About DD not getting a part - again

[Helladelinquent]

I’m going back and forward on this and I can’t make up my mind.

Both DDs (8 & 11) do stage school as a hobby. They both loved it.
It’s a pretty popular stage school and they do 2 big shows in the local theatre a year.
DD2 has had a small part in the last 4 shows even though normally the woman running it says if someone has had a part in the previous show, you don’t get a part in the next show.
DD1 though hasn’t had any part in the previous 5/6 shows. The cast list has just gone up for the next show and one girl actually has 2 parts and yet again DD hasn’t got any. She’s now feeling completely hopeless and like she’ll never get a part.

WIBU to message the woman running it and ask for some pointers on how DD could improve her auditions.

last year 2 of her students got accepted to performing arts collages (I think, I don’t know much about it) and it seems to have made her take it all more seriously.

Stage school is much more competitive, it's not about sharing out parts so everyone gets a turn. It's much more like auditions are.

I think what you suggest about asking how she could improve is spot on, but complaining that she hasn't got a part, isn't.

Definitely ask, it is a failing on the teachers part if she attends regularly and not be trained well enough to achieve a small part.

It's a kids club so surely it's about encouraging them to perform and get better?

Also if that were true why would the leader have the rule that if you get a part in one show you won't get one in the next? She can't have that rule and tell the kids that but then suddenly decide actually she's going to repeatedly give roles to the same kids and leave others with no role.

My kids do a regular drama class and they're very good at splitting parts between them. Last year they all did separate 2 person sketches so everyone got a chance to perform and those who wanted to, also did monologues.
I would definitely talk to them about it. Part of what you're paying for is the experience of acting on stage and having a part.

School plays are completely different and are auditioned for, but I would expect a drama club to be able to manage this better and be aware of who hadn't had parts recently.

Stage schools are very competitive. My GD attended one. She failed lots of auditions. But, she improved her technique, eventually got into Italia Conti, and now works on a cruise line. 🙂

Much more competitive than what?? As people have said - I’m paying (quite a lot) for this.

Just to clarify, OP, your daughter has in fact been in the chorus for all of the recent shows, she just hasn't had a named/speaking part?

I would speak with the director if you feel she's being unfairly treated, but (going against the grain here, I can see) I wouldn't ask how your daughter can improve her auditions - this seems disingenuous. I'd just say honestly that you expected there to be a roughly equal distribution of the bigger parts across the various shows that are done, and can she clarify if there is a reason your daughter is being overlooked? It's possible she's not the most organised and it's a genuine oversight...

Yes I think that's a good idea. Your wording is non confrontational and her reply will hopefully help throw some light on the situation. It could be an oversight but your poor daughter must feel upset understandably.

I wish I could crop quotes! To answer the first bit - generally casts are in 3 parts. For eg Beauty and the Beast. So there are the named characters, then the villagers/pretty girls (these are the chorus, they perform on the main stage) then there’s everyone else who are on side stage. DD is always on side stage.

Hmmmmm.

What's your experience of working in the theatre @Helladelinquent ?

Because being part of the Chorus or Ensemble is very important in theatre. And there's an age when talent & ability start to matter. Can she sing in tune? Does she dance in time & with grace and ability (relative to her age)? The theatre is tough.

Whatever you do, do NOT get angry or demanding. Your first thought - that you enquire about how your DD can improve her auditioning is a very good one.

Sometimes it can come down to who fits the expensive costumes in big shows ...

This is probably what is causing it - She may feel that people will be watching ''her'' shows, so she wants them to be as slick as possible, rather than be fun like a school play.

Go elsewhere if you don't like her style.

We had this and I moved DD, best decision ever.

She moved later to a amateur theatre group as an older teen, they have to audition properly for most plays but for one play a year everyone gets a part, but here talent does have a say how big the part is.

That's what I was about to say. If she's done her job properly, all the children that she's taught for years, should be capable of carrying a small part.

And there's an age when talent & ability start to matter. Can she sing in tune? Does she dance in time & with grace and ability (relative to her age)? The theatre is tough.

This child is 11 it's a hobby and she's not had a part since she was approximately 8 years old. Yes theatre can be brutal but how is continually not giving her a part going to inspire her to continue to try her best or is the idea that she just gives up because she's obviously not talented because that's the message she's currently receiving?

My son is now at PA college following years of Sat drama groups. There's no reason that parts can't be rotated round so that everybody gets a go every show or two, however seriously things are being taken. His school used to have an "a" cast and a "b" cast so that everybody got a turn to perform.

It's a class. You are paying for it, but so are all the other parents. If another student who knows they did a better audition is put in the chorus because your DD has to have a turn at having a 'proper part' what message does that send about the effort that they put in to preparing for that audition? You wouldn't expect a school to award the annual Maths prize on rotation, would you?
For some lucky children with talent, stage school is their first step to a career in the performing arts, and is just as serious as the regular curriculum is for everyone else, so it ought to be fair.
If you're worried DD isn't progressing, then you need to speak to the teacher to find out what it is she needs to do to improve.

It honestly sounds like she is trying to groom soon to be professional actors, whereas she advertises for a kids activity group!

You are paying good money to give your DD an experience that you have been led to believe involves the opportunity to play a role on stage in a theatre. As such you are entitled either to have this happen or to recieve an explanation why it hasn't. If the teacher thinks your DD can't do it, then you need to be told so you can decide whether to look for a hobby that's a better fit. Don't feel reluctant for fear of being 'pushy'. This is a paid for experience for your DD that she's currently not receiving.

All DDs friends are at this stage school (they don’t go to her normal school) - she doesn’t want to move to a different one but it’s a lot of money to pay for her to just hang out with her friends!

her voice isn’t the strongest but it’s good enough for a small part - I’m not expecting her to get Elsa or Moana. Her dancing is very strong. So I’m pushing her more into dance in the hope that she’ll be happier there (her friends do that too).

In stage school you'd think by default they do have to give everyone at least a small part in some of the productions? How else can they learn how to perform in front of an audience?
Presuming they didn't sign up because they want to be a set designer, stage manager or wardrobe assistant? Not that there's anything wrong with those roles, but they are not acting.
I'd be inclined to say something. It should not be casting fully merit based at this stage as they're only young and learning.
If they can't learn lines or take direction that should be explained and worked upon.

You are absolutely entitled to ask for feedback . I am surprised they are not giving it to you regularly anyway.

I didn’t think you have to ask in a confrontational way. It is just isn’t unreasonable to ask what your child needs to improve on to get the good parts.

I agree with this. You don't need to go in all guns blazing -asking for some advice for future auditions is fine.

You mean the drama teacher was swearing at children in the group???
That is completely unacceptable, a school teacher would be in big trouble for that. Did anyone complain?
Do you want your children to be in a group led by someone like that?

Stage school is super competitive - in ours you have kids who audition for massive roles on TV/Film etc so we dont do the 'rotation' of roles etc however, everyone gets a role (big or small) - however, it was never sold to us as a fun sunday hobby sort of thing. I would speak to the teacher and ask how she can improve. Good luck OP.