Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/12 16:31Little theater kids do irritate me, but that's mainly because they remind me of myself when i was an annoying theater kid (yes, i'll admit to that)
My biggest pet peeve is people who say they don't know the show, but magically at callbacks they can sing every song from memory.
Also when less talented people get cast because they look slightly more the part than others. I can understand it sometimes, but when it's not that drastic of a difference in looks, talent should come first.-Kaitlin Sabina
Current role: Anytime Annie in 42nd Street Melissa in Untill I Drop, a locally written show.
Last role: A part in a compilation of monologues by local writers
Next Audition: Little Sally in Urinetown this summer
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palewithyellowhair
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/12 17:10They weren't even theatre kids though,just random kids who didn't really care and That's half the reason i despised them.
It;'s a theatre company I've been with for awhile,I was a child actress around them,they all agreed i was never as bad a them.
oh yeah...
PEOPLE WHO CHEW GUM ON STAGE... blehUpcoming Things-Youth Sing Praise 2008,Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Theatre Program, Current Role-Ado Annie & Galinda In AAW Variety Show Favorite Roles-Scout(To Kill a Mockingbird)Dinah(High Society)Mary MacGregor(The Prime) and Lottie(Little Princess) Auditions-None Dream Roles-Johanna(Sweeney Todd)Galinda(Wicked)Maureen(RENT)Cosette(Les Mis)
Fave Quote-"And are you Beautiful & Pale,with yellow hair,like her,I'd want you beautiful & pale the way i dreamed you were...
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BrigantineMagnolia
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/13 15:50going along with the unorganized directors theme... -when Directors waste your time. Leads and larger roles will always have something to do, but smaller parts/chorus, not always. good directors schedule well and multi-task (musical director is working with chorus while director rehearses scene with leads on stage, etc.) One especially scatterbrained director would many times call the whole cast and I know a bunch of times I sat around doing NOTHING. honestly, there was nothing to do, nothing to work on. I had no lines, knew the songs, knew the dances... I guess I could have cleaned the bathroom or something, but... sheesh. And driving 45 minutes to get there every night to boot. also-
- when you MUST audition with an accompanist, but they can't even play and easy R&H song. Or follow your tempo. Or read clear markings.
-People who drop out of shows. And you can't get a hold of them to get their libretto back. Grrr....
-Gay diva men. (LONG story about this one, I'll tell if you're really interested!)
-Directors who can't... well... direct. they have a *vision*, but it's everyone else's fault that NO ONE else "gets it". It is the Directors job to communicate the vision of the show, they shouldn't need translators.
-"Professional" theaters that charge $20 a ticket for a show in a non-heated theater that has a quality worse than any high school show I've ever seen. (no offense to H.S. people)
-"Professional" theaters who can't afford an orchestra
-"professional" theaters who cast from the local college's university dept. because one of the board members and cast members is the head of the theater dept.
-"Professional" theaters whose said cast from the college can't sing (consistently flat, nasal, too soft, or all of the above)
Can you tell I recently had a bad experience auditioning for a "Professional" theater?? "...If you want to clip your- Ear lobes- You may want to dye your- Hangnails- Dab a little on your- Husband's Face- Won't he be surprised?..." "Sounds While Selling", She Loves Me
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aliauthor
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/13 17:56-Gay diva men. (LONG story about this one, I'll tell if you're really interested!)
ooh, I want to hear it. PM me with it if you want.-Ali
Currently: -Sheila; Boys Next Door (postshow depression mode) -acceptance to acting ensemble -Bye Bye Birdie (audition- didn't get a callback)
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brucecriesxout
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/13 19:45-Gay diva men. (LONG story about this one, I'll tell if you're really interested!)
I'm definately interested in hearing! Haha, but I can't say that I haven't occasionally gotten the breakout of some divagayman-itis but i think we're all guilty of it sometime!
It's only happened a few times though.Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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brucecriesxout
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/13 20:06-Directors who can't... well... direct. they have a *vision*, but it's everyone else's fault that NO ONE else "gets it". It is the Directors job to communicate the vision of the show, they shouldn't need translators.
Can you tell I recently had a bad experience auditioning for a "Professional" theater??
That is the epidemy of what my Beauty and the Beast experience was, the director was the DEFINITION of un-professional.
To start, you have to pay to be in the shows she does, $165 and $65 of it is due at the first rehearsal. Not only that but she claims to be this hard never do wrong christian and she forced her religious views on EVERYONE.
Don't worry it gets better, she also had friends in all the shows she put on (teenagers, young adults etc.) and she would get involved in all the catty "he say, she say" drama some of it being started up by HER. It's fine to be an adult and have teenage friends, but to not be the bigger person when your an adult and avoid all that?
She and the girl was cast as Belle a close friend of mine and her had gotten along at first but then when belle ended befriending people in the cast that the director didn't particularly care for, she started gossiping about Taylor in between scenes WITH PEOPLE FROM THE CAST.
I could go on forever about all the un-professional things she said and did but then this would be a novel to read. It's thats only things in general theirs still TONS MORE.
However I met some wonderful people form that cast most of which I'm stil very close with, and I wouldn't take it back for the world.
On the other hand hopefully this diretor eventually GROWS UP. She's like 31 mabe its too late.
p.s: if you really do wanna hear more I'll tell you more through PM if you'd like.Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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- People who constantly make up excuses for not getting a good part... "I was sick at auditions," "The director likes her better," "I would have gotten the part if I was a senior," "I think the director just hates me," etc. This bothers me so much.
- When people complaint hat they could do a better job than the leads are doing... I admit, it's not that I've never thought that, but I hate it when people actually say stuff.
- When people can't be quiet backstage! Jeez. Really.
- When people get put into the ensemble because there's no one else good in the ensemble, and they need someone to hold it up. Although I've been in a lot of ensembles, this (luckily) hasn't happened to me. But the girl who's playing Mrs. Potts in our production of BatB is an amazing alto who didn't get into honors chorus this year because- our chorus director told her this straight out- the altos in regular chorus suck and she needs someone who knows what they're doing. I think that's so stupid.
- When ensemble members think they don't need to try because they're "not important".
- When people quit the play and make a scene because they didn't get the lead.
- When people refuse to work hard at rehearsals.
Yeah, wow, I complain a lot. Sorry.- Caitlin / Cait -
Favorites Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2008), Jupiter in Cymbeline (2006), Narrator in Joseph... (2005) Present (possibly) YAGMCB...
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- When ensemble members think they don't need to try because they're "not important".
. This is another thing i hate!!! I usually get a chorus role with one or two lines (if i am lucky), and even though i have a small role i still practice like if i had a lead role. I hate when the chorus members don't even try and they are just into musical theatre because their friends are! You should do something because YOU love it. Luckily i may get a lead role next year because then i will be older!!!! Anyways, the point is even the chorus is important and should try hard because the director is bound to notice you if you are a determined chorus member!!!-Laura
Favorite Musical: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA!!!!!!! As for more "happy" musicals i like BATB, Music Man, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Singin' in the rain!!!
Next production: R&H Cinderella?
“Practice as if you are the worst, perform as if you are the best.”
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BrigantineMagnolia
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/14 13:56aliauthor wrote: -Gay diva men. (LONG story about this one, I'll tell if you're really interested!)
ooh, I want to hear it. PM me with it if you want.
I was in a show, of ocurse, and was the female lead. the male lead was a gay man (only relevant because of my previous statement). He was begged to be in the show by our director because of his fantastic voice. No one auditioned who could sing the role. (oh and he was about 40-something years old, and, originally from a non-english speaking country. Still had a fairly heavy accent) I always thought he was nice and pretty good to work with (we had awkward kissing scenes) but he had a habit of not being very punctual, or working very hard on his lines. One day I guess (I heard about this later) the director told him he had to start taking things more seriously and he supposedly replied with something like "I'm not taking orders from a woman". I never knew a gay man could be such a chauvinist! BUT the next day (a few days before opening) he showed up with all his hair shaved off. like with a razor. completely, shiny bald. I guess this was some weird way at getting back at the director or something. Anyway, he was then forced to keep a hat on in every scene, even semi-intimate scenes that involved kissing and that looked really weird to be wearing a hat in. He didn't ruin the show, but it was hard to look at him. And he just completely turned the character upside down by changing the look that much. So that is my long story/rant about a not-so-pleasant experience. "...If you want to clip your- Ear lobes- You may want to dye your- Hangnails- Dab a little on your- Husband's Face- Won't he be surprised?..." "Sounds While Selling", She Loves Me
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brucecriesxout
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/14 15:45 I was in a show, of ocurse, and was the female lead. the male lead was a gay man (only relevant because of my previous statement). He was begged to be in the show by our director because of his fantastic voice. No one auditioned who could sing the role. (oh and he was about 40-something years old, and, originally from a non-english speaking country. Still had a fairly heavy accent) I always thought he was nice and pretty good to work with (we had awkward kissing scenes) but he had a habit of not being very punctual, or working very hard on his lines. One day I guess (I heard about this later) the director told him he had to start taking things more seriously and he supposedly replied with something like "I'm not taking orders from a woman". I never knew a gay man could be such a chauvinist! BUT the next day (a few days before opening) he showed up with all his hair shaved off. like with a razor. completely, shiny bald. I guess this was some weird way at getting back at the director or something. Anyway, he was then forced to keep a hat on in every scene, even semi-intimate scenes that involved kissing and that looked really weird to be wearing a hat in. He didn't ruin the show, but it was hard to look at him. And he just completely turned the character upside down by changing the look that much. So that is my long story/rant about a not-so-pleasant experience.
WOW! What show was this may I ask?Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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I was in a show, of ocurse, and was the female lead. the male lead was a gay man (only relevant because of my previous statement). He was begged to be in the show by our director because of his fantastic voice. No one auditioned who could sing the role. (oh and he was about 40-something years old, and, originally from a non-english speaking country. Still had a fairly heavy accent) I always thought he was nice and pretty good to work with (we had awkward kissing scenes) but he had a habit of not being very punctual, or working very hard on his lines. One day I guess (I heard about this later) the director told him he had to start taking things more seriously and he supposedly replied with something like "I'm not taking orders from a woman". I never knew a gay man could be such a chauvinist! BUT the next day (a few days before opening) he showed up with all his hair shaved off. like with a razor. completely, shiny bald. I guess this was some weird way at getting back at the director or something. Anyway, he was then forced to keep a hat on in every scene, even semi-intimate scenes that involved kissing and that looked really weird to be wearing a hat in. He didn't ruin the show, but it was hard to look at him. And he just completely turned the character upside down by changing the look that much. So that is my long story/rant about a not-so-pleasant experience.
oh goodness. That's horrible to me because I live by the 'no haircuts, hair dyes, losing a pound, gaining a pound, etc. from the readthrough to the cast party unless explicitly told to by the director' thing.
-Ali
Currently: -Sheila; Boys Next Door (postshow depression mode) -acceptance to acting ensemble -Bye Bye Birdie (audition- didn't get a callback)
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vivian123
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/16 10:52o jeez. haha. i'm one of those who are guilty of always being late to rehearsal, but it's usually because my mom keeps me home to do something before i can leave...she doesn't like the fact that most of the time shows are all i care about doing, and she doesn't care if i'm on time or not. haha.
hm. i'd say it bugs me when people are aware of how good they are and gloat about it, or when they believe they are better than they actually are and try to let everyone know that they are amazing..ex. in a show where we were triple casted, one of the girls said she was nervous. when someone told her to pretend she was better than the girls she was splitting the role with, she said she already knew that. she, however, didn't know what the heck she was doing when she actually had to perform!
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vivian123
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/16 10:52o jeez. haha. i'm one of those who are guilty of always being late to rehearsal, but it's usually because my mom keeps me home to do something before i can leave...she doesn't like the fact that most of the time shows are all i care about doing, and she doesn't care if i'm on time or not. haha.
hm. i'd say it bugs me when people are aware of how good they are and gloat about it, or when they believe they are better than they actually are and try to let everyone know that they are amazing..ex. in a show where we were triple casted, one of the girls said she was nervous. when someone told her to pretend she was better than the girls she was splitting the role with, she said she already knew that. she, however, didn't know what the heck she was doing when she actually had to perform!
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Starlet_Actress21
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/16 11:19BrigantineMagnolia wrote: going along with the unorganized directors theme... -when Directors waste your time. Leads and larger roles will always have something to do, but smaller parts/chorus, not always.
- when you MUST audition with an accompanist, but they can't even play and easy R&H song. Or follow your tempo. Or read clear markings.
-People who drop out of shows. And you can't get a hold of them to get their libretto back. Grrr....
Oh, my gosh, agree with all of these!
I'm finishing up Tommy this week, and it's been an awful experience. I joined up with this theatre two years ago, and my first few shows were fantastic. I've never gotten biggerthan featured ensemble in their musicals, but I still had a great time. But in the last two musicals (Cabaret and Tommy), they definitely favor the leads. I know that they need to sometimes- I mean, obviously I don't have more blocking than the girl playing Mrs. Walker. But it;s the differences in the way they talk to us. During notes, if an ensemble member gets something wrong, they bark, "Why wasn't that done?!" but if a lead did the same thing, they're like, "Can you maybe remember to do that? If you have time." I know this is true from both sides because I recently had a supporting role in one of their plays and was treated very well.
When i auditioned for Anie Get Your Gun, we had an accompanist like that. I was singing Turn Back, O Man (a horrible choice for my voice, but I wasn't really familiar with the MT auditioning scene), and it's not a very hard song. But the accompanist was this really really old and I don't think he could see very well. So I gave him my music and sang a bit under my breath and he was like, "I've never seen this song, but I'll try." So I went to center stage and opened my mouth to introduce myself, and he started playing. Okay... As I mentioned the song was a bad choice, as I'm a soprano , so it was kind of painful to hit the really low notes (I know, I know). But he played the song so slow that I thought I would die from lack of oxygen, as the song has a lot of held-out notes, and he made me hold them out forEVER. Worse, once I finished the song, he went, "Oh, yeah, I know this song!" Thankfull,y the actual production pianist is great.
Our 'Cousin Kevin' dropped out of Tommy two weeks before we opened (two weeks ago), so we had to quickly get another guy (who's better anyway). I was really mad about this, because he really left us hanging. I hate this show, but I would never drop out because it's really irresponsible. After I'm there for two rehearsals, I usually consider myself there for the run.Auditioning for: Brigadoon, theatre season, American Music Theatre, Into the Woods, Sound of Music, and AMDA.
Currently In: Nothing
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bjgruber
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Re:i love theater, but i hate.... - 2008/01/17 14:37You can get hours for community theatre? My school would never credit it me hours for arts. It's a little depressing.Favorite Shows: Spring Awakening, Avenue Q, Hairspray, Assassins, Parade Dream Role: Melchior or Moritz/Spring Awakening Current Role: Bishop/Comberferre in Les Miserables Upcoming Auditions: Busch Gardens, Thoroughly Modern Millie, All Shook Up, VCU (Classical)
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they have a *vision*, but it's everyone else's fault that NO ONE else "gets it". It is the Directors job to communicate the vision of the show, they shouldn't need translators.
He didn't ruin the show, but it was hard to look at him. And he just completely turned the character upside down by changing the look that much. 
, so it was kind of painful to hit the really low notes (I know, I know). But he played the song so slow that I thought I would die from lack of oxygen, as the song has a lot of held-out notes, and he made me hold them out forEVER.
