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At my middle school we just wrapped callbacks for High School Musical Jr. We've cast our male roles and now are in a tricky position with incredibly talented girls that could play both Sharpay and Gabriella. My gut has picked one girl for Sharpay who is not the strongest singer but who can give me good physical comedy which is what I want in the roll. She dressed as her character for the role and is hungry for this part. The other two girls have better voices and a lot more professional training. These two could easily do Sharpay and Gabriella. So I'm thinking of all the ways I could make this feasibly work. They're all 8th graders who may not do theater again once they get to high school. All three did an incredible job at auditions. How do you respond to feedback that question your decision (if I go with the less trained, not as strong voice student)? How do you decide when you've got a lot of talented kids? I thought about double casting but we only have the ability to do 3 shows and not enough kids to double cast a ton of parts only 2 or 3. Would love your casting wisdom.

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Carla
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I always cast who had the best singing voice. It's a musical! People will remember the singing more than any other element.

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Thomas Cole
MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2022 18:14
From: Carla Molina
Subject: Help w/Casting High School Musical Jr.

At my middle school we just wrapped callbacks for High School Musical Jr. We've cast our male roles and now are in a tricky position with incredibly talented girls that could play both Sharpay and Gabriella. My gut has picked one girl for Sharpay who is not the strongest singer but who can give me good physical comedy which is what I want in the roll. She dressed as her character for the role and is hungry for this part. The other two girls have better voices and a lot more professional training. These two could easily do Sharpay and Gabriella. So I'm thinking of all the ways I could make this feasibly work. They're all 8th graders who may not do theater again once they get to high school. All three did an incredible job at auditions. How do you respond to feedback that question your decision (if I go with the less trained, not as strong voice student)? How do you decide when you've got a lot of talented kids? I thought about double casting but we only have the ability to do 3 shows and not enough kids to double cast a ton of parts only 2 or 3. Would love your casting wisdom.

------------------------------
Carla
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12/12/2022 6:15:00 PM
From: Carla Molina
Subject: Help w/Casting High School Musical Jr.

At my middle school we just wrapped callbacks for High School Musical Jr. We've cast our male roles and now are in a tricky position with incredibly talented girls that could play both Sharpay and Gabriella. My gut has picked one girl for Sharpay who is not the strongest singer but who can give me good physical comedy which is what I want in the roll. She dressed as her character for the role and is hungry for this part. The other two girls have better voices and a lot more professional training. These two could easily do Sharpay and Gabriella. So I'm thinking of all the ways I could make this feasibly work. They're all 8th graders who may not do theater again once they get to high school. All three did an incredible job at auditions. How do you respond to feedback that question your decision (if I go with the less trained, not as strong voice student)? How do you decide when you've got a lot of talented kids? I thought about double casting but we only have the ability to do 3 shows and not enough kids to double cast a ton of parts only 2 or 3. Would love your casting wisdom.

------------------------------
Carla
------------------------------

I run into this a lot at the high school level. It's not easy and you have to take into account dozens of factors. My mantra has always been to cast whomever fits the role the best and to make the show as a whole a success. My students know it is never about one individual but rather the show as a whole and we do our absolute best to cast according to who can bring the best to each role.  Yes, you do need someone who can sing the role it is a musical after all. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the absolute best singer is the best choice for a certain role. I have seen too many shows where the lead sang great but the acting/character was subpar and therefore, in my opinion, the show suffered. 

Acting can't go by the wayside just because it is a musical. If a director does that, it might as well be turned into a concert. You want someone that can do both (even if it isn't the absolute best singer). Acting the role well is just as important as singing it well. The character has to be dynamic and engaging in between the songs too. I always go with my gut and I encourage you to do the same. If the girl you are feeling driven to cast can sing the part (even though she isn't the strongest) then I would go with her. It sounds like she would do a stellar job with the characterization. If you want and need the physical comedy you need to go with someone who can give you that in addition to singing well. Overall it sounds like she could give you more of the complete character you are looking for and audiences will remember that. If you get any push back from kids or parents, you can explain to them that casting is about looking a literally dozens of factors to create the best characters and show possible (acting, singing, dance, on stage character compatibility, needs of the show, matching actor abilities to the requirements of the character, etc.)

Good Luck!

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Jillian Lietzau
Lutheran High School
CO
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2022 18:14
From: Carla Molina
Subject: Help w/Casting High School Musical Jr.

At my middle school we just wrapped callbacks for High School Musical Jr. We've cast our male roles and now are in a tricky position with incredibly talented girls that could play both Sharpay and Gabriella. My gut has picked one girl for Sharpay who is not the strongest singer but who can give me good physical comedy which is what I want in the roll. She dressed as her character for the role and is hungry for this part. The other two girls have better voices and a lot more professional training. These two could easily do Sharpay and Gabriella. So I'm thinking of all the ways I could make this feasibly work. They're all 8th graders who may not do theater again once they get to high school. All three did an incredible job at auditions. How do you respond to feedback that question your decision (if I go with the less trained, not as strong voice student)? How do you decide when you've got a lot of talented kids? I thought about double casting but we only have the ability to do 3 shows and not enough kids to double cast a ton of parts only 2 or 3. Would love your casting wisdom.

------------------------------
Carla
------------------------------

Hi Carla!

I say, go with your gut.  My gut has always served me well!  It may be a musical, but in my opinion it's very old-school to only be concerned with the voices.  Comedy is tricky.  If you have someone who has a natural aptitude, then a lot of your work is done.  These students are in 8th grade, they will have plenty of opportunities for roles in the future.  There are ALWAYS disappointed students, there's just no way around that.  I would suggest an understudy though.  Pre-covid I rarely assigned understudies, but it has become the new norm for us.  Good Luck!

------------------------------
Terri Ferguson
Performing Arts Chair
Ursuline Academy
TX
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2022 18:14
From: Carla Molina
Subject: Help w/Casting High School Musical Jr.

At my middle school we just wrapped callbacks for High School Musical Jr. We've cast our male roles and now are in a tricky position with incredibly talented girls that could play both Sharpay and Gabriella. My gut has picked one girl for Sharpay who is not the strongest singer but who can give me good physical comedy which is what I want in the roll. She dressed as her character for the role and is hungry for this part. The other two girls have better voices and a lot more professional training. These two could easily do Sharpay and Gabriella. So I'm thinking of all the ways I could make this feasibly work. They're all 8th graders who may not do theater again once they get to high school. All three did an incredible job at auditions. How do you respond to feedback that question your decision (if I go with the less trained, not as strong voice student)? How do you decide when you've got a lot of talented kids? I thought about double casting but we only have the ability to do 3 shows and not enough kids to double cast a ton of parts only 2 or 3. Would love your casting wisdom.

------------------------------
Carla
------------------------------

Nothing wrong with "old school" casting. Comedy is instinctive, however.

As you see, there are many factors to consider when casting. I was blessed with 40 years of students who rose to the occasion.
No matter who you cast someone may question. How fair is it to one who has a great voice to not get it; how fair is it to one who has a lesser voice but you want to challenge? It’s not an easy call. I kept track of who had leads and did my best to spread it around from production to production.

You are the director; you are the only one with the total vision.

You make the decision one way or the other and live with it.

The audience will root for your student performers no matter what.

You are giving your cast and crew an experience; be sure that the story doesn't get lost.

Break a leg!

------------------------------
Thomas Cole
MI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-14-2022 08:31
From: Terri Ferguson
Subject: Help w/Casting High School Musical Jr.

Hi Carla!

I say, go with your gut.  My gut has always served me well!  It may be a musical, but in my opinion it's very old-school to only be concerned with the voices.  Comedy is tricky.  If you have someone who has a natural aptitude, then a lot of your work is done.  These students are in 8th grade, they will have plenty of opportunities for roles in the future.  There are ALWAYS disappointed students, there's just no way around that.  I would suggest an understudy though.  Pre-covid I rarely assigned understudies, but it has become the new norm for us.  Good Luck!

------------------------------
Terri Ferguson
Performing Arts Chair
Ursuline Academy
TX

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2022 18:14
From: Carla Molina
Subject: Help w/Casting High School Musical Jr.

At my middle school we just wrapped callbacks for High School Musical Jr. We've cast our male roles and now are in a tricky position with incredibly talented girls that could play both Sharpay and Gabriella. My gut has picked one girl for Sharpay who is not the strongest singer but who can give me good physical comedy which is what I want in the roll. She dressed as her character for the role and is hungry for this part. The other two girls have better voices and a lot more professional training. These two could easily do Sharpay and Gabriella. So I'm thinking of all the ways I could make this feasibly work. They're all 8th graders who may not do theater again once they get to high school. All three did an incredible job at auditions. How do you respond to feedback that question your decision (if I go with the less trained, not as strong voice student)? How do you decide when you've got a lot of talented kids? I thought about double casting but we only have the ability to do 3 shows and not enough kids to double cast a ton of parts only 2 or 3. Would love your casting wisdom.

------------------------------
Carla
------------------------------

I will echo both the "go with your gut" and the "look for the best overall casting" advice. I would add one thing further. We're doing Educational Theatre. I always told my students that education was the joker in the deck. Sometimes I made casting choices based on what would be the best overall educational experience for the students. Does this student need this particular experience more than another? If she has the slightly weaker singing voice, she may never have the opportunity to have this type of role again if she runs up against directors who are more interested in the voice than the performance. I've always been willing to go with a potentially risky casting if I thought it was best for the student educationally. I've been rewarded over and over again for doing that when the student in question worked doubly hard and turned in a stellar performance.

------------------------------
Robert Smith
VA Co-Chapter Director
Virginia Thespians
VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2022 18:14
From: Carla Molina
Subject: Help w/Casting High School Musical Jr.

At my middle school we just wrapped callbacks for High School Musical Jr. We've cast our male roles and now are in a tricky position with incredibly talented girls that could play both Sharpay and Gabriella. My gut has picked one girl for Sharpay who is not the strongest singer but who can give me good physical comedy which is what I want in the roll. She dressed as her character for the role and is hungry for this part. The other two girls have better voices and a lot more professional training. These two could easily do Sharpay and Gabriella. So I'm thinking of all the ways I could make this feasibly work. They're all 8th graders who may not do theater again once they get to high school. All three did an incredible job at auditions. How do you respond to feedback that question your decision (if I go with the less trained, not as strong voice student)? How do you decide when you've got a lot of talented kids? I thought about double casting but we only have the ability to do 3 shows and not enough kids to double cast a ton of parts only 2 or 3. Would love your casting wisdom.

------------------------------
Carla
------------------------------

I appreciate all these responses! You've all echoed some of the thoughts I've had and it's a good reminder I know what I'm doing. The possibility of push back always makes me second guess myself. Thank you for the confidence! I also appreciate some new perspectives, especially the reminder that this is educational theater and who might benefit the most from the experience of having a lead. That's a powerful thing to remember. I appreciate each of these answers!

------------------------------
Carla
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-14-2022 09:46
From: Robert Smith
Subject: Help w/Casting High School Musical Jr.

I will echo both the "go with your gut" and the "look for the best overall casting" advice. I would add one thing further. We're doing Educational Theatre. I always told my students that education was the joker in the deck. Sometimes I made casting choices based on what would be the best overall educational experience for the students. Does this student need this particular experience more than another? If she has the slightly weaker singing voice, she may never have the opportunity to have this type of role again if she runs up against directors who are more interested in the voice than the performance. I've always been willing to go with a potentially risky casting if I thought it was best for the student educationally. I've been rewarded over and over again for doing that when the student in question worked doubly hard and turned in a stellar performance.

------------------------------
Robert Smith
VA Co-Chapter Director
Virginia Thespians
VA

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2022 18:14
From: Carla Molina
Subject: Help w/Casting High School Musical Jr.

At my middle school we just wrapped callbacks for High School Musical Jr. We've cast our male roles and now are in a tricky position with incredibly talented girls that could play both Sharpay and Gabriella. My gut has picked one girl for Sharpay who is not the strongest singer but who can give me good physical comedy which is what I want in the roll. She dressed as her character for the role and is hungry for this part. The other two girls have better voices and a lot more professional training. These two could easily do Sharpay and Gabriella. So I'm thinking of all the ways I could make this feasibly work. They're all 8th graders who may not do theater again once they get to high school. All three did an incredible job at auditions. How do you respond to feedback that question your decision (if I go with the less trained, not as strong voice student)? How do you decide when you've got a lot of talented kids? I thought about double casting but we only have the ability to do 3 shows and not enough kids to double cast a ton of parts only 2 or 3. Would love your casting wisdom.

------------------------------
Carla
------------------------------