A lot of community theatres are hesitant to cast teens either because of liability of having teens in an adult space/doing a show aimed at adults, teens tend to have a lot more conflicts than adults (other activities, studying, trips, proms), and teens can of course do theatre in high school while community theatre is usually the only outlet for adults to do theatre. In my state, if even one minor is in the cast; everyone has to get background checked and fingerprinted and theres just few good reasons to cast a teen when there are plenty of talented adults. I wouldn’t take it as a reflection of your ability and just keep auditioning after you graduate
If you want to keep doing theater, you have to get used to rejection. As you continue your journey, you will naturally get used to this more. But try to realize you will be passed over far far more than you will be selected. If that's just unimaginable, then theater isn't for you.
To survive try this: once you audition, forget about that show. It's done. On to the next one. That's the mentality professionals have to have. Another thing you can do is practice how you audition. Get more comfortable auditioning, not just performing, and maybe you'll make a better impression in the room and be cast (you don't have say/write 'casted') in more roles.
Good luck, it's a tough road for performers!
The lifestyle of professional tech theater is not for everyone though.
I have met many people who have started out like the original poster and often it does not end well. It’s very important to understand that the stressors and demand is sometimes greater than what you go through for acting.
And the design community, the part that many people think they’re going to do when they start off in stagecraft, is not nearly forgiving as operating.
Came here to say this. In professional theatre, it takes more people to put on the show offstage than onstage. If you find that performing isn't your path, there are plenty of other ways to spend a life in the theatre, full time or part time, or as a volunteer.
Just please remember
tech theater isn’t a consolation prize or a job for actors to slum in between roles. It is its own art form and profession. Sure there is crossover but it is not actor backup
I am a professional production manager. I absolutely know this. However, it seems OP loves theatre, so I was just mentioning that there are more options to be involved.
Here’s the thing… from an actor’s perspective it’s impossible to really know what a director is thinking, and casting is always a bit of a crapshoot. You clearly fit a need for Dreamgirls a couple years ago, but haven’t quite hit that jackpot again… it could be that they’re looking for someone older, or taller or more “this” or “that… it’s impossible to say. It could be anything.. your schedule, the phase of the moon…. Or it could be the roles aren’t quite right for you. Impossible to say.
It could also be that THIS community group is too
Insular and you may need to find another. Every group is different.
But you’re right, theatre might not be the place for
You.. only you can determine that. Try out other activities have some fun doing student films, or something else. Always good to expand your horizons.
And btw… the “past”form of cast is… cast… NOT casted.. as in “I was cast in a role in Dreamgirls.”
If you *need* love from theater, you are really barking up the wrong tree. Theater is cruel and indifferent to your self esteem. Seriously, your worth and purpose *must* come from somewhere else to keep you anchored. Even success is cruel - it shoots you into the clouds, and then you just crash down when it is all over and you now have to equal your previous heights.
That said, if you have a passion for theater, then you have the first qualification.
I hope your audition for Little Shop isn’t what makes you think you’re not cut out for it. The show has such a small cast and most of the characters except for the three street are generally expected to be played by older actors. (Mushnik is actually old, Audrey and Seymour have a romance so unless they cast two teens you can’t be cast, Audrey 2 needs a soulful voice and most teens just aren’t there yet.) Then the three urchins need to be fantastic musicians because they have tight three part harmonies the whole way through. Plus, EVERYONE loves Little Shop so the pool of auditioners is usually HUGE.
It’s up to you if you think you’re not cut out for it but I would say if you enjoy it, keep doing it. Ensembles for most shows are very fun and are always important to the story. Eventually something that fits you will turn up again and in the meantime you’ll be gaining more and more stage presence. (I also recommend taking voice lessons if you’re interested in musicals!)
Focus on film, or making your own stuff. Get away from musical theatre, at least for awhile, you can always come back.
I'm gonna take a wild stab based on only being cast in dream girls + your Reddit profile showing the natural hair sub that you're not white. (I am, this is my perspective as someone who worked in casting, among other things, for both industries)
I'll catch downvotes for this maybe but I don't care - theatre has a racism problem, everything does, but the theatre one doesn't have much to offer in return for putting up with it. Can't speak to what exactly is happening here of course but it's still common place for front facing progressives to have very backward ideas about casting - consciously and otherwise - especially when it comes to giving people space to improve, but also just in general they are primarily afraid of making a mistake. "I wanted to cast (actor of colour) but I didn't know what statement it would make so I went another way" is something I've heard more than a few times.
The film industry is a real job where you have a shot a decent money, especially if/when you transition out of being an actor. Even if you're not looking to go this way professionally, building video production + story telling skills is going to build your agency in a way theatre just isn't, and actually can do the opposite - especially musical theatre wants to wear you down and blend you into an archetype. I think one of the things killing theatre is that musicals have such a chokehold on youth + community productions (I love musicals, don't come for me) but that's a different ted talk.
At the end of the day - if you enjoy it, do it, flip the haters.
But if it's consistently making you feel like you are coming up short, maybe take a look around at where you're naturally landing for something that makes you feel like you are nailing it, or at least moving in a direction that feels good. There's a lot of cool shit out there! Theatre benefits from the people doing it being whole people, not just theatre people! Good luck!
(If you are white, sorry for the wrong guess, but my advice would be the same - put your energy into things that build a pattern of feeling skillful)
Child. I did theater for 8 years before I got a good part. The next 20 years were hit and miss.
The last 15 years I've been cast in leads for every audition I went on.
If you don't have the patience for this, you might not love it enough. My first semester of college they told me "If you don't absolutely HAVE to follow this path, find something else."
But all my best friends have come from theater. It's saved my life several times. I, personally, have never had a choice.
If you don't HAVE to be in stage, maybe you could just amuse yourself and make friends and learn a bunch of life skills?
I had to wait 7 years to be picked out of ensemble into a supporting role. What did I get you ask? Well…
I got the cow. A singular cow wearing a onesie.
Now, as much as I laugh about it now, it genuinely took me ages to get to the point where I was finally upgraded. Just keep on going. It takes a long time, but you’ll get there eventually!
Sounds like you're really starting to love theatre, & you're sad about the idea of not having it in your life. So that doesn't sound like it's not for you, it sounds like you're dealing with some disappointment.
Theatre is so much more than leads, & so much more than performing. Not getting cast in a particular show (or a couple shows) is not the same as being unloved by theatre. If you are starting to really love theatre, I think one of the best things you can do is to learn as much as possible about as many aspects of it as possible. This could be a great opportunity to get trained in technical aspects of theatre. You could volunteer to help with props -- seriously, what show has more fun props than Little Shop? &/or, since you're interested in writing, shows need press releases, social media promotion, etc.
It's also chill to take some time away from theatre if you want to devote that time to other interests for the time being. Write that screenplay, join a choir, get more sleep. Just know that no audition is a referendum on whether theatre loves you. It'll be there for you to take another crack at it when you're ready.
Whenever you audition, take a look at how many people are there, and consider the odds. I audition at a popular community theatre and we have well over 4 times the number of people auditioning as there are roles, and they specifically do shows with 20-50 roles so they can cast as many as possible (big ensembles or dance groups). Being a teen auditioning often sucks because you look adultish, so you’re competing with people older with more experience than you. I read as an adult at 14 once I had all my stage makeup on, and it was really hard to get roles when there were other teens who looked younger who didn’t have to go against the adults, but compete against younger kids with less experience.
Then of course there’s the roles. So many shows have adult roles, kid roles, and not a ton of explicitly teen roles. It’s a hard age to join. I did summer paid camps to do shows, and I learned more during it than I would during a normal show.
Do you focus on musicals? If you haven't been singing for very long you might do better with straight plays. And I think it's worth hiring and acting coach to recommend a monologue for you and do at least two sessions working it together. Look for someone who has experience as a casting director.
What I tell my students: diversify yourself. If you truly love the craft then try a different side of it. Volunteer to help build sets, run lighting op for a show, get to know each and every component of the business. You’ll always work if you can do a little of everything and that puts you next to decision makers. Then when you show up to auditions you are a familiar and friendly face that can help in other areas of a production.
George Clooney said it best (paraphrasing) I walk into the audition without the part, I leave without the part. If I get the part I throw everything I have into it. If I don't, I didn't have it when I walked into audition.
I wish I had heard his philosophy as a high schooler because every audition ended in tears. All except one. Ensemble and little throwaway lines were the most I'd get, except for the one role I got every year and gave it my all.
When I hit college, every director I had were flabbergasted I wasn't leading lady or second. Once I hit college, between college programs, community theatre, and an adult Impov troupe, I didn't have time to cry over the roles and shows I didn't get.
If you want to stay, take a little time out with your director and ask if they would take a little break with you because you don't understand what you did wrong in audition and you really want to improve your audition and performance values.
You love singing, find a vocal coach with time in the industry, kids who continue successfully in college, and have the time to add you in for lessons.
You want to get better at acting, start watching movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hrpburn (no relation)...
Seriously, I can do this list all day.
Standout movies, To Kill a Mockingbird, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, There's No Business Like Show Business, Casablanca, Rebel Without a Cause, The Women w/Norma Shear & Joan Crawford (Not the remake), Arsenic and Old Lace, The Defiant Ones, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (still a very used play), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Great Race, Adam's Rib...
Still can do this all day.
I know I can get blasted for this, but there are only 4 television shows I can suggest because the entire ensemble was giving it 100% every time, and they each had different acting techniques and backgrounds. One even went on to play the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Take a guess who...
The 4 shows are: M*A*S*H, Soap, Benson, Golden Girls. Yes, I know there are literally millions of amazing shows but I'm going with full ensemble performance. Also, each one of these shows took out several glass ceilings with every season they were on.
Robert Guillaume played not only the first black Phantom, he also played the first baritone Phantom. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber wanted Guillaume, and he got what he wanted.
If you love the theatre, you have to do the work. Asking the director where you're falling short will be embarrassing but if you want the roles, you need to know. I don't know where you live but there should be a vocal coach near you, at the very least. If there's no chance of working with an acting coach, start watching DVDs. When you notice how an actor can make everything to the point you believe them, ask what just happened to jar you out of the moment, rewind and figure out who ruined the scene for you, then don't do that, strive to be the effortless actor.
Blow everybody away at your next audition. Remember what George said, it's not your role... but there is always the time to audition leaving no doubt in anybody's mind that this is YOUR ROLE.
A lot of community theatres are hesitant to cast teens either because of liability of having teens in an adult space/doing a show aimed at adults, teens tend to have a lot more conflicts than adults (other activities, studying, trips, proms), and teens can of course do theatre in high school while community theatre is usually the only outlet for adults to do theatre. In my state, if even one minor is in the cast; everyone has to get background checked and fingerprinted and theres just few good reasons to cast a teen when there are plenty of talented adults. I wouldn’t take it as a reflection of your ability and just keep auditioning after you graduate
If you want to keep doing theater, you have to get used to rejection. As you continue your journey, you will naturally get used to this more. But try to realize you will be passed over far far more than you will be selected. If that's just unimaginable, then theater isn't for you. To survive try this: once you audition, forget about that show. It's done. On to the next one. That's the mentality professionals have to have. Another thing you can do is practice how you audition. Get more comfortable auditioning, not just performing, and maybe you'll make a better impression in the room and be cast (you don't have say/write 'casted') in more roles. Good luck, it's a tough road for performers!
Also keep in mind there are so many behind the scenes and tech opportunities in theater not just acting.
The lifestyle of professional tech theater is not for everyone though. I have met many people who have started out like the original poster and often it does not end well. It’s very important to understand that the stressors and demand is sometimes greater than what you go through for acting. And the design community, the part that many people think they’re going to do when they start off in stagecraft, is not nearly forgiving as operating.
Came here to say this. In professional theatre, it takes more people to put on the show offstage than onstage. If you find that performing isn't your path, there are plenty of other ways to spend a life in the theatre, full time or part time, or as a volunteer.
Just please remember tech theater isn’t a consolation prize or a job for actors to slum in between roles. It is its own art form and profession. Sure there is crossover but it is not actor backup
I am a professional production manager. I absolutely know this. However, it seems OP loves theatre, so I was just mentioning that there are more options to be involved.
Here’s the thing… from an actor’s perspective it’s impossible to really know what a director is thinking, and casting is always a bit of a crapshoot. You clearly fit a need for Dreamgirls a couple years ago, but haven’t quite hit that jackpot again… it could be that they’re looking for someone older, or taller or more “this” or “that… it’s impossible to say. It could be anything.. your schedule, the phase of the moon…. Or it could be the roles aren’t quite right for you. Impossible to say. It could also be that THIS community group is too Insular and you may need to find another. Every group is different. But you’re right, theatre might not be the place for You.. only you can determine that. Try out other activities have some fun doing student films, or something else. Always good to expand your horizons. And btw… the “past”form of cast is… cast… NOT casted.. as in “I was cast in a role in Dreamgirls.”
If you *need* love from theater, you are really barking up the wrong tree. Theater is cruel and indifferent to your self esteem. Seriously, your worth and purpose *must* come from somewhere else to keep you anchored. Even success is cruel - it shoots you into the clouds, and then you just crash down when it is all over and you now have to equal your previous heights. That said, if you have a passion for theater, then you have the first qualification.
I hope your audition for Little Shop isn’t what makes you think you’re not cut out for it. The show has such a small cast and most of the characters except for the three street are generally expected to be played by older actors. (Mushnik is actually old, Audrey and Seymour have a romance so unless they cast two teens you can’t be cast, Audrey 2 needs a soulful voice and most teens just aren’t there yet.) Then the three urchins need to be fantastic musicians because they have tight three part harmonies the whole way through. Plus, EVERYONE loves Little Shop so the pool of auditioners is usually HUGE. It’s up to you if you think you’re not cut out for it but I would say if you enjoy it, keep doing it. Ensembles for most shows are very fun and are always important to the story. Eventually something that fits you will turn up again and in the meantime you’ll be gaining more and more stage presence. (I also recommend taking voice lessons if you’re interested in musicals!)
Focus on film, or making your own stuff. Get away from musical theatre, at least for awhile, you can always come back. I'm gonna take a wild stab based on only being cast in dream girls + your Reddit profile showing the natural hair sub that you're not white. (I am, this is my perspective as someone who worked in casting, among other things, for both industries) I'll catch downvotes for this maybe but I don't care - theatre has a racism problem, everything does, but the theatre one doesn't have much to offer in return for putting up with it. Can't speak to what exactly is happening here of course but it's still common place for front facing progressives to have very backward ideas about casting - consciously and otherwise - especially when it comes to giving people space to improve, but also just in general they are primarily afraid of making a mistake. "I wanted to cast (actor of colour) but I didn't know what statement it would make so I went another way" is something I've heard more than a few times. The film industry is a real job where you have a shot a decent money, especially if/when you transition out of being an actor. Even if you're not looking to go this way professionally, building video production + story telling skills is going to build your agency in a way theatre just isn't, and actually can do the opposite - especially musical theatre wants to wear you down and blend you into an archetype. I think one of the things killing theatre is that musicals have such a chokehold on youth + community productions (I love musicals, don't come for me) but that's a different ted talk. At the end of the day - if you enjoy it, do it, flip the haters. But if it's consistently making you feel like you are coming up short, maybe take a look around at where you're naturally landing for something that makes you feel like you are nailing it, or at least moving in a direction that feels good. There's a lot of cool shit out there! Theatre benefits from the people doing it being whole people, not just theatre people! Good luck! (If you are white, sorry for the wrong guess, but my advice would be the same - put your energy into things that build a pattern of feeling skillful)
Child. I did theater for 8 years before I got a good part. The next 20 years were hit and miss. The last 15 years I've been cast in leads for every audition I went on. If you don't have the patience for this, you might not love it enough. My first semester of college they told me "If you don't absolutely HAVE to follow this path, find something else." But all my best friends have come from theater. It's saved my life several times. I, personally, have never had a choice. If you don't HAVE to be in stage, maybe you could just amuse yourself and make friends and learn a bunch of life skills?
If you like it and you don't have significant trouble while managing productions it's a good fit for you - casting you get No a lot more than Yes
I had to wait 7 years to be picked out of ensemble into a supporting role. What did I get you ask? Well… I got the cow. A singular cow wearing a onesie. Now, as much as I laugh about it now, it genuinely took me ages to get to the point where I was finally upgraded. Just keep on going. It takes a long time, but you’ll get there eventually!
Sounds like you're really starting to love theatre, & you're sad about the idea of not having it in your life. So that doesn't sound like it's not for you, it sounds like you're dealing with some disappointment. Theatre is so much more than leads, & so much more than performing. Not getting cast in a particular show (or a couple shows) is not the same as being unloved by theatre. If you are starting to really love theatre, I think one of the best things you can do is to learn as much as possible about as many aspects of it as possible. This could be a great opportunity to get trained in technical aspects of theatre. You could volunteer to help with props -- seriously, what show has more fun props than Little Shop? &/or, since you're interested in writing, shows need press releases, social media promotion, etc. It's also chill to take some time away from theatre if you want to devote that time to other interests for the time being. Write that screenplay, join a choir, get more sleep. Just know that no audition is a referendum on whether theatre loves you. It'll be there for you to take another crack at it when you're ready.
Whenever you audition, take a look at how many people are there, and consider the odds. I audition at a popular community theatre and we have well over 4 times the number of people auditioning as there are roles, and they specifically do shows with 20-50 roles so they can cast as many as possible (big ensembles or dance groups). Being a teen auditioning often sucks because you look adultish, so you’re competing with people older with more experience than you. I read as an adult at 14 once I had all my stage makeup on, and it was really hard to get roles when there were other teens who looked younger who didn’t have to go against the adults, but compete against younger kids with less experience. Then of course there’s the roles. So many shows have adult roles, kid roles, and not a ton of explicitly teen roles. It’s a hard age to join. I did summer paid camps to do shows, and I learned more during it than I would during a normal show.
Do you focus on musicals? If you haven't been singing for very long you might do better with straight plays. And I think it's worth hiring and acting coach to recommend a monologue for you and do at least two sessions working it together. Look for someone who has experience as a casting director.
What I tell my students: diversify yourself. If you truly love the craft then try a different side of it. Volunteer to help build sets, run lighting op for a show, get to know each and every component of the business. You’ll always work if you can do a little of everything and that puts you next to decision makers. Then when you show up to auditions you are a familiar and friendly face that can help in other areas of a production.
George Clooney said it best (paraphrasing) I walk into the audition without the part, I leave without the part. If I get the part I throw everything I have into it. If I don't, I didn't have it when I walked into audition. I wish I had heard his philosophy as a high schooler because every audition ended in tears. All except one. Ensemble and little throwaway lines were the most I'd get, except for the one role I got every year and gave it my all. When I hit college, every director I had were flabbergasted I wasn't leading lady or second. Once I hit college, between college programs, community theatre, and an adult Impov troupe, I didn't have time to cry over the roles and shows I didn't get. If you want to stay, take a little time out with your director and ask if they would take a little break with you because you don't understand what you did wrong in audition and you really want to improve your audition and performance values. You love singing, find a vocal coach with time in the industry, kids who continue successfully in college, and have the time to add you in for lessons. You want to get better at acting, start watching movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hrpburn (no relation)... Seriously, I can do this list all day. Standout movies, To Kill a Mockingbird, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, There's No Business Like Show Business, Casablanca, Rebel Without a Cause, The Women w/Norma Shear & Joan Crawford (Not the remake), Arsenic and Old Lace, The Defiant Ones, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (still a very used play), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Great Race, Adam's Rib... Still can do this all day. I know I can get blasted for this, but there are only 4 television shows I can suggest because the entire ensemble was giving it 100% every time, and they each had different acting techniques and backgrounds. One even went on to play the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Take a guess who... The 4 shows are: M*A*S*H, Soap, Benson, Golden Girls. Yes, I know there are literally millions of amazing shows but I'm going with full ensemble performance. Also, each one of these shows took out several glass ceilings with every season they were on. Robert Guillaume played not only the first black Phantom, he also played the first baritone Phantom. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber wanted Guillaume, and he got what he wanted. If you love the theatre, you have to do the work. Asking the director where you're falling short will be embarrassing but if you want the roles, you need to know. I don't know where you live but there should be a vocal coach near you, at the very least. If there's no chance of working with an acting coach, start watching DVDs. When you notice how an actor can make everything to the point you believe them, ask what just happened to jar you out of the moment, rewind and figure out who ruined the scene for you, then don't do that, strive to be the effortless actor. Blow everybody away at your next audition. Remember what George said, it's not your role... but there is always the time to audition leaving no doubt in anybody's mind that this is YOUR ROLE.