Open Forum

I have a student (junior) who came to me yesterday asking me for special consideration for next year.  A little background: She has played leading roles since her freshman year of high school especially in the musicals.  She is talented, has a strong belt and a strong stage presence and most likely will be considered for leading roles her senior year. She is an only child and has had the privilege to attend summer college programs and enroll in a demanding college prep program last fall.  She is working really hard to get into a musical theatre program, so much so that she decided not to audition for the 2023 school fall musical (I was surprised but had plenty of students to fill roles).  Yesterday she told me that she was sad that she didn't participate in that musical and that she really wanted to be part of  allthe theatre shows next year.  She asked if I would consider giving her an understudy.  Keep in mind that nothing has been cast for next year but she is concerned because she plans to be out of town, auditioning for various college programs including the National Unified Auditions.  

The thing that is concerning is that:

 1. She presumes that she will be cast in her high school show.  The conversation wasn't - "If were to get a role would you...."  It was "Can you give me an understudy?"

2. She has begun missing classes this spring in order to visit colleges.

3. The parents have invested a lot of money to give their child an edge with the theatre college prep program.

Yesterday, I told her that other students have auditioned and still fully participated in the school's shows. I told her that I would try to work with her conflicts but that it was unfair of her to ask to miss rehearsals and rely on an understudy and that I can't build a schedule around one actor. I also told her that theatre was about connection and that it was important to be present with your scene partners to build the chemistry and trust needed for a strong performance. 

On the one hand, I want her to pursue her dreams, but on the other hand, I think it was unfair of her to ask for special consideration.

I have two questions for this group: 

1. How do I advise and guide this student?  
2. What would you do if you were in my situation? 

How do actors balance building their resume with the audition process? 

Thanks for reading my long story. Any advice is appreciated.

I have a student (junior) who came to me yesterday asking me for special consideration for next year.  A little background: She has played leading roles since her freshman year of high school especially in the musicals.  She is talented, has a strong belt and a strong stage presence and most likely will be considered for leading roles her senior year. She is an only child and has had the privilege to attend summer college programs and enroll in a demanding college prep program last fall.  She is working really hard to get into a musical theatre program, so much so that she decided not to audition for the 2023 school fall musical (I was surprised but had plenty of students to fill roles).  Yesterday she told me that she was sad that she didn't participate in that musical and that she really wanted to be part of  allthe theatre shows next year.  She asked if I would consider giving her an understudy.  Keep in mind that nothing has been cast for next year but she is concerned because she plans to be out of town, auditioning for various college programs including the National Unified Auditions.  

The thing that is concerning is that:

 1. She presumes that she will be cast in her high school show.  The conversation wasn't - "If were to get a role would you...."  It was "Can you give me an understudy?"

2. She has begun missing classes this spring in order to visit colleges.

3. The parents have invested a lot of money to give their child an edge with the theatre college prep program.

Yesterday, I told her that other students have auditioned and still fully participated in the school's shows. I told her that I would try to work with her conflicts but that it was unfair of her to ask to miss rehearsals and rely on an understudy and that I can't build a schedule around one actor. I also told her that theatre was about connection and that it was important to be present with your scene partners to build the chemistry and trust needed for a strong performance. 

On the one hand, I want her to pursue her dreams, but on the other hand, I think it was unfair of her to ask for special consideration.

I have two questions for this group: 

1. How do I advise and guide this student?  
2. What would you do if you were in my situation? 

How do actors balance building their resume with the audition process? 

Thanks for reading my long story. Any advice is appreciated.

------------------------------
Marla Blasko
Director/Teacher Theatre Arts
Long Reach High School
Columbia, Maryland
------------------------------

I have a student (junior) who came to me yesterday asking me for special consideration for next year.  A little background: She has played leading roles since her freshman year of high school especially in the musicals.  She is talented, has a strong belt and a strong stage presence and most likely will be considered for leading roles her senior year. She is an only child and has had the privilege to attend summer college programs and enroll in a demanding college prep program last fall.  She is working really hard to get into a musical theatre program, so much so that she decided not to audition for the 2023 school fall musical (I was surprised but had plenty of students to fill roles).  Yesterday she told me that she was sad that she didn't participate in that musical and that she really wanted to be part of  allthe theatre shows next year.  She asked if I would consider giving her an understudy.  Keep in mind that nothing has been cast for next year but she is concerned because she plans to be out of town, auditioning for various college programs including the National Unified Auditions.  

The thing that is concerning is that:

 1. She presumes that she will be cast in her high school show.  The conversation wasn't - "If were to get a role would you...."  It was "Can you give me an understudy?"

2. She has begun missing classes this spring in order to visit colleges.

3. The parents have invested a lot of money to give their child an edge with the theatre college prep program.

Yesterday, I told her that other students have auditioned and still fully participated in the school's shows. I told her that I would try to work with her conflicts but that it was unfair of her to ask to miss rehearsals and rely on an understudy and that I can't build a schedule around one actor. I also told her that theatre was about connection and that it was important to be present with your scene partners to build the chemistry and trust needed for a strong performance. 

On the one hand, I want her to pursue her dreams, but on the other hand, I think it was unfair of her to ask for special consideration.

I have two questions for this group: 

1. How do I advise and guide this student?  
2. What would you do if you were in my situation? 

How do actors balance building their resume with the audition process? 

Thanks for reading my long story. Any advice is appreciated.

I have a student (junior) who came to me yesterday asking me for special consideration for next year.  A little background: She has played leading roles since her freshman year of high school especially in the musicals.  She is talented, has a strong belt and a strong stage presence and most likely will be considered for leading roles her senior year. She is an only child and has had the privilege to attend summer college programs and enroll in a demanding college prep program last fall.  She is working really hard to get into a musical theatre program, so much so that she decided not to audition for the 2023 school fall musical (I was surprised but had plenty of students to fill roles).  Yesterday she told me that she was sad that she didn't participate in that musical and that she really wanted to be part of  allthe theatre shows next year.  She asked if I would consider giving her an understudy.  Keep in mind that nothing has been cast for next year but she is concerned because she plans to be out of town, auditioning for various college programs including the National Unified Auditions.  

The thing that is concerning is that:

 1. She presumes that she will be cast in her high school show.  The conversation wasn't - "If were to get a role would you...."  It was "Can you give me an understudy?"

2. She has begun missing classes this spring in order to visit colleges.

3. The parents have invested a lot of money to give their child an edge with the theatre college prep program.

Yesterday, I told her that other students have auditioned and still fully participated in the school's shows. I told her that I would try to work with her conflicts but that it was unfair of her to ask to miss rehearsals and rely on an understudy and that I can't build a schedule around one actor. I also told her that theatre was about connection and that it was important to be present with your scene partners to build the chemistry and trust needed for a strong performance. 

On the one hand, I want her to pursue her dreams, but on the other hand, I think it was unfair of her to ask for special consideration.

I have two questions for this group: 

1. How do I advise and guide this student?  
2. What would you do if you were in my situation? 

How do actors balance building their resume with the audition process? 

Thanks for reading my long story. Any advice is appreciated.

I have a student (junior) who came to me yesterday asking me for special consideration for next year.  A little background: She has played leading roles since her freshman year of high school especially in the musicals.  She is talented, has a strong belt and a strong stage presence and most likely will be considered for leading roles her senior year. She is an only child and has had the privilege to attend summer college programs and enroll in a demanding college prep program last fall.  She is working really hard to get into a musical theatre program, so much so that she decided not to audition for the 2023 school fall musical (I was surprised but had plenty of students to fill roles).  Yesterday she told me that she was sad that she didn't participate in that musical and that she really wanted to be part of  allthe theatre shows next year.  She asked if I would consider giving her an understudy.  Keep in mind that nothing has been cast for next year but she is concerned because she plans to be out of town, auditioning for various college programs including the National Unified Auditions.  

The thing that is concerning is that:

 1. She presumes that she will be cast in her high school show.  The conversation wasn't - "If were to get a role would you...."  It was "Can you give me an understudy?"

2. She has begun missing classes this spring in order to visit colleges.

3. The parents have invested a lot of money to give their child an edge with the theatre college prep program.

Yesterday, I told her that other students have auditioned and still fully participated in the school's shows. I told her that I would try to work with her conflicts but that it was unfair of her to ask to miss rehearsals and rely on an understudy and that I can't build a schedule around one actor. I also told her that theatre was about connection and that it was important to be present with your scene partners to build the chemistry and trust needed for a strong performance. 

On the one hand, I want her to pursue her dreams, but on the other hand, I think it was unfair of her to ask for special consideration.

I have two questions for this group: 

1. How do I advise and guide this student?  
2. What would you do if you were in my situation? 

How do actors balance building their resume with the audition process? 

Thanks for reading my long story. Any advice is appreciated.

I have had students do the audition process including unifieds. Unifieds is a beast absolutely and will result in missing a week of rehearsal. Beyond that though my students were able to miss a real minimum of rehearsals and wasn't any worse than a student having some health issues. But maybe Im a bit more lenient with my missed rehearsals.

I have a student (junior) who came to me yesterday asking me for special consideration for next year.  A little background: She has played leading roles since her freshman year of high school especially in the musicals.  She is talented, has a strong belt and a strong stage presence and most likely will be considered for leading roles her senior year. She is an only child and has had the privilege to attend summer college programs and enroll in a demanding college prep program last fall.  She is working really hard to get into a musical theatre program, so much so that she decided not to audition for the 2023 school fall musical (I was surprised but had plenty of students to fill roles).  Yesterday she told me that she was sad that she didn't participate in that musical and that she really wanted to be part of  allthe theatre shows next year.  She asked if I would consider giving her an understudy.  Keep in mind that nothing has been cast for next year but she is concerned because she plans to be out of town, auditioning for various college programs including the National Unified Auditions.  

The thing that is concerning is that:

 1. She presumes that she will be cast in her high school show.  The conversation wasn't - "If were to get a role would you...."  It was "Can you give me an understudy?"

2. She has begun missing classes this spring in order to visit colleges.

3. The parents have invested a lot of money to give their child an edge with the theatre college prep program.

Yesterday, I told her that other students have auditioned and still fully participated in the school's shows. I told her that I would try to work with her conflicts but that it was unfair of her to ask to miss rehearsals and rely on an understudy and that I can't build a schedule around one actor. I also told her that theatre was about connection and that it was important to be present with your scene partners to build the chemistry and trust needed for a strong performance. 

On the one hand, I want her to pursue her dreams, but on the other hand, I think it was unfair of her to ask for special consideration.

I have two questions for this group: 

1. How do I advise and guide this student?  
2. What would you do if you were in my situation? 

How do actors balance building their resume with the audition process? 

Thanks for reading my long story. Any advice is appreciated.