Theatre Chat has been researching true casting stories from actors and actresses of multiple levels of talents with Broadway credits. What is obvious from the credited stories, now is the time to tell directors and producers to be a little more involved with Broadway casting. Directors keep a close eye on those Broadway casting companies, not just for the starring roles, but for the singers, dancers and final outcome of the shows itself.
A few examples will paint the picture best. Lets say “The Director” wants to see “John Doe” so he or she tells the “Casting Company” to bring in “John Doe/Jane Doe” at the scheduled audition with the final choices for that specific role. In the stories researched, the call never made it to “John Doe/Jane Doe”. The director is so busy with other production elements that they sometimes forget just how important the final casting choice is.
A director would not normally make the call or check on the paid casting directors to see why the talent never made it to the audition. In this case the director knew “John Doe/Jane Doe” talents offered were best for the lead role in this Broadway production. The director took time to see why “John Doe/Jane Doe” audition was never seen.
Casting directors have told directors that John Doe was to busy with other projects and could not attend the audition. When one director called the agent of “John Doe/Jane Doe” he was told the request to be at that audition was never made. Sometime even the Actors’ Agent has been caught saying he or she will not work for that dollar amount or project.
Truth is the Actor’s Agents are trying to fill their own pockets with better paying roles or companies that are filling their pockets rather than think of the artist they represent. Many Artists are just trying to work enough Equity union contracts to secure points for medical, but that is a whole other article.
Another example is when a director asked the casting company to bring in “John Doe” for the audition process. The casting director knowing the actor was more of a singer put them in the mix alright, but added them to be seen at the dancers call. This means the person the director wanted to hear singing for the lead role was trying to get through a dancers call, before they are even asked to sing.
A few actors were asked to come in for a major Broadway show but not given the music or script sides. One of the actors was handed ten pages of material just before opening the door with the production team on the other side sitting at the casting table. The talent did not want to call out the casting company who did not give them the music or sides days earlier. These materials are critical so actors can be at their best. Sadly the director’s chosen Broadway talent to audition did not look or sound as good as those that were hand picked by the casting directors and given music and script sides days before.
Directors ask the talent, “When did you get the songs and sides? Have you had the time you needed to familiarize yourself with the new material?” Directors and producers it is time to do a little research on those big casting companies. Don’t leave the final top picks up to the Broadway casting companies handful of choices. These true stories coming from Broadway credited talents can tell you, casting companies don’t always have your best interest at heart. Directors and producers casting companies are not doing the job you are paying them for. The outcome of your Broadway production could suffer and chances for Tony Award nominations, that we all know boost sales in tickets.
The handful of casting company favorites has been going on for years. They choose the person they think is best for a role, call in a few other actors that are not close to the same level of talent, not even the same looks or acting abilities. The director picks the talents that were the strongest choices, but only from the handful of talent that had been chosen by the casting companies.
“Directors and producers wake up. It is your Broadway show and the final outcome of your production could be what you originally wanted, if you just pay a little more attention to the casting process.” BroadwayGlobal.
Sure these big Broadway casting companies know every aspect of the talents. These are talents that have been auditioned for years. But these true stories of Broadway credited actors can tell you, casting companies seem to have their own personal agenda. Broadway casting companies should not override directors or producers choices.
Broadway casting companies gets a credit in the Playbill, and no doubt deserves the nod for bringing the talents together for the specific projects. But, the time has come for directors and producers beware… the power you are giving casting companies effects your chances for your Tony Award and the final outcome of the Broadway show itself.
Let this article be a lesson for all actors, directors, producers, and all casting directors. That star you did not bring in, give the music and script sides to, that singer dancing at a dancers call may be a close enough friend of the director and producer to call you out!
For all those Broadway casting companies that have their own take on this article, I will do a follow up article with just Broadway credited casting companies. Actors and theatre patrons just look at a few of your favorite Broadway shows in the Playbill. The credits of casting companies will start to look the same.
We all know who these casting companies are. They are credited companies who have a niche in what they offer Broadway productions, but it is time to call them out. “Broadway casting companies have been given too much power casting Broadway stars, actors, actresses, singers and dancers. Producers, Directors, Choreographers and Production Teams need to be a little more involved in the casting process.” Theatre Chat.
Having your own casting story you want to share in a follow up article? Send your breaking Broadway news to theatrechat@me.com. Theatre Chat shares arts stories from the people for the people, as a not for profit we are not paid by companies that must sell tickets to survive. The truth will be told.
