I had a horrible experience being miscast. It was the starring role in a professional, regional theatre production. I thought I was right for the role, and apparently so did the director. I received a lot of support from my fellow cast members as well. Two days before opening, the Artistic Director, who didn’t bother to show her face though the entire production process, showed up to final dress. Afterward, the director pulled me aside to tell me that the AD hated everything I was doing and that she wanted the director and I to work together over the next two days to take my character in a totally different direction, but she didn’t give any specifics as to what that direction was. I was so frustrated and confused by the time opening night came around. I remember making my first entrance, and I felt like someone put my script through a paper shredder, shoved the remnants in my one hand while shoving a roll of scotch tape in my other then shoving me out on stage. Throughout the run, the artistic director would come backstage during performances at intermission with alcohol on her breath to try to give me notes, which is highly inappropriate. On my birthday, which was during the run, I made myself a big breakfast, turned on NPR just in time to catch a review of the show which the critic read live on air. I believe the beginning of her critique began “(My name) who seems to think he can act…” That was a great birthday.
