Open Forum

Hi all reading

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate forum to post this, so please excuse me if that is the case. I am a highschooler (freshman) and this is my first year of theatre. We are going to do our first play in 9 weeks being the play "she kills monsters". I read the plot and I really enjoy it - especially the inclusivity. However my teacher asked what role I'd be interested in playing and I have no answer. Finding roles are hard for me because I am trans (FTM) and so a lot of roles don't really work for me. I can't do male roles that require a deep voice, muscles, or anything that would require a very masculine body. But at the same time I don't want to be limited to female roles. 

I think my ability in acting is pretty good, and I'd really love to preform a part instead of just being a background character or set designer. But I feel as if maybe this play just isn't meant for me at this time. I did hear this play has a version with a transgender Tilly, but I don't like that either because it takes away from someone else's representation. Besides we aren't doing that version of the play, or else that would be the role I audition for, not only because I fit it but also because I don't want to "steal" a role from a cis guy because there's not a lot of male roles in the play

Thank you! I appreciate any responses. 

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caden stinson
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As a director, I appreciate when students audition and are open to any role.  While I do understand there are parts you would prefer not to be given, perhaps you should tell your director that you are open to any that don't require a very masculine portrayal.  I use an application at auditions that asks for preferred parts, parts you will not accept, and if there are any limitations you would like to communicate that need to be considered for casting purposes.  Best of luck!

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Amy MacCord
Musical Theatre Teacher
Westwood Middle School
FL
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Caden, I agree with all of the responses posted so far, but I'll add a bit.

As a director, I asked students what particular role they saw themselves in, but I did not limit myself to considering them for that role.  Often I would see some quality in a student's audition that made me think they could do well in a different role.  Be honest about where your current comfort level is, and trust that your director will try to put together the very best cast for the show.  What role you receive is not up to you, but please accept whatever role is offered, if one is offered.  

I don't know the size of the theatre program at your school, but chances are good that you won't be cast in a major role as a freshman.  Much beyond raw talent goes into casting, including work ethic, ability to take notes, and willingness to work with the rest of the cast productively.  Unless you took a theatre class this past semester, your director may know little to nothing about you.  So please be willing to play a smaller, even nonspeaking, role.  I added additional monsters to my cast, and those students got some great stage combat training and had a lot of fun.

And last, if you can borrow a copy of the script before auditions, always read the entire play.  Just enjoy it.  Let your imagination cast you in as many roles as it will while you are reading. 

If you are not cast, shake it off and ask what you can do backstage or in the tech booth.  Freshman year is hard, and finding a group of friends who happen to meet daily for rehearsal makes it so much easier. 

 

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CJ Breland
Retired Theatre Arts Educator
NC
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Caden -

One of the best things about acting is you can be anyone - and one of the best parts of SKM is that it's based on Dungeons and Dragons, a role-playing game that takes place in the mind. . 

Lots of directors cast according to "type" so the mom ends up being the plus-sized alto, the ingenue is the slender soprano, the dad is the kid who can grow a beard, and so on. 

But SKM is Dungeons and Dragons fantasy and in THAT realm, anyone can be anything1 Gender, size, shape, age - none of that matters because it's a game played in the mind. When I play D&D, I love being characters completly different from what I am in real life. The game even includes "races" that don't exist in the human world - elf, orc, gnome, tiefling and such. 

So I suggest you go to your teacher and say "I'll do whichever role you want me to do!" and enjoy the experience being whichever of those richly written characters you get to portray.  

And kudos to you for finding this group and asking the question. You've gotten responses from some of the best theater teachers ever. 

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Kristi Ross-Clausen
Safety Maven/Consultant
IATSE 470/Actors Equity Member
Alliance for Wisconsin Theatre Education
Association for Quality in AV Board
AVIXA/USITT
Teacher, Author, Speaker
www.theaterhealthandsafety.com
Appleton, WI
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-11-2024 12:53
From: CJ Breland
Subject: Help me choose a role for "she kills monsters"

Caden, I agree with all of the responses posted so far, but I'll add a bit.

As a director, I asked students what particular role they saw themselves in, but I did not limit myself to considering them for that role.  Often I would see some quality in a student's audition that made me think they could do well in a different role.  Be honest about where your current comfort level is, and trust that your director will try to put together the very best cast for the show.  What role you receive is not up to you, but please accept whatever role is offered, if one is offered.  

I don't know the size of the theatre program at your school, but chances are good that you won't be cast in a major role as a freshman.  Much beyond raw talent goes into casting, including work ethic, ability to take notes, and willingness to work with the rest of the cast productively.  Unless you took a theatre class this past semester, your director may know little to nothing about you.  So please be willing to play a smaller, even nonspeaking, role.  I added additional monsters to my cast, and those students got some great stage combat training and had a lot of fun.

And last, if you can borrow a copy of the script before auditions, always read the entire play.  Just enjoy it.  Let your imagination cast you in as many roles as it will while you are reading. 

If you are not cast, shake it off and ask what you can do backstage or in the tech booth.  Freshman year is hard, and finding a group of friends who happen to meet daily for rehearsal makes it so much easier. 

 

------------------------------
CJ Breland
Retired Theatre Arts Educator
NC
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