Highschool drama? Or is it like this out of highschool too?What should I do?Talking to my principal wont help.

Question

I became part of our school's 1-act in my freshman year, which is the earliest you can join. Our 1-Act director told us all that seniority rules. The longer you're in 1act the better parts you'll get. I didn't get a speaking part as a freshman(which I completely understand since I was just a freshy) & when I was a sophomore, I was only an extra(I shrugged that off too)But at the end of our sophomore year the leads were assigned to people & no one was able to even audition! Our director gave parts to ppl who he thought could do the parts. There are 5 juniors who have been in 1act for 2 years going on 3 that couldn't even audition and instead all got nonspeaking parts while a several freshmen/sophomores as well as a junior who had never ever gone out for theatre before that instantly got lead parts! People got leads that didn't even want them. Plus half of the leads never show up to rehearsal on time! How am I supposed to get a chance when the parts are assigned long be4 1st rehearsal.

Answer 1

High school tends to go by the teacher's favorites instead of actual talent.. It's called high school. Brown nosing is one way to get better parts.

Hopefully, out of high school you will find a place where they actually do care if you have better skills. The best thing you can do is work hard, learn other parts, and hopefully the leads wont show up and you can say "Hey I know that part!" and they will use you for it.

Answer 2

If you continue acting after high school, presumably in community theatre, you'll find this is more rare, but it does still happen. Some theatre companies have their "core group" of actors who tend to get most of the best roles. This is because the directors know what they're getting, not necessarily because they're playing favorites. See, a director is under a lot of pressure to put on a successful show, and he/she might be thinking, "okay, this new person who I've never seen before auditioned very well, but how do I know they won't flake out on me halfway through rehearsal and quit? On the other hand, John here has been acting with this company for years. He didn't read quite as well for the part, but I know he's dependable."

So it all depends on who you're auditioning for. Some places will take a shot on a new person who shows potential. Other theatres will make you "pay your dues" with smaller parts for a while until you demonstrate that you're dependable. I can see both sides of the issue, and while it sucks sometimes, after you've done theatre for a while it might make some sense to you. You really wouldn't believe how often an actor quits a show during rehearsal, sometimes right up to opening.

My advice would be, if you find a company you really like, who is putting on shows that interest and challenge you, but has this "prove yourself" policy...try to understand where they're coming from before assuming that they're playing favorites. On the other hand, keep an eye open for those other theatres that will take a chance on you right away. They are out there.

Answer 3

I agree totally with the first two posters that responded to your question. Go out and find other places to enrich your desire to act. You will find it much more fair than what is going on in your school.

Having worked in the school system for many years I am acutely aware of the clique system that all the clubs have, no matter what school it is or what club it is. If you may think that favoritism plays a part, you are correct, it is not your imagination.

It is not a fair system but unfortunately it exists everywhere. So, to answer your other part of the question you will run into similar situations out of high school, but would have to say high school is probably a lot more clique orientated than outside places. Sadly, it is a part of life.

Good luck to you and I hope you do well in your endeavors in acting. Do as the others suggested and hone your talents outside of school. At least somewhere where you can actually audition as this would be much fairer.

Answer 4

Personally? I'd leave that bogus system and go audition at the local community theater.

I don't think they really told you the whole story - it's seniority AND skill. Judging talent will always be a murky subjective area and it's part of doing theater. It's not easy.

Try not to be too offended, it's part of life. Keep trying, take some workshops and movement classes. Sing in the church choir. Do anything you can to develop what skills you have!

Break a leg!

Answer 5

Ask about being an "understudy" for the lead parts you really wanted.

Life is hardly ever "fair." It is what you do, and how you react to life that matters. Outside of High School, in the "real world" it's like this magnified. You must be determined, thick-skinned, and NEVER, ever compromise yourself. Believe in who you are, work hard, keep improving. Please yourself first, the confidence this will give you will help you through disappointments and rocky times and you will succeed. Keep your dreams alive!