Theatre Archives - Dramatics Magazine Online

The Art of Casting

Natalie Clare — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 18:15:49 +0000

Any given production of theatre is brimming with different artistic talents. Lighting design, choreography, costume design, performance — and even casting. That’s how Stephanie Klapper views her role as a casting director for theatre, film, television, orchestras, and other streaming media.

“We’re a designer of the cast,” she says. “Our artistry is a little different to nail down, but I think that’s what we have. That’s our secret.”

Klapper and her team at Stephanie Klapper Casting (SKC) work with directors and producers to connect performers with artistic opportunities. On new pieces and musicals, her team also works closely with the playwright, composer, lyricist, and book writer. As Klapper describes, they develop a deep understanding of the stories and characters in the script, interpret the directors’ wants and needs, and locate opportunities for actors and performers to bring roles to life.

Just like the designers on any given production, their work comes to fruition on opening night when the house lights dim, and the cast takes the stage. Dramatics chatted with Klapper to explore her views on the craft, how she works with her team, and what makes her job so creatively satisfying.

The Process of Casting a Show

SKC is based in New York City. They partner with theatre artists to cast productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, at regional theatres across the country, on stages abroad, for television and films, for web-based projects, and for audio streaming works.

When asked how many projects she and her team at SKC cast every year, Klapper says simply, “I don’t count. It’s a lot. We’re very, very fortunate, and it’s rare we’re not doing something.”

No two projects are exactly alike when it comes to casting. Sometimes the SKC team has a few months to cast and other times they have to cast on the fly if a production needs to fill or replace a role immediately. Klapper can recall many times when an actor needed to leave a production due to illness or family emergency, but the show was already running and needed a new performer to step in ASAP. She can also recall a few times when an actor was presented with another opportunity and the SKC team had mere hours left to fill the role.

Nevertheless, Klapper says their process typically unfolds as follows: a director or producer sends Klapper the script, she and the SKC team read and discuss it, they receive character descriptions and character breakdowns from the director, and they bring in actors to audition for the director.

“It’s important to know what directors are looking for, and our job is really to get inside their heads,” Klapper says. “We translate what they say and begin to understand aesthetically where they’re coming from and what the larger project is going to be like. That helps us in terms of the actors we bring in for them.”

Klapper says SKC funnels the input and character breakdown they receive from the creative team into their casting process. They consider people who they have previously worked with as well as people who are recommended by the creative team, people who are both represented and unrepresented by agents, and people whose work has been submitted to them. They keep and reference a list of actors who have auditioned for them and actors who they have been following.

SKC’s relationships with managers and agents are also instrumental to their casting process. Additionally, Klapper watches shows in New York City and around the country and works as a teaching artist and guest lecturer, helping to meet and identify emerging talent and broaden the actor pool to choose from.

Depending on the theatre and the client they’re working with, they’ll hold preliminary auditions in person or virtually, then they’ll coordinate schedules with the director for in-person callback sessions, after which the director makes the final casting choices.

Giving Performers Opportunities to Shine

Klapper says there are a few misconceptions about casting and the culture surrounding it. In particular, she says casting directors are often thought of as “the gatekeepers of the world and the people who prevent people from moving forward.” That’s not how she sees herself, her team, or her professional peers.

“I think, almost unilaterally, casting [directors] get great joy from giving people opportunities. It happens in different ways and everybody’s different in how they do that,” Klapper says. “For me, I just really love giving people the opportunity to shine.”

Being insightful is also a big part of their job. They may spot an opportunity an actor might overlook, based on their skills and talents.

“Sometimes productions are about giving people opportunities to find their talent within a role,” she says. “Maybe we’ve seen something in a performer they don’t even know yet, but they have some special ‘Spidey skill’ that we know this part will help them to shine in.”

Klapper describes the SKC team as bright, caring, respectful, and kind people who care deeply about what they do and about giving people opportunities. It’s an open-minded environment that welcomes different perspectives.

“We have great conversations about not just our profession but the world at large and what’s going on right now. I think we all come from different places of thinking, and I think we’re all very respectful of each other and we share what our insights are,” she says. “Every project we talk about, we each bring something different to the table, and I think that’s what makes us so special in what we do — there’s a lot of perspectives.”

3 Tips for a Career in Casting

We asked Klapper to offer pearls of wisdom to students and young performers. She pulled from 25+ years of experience in the industry and offered this guidance:

1. “There’s no such thing as limits.”

Especially at this time in your life—don’t limit yourself, and know that you’re invited to the table. She says, “What’s great right now, in the culture of casting, is that we’re interested in everybody, in everything, and in great discoveries. We talk more about ethnicity up front now. We talk about abilities and actors who have disabilities and how important it is that everybody’s represented on stage. It’s not just a select group of people.”

2. “Never stop learning.”

Don’t limit your potential in exploring new and different skills. Klapper says, “It only makes you a more interesting person, and ultimately, we’re casting the person — not just the best actor.”

3. “Be kind to other people, be polite, be respectful, and never be faultless.”

It’s important to remember you never know who’s going to be in your life for a very long time. You want to make sure you treat people the way you would want to be treated.

While there are plenty of theatre careers to choose from, casting director are the best of both worlds. The role allows artists an opportunity to have a meaningful impact and closeness to a production, while doing so behind the scenes. It requires fundamental theatre skills, like script analysis, but offers you the freedom to go with your gut and give your fellow actors an opportunity to find their dream roles.

Natalie Clare is a regular contributor to Dramatics, a freelance arts and culture reporter in Cincinnati, and an arts and education marketer. She has a handsome husband, an adorable baby boy, a mischievous cat, and far too many plants.

The post The Art of Casting appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

Callback Audition: An Actor’s Guide

Andrew Koch — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:19:11 +0000

Congratulations! You made it through a nerve-racking preliminary audition. But now you’ve been asked to attend another round of evaluation: the callback audition.

If you’ve never been, callbacks can seem intimidating. Here’s what you should know ahead of time, and how you can make the most of it.

What Are Callback Auditions?

Most shows have auditions, for which actors might be asked to prepare a monologue and/or (if the show is a musical) a song. Casting directors and other members of the production team use auditions to evaluate actors’ potential and make decisions about who will fill each role.

A callback audition is a second wave of testing: an opportunity for directors to finalize a cast list. Quite literally, actors are “called back” to the audition space to continue vying for a spot in the production. For some directors, callbacks are merely a “final cut” for certain roles. Others use callbacks exclusively to fine-tune a cast list they’ve already made.

Who Gets a Callback?

Generally, actors who receive callbacks for certain roles are the finalists for those roles. However, some actors may be asked to read for multiple characters.

What Will You Be Asked to Do?

Unlike auditions, you likely won’t need to memorize any materials ahead of a callback. Most callbacks involve readings from the play or musical: You’ll be given the script and asked to perform certain scenes from the show for the production team, likely alongside other actors who have also been called back. Sometimes you’ll be given some time with the material, other times, you may receive the material at the callback and be asked to perform a “cold reading,” without much prep time at all.

Note you may be asked to read for a role you didn’t audition for. Follow the director’s request, even if you aren’t interested in that role; they may simply be experimenting, and you can always decline a role if you don’t want it. (Who knows? You might be surprised to find you like playing an unexpected character!) Mostly, you want to appear receptive to the creative process of the director, display an apt ability to make strong choices and take risks, and be game, willing, and pleasant to work with.

7 Tips for a Great Callback Audition

Much of the same audition etiquette advice also applies to callbacks. Be courteous and professional, arrive early, and bring your acting resume.

Specifically, keep these principles in mind:

A Thespian participates in Thespy adjudication at ITF 2023. Photo by David Slaughter

Carefully follow all instructions: Prepare any materials as instructed and stay active and engaged during the callback itself.
Know the show: Now that you’ll be performing lines from the show itself, it’s even more important to understand the show and your (potential) role in it. Familiarize yourself with the character(s) you’ve been asked to read for. You won’t be expected to know every nuance of a character yet, but study at least the basics: the character’s motivation, their brief biography, and their dramatic arc throughout the show. If you have time, read the whole script, or watch a recording of the performance. Of course, if the show is a brand new original work, you may not have the ability to learn much ahead of the callback. Do as much research as you can.
Be flexible: As in auditions, directors are evaluating how well you take criticism and can adapt to their vision. Listen to and incorporate their suggestions for how to read a line or approach a scene—even if you don’t necessarily agree with them. Try things various ways, if you get the opportunity to read more than once.
Support your fellow actors: If you’re asked to read with another actor, treat them courteously and respect their creative decisions. The casting director will likely be assessing how you and other actors interact—both your on-stage chemistry and your level of professionalism—so be open and respectful. (After all, they may soon be your castmate!)
A group of Thespians prepare for adjudication at ITF 2023. Photo by David Slaughter
Try not to be nervous: Receiving an invitation to a callback audition is a good sign! The director saw what they liked in your audition and wants to spend more time assessing you for a role (or multiple roles). While certainly not a guarantee you’ll be cast, a callback reflects you’ve passed the hardest part of the audition process: making a favorable impression on the casting director.
Stay true to yourself: Again, the casting director saw something they liked in your audition. Don’t suddenly present yourself differently from how you did then, and definitely don’t try to copy a famous actor’s performance of a role. (A casting director isn’t interested in your imitation of Hugh Jackman’s Harold Hill. They want your Harold Hill.)
Follow up: The production team will almost certainly confirm how they’ll inform you on their casting decisions. But if they don’t (or they haven’t contacted you in the time frame they originally announced), it’s appropriate to reach out for clarification. Just be sure to check all locations information may have been conveyed already, like a callboard or your spam folder!

What if I didn’t get a callback?

Don’t panic if you didn’t receive a callback. That doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be cast—the director may simply feel they’ve seen enough of your performance and resume to make a casting decision. Or perhaps the callbacks are only for certain roles or ensembles rather than the full cast.

Once you’re through the callback process, learn how to prepare for a table read or handle not getting the part you wanted.

Andrew Koch is a writer and editor from Cincinnati.

The post Callback Audition: An Actor’s Guide appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

Quiz: Spooky Theatre Trivia

Jose Triana — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 18:23:58 +0000

The post Quiz: Spooky Theatre Trivia appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.