Auditions...From the other side of the table.

It is Wednesday, and the last night of auditions.  Tonight we will "weed" and then choose who we would like to see for call-backs on Thursday and Friday. We are aiming for a cast of 50 to 55 people (not including our three littles), and there are easily--already--twice that many talented, double and triple threats that came out to audition.

From a purely creative view, I enjoy the process of puzzling out casting...and by puzzling, I mean that it is like a puzzle:  which human pieces fit together to create the big picture that matches the "vision" I carry in my head?  Each person brings a nuance, a feel, a style of voice, body and performance that is unique. What we see is a combination of so many things.   There are the simple questions that we can answer pretty quickly:  Can you match pitch?  Can you move comfortably and rhythmically? Do you know the show and yourself well enough to choose appropriate audition material?  Are you enjoying yourself?  Are you telling a story?  And then there are the questions that we are asking that may be unique to our audition situation:  Are you generous?  Are you listening?  Are you willing to try?  Did you share something new?  And,  finally, there are the questions and parameters that auditionees have no control over...the completely subjective things our team is looking for and choosing:  Are you right for what we see as necessary to the show?  Are you too tall, short, deep-voiced, high-voiced, elegant, quirky, angry, powerful, beautiful, dark, blonde, brunette, old, young, etc., etc., etc., for us to use in our puzzle? 

I always learn so much during auditions.  From this side of the table, the main difference I've seen this week is between actors who say "Choose Me! Look what I prepared! " and those who say "Here's what I have to offer ....".  (That is an extremely general and subjective statement!!)  But, but, but...it's been very true this week.  It's a subtle and interesting difference...one is externally focused and one is internally focused.  One  guesses at what is "right" and one makes choices based on individual strengths. I'm not sure an actor can know the difference without being on this side of the table OR without a LOT of experience.

Also, this artistic team is only human...Jane and I did, indeed, do butt spins on the floor between audition groups.  Martin got the giggles at the end of the night.  We are eating way too much junk and we are TIRED...but so eager to meet our cast!

Break Legs and Merde, people!

To the Barricades!
Kelly