I still feel I should have had.

Oh, well.

Updated On: 9/23/06 at 12:10 AM

I agree with the keep auditioning thing! this business is all about auditions! I hate them, but you have to go on them otherwise it doesnt matter how talented you are, the producers are not gonna come knocking on your door! But I also stress practice, practice, practice!! Cause to me, thats more important than working right now, I wanna be the BEST I can be, and when its my time, its my time..although I do audition from time to time, but its mostly for film work as of right now...I think it takes more talent to be on the stage in most cases, but thats just me.

-Amanda*

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Besides talent and matching the director's vision it also comes down to who you are as a person.

I agree that most directors like to work with those who are good people and easy to work with, not the screwy type, or the obnoxious..I mean of course if the person is THAT talented it wont matter that much, but yes I agree they care about the type of person you are.

-Amanda*

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