Student Blog: So You Didn't Get Cast... Now What?

Picture yourself in an audition room, holding a 3-ring binder with a copy of your latest headshot and resume. You could be dressed for the style of the show, or for a dance call, or none of the above. You have prepared a basic 16/32 bar cut, and/or a 1-minute contemporary monologue. For the next minute or so, you do your best to convince the people behind the table why you belong in their production. And then, it is over and done with. There is nothing more you can do but wait. 

And then sometimes the results are not what you were hoping for. Maybe you feel defeated, frustrated, or even confused. 

If this sounds like a place you've been in before, I can assure you I have been there. 

Believe me when I say it is so discouraging to not get a part you wanted or not even be cast in the show. It is hard. So if you’re asking yourself “now what?” you’ve come to the right place. 

So now, you auditioned for a show and did not make it in. I think it is important to remember that this is not the "end all be all." That doesn't mean that it isn't disappointing. A couple of things to consider is to look at this “rejection” objectively. I have made a checklist to aid in this process. 

• 	The number of people that auditioned.
  	Cast size
  	Cast fit
  	Type of production.
  	Director bias

•  

I know this barely even scratches the surface but these are the types of things I wish I had looked at more clearly in the past when I have been cut from shows. One of my more recent experiences in getting “cut” from a show had to do with a couple of things. 

This factor definitely came into play recently when I auditioned for a community theatre production in my area.  It turns out that over 100 people auditioned for this particular show, and the size of the theatre for which the production was to be performed could only accommodate around 30 onstage. As someone who has directed before that is a huge difference and that means a lot of tough decisions need to be made when it comes to casting. 

Another factor that is also bulleted that is so crucial to look at is “cast fit,” This can range from age, stage age,  abilities, skills, etc. Sometimes there is a show that you simply do not fit. It can take a while to realize that especially if it was something you wanted. More recently I auditioned for a show, and a role that has been one of my dream roles. I didn’t get the part or even cast in the show, and one of the reasons most likely came down to my age and my “stage age.” That was another factor that came into play when the production team reached out to tell me I had not been cast, from their perspective they were interested in casting “an authentically aged cast.” Essentially it didn’t mean I had a bad audition but assessing my rejection more clearly had me realize I was simply too young for the roles I had gone out for.  

Casting and rejection are also dictated by the type of production. I do not know much about auditioning for professional productions, but in my limited experience, those are much harder to get into. For example, if you are nonunion like I am, it is much more difficult to audition for some companies if they only see equity actors, and that is just how it is. The higher the “tier” the higher the stakes. For community theatre, while the stakes are a bit lower, there still can be a certain level of competition to get into a production. At the end of the day, the main goal is to put on the best production possible and sometimes you just don’t fit into the type of production they are trying to put on. 

Directors, whether we like to admit it or not can have a bias. It happens. Sometimes there are just certain people you envision for a role, and those people come in and are exactly what they are looking for. And sometimes you are not. It can be for several reasons you simply cannot control. The director has a vision for the production and sometimes for whatever reason you don’t fit it. It can be tough to think about but it is also so important to remember there are things about the casting process that you could not even control that just come to the mind of the director. 

So the next time you find yourself wondering why you were rejected, maybe keep in mind this checklist. And always remember that your feelings are 100% valid during this process. Be sure to take care of yourself before deciding to move on. 

That’s all for now blog. Be sure to sign up for more articles, and I’ll see you soon. :)

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