Casting People Who Don't Audition

I have been really sucking at keeping this blog updated. Part of it is because I've been really busy and part of it is because I've been writing everything down in a paper notebook for the past few months or so. But for some reason today I thought "Hey, I haven't blogged in awhile. Let's do that!" So here I am again.

Anyways, let the record show that today was a truly terrible day for me. I auditioned for a play this week. It was supposed to only be a one day thing but because some asses from a different theatre in the town couldn't  audition on the day scheduled the process was a two day thing. And it was Shakespeare mixed with a current movie theme. I love me some Shakespeare and movies are pretty cool so I was just excited and happy to audition. Only about 6 people showed up the first day, the the second day three of us from the previous day showed up unknowing that it was to be another audition day and besides us three only three other people showed up. All in all 9 people auditioned, not including me, so 10 in total.

This director emails us the cast list today and let's just say that seven of the ten people cast DIDN'T EVEN AUDITION. WTF is that all about?!?!? And then they give me a role with TWO BLOODY LINES. I am not picky about which roles I get, as an actor who hasn't seen the stage for a few years you can't be picky, but if I am driving 25 minutes to this college IN NOVEMBER IN THE SNOW then it better be worth my time. Two lines are not worth my time and I am going to have to pass on this.

Then to make me feel even more special about my role, sir director made a little side note that said that anyone without an asterisk next to their name (which was only me and two other people) wouldn't be needed until 1 pm on the rehearsal dates while all the other cast gets to come in and read stuff and rehearse at  10 am. Nothing brings a cast closer together than separating them then adding some random two liner people in at a 30 minute rehearsal. X_X



Kind of ridiculous if you ask me. I think I'm mostly irritated by the fact that people who didn't even audition got roles. I question that so much and makes me truly hate the production and the people who didn't audition and the director for even thinking this was a good idea. Thus why I'm passing on performing in this. I mean, if the director called me and was like "Hey, would you like this role for a play you didn't even audition for?" I would probably hesitatingly take it. But that's not what happened in this case and honestly I'm glad it didn't and I hope it never does. I would never feel right about taking a role I didn't even audition for and the guilt would eat me up inside. Yes, having someone think you are great and reliable as an actor is wonderful, but there should be some rules layed out, rules such as YOU HAVE TO AUDITION TO GET A FREAKING ROLE!

I have a question about this entire thing. Is this the norm in other places, to cast people who didn't even audition? Because I am getting fed up with it. It's seems to have happened/is happening a lot near my area and it seems hokey to me. But maybe that is how it works in places like Chicago and New York and I'm only now coming to a discovery about what's going on.

Bold what’s true about you. A survey type thing I did.

I am under 18. 

I am a cuddler. 
I am a morning person. 
I am an only child.
I am currently in my “pajamas”.
I am currently pregnant.
I am left handed.
l am right handed.
I am ambidextrous. 
I am a little shy around the opposite sex.
I bite my nails.
I can be paranoid at times.
I enjoy folk music.
I enjoy smoothies.
I enjoy talking on the phone.
I have a car.
I have/had a hard time paying attention at school.
I have a hidden talent.
I have a pet.
I have a tendency to fall for the “wrong” person.
I have all my grandparents
I have been to another country.
I have been told that I have an unusual sense of humor.
I have or had broken a bone.
I have caller I.D. on my phone. 
I have bathed someone.
I have changed a diaper. 
I have changed a lot over the past year.
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
I have had major/minor surgery.
I have killed another person. (Oh my God, really? Who would admit to this?!?!? 0_0) 
I have had my hair cut within the last week.
I have mood swings.
I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.
I have rejected someone before. 
I like the taste of blood. (?????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!) 
I like Michael Jackson.
I love sleeping.
I love to shop.
I own 100 CDs or more
I own and use a library card. (Well I DID. Everything is going digital now, including the library card system which is a shame.) 
I read books for pleasure in my spare time.
I sleep a lot during the day.
I watch soap operas on a regular basis.
I work at a job that I enjoy.
I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
I am wearing socks.
I am tired.
I love to paint/draw/sketch/sculpt
I consume at least one alcoholic drink every month.

I have/had:
Finished college. 
Smoked cigarettes.
Ridden every ride at an amusement park.
Collected something really stupid. 
Gone to a concert.
Helped someone.
Spun turn tables.
Watched four movies in one night.
Been broken up with.
Taken a college level course.
Been in a car accident.
Been in a tornado.
Watched someone die.
Been to a funeral.
Burned yourself. (On accident!) 
Ran a marathon.
Your parents got divorced.
Cried yourself to sleep.
Spent over $200 in one day. 
Cheated on someone.
Been cheated on.
Written a 10 page letter. 
Had a best friend.
Lost someone you loved.
Skipped school.
Gotten in trouble for something you didn’t do.
Stolen books from the library. 

Fired a gun.

Been in a school play.

Been fired from a job.
Taken a lie detector test.
Swam with dolphins.
Written poetry.
Read more than 20 books a year.
Gone to Europe.
Loved someone you couldn’t have.
Used a coloring book over age 12.
Had surgery.
Had stitches.
Taken a taxi.
Had more than 5 online conversations going at once.
Had a hamster.
Dyed your hair.
Had something pierced.
Gotten straight A’s.
Been handcuffed.

My hair is naturally the colour:
Light brown
Medium brown
Dark brown
Blonde
Black
Dirty blond
Strawberry blond
Multicoloured
Red

My eyes are:
Brown
Dark Brown
Blue
Green
Hazel
Light brown
Black
Gray 

People sometimes label me as:
Slut
Boyish
Colorful
Ugly
Nerd
Other

Some of my biggest fears are:
Spiders / insects
Slimy things
Dying
Doctor/Dentist appointments
Hospitals
Needles
Disease
Being alone in the dark
Heights
Small spaces
Oceans
Large animals
Small animals 
Open spaces
Lightning
Thunder
Tornadoes 
Clustered holes
Bodily fluids
Corpses

I have:
A friend with benefits
A laptop in my room
A television in my room
My own car
Parents who are still married

Theatre Tag!

I don't believe that I have participated in this tag before now. And as always, nobody tagged me so I just tagged myself because I really wanted to do this! 

1. How old are you?
I am 23 years of age.

2. When did you start getting into theatre?
When I was five years old. I was in Annie and I played an orphan. From what I can remember our Annie didn't even have red hair and they didn't even put a wig on her so we had a 13 year old girl with long, straight blonde hair playing our Annie because BUDGET. 

3. How many shows have you been in?
I'm not exactly sure of the exact number but I believe it is around 25-30.

4. Favorite role ever played?
I cannot think of a role that I haven't loved. But any character that is completely off their rocker has been my favorite. 

5. A tip you give to new theatre kids
Just don't die!

6. Biggest theatre pet peeves?
Ohhh I have A LOT. But my top three:
1. Freaking theatre divas. 
2. Actors questioning or complaining about the notes they are given. Just take the damn note!
3. Directors who cast the same people in the leads for every. single. show. when it is clear that other people do audition. The actors may be good but I think it would be nice to give someone else a chance just once in awhile!
4. Patti Lupone.


7. Biggest strength? Biggest weakness?
I'm good at the acting aspect and can fake the dancing. Singing is not my strong point but I do love to sing. I should probably take some more lessons to become better at singing. 


8. Who is your biggest inspiration in theatre?
I have many but Angela Lansbury is up there.

9. What's your dream role?
Mrs. Lovett- Sweeney Todd

10. Plays or Musicals 
I like both. I'm not too picky. =P

11. Favorite improv game?
Frickity frack. I suck at all theatre games. ALL OF THEM. If I learn that I have to play a theatre game the night after a rehearsal I won't be able to sleep that night because I will be freaking out.

12. Favorite show?
Sweeney Todd. I swear nothing will ever beat that show.

13. Most awkward onstage moment?
When I was a freshman in high school and in my first college production on opening night I almost lost it backstage and had to hold my tears back because me and this other guy were the people who knew their lines and everyone else was making the production look foolish by not having their lines down. 

14. Best offstage moment?
When I was an understudy a lady from another theatre came up to me and told me how proud she was of me. I told her I wasn't even in the production and she gave me a hug and said that understudies have the most difficult jobs with the least amount of respect. I will always remember that. 

15. Worst audition?
Oklahoma! We don't talk about Oklahoma!

16. Least favorite show?
Carousel. God do I hate Carousel. And Cats! But at least Cats is fun to make fun of where as there are no good and redeeming qualities to Carousel.

17. Most challenging role to play?
Nobody has ever given me a challenging role, and that kind of sucks considering that means nobody has any confidence in me.

18. What would you do if theatre didn't exist?
I would be pretty darn sad truth be told.