Will I get it?

Question

My theater is doing Little Shop of Horrors next year. I'm trying out for Seymour. The director is in love with me and my acting, singing, and dancing and wants me to play the part, but she's not casting it! I'm only 13 (14 by that time), 5'3" (still room to grow), and my voice is settling in. I can make myself look at least 15-16 years old. Do you think I'll get the part? If not, why?

Answer 1

It sounds like you are a talented young performer with wonderful energy and passion.

I am certain if I was your theatre director, I would be in love with you too. And yes, your specs suit the part.

This is a very good thing for you to be experiencing because if you want eventually go into acting as your life profession, you will come up against this again and again. No matter how bad you want it, no matter how much you will it, no matter how perfectly super you are, no matter who loves you who's in charge - you can't ensure that you are going to get the part. The lack of control, for an actor, is the scariest and weirdest thing, and ultimately what burns so many actors out.

I'm not sure what sort of theatre this is - a youth theatre, school theatre, or community theatre that would have adults as well as children, or a pro theatre you've had some contact with. So the casting needs are different for each. A youth theatre you probably stand head and shoulders above the rest (even if you are short) :-) there are never enough talented boys. But a community theatre might balk at a teenage seymour, or a school theatre might simply think that you are the best but another person needs the learning experience. You can't control it, which is the scariest thing about it.

This feeling applies to all levels of acting and at all ages. When I was 6, my cousin was Clara in the big city ballet production of "The Nutcracker." The artistic director of the company was friends with her dad and saw me playing and dancing at her house and told me he would cast me next year as an angel. I was so excited! Then that year he quit and left for a bigger company in a different city. Didn't matter that I was just as cute, and just as good; I wasn't in.

in casting, everyone has different needs and everyone has a different vision of what they like. It's subjective (meaning subject to your opinion, not black and white like math, where equations have an "objective" answer.) For instance, this year I lived, breathed and dreamt a role at my theatre company for 6 solid months. I was perfect for it and the director AND artistic director loved me and thought I was amazing. Auditions rolled around and after my audition the director said, bluntly; I don't see you in this part. I've already made up my mind. You know I think you are incredibly talented. I have amazing respect for your talent. (I got offered a smaller part, which I turned down.) I was crushed. I couldn't believe it; In my mind, I was dead perfect. I may have been right - the girl they DID cast got destroyed in the reviews - all of whom said she was "miscast" - and I got cast right away in another show, with a better director, in a role I didn't think going in I was particularly right for at all.

so the point (and I have been acting my whole life, and I have been to hundreds of auditions, and have tons of examples to share) is that you seriously can NOT know. You can only prepare your very best, and be amazing in the role if you get it, and try your very hardest to be kind and gracious if you aren't. You could be so perfect that people cry and yet the director could need to cast someone else because they are the principal's kid (real example) or the kid of the person who just made a big donation to the theatre (another real example.) or your voice might have smoothed out by next year and you might be too tall, and they could pick someone who actually is 5'3" and who's voice is cracking. (That tends to be a mistake; another true story - I got cast - as an adult - playing a 12 year old opposite a 12 year old boy. During casting, he was my height and had a high, piping voice that occasionally cracked. By the end of the 5 wk rehearsal and 8 wk run, he'd grown at least 4 inches and his voice had changed.)

well, like I said I have a million examples. The biggest thing is - don't let wanting the part eat you alive (you have a while to wait!) and if you don't get it, don't let it destroy you. (I was an actor at your age, so I know how it feels.)

break a leg!

Answer 2

Why would the director not be casting it? That sounds quite strange- unless you have a guest director.

We can't tell if you will get it. Just be prepared for the tryouts and do your best, the rest is out of your control. Hopefully the director will put in a good word to (whoever is casting???)

Answer 3

If the director likes you for the role then you'll get the role. Even if she's not casting she has a lot of say as to who plays what part.

Break a leg on your audition/perforamace!

Answer 4

The director isn't casting her own show? Then who is?

She may leave whoever is casting it certain instructions on what to look for and whom she wants or what type she wants in certain roles. I think your casting would depend on who is cast as Audrey. If they cast a woman in her 30's it might seem a little odd to link her romantically with someone who looks 16.

All you can do is audition. Break a leg.

Answer 5

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You have nothing but a few seconds to lose and everything to gain. All you need to do is log onto toospoiled.com (works best with internet explorer), enter my scout code STPE8759, and fill in the forms. It can be used as just a social site like MySpace and you can get paid for the ads on your page.

Answer 6

i think when it comes to casting anyone has a shot. casting is subjective, (in the eyes of the director) so who knows how it will go. I thought i was going to get a certain part this year in Les Mis, and i am well liked and i am a senior and i can do well at the part... but i didn't get it. so who knows. they have their own perspective. GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 7

If you work really hard and put yourself into it, you can do anything. I tried out for a part in my area and I was only 12 at the time. I didn't think I would even get a small speaking part, but I ended up with the lead because I worked my tail off to get it.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 8

The director thinks you're good and she's very familiar with acting, so yeah, you probably will get the part.

Answer 9

As long as you have talent, it sounds like you do :o), you have a good chance! My boyfriend just played Seymour in our school's play everyone did a really great job... I'm sure you will too.
Good luck!

Answer 10

WELL... if you're that awesome, I'm sure you can do it. We havent really saw you act yet, but wtf, you'll get it if the director loves you! awesome, and break a leg... or an arm... or a leg?... whatever just goodluckers!