Stage Tip - Casting

CASTING ACTORS in ROLES

Choosing which actor is going to play which role can often be the most daunting, fun, challenging, enlightening, difficult and/or breathtaking thing you do when you begin putting your performance piece together. Yes, there is the potential of having a bipolar or schizophrenic experience...So, put on your seat belt!

Things will go right...and wrong...depending on whether you made an educated choice. This isn't to say that casting has to be laboriously laid out. You can just as easily point and say "you, you and you" will play "this, this and this". Sure, the production might miraculously come together with hardly any effort, but why take the chance of the opposite happening? Prepare...at least a bit.

Get the right actor to play the role and more than half of your job is done as director. You can then concentrate on overseeing that the ambiance of the scene as a whole is interpreted the way you want it to be (actor's performances as a group, the set, the costumes, and, most importantly, the MESSAGE). It allows you to take the time to focus and make sure the scene is flowing the way you want it to. And what a beautiful thing that can be.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CASTING A PART:

1. Does the person have good energy? Positive energy to work with, and uplifting energy to carry the character through the scene?

2. Will I want to spend time rehearsing with this person?

3. Do they have a controlling personality or are they a good team player? Do they take direction well (this will definitely count when trying to shape the character and the scene as a whole)?

4. Do they fit the bill? Are they right for the part? Age-wise, looks, height, etc? (it matters!)

5. Will their voice carry over well in the church? Do they speak clearly? (this can be worked on and improved)

6. Are they comfortable in their own body? Do they have a sense of how their character moves and gestures? (another item that can be worked on and improved)

7. Do they have at least a general sense of what the script is about and what you, as the director, are trying to convey to the congregation?

These are guidelines to help structure your search for the best person to perform the role. I'm not talking about pressuring yourself to pick the "perfect" actor, I'm just saying choose a person with a positive sense of self and a generous attitude towards the project and other people.

THOSE WHO AUDITION WELL...AND THOSE WHO DON'T:

Like everything else in life, some people do well at one thing and are horrible at another . Auditioners are no exception.

There are actors who will come in and blow you away. They ARE the character. That's great and, for all purposes, will be fine for a church production (if this were a Hollywood production you'd think twice about it, BUT that's another subject matter that we don't need to get into at the moment).

On the other side of the spectrum, there are actors who will come into an audition and fumble their way through it. Even you feel bad for them as they desperately try to perform their way out of a paper bag. Fear not! Don't let this deflate you. If you see a speck of promise anywhere in this person then, by all means, go all out and give them a chance. There are instances where a person can audition rather poorly, and yet, with rehearsals, patience and encouragement, come out on stage shining.

WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE A POOL OF ACTORS TO CHOOSE FROM?

I'm fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing group of talented, creative people that includes actors, but there are times when even we are shortchanged with choices because actors we would normally consider for roles are either not available or they don't fit the description of the character.

When this happens we do one of two things, we'll bring in actors from the outside (what a wonderful way to invite someone into your church...through the back door, as it was once described to me, after I had done such a thing myself through a show at church), or, go out to the congregation itself and find new "actors" - people who might be interested but never considered themselves "actors" - and, therefore, were shy of auditioning or joining the drama team to begin with.

WHAT IF A DEVOTED CHURCH MEMBER DESIRES TO ACT BUT DOESN'T HAVE AN OUNCE OF TALENT?

I am a very big believer of including anyone who has a desire to be part of the drama scene. Having said that - to be perfectly honest - if I have to choose between a talented actor and an untalented congregation member, I will naturally gravitate towards the talented actor. Blame the human part of me! [wink]

However, I am aware that one needs to be extra careful about not being exclusive and should desperately avoid developing "stars" within the church. So, as much as I love working with those who have been committed to the team (and I applaud their hard work and talent), I am open to welcoming and working with fresh talent. I don't feel actors should expect special preference within the church. This is about community. This is about being part of the body of Christ. I'm talking about embracing others to join the team, not kicking current members to the side.

Now, does this mean I will carelessly give a role to someone who looks like they have no obvious talent and can barely sputter out two words? Of course not. Start out slow and give them a small role - maybe a line or two - then, if all goes well, graduate them to bigger responsibilities. If it turns out that they have no talent whatsoever, then I would suggest (gently) being part of the behind-the-scenes team (costumes, lights, etc) or other ministries (within the church) they might be more fitting for, BUT if they insist that they want to be onstage then, for all practical purposes, cast them as "extras" (actors with no lines) or limit their lines and how long they are on stage for. This will - hopefully - keep the peace.

CAST THE ACTORS SENSIBLY!

Don't cast a 25 year-old to play 60 year-old Elizabeth. People won't get the reason why it was so miraculous that she and Zechariah had baby John (the Baptist) when they did. If you cover her in stage makeup to fit the bill that's one thing, but otherwise.....You get my drift, right?

For years I thought that Mary (mother of Jesus) was around her mid-to-late 20's when she gave birth. Why? Because everyone I had seen play Mary (in movies or stage) was around that age! I was shocked to find out (years later) that Mary was actually a teenager! Possibly as young as 14!

Visuals make a difference.

LASTLY...

Don't take my word as gospel truth. They are only suggestions and thoughts of how I feel about the subject matter. Still, I hope you find a nugget or two that are useful in your quest to find the right actors for your project.

And don't forget to have fun in the process...and, most importantly, PRAY!