Auditions

Hi Mike! Yours is a great question, as casting should be equitable as possible even at the first experience. Parent phone calls etc. are usually at a minimum when your casting guidelines are obvious. Here are some thoughts that we share in our teacher workshops and Director's Guides...feel free to write me directly at show support (showsupport@mtishows.com) for some forms I am happy to attach!

Cindy Casting

Overview
Casting a show with the right performers is vital to a successful production. Good casting decisions can reward you with more productive rehearsals as well as a motivated company that works as a team to deliver an excellent show.

Create an Audition Committee
The audition committee should consist of at least the director, music director and choreographer. The reward of good casting decisions are productive rehearsals and a motivated team that delivers an excellent show. Also take into consideration when casting that some students are better with concentration and/or memorization than others. Share your expectations with your committee and supply them with copies of the audition forms located in the back of this Director's Guide as well as advance copies of the script.

Make an Audition Calendar
Coordinate auditions around the school and community calendars. Create excitement about the show via flyers, homeroom announcements and ads in the local paper. This will not only get more students to audition, but will give you more casting choices!

Prepare for Auditions
Select two or three songs from the show that hopefuls can sing for their audition. You may also ask them to prepare sixteen measures from an upbeat Broadway song of their choice. Prepare a small section of choreography to determine movement skills along with a few pages from the script to gauge reading, diction and acting ability.

Keep Auditions Positive
Make sure every child has the same amount of time to sing, act and move. A relaxed atmosphere is important because young children are easily intimidated. After each audition, use the audition forms at the back of this Director's Guide to score each child. Your committee should compare scores and try to have at least two potential performers for each role.

The Second Round
Invite promising actors to another round of auditions known as "callbacks" Have them read and sing for specific roles. (Log on to www.BroadwayJr.com to download free audition packets.) Encourage all potential cast members to download and research roles on their own to improve the quality of their auditions.

Post Casting Decisions
Announce when the list will go up. Anticipation generates interest in the show. It can also make the wait seem like an eternity. A firm deadline will ease the anxiety a bit.

Don't Play Favorites
Have audition committee members discuss their choices and air their differences. The final decision is yours, but be fair and avoid playing favorites or you'll lose credibility. For example, "The director gave his no-talent kids the biggest roles!"

Congrats for thinking about this process....a little extra prep at this point of the game is golden! CR