Open Forum

Hi all, 

I am directing The Wiz and we would like to use a real dog for Toto.

For those of you who have used live animals in your productions, what have the logistics been?

1. When does the animal start coming to rehearsal? (How far out from the show?)
2. How often does the animal come to rehearsals?
3. What is the acclimation process of animal to actors like?  How often does the animal come in?  For how long each time?
4. What expectations do you lay out for the animal's owner / person?  
5. If you have auditions, what do you do at your animal auditions?

Thank you so much!


------------------------------
Robin Willis
Johannesburg, South Africa
------------------------------

I use animals fairly frequently in my shows. 

1. When does the animal start coming to rehearsal? (How far out from the show?)
 The animal starts coming in during tech week after we've finished a cue-to-cue.
2. How often does the animal come to rehearsals?
 The animal comes everyday after it first shows up. I like to make sure it is comfortable and relaxed.
3. What is the acclimation process of animal to actors like?  How often does the animal come in?  For how long each time?
 The animal comes in as often as possible once cast. I always choose an animal that belongs to someone on the cast or crew so that there is a familiar face. I also assign a tech (one per animal) whose sole responsibility is to care for and stay with the animal whenever it is not on stage. There is an area that is separate from the main area of the actors so the animal can have quiet when not on stage and each animal has it's own area in separate rooms.
 The animal stays for the length of the show since they get a bow. The audience loves being able to recognize the animal actors.
4. What expectations do you lay out for the animal's owner / person?
 There is approval required from the parents. The animal must also meet all the following qualifications for possible auditions in order to be in the show:
 - Calm personality
 - Not easily startled
 - Comfortable with loud noises and commotions
 - Potty trained
 - Crate trained
 - Leash trained (for dogs)
 - No history of aggression
 - Comfortable with strangers
 - Quiet (this is mostly for dogs)
5. If you have auditions, what do you do at your animal auditions?
 If the animal meets all of the qualifications above I invite them in at specific times to see how they react to the environment and how comfortable they are with the actor who will be working with them. This is usually the deciding factor.

If you can swing using a live animal I recommend it. It's a lot of fun and, although there is more to arrange and keep track of, it really adds an element of enjoyment to the show for the audience that a stuffed animal can't create.

------------------------------
Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler AZ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-31-2018 04:29
From: Robin Willis
Subject: Live Animals: Logistics

Hi all,

I am directing The Wiz and we would like to use a real dog for Toto.

For those of you who have used live animals in your productions, what have the logistics been?

1. When does the animal start coming to rehearsal? (How far out from the show?)
2. How often does the animal come to rehearsals?
3. What is the acclimation process of animal to actors like?  How often does the animal come in?  For how long each time?
4. What expectations do you lay out for the animal's owner / person?
5. If you have auditions, what do you do at your animal auditions?

Thank you so much!


------------------------------
Robin Willis
Johannesburg, South Africa
------------------------------

​Good morning,

Great stuff Shira. When we did Annie we actually had a play date with the actress playing Annie and the dog playing Sandy. No one else was around. We gave Annie some treats and they played for about an hour or so. It created a bond and gave the dog positive reinforcement. During the production, Annie also had really small treats in her dress so that the cog would come to her from across the stage. They were small enough that when she rewarded the dog the audience couldn't tell.

------------------------------
Crit Fisher
Lighting/Sound Designer
New Albany High School
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-31-2018 04:29
From: Robin Willis
Subject: Live Animals: Logistics

Hi all,

I am directing The Wiz and we would like to use a real dog for Toto.

For those of you who have used live animals in your productions, what have the logistics been?

1. When does the animal start coming to rehearsal? (How far out from the show?)
2. How often does the animal come to rehearsals?
3. What is the acclimation process of animal to actors like?  How often does the animal come in?  For how long each time?
4. What expectations do you lay out for the animal's owner / person?
5. If you have auditions, what do you do at your animal auditions?

Thank you so much!


------------------------------
Robin Willis
Johannesburg, South Africa
------------------------------

Original Message------

​Good morning,

Great stuff Shira. When we did Annie we actually had a play date with the actress playing Annie and the dog playing Sandy. No one else was around. We gave Annie some treats and they played for about an hour or so. It created a bond and gave the dog positive reinforcement. During the production, Annie also had really small treats in her dress so that the cog would come to her from across the stage. They were small enough that when she rewarded the dog the audience couldn't tell.

------------------------------
Crit Fisher
Lighting/Sound Designer
New Albany High School
------------------------------

I agree on one week. In our case he was Dorothy's mom's dog and a former show dog, so he was the goodest of boys.

We used hot dogs to get him to go places including behind the wizards curtain.  After about 10 minutes of calling him back behind the curtain and rewarding him with hotdogs, he didn't take any coaxing during the show to try to get back there. Although one night on stage he did chomp down on Professor Marvel's hotdog on a stick and refuse to let go.

------------------------------
Amy Strickland
Drama Teacher
AL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-31-2018 04:29
From: Robin Willis
Subject: Live Animals: Logistics

Hi all,

I am directing The Wiz and we would like to use a real dog for Toto.

For those of you who have used live animals in your productions, what have the logistics been?

1. When does the animal start coming to rehearsal? (How far out from the show?)
2. How often does the animal come to rehearsals?
3. What is the acclimation process of animal to actors like?  How often does the animal come in?  For how long each time?
4. What expectations do you lay out for the animal's owner / person?
5. If you have auditions, what do you do at your animal auditions?

Thank you so much!


------------------------------
Robin Willis
Johannesburg, South Africa
------------------------------

Hi everyone, 

Thanks for the help!

Here is what I came up with, please feel free to adapt and use in your own upcoming production!

Toto Auditions (The Wiz)

 

Dear Parents and Students,

The Wiz, our Middle School Musical, is looking for a dog to play the role of Toto!  The Wiz is based on the classic story The Wizard of Oz.  Toto is Dorothy's dog and best friend.  Toto features in both the opening scene of the play as well as the finale.

 

Auditions are: Tuesday, February 20^th @ 3:00-4:30pm in the Theater.

Please RSVP to (name) at (email) by Monday, February 12^th if your dog will be auditioning.

 

Please see the below criteria that must be met for your dog to be considered for the role of Toto.  If your dog does not meet the criteria, please reconsider bringing him/her to auditions.  (Please note that there are criteria for you as the owner as well-see below.)

 

Toto MUST be able to do the following:

1. Sit and stay on command
2. Come when called verbally or with a gesture
3. Be silent for long periods of time (no barkers or whiners please!)
4. Crate trained
5. Potty trained
6. Leash trained
7. Comfortable with lots of excitable young people
8. Comfortable with strangers
9. No history of aggression
10. Calm personality
11. Comfortable with loud noises, bright lights, and lots of movement

In other words, we are looking for a low-key / mellow and well-trained / responsive dog!

 

Responsibilities for owners (students and parents) of potential Totos:

1. Attend all required rehearsals and productions (see list of dates attached)
2. Be responsible for dog throughout rehearsals and shows
3. Ensure that dog is well-fed and watered throughout rehearsals and productions
4. Ensure that dog is on time for all cues and appearances on stage
5. Practice staging with dog when not in rehearsal to ensure a professional performance

 

While Toto is traditionally portrayed as a small dog, we are not limiting our search to dogs of this description.  If you and your dog meet the requirements above, please bring your dog to audition.  At auditions, we will be assessing how your dog interacts with the Theater environment as well as our actors who will be working closely with them.

If you have any further questions, please contact (name) at (email).

 

 

Dates / Times for Toto:

Please note that this is a minimal calendar.  Depending on how much time is need to acclimatize your dog to the cast, we might ask you to bring him/her in more frequently.  We would like you and your dog to be as comfortable as possible, and we recognize that this takes time.

Monday, February 26 @ 4:30pm-5:30pm in the Theater

(meet and greet with actors who work directly with Toto, outline of expectations and role requirements)

Monday, April 16 @ 3:00-4:00pm in the FAC (Meet cast + Run of Act One)

Thursday, April 19 @ 3:00-4:30pm in the Theater (Run of Act Two)

Saturday, April 21 @ 3:00pm-4:00pm in the Theater (alone on stage to work)

Wednesday, May 2 @ 1:30pm-5:30pm (Act One Run)

Friday, May 4 @ 3:00-5:30pm (Act Two Run)

Saturday, May 5 @ 9:00am-3:00pm (Dress Rehearsals)

Monday, May 7 @ 3:00-5:30pm (Dress Rehearsal)

Tuesday, May 8 times TBD during school day (Previews for AISJ audiences)

Wednesday, May 9 @ 1:30-5:30pm (Final Dress Rehearsal)

Thursday, May 10 @ 2:00pm-5:30pm (Show @ 3:15pm)

Friday, May 11 @ 4:30pm-8:15pm (Show @ 6:00pm)

Saturday, May 12 @ 12:00pm-3:45pm (Show @ 1:30pm)

------------------------------
Robin Willis
Johannesburg, South Africa
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-31-2018 04:29
From: Robin Willis
Subject: Live Animals: Logistics

Hi all,

I am directing The Wiz and we would like to use a real dog for Toto.

For those of you who have used live animals in your productions, what have the logistics been?

1. When does the animal start coming to rehearsal? (How far out from the show?)
2. How often does the animal come to rehearsals?
3. What is the acclimation process of animal to actors like?  How often does the animal come in?  For how long each time?
4. What expectations do you lay out for the animal's owner / person?
5. If you have auditions, what do you do at your animal auditions?

Thank you so much!


------------------------------
Robin Willis
Johannesburg, South Africa
------------------------------

We just did Wizard of Oz last year and used a real dog. I highly recommend it. The audience oohed and ahhed the first time Toto took the stage and he received one of the biggest applause's at curtain call. 

We auditioned doges early in the rehearsal process after the show was cast. We advertised for calm, quiet, easy-going dogs that did not scare easily and we wanted a smaller dog. The audition process was pretty simple we had each dog come on a different rehearsal day. First the dog got to know the lead actors a bit and then we ran the dog through a couple scenes to see how it behaved. Would the dog lead well when on a leash? Was it ok being carried? How would it react when the actors (scarecrow, tinman, lion) were in full make-up & costume? That last one obviously we didn't test until much later in the rehearsal process after the dog was cast. But something to think about. We had Toto around for the first makeup/costume process so as to ensure the dog wouldn't freak out when he saw our actors in full makeup/costume for the first time.

Toto's rehearsal calls were 2-3 times a week and all of tech week. We found this was helpful on a number of levels. Not only did Toto become accustomed to the blocking, special fire/smoke effects and loud music from the orchestra but it helped me as a director to see exactly when and where Toto needed to be for each scene. Some preconceived ideas didn't work once we started rehearsing with Toto and some things needed to be changed. Better to learn this early rather than later. This is especially true with the dance numbers. Where does the dog go when Dorothy is dancing? We didn't always have big set pieces to hook his leash to. Sometimes we had to sneak him off and on stage around the dance numbers. 

Luckily our Toto was small enough to fit inside a basket which helped a lot. So depending on the scene sometimes Toto walked, sometimes Dorothy held him and sometimes he sat contently in her basket. This took a little training, actually sending the basket home with his owner and he slept in it every night to get accustomed to it. After a while he jumped in no problem. This was a blessing during Munchkin Land. During the first couple runs of the Munchkin dance our Toto sat in his basket but whined because his owner (Glinda) was on stage ignoring him (the only time he ever made a sound). The fix: we put his basket next the the corner of the broken house far upstage. There was a techie inside feeding Toto treats through a crack in the house. After a couple days of that Toto forgot all about his owner and looked for the treats every time his basket was by the house.

I highly recommend using a real dog. It's a little more work but your show will be so much better for it. I much more prefer realism in that sense then trying to dress up a person as a dog If you get the right dog it can be a great experience for everyone. Best of luck!

------------------------------
Jillian Lietzau
Englewood CO
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-31-2018 04:29
From: Robin Willis
Subject: Live Animals: Logistics

Hi all,

I am directing The Wiz and we would like to use a real dog for Toto.

For those of you who have used live animals in your productions, what have the logistics been?

1. When does the animal start coming to rehearsal? (How far out from the show?)
2. How often does the animal come to rehearsals?
3. What is the acclimation process of animal to actors like?  How often does the animal come in?  For how long each time?
4. What expectations do you lay out for the animal's owner / person?
5. If you have auditions, what do you do at your animal auditions?

Thank you so much!


------------------------------
Robin Willis
Johannesburg, South Africa
------------------------------