why are so many people with talent cast in the "chorus" instead of giving them a regular role?

Question

I find that very unfair!!!

Answer 1

I know exactly what you mean. So many times I have been put in the ensemble of a show when I know very well how talented I am. If I really have a problem, I go ask the director what I did wrong.
Sometimes it's that he needed a strong ensemble member to help the rest of the weaker ones. Sometimes it's that I didn't look the part for any of the main roles. Sometimes he doesn't have a real reason.
You just have to make the most of it.

Answer 2

The Chorus and the ensemble are the true essence of acting. It isn't about being a lead, the romantic ones in particular are boring, give me a good character role any time.

Who you get cast as isn't always about raw talent, some of us are more skilled at certain things than others [this is especially true with singing] and blending several people into a cohesive group is harder than having just one person do all the work. Especially in a musical production.

The other thing that affects casting is the director's vision of the character. Sometimes they are looking for a particular type, sometimes it is the chemistry that the lead character has with the other characters that is important, sometimes it is that the director knows the work of one person better than another. Fact of life is you are not always going to get the role you want.

I saw a production last night where there were several characters who only had a few lines while 4 had the biggest parts. The one character that stood out for me was an actor who had 4 maybe 6 lines. He created a character out of the way he sat and how he moved and related to the other people around him. The lead character wasn't as fully realized as this other character with so little to say.

There are no small parts, only small actors.

Answer 3

There are a couple of reasons. First, it could be that they aren't right for any of the roles in the show. Just because they are talented doesn't mean that they can play any role in any show. Not everyone can be the lead.

Second, it could be that their good voice is needed in the chorus. If all the lesser-talented people are put in the ensemble, the chorus might not sound as good. This could make or break a show, depending on how much the chorus does.

It's not unfair...it's theatre. Get used to it. If you can't deal with it, don't do theatre.

Answer 4

I'm talented, does that mean I get to play Evita????NOOOOOO.....(I'm a boy) And I'm talented, but I don't have the right voice type to play Che. In this show I'd be lucky to play Senor Jabon....but in Once Upon a Mattress I was the Jester. In Oklahoma! I would make a good Will Parker..... In Into the Woods I could be the Baker, or Jack.....but I would not be goot at playing the Prince.... certain actors and actresses are right for the role and other ones aren't.....the guy who gets cast as Che and the girl playing Eva Peron may not have as much talent as me, it's a possibility....but they are right for the role..........if you plan on being in the theater it's just something you'll have to get used to, honey!

and another thing, wouldn't the show suck if the chorus was only the leftover rejects who aren't good enough for "real parts"?? Get a grip, if you got cast at all it means you're good...stop feeling sorry for yourself and feel bad for the ugly girl who always gets stuck being the stage manager.

Answer 5

you might have talent but alot of people have talent. we hate to face it but someone is going to be better at playing the part better then you. in one show you might get the lead because the part is for someone who is so kind but the next show you could end up with the chorus or minor role because the lead is horribly mean and somone else can play a mean person better then you. its all about competition. i'm going to perform one of Mabel's sisters in the pirates of penzance on thursday and the lead can sing opera better then me and that part needs someone who can sing opera. so i'm stuck with the minor role even though i got the lead in the fall. keep trying. you will find a part that suits you best.

Answer 6

Because, even though other people may be more talented, they may not suit the role.

Easy. You have to have the right voice and the right look for certain characters.

Answer 7

There are times I'd really like to kick Butt. People come to auditions and they're dead. Talent doesn't get cast unless it's shown in audition. Ability to move and gesture doesn't get cast unless it's shown in audition. Voice and projection doesn't get cast unless it's shown in audition. Reasonable queries to the director and direction taken from the director doesn't get cast unless it's shown in audition.

You know what you can do.....we don't. Unless it's shown in audition.

As well anyone called back damn well better be prepared, no matter how good they were in audition.

That's about as cold as I get.

Answer 8

Because without the chorus, who would help do the show? Or stand in for the stars when they broke their ankle on a banana peel 'someone' happened to drop on the floor?

Answer 9

Chin up - and think of it this way; without the chorus, there would be no play.....