Open Forum

As a director, I used to wonder this same thing. I wanted to do the show so bad. However, once I was cast in an extended cast of Into then Woods, I would warn against it. We probably won't ever do it at my school because of it. I actually got to play Snow White, so I had one line. I was also one of two dressers, so I was personally busy. There were a bunch of teenagers and college kids in the ensemble with me. While we are all thankful for the opportunity and made some great friends, many knew they were unnecessary. All of the kids were in 3 numbers and then were asked to sit there quietly for 2 hours. Into the Woods is an incredibly long show and it was a lot to ask of teenagers. Seeing as the 3 numbers there were in had minimal dancing, it seemed like they were just there to add numbers and they knew it. Again, I ADORE the people who put on that show and don't regret doing it, but I definitely wouldn't do it myself. In fact, this show has made me rethink casting for my ensemble completely. Teenagers get bored easily. While I want to build my program, if I cast them and thy are bored, they won't come back and they will tell their friends that drama is boring. I've found if a kid just doesn't get cast, they will audition again. And if a kid does tech, they almost always audition and then are able to get in the following year. Now I will only cast enough ensemble for kids to be doing something most of the show. For example, we are doin Bring It On this year which has two very different ensembles. All kids are in at least 5 numbers. Even after that I heard kids be like, "I'm in the first few numbers and not in it again until almost the end of the show. Ugh." I only have a bigger ensemble because there needs to be backstage singing in every single song. They won't sit down. They felt much better after hearing that. Into the Woods does not have that. Ensemble just sings in those 3 numbers. 

All that being said, I will admit I have seen one show that did an extended cast and it worked well. However, it was an entire concept. Kids were in black morph suits and they were the woods. They were in every scene menacing the characters. The choreo was really cool. It had zero set and it was fun, but that idea is a huge commitment. 

Dint mean to sound like a debbie downer, just want to play devils advocate. I want all programs to thrive, which I why I commented! Best of luck with your production! Love the show! 

------------------------------
Brooke Jackson

Original Message:
Sent: 12-16-2016 12:23
From: Michael Hancey
Subject: Expanded Cast for Into the Woods

Hi all,

I know that someone (maybe multiple people) have posted about this, but have any of you had any success in expanding the cast of INTO THE WOODS in some way?  Double casting is not what I really want to do at this point.  Thanks!

Mike Hancey

Theatre Program Director

Musical Theatre, Drama & Theatre Guild

Theater Manager

Laramie High School

President WYACDA

Having directed "Into the Woods" with the written cast size, I can't give too much advice about extended casting, but I can say this. We cast every role individually (with the exception of the giant/grandmother doubling). Our Snow White and Sleeping Beauty were actually crew members (who also sing) that we didn't ask to take the roles until about 2 weeks before the show. Between them and Cinderella's mother and father, I always felt bad that they had very limited roles in the show. I couldn't imagine what that would be like for an added chorus members in the show. On the other hand, those students had a blast, so you never know. 

When we did "Jane Eyre" we had an off-stage choir that was also a part of the show--it added richness to the sound without adding too many people to the staging. Maybe that's a possibility? 

------------------------------
Patrick McGuire
Drama Director
Round Lake High School
Round Lake, IL

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2016 08:04
From: Brooke Jackson
Subject: Expanded Cast for Into the Woods

As a director, I used to wonder this same thing. I wanted to do the show so bad. However, once I was cast in an extended cast of Into then Woods, I would warn against it. We probably won't ever do it at my school because of it. I actually got to play Snow White, so I had one line. I was also one of two dressers, so I was personally busy. There were a bunch of teenagers and college kids in the ensemble with me. While we are all thankful for the opportunity and made some great friends, many knew they were unnecessary. All of the kids were in 3 numbers and then were asked to sit there quietly for 2 hours. Into the Woods is an incredibly long show and it was a lot to ask of teenagers. Seeing as the 3 numbers there were in had minimal dancing, it seemed like they were just there to add numbers and they knew it. Again, I ADORE the people who put on that show and don't regret doing it, but I definitely wouldn't do it myself. In fact, this show has made me rethink casting for my ensemble completely. Teenagers get bored easily. While I want to build my program, if I cast them and thy are bored, they won't come back and they will tell their friends that drama is boring. I've found if a kid just doesn't get cast, they will audition again. And if a kid does tech, they almost always audition and then are able to get in the following year. Now I will only cast enough ensemble for kids to be doing something most of the show. For example, we are doin Bring It On this year which has two very different ensembles. All kids are in at least 5 numbers. Even after that I heard kids be like, "I'm in the first few numbers and not in it again until almost the end of the show. Ugh." I only have a bigger ensemble because there needs to be backstage singing in every single song. They won't sit down. They felt much better after hearing that. Into the Woods does not have that. Ensemble just sings in those 3 numbers. 

All that being said, I will admit I have seen one show that did an extended cast and it worked well. However, it was an entire concept. Kids were in black morph suits and they were the woods. They were in every scene menacing the characters. The choreo was really cool. It had zero set and it was fun, but that idea is a huge commitment. 

Dint mean to sound like a debbie downer, just want to play devils advocate. I want all programs to thrive, which I why I commented! Best of luck with your production! Love the show! 

------------------------------
Brooke Jackson

Original Message:
Sent: 12-16-2016 12:23
From: Michael Hancey
Subject: Expanded Cast for Into the Woods

Hi all,

I know that someone (maybe multiple people) have posted about this, but have any of you had any success in expanding the cast of INTO THE WOODS in some way?  Double casting is not what I really want to do at this point.  Thanks!

Mike Hancey

Theatre Program Director

Musical Theatre, Drama & Theatre Guild

Theater Manager

Laramie High School

President WYACDA

I expanded the cast to include a variety of characters that are also "in the woods" and used the overture music to choreograph an opening montage of these characters.  I included traditional fairy tale characters such as the Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three bears, Hansel and Gretel, the Gingerbread Man, Belle, Snow White etc.. The "characters" doubled as set crew and the set changes were staged/choreographed. The actor crew worked well and we used some of  them as backstage "pit" singers to augment the ensemble vocals.  This kept the high schools students busy through the entire show and gave them an opportunity to create a character, design and build their costume and have some stage time. 

There still was some downtime in the rehearsal period but I don't call anyone that isn't going to be used at the rehearsal. In order to keep everyone connected I made sure that they were called at least twice a week. I chose the show the year our theater was being remodeled and we had to rehearse in a multipurpose room. We had arranged with an area college to use their theater for the show and moved in on a Monday for a show opening on Thursday.  The students had one move in day and tech (luckily the admin let us take the students out for the day) so all the staging/choreographing of moving the sets really payed off.

------------------------------
Kathy Cannnarozzi Harris
Theater Director - Mission Viejo HS
VAPA Coordinator K-12
Saddleback Valley USD
Mission Viejo, CA

Original Message:
Sent: 12-16-2016 12:23
From: Michael Hancey
Subject: Expanded Cast for Into the Woods

Hi all,

I know that someone (maybe multiple people) have posted about this, but have any of you had any success in expanding the cast of INTO THE WOODS in some way?  Double casting is not what I really want to do at this point.  Thanks!

Mike Hancey

Theatre Program Director

Musical Theatre, Drama & Theatre Guild

Theater Manager

Laramie High School

President WYACDA

Hi- I cast students as the birds ( it worked! . They danced around the kettle and picked the lentils,  brought in the dress  and made the scenes look magical.  I also added generic village people to walk through the scenes and to help move scenery.    I was able to add 10 extra students to the cast doing this.

------------------------------
Joanne Oakum
Drama Program Director
MMI Preparatory School
Freeland PA

Original Message:
Sent: 12-18-2016 03:42
From: Kathy Cannarozzi-Harris
Subject: Expanded Cast for Into the Woods

I expanded the cast to include a variety of characters that are also "in the woods" and used the overture music to choreograph an opening montage of these characters.  I included traditional fairy tale characters such as the Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three bears, Hansel and Gretel, the Gingerbread Man, Belle, Snow White etc.. The "characters" doubled as set crew and the set changes were staged/choreographed. The actor crew worked well and we used some of  them as backstage "pit" singers to augment the ensemble vocals.  This kept the high schools students busy through the entire show and gave them an opportunity to create a character, design and build their costume and have some stage time. 

There still was some downtime in the rehearsal period but I don't call anyone that isn't going to be used at the rehearsal. In order to keep everyone connected I made sure that they were called at least twice a week. I chose the show the year our theater was being remodeled and we had to rehearse in a multipurpose room. We had arranged with an area college to use their theater for the show and moved in on a Monday for a show opening on Thursday.  The students had one move in day and tech (luckily the admin let us take the students out for the day) so all the staging/choreographing of moving the sets really payed off.

------------------------------
Kathy Cannnarozzi Harris
Theater Director - Mission Viejo HS
VAPA Coordinator K-12
Saddleback Valley USD
Mission Viejo, CA

Original Message:
Sent: 12-16-2016 12:23
From: Michael Hancey
Subject: Expanded Cast for Into the Woods

Hi all,

I know that someone (maybe multiple people) have posted about this, but have any of you had any success in expanding the cast of INTO THE WOODS in some way?  Double casting is not what I really want to do at this point.  Thanks!

Mike Hancey

Theatre Program Director

Musical Theatre, Drama & Theatre Guild

Theater Manager

Laramie High School

President WYACDA

Hi there!  I don't know if you are still looking for ideas at this point.  I'm doing Into the Woods right now, and I cast every role individually, having checked with some of the smaller role actors ahead of time that they were up for it.   For example, Wolf is played by one actor and she is only in the beginning, although I've put her in both finales.  What I did to add more actors is ask the students at the audition is anyone would be interested in a small role, even if it meant minimal stage time, and I was surprised there were a number of students who wanted to be in the show no matter what, even with a one-liner. (Most said no.)  I had a personal extensive conversation with the students who said yet - how much rehearsal time would feel meaningful, what would make them feel a legitimate part of the cast, what would make the experience worth while for them, etc...  I got a good sense of where each kid was coming from.  I cast one actor as Milky White and she has quite a bit of stage time.  I cast another as Granny and she has enough with the finales and other group moments.  I asked students if they were interested in being puppeteers and playing birds.  I also asked if anyone was interested in being the second cow, and a horse.  From those who said yes, I cast the Giant's voice, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.  Those three are puppeteers managing mobiles for Cinderella's birds, the birds in the tree and the pigeons.  Also, another actress is playing the second cow, the horse and manning the hen puppet.  I ended up with a cast of 25.  It's working really well and everyone seems really happy so far.

Oh, and one of the puppeteers is also singing the harp voice.  The bird puppeteers actually have quite a bit of stage time - and I've also put them in the finales.

Hope this helps!

------------------------------
Krista Cowan
Director of Theater and Film
The Madeira School
McLean VA

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2016 16:06
From: Joanne Oakum
Subject: Expanded Cast for Into the Woods

Hi- I cast students as the birds ( it worked! . They danced around the kettle and picked the lentils,  brought in the dress  and made the scenes look magical.  I also added generic village people to walk through the scenes and to help move scenery.    I was able to add 10 extra students to the cast doing this.

------------------------------
Joanne Oakum
Drama Program Director
MMI Preparatory School
Freeland PA

Original Message:
Sent: 12-18-2016 03:42
From: Kathy Cannarozzi-Harris
Subject: Expanded Cast for Into the Woods

I expanded the cast to include a variety of characters that are also "in the woods" and used the overture music to choreograph an opening montage of these characters.  I included traditional fairy tale characters such as the Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three bears, Hansel and Gretel, the Gingerbread Man, Belle, Snow White etc.. The "characters" doubled as set crew and the set changes were staged/choreographed. The actor crew worked well and we used some of  them as backstage "pit" singers to augment the ensemble vocals.  This kept the high schools students busy through the entire show and gave them an opportunity to create a character, design and build their costume and have some stage time. 

There still was some downtime in the rehearsal period but I don't call anyone that isn't going to be used at the rehearsal. In order to keep everyone connected I made sure that they were called at least twice a week. I chose the show the year our theater was being remodeled and we had to rehearse in a multipurpose room. We had arranged with an area college to use their theater for the show and moved in on a Monday for a show opening on Thursday.  The students had one move in day and tech (luckily the admin let us take the students out for the day) so all the staging/choreographing of moving the sets really payed off.

------------------------------
Kathy Cannnarozzi Harris
Theater Director - Mission Viejo HS
VAPA Coordinator K-12
Saddleback Valley USD
Mission Viejo, CA

Original Message:
Sent: 12-16-2016 12:23
From: Michael Hancey
Subject: Expanded Cast for Into the Woods

Hi all,

I know that someone (maybe multiple people) have posted about this, but have any of you had any success in expanding the cast of INTO THE WOODS in some way?  Double casting is not what I really want to do at this point.  Thanks!

Mike Hancey

Theatre Program Director

Musical Theatre, Drama & Theatre Guild

Theater Manager

Laramie High School

President WYACDA