Casting School Plays

[ccgirl]

Our school's spring musical cast list was just announced and we're having the same drama as we did last year. This is a K-8 school. Kids in 3rd-8th are eligible to participate. Parents pay a $120 enrollment fee, and all rehearsals are held after school. The school hires an outside childrens' arts group. The staff includes a professional choreographer, music director and show director. The sets and costumes are provided by the arts group. They rent a high school theater complete with microphones, lighting, etc. and they charge $10 admission for the shows. It's definitely done on a much larger scale than a cute little school play performed on the cafeteria stage. The kids who participate get a real theater experience.Now on to the drama and the questions. Some parents feel that the lead roles should be rotated from year-to-year. If their child was in the chorus last year, they expect them to have a lead role this year. They feel that kids who are doing the play for the first time need "pay their dues in the chorus" before getting a lead role. They also feel that every lead role should be double-cast (two actors assigned to the same role, each performing in two of the four shows), regardless of skills or "type." For example, they're doing Annie this year. The lead female roles were all double-cast because so many girls auditioned. The lead male roles were single cast because they just didn't have enough boys to fill them twice. One parent wanted her daughter to have a chance to play Rooster (usually a tall man with a deep voice). The directors decided they had one boy who could pull off Rooster, so he got it for all four shows. Daddy Warbucks is also doing all four shows. They will cast girls in boys roles if they have to, but only if there aren't any boys who fit the roles.

So, should the directors "rotate" the large roles among all of the kids, or should they cast the kids who have the skills for each role (even if the same kids get leads every year)? Should they double-cast every role, regardless of whether the kids fit the roles? Or, should they only double-cast if they have two kids who can do a credible job with the role? This is my son's 4th show, and I've learned to have him meet me at the car after rehearsal rather than standing around and waiting with the other parents. I don't want to get involved in those kinds of discussions. Too much drama!

I'm so glad our district is nothing like that. You want a part in the school play? You've got one, for free.

You want a lead part? You try out for it and if you don't make it in that role, you're put somewhere else.

What happens when there are more students than parts? It sounds like you agree there is no need to rotate the large roles among the students.

Unfortunately the reality of some of the budget cuts/lack of funding to schools has resulted in this being a necessity. I know for sports schools have considered fees (and some might have implemented them). There is cost involved in having these events and if the school doesn't have the money they can have nothing or have it with a fee.

I agree. My area public schools charge a fee for sports, as well as to ride the bus. I will say, our property taxes are very low compared to others I have heard on this board.

I disagree. I know from experience that you don't need thousands of dollars to put on a middle school play. You only need that much if you want to do some Broadway level musical, but why is that necessary?

See above. It is not necessary. It is what they choose. From the sounds of it; it sounds like they have many parents/students interested. I find theatre arts varies greatly among schools. Some just put on the little rinky dinky elementary school play while others put on similar to what the OP posted. We have some very nice drama programs around here that charge for attending and the theatre is packed.

I live in Wisconsin. I'm well aware of what budget cuts/lack of funding do to schools.

A $120 fee for an elementary play is ridiculous.

See bolded above. This is also middle school and is more than just an elementary play. If you want more than just your basic play, it costs money. It sounds like, from the OP, this is in high demand. If you don't want to pay the $120, don't participate.

OP - do they do smaller in school productions that do not cost money?

 

[SaraJayne]

What happens when there are more students than parts? It sounds like you agree there is no need to rotate the large roles among the students.


I agree. My area public schools charge a fee for sports, as well as to ride the bus. I will say, our property taxes are very low compared to others I have heard on this board.



See above. It is not necessary. It is what they choose. From the sounds of it; it sounds like they have many parents/students interested. I find theatre arts varies greatly among schools. Some just put on the little rinky dinky elementary school play while others put on similar to what the OP posted. We have some very nice drama programs around here that charge for attending and the theatre is packed.



See bolded above. This is also middle school and is more than just an elementary play. If you want more than just your basic play, it costs money. It sounds like, from the OP, this is in high demand. If you don't want to pay the $120, don't participate.

OP - do they do smaller in school productions that do not cost money?

You're missing the point.

What happens if a student wants to participate, but can't afford the ridiculous fee? Too bad, so sad for them?

As far as what happens if there are more people than roles? The director writes them a role.

 

[sam_gordon]

What happens if a student wants to participate, but can't afford the ridiculous fee? Too bad, so sad for them?

What happens if someone wants to go to WDW but can't afford it?

 

[luvsJack]

You're missing the point.

What happens if a student wants to participate, but can't afford the ridiculous fee? Too bad, so sad for them?

As far as what happens if there are more people than roles? The director writes them a role.

I tend to agree with you. When dd made the show choir we knew there would be expenses, but we are given the opportunity to raise the money through fund raisers.

I, personally, think that any thing in the public schools should follow this. There are plenty of things that can be done to raise the money for the production without charging them $120 to participate! I always think these kind of fees are in place to trim down the number of kids able to participate and that is sad.

 

[luvsJack]

What happens if someone wants to go to WDW but can't afford it?

Seriously?

A family going to WDW is extremely different than an activity in a school where EVERY kid should be given an equal opportunity.

 

[Coconut36]

You're missing the point.

What happens if a student wants to participate, but can't afford the ridiculous fee? Too bad, so sad for them?

As far as what happens if there are more people than roles? The director writes them a role.

Seriously? They just write in random roles just for the sake of giving a part to someone that showed up? That's silly and goes back to the "everyone wins" mentality that has ruined and is ruining generations of kids/adults.

I am with the PP..there are a lot of things in life a kid or adult wants but can't afford. Schools will try to work things out sometimes but the reality is a fee is a fee. This is an extra activity, not something they HAVE to do, it costs money and thus needs to charge a fee to go forward.

If I can't pay the fee for a league sport outside of school my kid can't participate. If I can't pay for a movie ticket my kid can't go..that is kind of how things work.

 

[SaraJayne]

What happens if someone wants to go to WDW but can't afford it?

Not even in the same ballpark.

 

[Coconut36]

Seriously?

A family going to WDW is extremely different than an activity in a school where EVERY kid should be given an equal opportunity.

No it's not. Extras in school are just that..extras. At trip to Disney is an extra not a right like their actual education or a need like food. It's something someone might want to have/do and something they can live and grow and function without. If they want the trip, sport, play..etc they have to pay to do it.

Sports, theater, choir, band in many cases required funding..thus a fee (and hey..if you are outraged please stand up and start advocating for the public schools in your state because this is a big issue..they either charge a fee or no longer have the activity) and these extras are generally competitive and skill based so you need to have the ability to actually do it to get on the team/choir/in the play..etc

 

[sam_gordon]

Seriously?

A family going to WDW is extremely different than an activity in a school where EVERY kid should be given an equal opportunity.

Yes, I took it to an extreme, but yes, seriously. Just about ANY activity is going to incur SOME kind of charges. Yes, fundraisers are an option. But speaking as a parent, I *HATE* fundraisers. I hate asking others for money. I would much rather just pay a fee.

So the question comes down to how do you pay for things? Do you raise taxes (since this is a school) on EVERYONE? Or should only the kids/families who participate be responsible for coming up with the money?

 

[SaraJayne]

Seriously? They just write in random roles just for the sake of giving a part to someone that showed up? That's silly and goes back to the "everyone wins" mentality that has ruined and is ruining generations of kids/adults.

I am with the PP..there are a lot of things in life a kid or adult wants but can't afford. Schools will try to work things out sometimes but the reality is a fee is a fee. This is an extra activity, not something they HAVE to do, it costs money and thus needs to charge a fee to go forward.

If I can't pay the fee for a league sport outside of school my kid can't participate. If I can't pay for a movie ticket my kid can't go..that is kind of how things work.

No, it isn't silly. It shows that even if they don't get the lead role, they still have value as a different part, or stage crew.

Everyone is able to participate that wants to. It isn't discrimatory towards those that can't pay.

They HAVE to charge for it? Yet, thousands of schools all across the country manage to put on decent plays/musicals without charging a fee. That argument doesn't fly with me.

 

[Coconut36]

Yes, I took it to an extreme, but yes, seriously. Just about ANY activity is going to incur SOME kind of charges. Yes, fundraisers are an option. But speaking as a parent, I *HATE* fundraisers. I hate asking others for money. I would much rather just pay a fee.

So the question comes down to how do you pay for things? Do you raise taxes (since this is a school) on EVERYONE? Or should only the kids/families who participate be responsible for coming up with the money?

And can you imagine the joy of the band fundraiser, followed by the arts fundraiser, followed by the sports fundraiser and then throw in the 1-2 school fundraisers (that go towards school needs outside of the sports/arts..etc because again..schools are generally very underfunded) that would occur each year. If you bombard people with so many fundraisers you end up with less participation as they feel pressured/burdened and unwilling or unable to participate in every one of them.

 

[luvsJack]

Seriously? They just write in random roles just for the sake of giving a part to someone that showed up? That's silly and goes back to the "everyone wins" mentality that has ruined and is ruining generations of kids/adults.

I am with the PP..there are a lot of things in life a kid or adult wants but can't afford. Schools will try to work things out sometimes but the reality is a fee is a fee. This is an extra activity, not something they HAVE to do, it costs money and thus needs to charge a fee to go forward.

If I can't pay the fee for a league sport outside of school my kid can't participate. If I can't pay for a movie ticket my kid can't go..that is kind of how things work.

Your key words here being a sport OUTSIDE of school and a MOVIE. Completely different.

Too many schools are able to have play productions, football teams, cheerleading squads, etc. without causing a financial hardship on families and still allowing kids to participate.

Tomorrow night, after work I will be selling hot dog plates to a room full of parents at a PTO meeting. Why? To help pay for dd's costumes. We will have a car wash next month and a garage sale. We have a 3 day dinner theater coming up where our parents and kids will be cooking and serving food. We sell candy bars. We raise the money.

Some parents are in a financial situation where they can just write the check to pay for costumes and a trip to WDW in April. So, that is what they do. The rest raise the money.

If they can't raise the money, then they should figure out how to put on the production without charging $120. Its done all the time.

 

[Coconut36]

No, it isn't silly. It shows that even if they don't get the lead role, they still have value as a different part, or stage crew.

Everyone is able to participate that wants to. It isn't discrimatory towards those that can't pay.

They HAVE to charge for it? Yet, thousands of schools all across the country manage to put on decent plays/musicals without charging a fee. That argument doesn't fly with me.

That's because you don't get it. You obviously have no clue what funding situations occur from state to state or district to district. My Mom and DH live it at different districts and when they cut your funding by millions of dollars you have to cut the extras completely or you have to charge a fee.

And yes it is ridiculous. Life doesn't work in a way that when you go for the job someone writes one for you to "show you are valued"..you don't get the job. I would really urge you to read Generation Me and you might understand the damage and harm that mentality does and the generation that is miserable and struggling because people like you think "everyone wins" and "everyone should have a part" and when they actual enter the real world they can't figure out why things aren't being handed to them for doing nothing, when they don't have the skill or ability because all they have known is being given to, done for and catered to rather than dealing with not getting a part, not getting the highest grade and so on.

 

[luvsJack]

Yes, I took it to an extreme, but yes, seriously. Just about ANY activity is going to incur SOME kind of charges. Yes, fundraisers are an option. But speaking as a parent, I *HATE* fundraisers. I hate asking others for money. I would much rather just pay a fee.

So the question comes down to how do you pay for things? Do you raise taxes (since this is a school) on EVERYONE? Or should only the kids/families who participate be responsible for coming up with the money?

You are given the choice, write a check or do a fundraiser.

There will always be parents that choose to do neither, you can't help that, but there should always be an option.

Most activities are going to incur some charge, but it should be reasonable enough that almost every kid can pay it and there should be something in place for the ones that cannot.

 

[Coconut36]

Your key words here being a sport OUTSIDE of school and a MOVIE. Completely different.

Too many schools are able to have play productions, football teams, cheerleading squads, etc. without causing a financial hardship on families and still allowing kids to participate.

Tomorrow night, after work I will be selling hot dog plates to a room full of parents at a PTO meeting. Why? To help pay for dd's costumes. We will have a car wash next month and a garage sale. We have a 3 day dinner theater coming up where our parents and kids will be cooking and serving food. We sell candy bars. We raise the money.

Some parents are in a financial situation where they can just write the check to pay for costumes and a trip to WDW in April. So, that is what they do. The rest raise the money.

If they can't raise the money, then they should figure out how to put on the production without charging $120. Its done all the time.

Again..you don't get it either. Some schools can..many can not. More and more schools have to resort to a fee for sports and other extra programs because THEY ARE NOT FUNDED. When you have millions cut you can decide to buy books, pay teachers and pay the power bill for the school or you can fund sports..what wins? My DH district has been faced with this the last several years..each year they have managed to make it fee free but if they continue to cut budgets as they have been this will likely be the last year they can do that. Like I said..if you are outraged please by all means start fighting for funding for your local public schools instead of rolling your eyes when they charge a fee because they have no other ability to fund it and still run the school (because believe me..they they skimped on books, materials, teacher pay, facility care/maintenance for extras people would be throwing a fit too).

A sport or play or choir or band also is not a right or a necessity when you go to school..they are extras and something you have to work to achieve/join/participate in. Thus a fee. If you want it, save your money for it. If you want it, practice and work hard for it. You don't just get it because you attend the school when you have no skill or ability.

 

[SaraJayne]

That's because you don't get it. You obviously have no clue what funding situations occur from state to state or district to district. My Mom and DH live it at different districts and when they cut your funding by millions of dollars you have to cut the extras completely or you have to charge a fee.

Ok. You're right ~ I have no idea and don't get it.

Guess you haven't followed what's happened in WI in the last year.

 

[luvsJack]

And can you imagine the joy of the band fundraiser, followed by the arts fundraiser, followed by the sports fundraiser and then throw in the 1-2 school fundraisers (that go towards school needs outside of the sports/arts..etc because again..schools are generally very underfunded) that would occur each year. If you bombard people with so many fundraisers you end up with less participation as they feel pressured/burdened and unwilling or unable to participate in every one of them.

All it takes is a little communication and planning. All fundraising isn't selling something.

Our school is small and every organization has fund raisers. Most are very successful. Its just a matter of communicating and make sure we aren't all doing the same things over and over.

 

[goofy4tink]

I disagree. I know from experience that you don't need thousands of dollars to put on a middle school play. You only need that much if you want to do some Broadway level musical, but why is that necessary?

True. Most of the big name musicals are pricey to produce...not in the budget for the vast majority of schools. Just to get the rights for a show is huge....then costumes, scripts, sets, etc. You can get by with much less. It's not as glitzy, but so what???

You're missing the point.

What happens if a student wants to participate, but can't afford the ridiculous fee? Too bad, so sad for them?

As far as what happens if there are more people than roles? The director writes them a role.

I live in an upper middle class town of about 20,000. Our school system is pretty highly regarded. But, we do have activity fees. Sports fees are a bit higher than other fees simply because of all the addlt uniform/travel costs. But, if a child wants to participate in the musical in high school, they pay an activity fee for the entire year. Then, they are covered for anything they want to do. It's about $225 if I remember correctly. There is a 'hardship' clause though...if you can't pay, you can go to the school and other accomodations will be made. If a child wants to work on the set crew, act onstage, do lights...whatever. They pay the activity fee. It works very well.

As far as what happens if there are too many for the roles? Well, when you do a musical, at least the ones that schools seem to do, you can always put as many in the ensemble as you need to. You don't go changing a show by writing in addtl parts though...that's kinda against copyright laws or some such thing. Writers don't much like having their work amended just to accomodate addtl kids.

We are doing 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' with our community theater group this spring. We decided that since it's the groups 75th year, we wanted to do something a bit more special. So, we are holding a workshop for those who want to be in the children's choir. Each child will pay $75 in order to participate. There will be 8 Sat workshops where they will learn the music from 'Joseph....', do some improv, learn about stagecraft, work on taking direction...all sorts of good stuff. Then, they will join the adult cast about two weeks prior to production. They are all in the show, no audition is needed. Nicer for the parents since the kids aren't going out at night for rehearsals, the kids can learn other stuff besides 'Joseph....' stuff. And when you consider that every person that is cast in one of our shows has to pay a membership fee (for insurance purposes) of $15, then $25 for the cost of scripts, costumes, makeup, etc., and there is an addlt cost of $25 for a show tee shirt..well, that totals $65...the kids are getting all that, plus more individual attention for an addl $10. I guess it's kind of like paying to be in a show, but there are other benefits.

So, should everyone be expected to pay to be part of a theatrical experience? Depends on what the situation is. Schools have to cover their costs....people need to be paid to direct. There are inherent costs associated with just getting rights for a show. It's not a cut and dried issue.

 

[SaraJayne]

True. Most of the big name musicals are pricey to produce...not in the budget for the vast majority of schools. Just to get the rights for a show is huge....then costumes, scripts, sets, etc. You can get by with much less. It's not as glitzy, but so what???



I live in an upper middle class town of about 20,000. Our school system is pretty highly regarded. But, we do have activity fees. Sports fees are a bit higher than other fees simply because of all the addlt uniform/travel costs. But, if a child wants to participate in the musical in high school, they pay an activity fee for the entire year. Then, they are covered for anything they want to do. It's about $225 if I remember correctly. There is a 'hardship' clause though...if you can't pay, you can go to the school and other accomodations will be made. If a child wants to work on the set crew, act onstage, do lights...whatever. They pay the activity fee. It works very well.

Therein lies the difference. We live in a blue collar town of about 3,000 people. Our kids' activity fee for the entire year (that covers everything from sports to band to the towels during gym class) is $15.

 

[luvsJack]

Again..you don't get it either. Some schools can..many can not. More and more schools have to resort to a fee for sports and other extra programs because THEY ARE NOT FUNDED. When you have millions cut you can decide to buy books, pay teachers and pay the power bill for the school or you can fund sports..what wins? My DH district has been faced with this the last several years..each year they have managed to make it fee free but if they continue to cut budgets as they have been this will likely be the last year they can do that. Like I said..if you are outraged please by all means start fighting for funding for your local public schools instead of rolling your eyes when they charge a fee because they have no other ability to fund it and still run the school (because believe me..they they skimped on books, materials, teacher pay, facility care/maintenance for extras people would be throwing a fit too).

A sport or play or choir or band also is not a right or a necessity when you go to school..they are extras and something you have to work to achieve/join/participate in. Thus a fee. If you want it, save your money for it. If you want it, practice and work hard for it. You don't just get it because you attend the school when you have no skill or ability.

Uhmmm. . . I live in the poorest state in the nation. You don't have to explain funding or the lack thereof to me.

Want to know what our show choir got from the school? Enough money for ONE bus trip to ONE competition (that is a school bus driven by a driver that is employed by the district). Oh, and of course they pay the teacher who also teaches music in every grade k-8 plus directs show choir.

We raise every dime that it costs to run the choir. please, do not tell me it can't be done.

The drama production being put on, cost the parents NOTHING. The teacher is finding plenty of creative ways to do everything she needs to do and any expenses that are incurred will come out of the fund raised in ticket and meal sales.