Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Is this a fair audition?

55 replies

hanginginthere1 · 07/10/2013 20:25

Any thespians out there able to give me an honest opinion.
DD is in a youth musical theatre group. Last saturday,she auditioned for the roles of Maria and Anita in West Side Story. She had to sing the song Tonight for Maria. She was disappointed since everyone was only permitted to sing a small section of the song. You may know that Maria is a soprano part, but they were not asked to sing any of the top notes, especially the one right at the end. My question is, how can they really decide who can sing the part if they have not listened to any of the auditionees sing the full song.? Also, one girl was given a different part of the Lib tp act out for the role of Anita. Is this fair? Should they not all have to perform the same piece.
I am a little concerned that this process may not be quite fair. To my mind they may well have cast the show before the auditions, simply on what they think the girls can do. They seem to be filling in the gaps.
DD was waiting to show that she could actually hit the high notes, and did not get the opportunity. She normally sings the alto part, and I think that they just presume that she is not able to sing the role, when in reality she can.
I hate these auditions, I wonder whether I should say something about the situation, but I do not want to be seen as the pushy parent. I have always promised myself that i would not go down that road. I really feel for my DD. I have always kept my council, but there are a couple of girls who always seem to get the parts. I am beginning to wonder if there is an agenda.
Any advice gladly accepted.

OP posts:

EthelredOnAGoodDay · 07/10/2013 22:55

Is there another group that she could join?

Original poster

hanginginthere1 · 07/10/2013 23:10

Not really until she is 18[16 at present].
She is attached to the group, and has friends there.

OP posts:

WorraLiberty · 07/10/2013 23:15

I wonder whether I should say something about the situation, but I do not want to be seen as the pushy parent.

It's too late now but if anything was going to be said, your DD should have been the one to say it.

Like "Hey, do you know I can really hit the high notes at the end of the song? I've practised it loads"...or words to that effect

Original poster

hanginginthere1 · 07/10/2013 23:19

yes, very true

OP posts:

Musicaltheatremum · 07/10/2013 23:51

Arts Ed, mountview, GSA are probably the top for musical theatre. Could she go to a 6th form college that would help her specialise in MT. She should also look at applying to foundation courses before the full MT degrees. It is highly competitive though. Although your daughter sounds as though she has great potential. My daughter, aged 20 has just started the 3 year BA in musical theatre at Arts Ed after a 2 year foundation course at Performance Preparation Academy in Guildford. She never got any lead roles at school as the Drama department always over ruled the music department when choosing people for the roles. she also only started dancing properly aged 14.
PM me if you want any further questioned answers

Original poster

hanginginthere1 · 08/10/2013 00:08

That gives us hope. She does go to a 6th form college, and they are v good at performing arts. In fact, someone has just started at Arts Ed from the college. Never thought about the foundation courses, so will mention that to her. She is finding the dance component of her course difficult, but is trying like mad to improve. Her height doesn't help!
She has mentioned Guildford as one of the schools she would love to go to. We know that it is super competitive however. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

OP posts:

BOF · 08/10/2013 00:14

For the second time in my life, I agree with WorraLiberty

pinkdelight · 08/10/2013 10:00

Another vote for ArtsEd here, also Mountview. And try the NYMT (www.nymt.org.uk/) as well as NYT if she's more musical theatre than straight theatre. And if she wants to keep her options open, better to do straight theatre. I've been in professional theatre castings and for straight plays people can be v dismissive of musical theatre CVs. But if it's what she loves and she can take the IMMENSE unfairness out there, then she should go for it.

pinkdelight · 08/10/2013 10:05

PS: I tend to think the foundation courses are moneyspinners for the training industry - kid audition for the degree and the school says do the foundation and then come back and try again. So they get a chunk of extra fees/years out of each student and keep all these people dangling. Not saying they're not useful, but it's a shame it's all going that way, esp now grants are a thing of the past. The industry used to manage fine without them. Ah well, sorry to deviate from the subject.

Mimishimi · 08/10/2013 10:08

If she was my height (5'4"), she'd think it was because she's too short . Maybe she should have just sung the impressive bit anyway ...

Original poster

hanginginthere1 · 08/10/2013 19:25

It has emerged that one of the girls was asked to sing through the whole song. She will obviously get the part.
They must have really known what they were looking for.
C'est la vie!

OP posts:

Crapricorn · 08/10/2013 21:04

Hi Musical Theatre Mum,
My DD has just started the 1 year intensive at PPA. She is LOVING every moment. I hope that the result is as positive as it was for your DD!

Lj8893 · 08/10/2013 21:12

Was she asked to sing the whole song straight away or asked to sing it after she had already sang the bit they asked everyone to sing?

In response to your question about drama schools, you have had some good responses above. Mount view is very good (but expensive!!)

Original poster

hanginginthere1 · 08/10/2013 23:06

Lj I am presuming after she had sung the short bit?

OP posts:

Lj8893 · 08/10/2013 23:16

In that case that's quite normal for an audition. They obviously liked what they heard in the short bit and so wanted to hear some more just to help confirm thier thoughts. Like a recall.

Original poster

hanginginthere1 · 09/10/2013 07:53

Oh dear, not looking good then!

OP posts:

Lilacroses · 09/10/2013 08:39

Sorry to hear about this Op. I'm glad your Dd has a partthough. It's really frustrating and disappointing isn't it though? My Dd (much younger and less experienced) recently had a similar audition. She was really upset not to be offered a part so emailed and asked for feedback, very politely. They gave her really constructive advice and also said she should definitely audition again next time. That could be a way of getting round this perhaps. Ask the director what she could have done to have secured the part rather thansuggest the auditions weren't fair which, although probably true,is sort of par for the course in this game isn't it?

UptheChimney · 09/10/2013 09:05

hanginginthere that's a call back, and absolutely normal. Not "unfair."

In my experience, people tend to think that an audition's not "fair" when they don't get the part they think they should have. There's only one "lead" role, so it's not very sensible to set one's heart on it.

But wasn't it the divine Bette Davis who said there are no small parts, just small actors?

Original poster

hanginginthere1 · 09/10/2013 10:11

Up the Chimney.
I think you mis understand. I am not advocating that my daughter should have got the part. I am not going around shouting about auditions not being fair[though asking one girl to read a different piece of dialogue to everyone else does seem a bit odd].
I am simply wondering why she and others were not given the opportunity to sing a little more. Neither my daughter or myself have our hearts set on it. I would like to think that we as a family have always handled these matters sensibly. I am a little hurt that you imply that I am somehow indulging in sour grapes. All I have done is simply pose some questions, I am not an expert as you appear to be.
As for small actors. My daughter has probably shown more commitment than most, and will continue to do so.

OP posts:

UptheChimney · 09/10/2013 10:29

I understand that from the outside this all can look unfair. And it maybe that there's favouritism ... depending on how you define those terms.

But I suppose that's the way it is in the theatre, although I'd dispute the idea of "fairness" being like something in a netball game with clear rules & refereeing, which your questions seem to me to imply.

It is rough & tumble, and that's what your daughter's experiencing. It is hard, and it takes time to earn that in the end performing is not about self-expression: it's about communicating to an audience and about the work as a whole. It's hard, though, not to take it personally. I always tell young people to remember it's not about them, it's a bout the work. But that's easier said than done.

I guess I've just seen too many backstage parents stirring things up. And in the end, as I said earlier, talent will out. So get your daughter the best training you can find for her; give her opportunities beyond the local; see if she can work with actual professional directors and production staff (the NYT is excellent for that), and then hold tight!

UptheChimney · 09/10/2013 10:30

And break a leg!

cory · 09/10/2013 11:36

I also have a 16yo dd who is hoping for a career in performance. And at this age, I think our job is very much to stand back and let them handle it.

Help them to find out about opportunities, offer practical support with lifts and lunch money, be a sounding board when they feel down, but let them deal with any actual situation that arises.

They need to practise independence and ability to handle people and situations.

And to see the learning potential in any part they do get offered. Dd (more of a straight actress than MT) has just spent part of the summer representing various articles of furniture in a regional youth theatre production: she says she learnt more from this than from any main part she has ever played.

KittiesInsane · 09/10/2013 11:46

Cory, I resorted to telling drama-obsessed DS that although it was obvious that he was good at major roles, the theatre group was doing him a favour in making sure he practised being a good chorus member.

This has the advantage of being perfectly true -- DS struggles to do exactly the same as everyone else in big routines and much prefers having the stage to himself, which is just not how things usually work.

(I suspect though that he's missing out on the big parts because he's a croaky teenager who won't admit that his top notes are less lovely than they might be at the moment.)

Original poster

hanginginthere1 · 09/10/2013 11:55

Lots of common sense in what you both say. In my daughter's group, you are not allowed to audition for a principal role until you have done your time in the chorus.
I have seen parents being too pushy, and have always vowed not to get involved. This show may well be a challenge for DD, but she will ask for feedback from the Director, and she will just have to get on with it.

OP posts:

Sparklymommy · 09/10/2013 12:10

I also believe that the world of theatre is not a fair one. But that is life. If, as you say, your daughter is the consummate professional and does not give the director a headache then that will not go unnoticed and your daughters time will come. You have said that she is younger than the other girls so presumably they will leave the group before her.

Flip

1 2 3