DD didn't make another JH musical

[Rock'n Robin]

DD#1 has 10 years of dance. She was in show choir at her elementary for 2 years. Her director raves about how taleneted she is and now she takes voice lessons as well. But for the second year in a row, she did not make the cast of the junior high musical.
I know some of the kids who were cast and I know they are not as talented as DD#1. I've seen them perform. However, they worked on the crew of last year's show when DD#1 was unable to as they never passed out the forms to the kids who were in band and choir (she is only in choir now). I have heard rumblings that the director is all politics and favorites but I don't want to believe them...I am starting to think it is true. I was a theatre ed. minor in college and can teach theatre, so I know how difficult it is to cast, blah blah blah, but I really feel DD is getting the shaft.
Last year we enrolled her in a local theatre workshop when she didn't get cast, but I didn't think it was worth the $ when we saw the final product. She was in a local summer production this summer and had a good role.
I've had a lot of emotions since I found this out. I even considered switching her to a school where she would be able to shine like she can. I have checked out some other lessons but they cost a lot of $. She doesn't know if she will work on the crew or not--I told her it is up to her; I don't plan on paying to see a show she isn't in.
Her goal is to be in high school shows, but if she doesn't have the JH background, I don't know if she'll have a shot.
Thanks for letting me vent....DH doesn't really understand any of this.
Robin M.

 

[auntpolly]

I know how frustrating this stuff is. I was always glad that DD was a swimmer, because it's pretty darned hard for a swim coach to play favorites because it's all based on times.

I really think you'll serve your daughter better if you show your daughter how to shine in spite of favoritism. Are there any children's theater productions in your town? Look for other ways to get her involved and figure it's the school's loss.

How much do you want to bet that most famous actors and actresses have stories like this from junior high!?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think it is the same all over for the arts. My dd is in band and it is what is needed or "who's who" at the time. Now it may not be favorites, but I told dd if she wants to excel she is going to have to look outside school.

If she wants to be in High School stuff then she must practice her craft somewhere.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Maybe she should work crew to try to get herself known to the director. Then he/she can get to know your DD on a different level. Any experience would be good I would think. JMHO.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

When I was in school, I never made the school musicals either, but when I auditioned for community theater shows, I always did and got big roles.

Could your DD possibly join a community kids theater group? Mine was run through a church but there were some non church groups as well. It was one of the best things I ever did and I am still friends with many of those kids today as adults.

 

[grinningghost]

That's too bad. It sounds as though she really wanted a part, so I can understand her being sad. Like someone else said, maybe a job on the crew would help her get "in" with the director and others involved. It might give her some good experience and next year she'll have a better shot.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Sounds like your daughter is talented, but didn't make the cut for various reasons. I vote for volunteering for the stage crew. It'll give your daughter some experience.

 

[swilphil]

Maybe she should work crew to try to get herself known to the director. Then he/she can get to know your DD on a different level. Any experience would be good I would think. JMHO.

I was going to suggest the same thing. And please support her for working on crew. I worked on crew when I was in high school and I appreciated my parents seeing the show. The kids doing crew put in as much (and sometimes more!) time than the kids on stage. It's a great experience and can often lead to more

I wouldn't switch junior high schools just because of this problem. I taught in a high school with a great theater program (one of the best in the nation). I never heard one of the 3 full time drama teachers ever mention jr. high experience having anything to do with getting in shows. Doing things like working on crew, being a hard worker in drama/choir class, and starting out in smaller productions did make a difference.

 

[grlpwrd]

I have 3 school-aged dd's in drama.... I know it bites, but just because she doesn't get plum roles (or any roles for that matter) doesn't mean she should quit.

I think the director may just be used to seeing the same faces and pidgeon-hole the same people over time, or the director may just prefer for the kids to do crew work first, or for whatever reason. Have you spoken with him or her?

She's only in junior high so there is lots of time for her to build and develop. I would use this as a learning experience because, as you may know, rejection is a part of life of this art. She should definitely try community theater where she may have a better chance and the director may be more objective.

Give it time.... One day her star will really shine!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I sure hope so. I forgot to add that there is a choir concert Tuesday night, and a meeting for parents of cast members afterwards--meaning the kids who did NOT get cast slink out of the auditorium while the cast members stay. Kind of mean. I am still not sleeping because I get mad when I think about it. There are at least 3 girls DD was in show choir with that she outsings and outdances--two of them made last year's musical as 6th graders, one worked crew, and they are all cast this time.
We talked about working crew--one of the girls mentioned above is already listed as chorus/props, and she doesn't want to have to answer to this girl. She also doesn't want to kiss the director's butt, and is concerned that she won't get cast next year unless she does. She is always polite in choir and listens there, but doesn't want to fetch and carry at rehearsals just to be thrown a chorus role next year. I told her it's up to her. Her BDay is the day before they open, and I told her that weekend we could have a massive sleepover since most of her friends did not get cast, if she decides not to work the show.
As for community theatre, the one kids group had auditions last weekend, and of course we didn't go out because of the JH show. The other local groups are doing shows without parts for tweens. I called her voice teacher to hopefully see if any other shows are out there. She and her husband are active in several groups. I'm waiting for a return call as well as a call to see how much the one group's acting classes are. The group she was in when she didn't make it last year costs $105, which I do not have right now. I know that's not a lot for some, but we just went through bankruptcy and are still treading water. I was hoping she would make the school show because it would be free to participate. But for pete's sake, how can I build her up and tell her she performs better than those girls and then send her off to do their hair and makeup? I found out she had also hand-picked some girls to sing some songs from "Scrooge" in a group for a production somewhere. No auditions, not even "who is interested?" Just hand picking the same girls.
She did ask me to EMail the director and ask what she needs to work on, which I did, and I used all the restraint I have and was very nice about it (see I'm an actress too, LOL). I feel that she doesn't really know DD at all, since they had a different choir director last year and she has so many students this year. So I said that Kelly has 10 years of dance and a year of voice lessons, and all of her directors have said how good she is, and that she is confused and upset that she is unable to get cast in a JH show. I mentioned that we did the local theatre classes last year but I wasn't sure it was worth the $, and we would appreciate any feedback about how she could improve for next year before we made any decisions on costly classes. This way hopefully we get the feedback plus she knows a little bit more about Kelly than just a face in 6th period.
BTW, so you don't think I'm imagining that she has talent, in the past year alone she has had a solo in 6th grade choir (different director), gotten a good speaking role in the summer kids' musical (two of the above girls were chorus), and been called repeatedly by the youth choir director at church to find out where she is because she "needs a strong alto".
Robin M.

 

[shortbun]

Tell her to work tech and keep trying. If I were the drama coach, I'd be impressed with
a student who didn't "make it" but still wanted to participate no matter what.
I was the "star" in middle and high school but the kids who kept trying were the real
stars! Also, there's something to be said for not peaking too early. Those early stars
often burn out. As you know, disappointment is the norm in the theatre. If she wants
to get attention-she needs to have perserverance. Keep her working in those areas
where she IS having success and also those where she isn't. Knowing all aspects of
theatre work is NOT a bad thing, eh?

 

[AngieBelle]

Oh boy, can I relate to this! I went to a high school with a phenomenal theatre department. I saw one of their musical in 5th grade and dreamed of the day I could do one of their shows. My freshman year, I auditioned for my very favorite show, The Sound of Music. I didn't even make the first cut. I was soooo crushed. I couldn't stop crying all day.

Well, I tried out for every single show my high school put on until the day I graduated...including their annual spring musicals and all the fall plays and touring children's productions. With the musicals for my sophmore and junior years, I made it all the way to the final cut and still didn't make the cast! But my senior year, I finally got to be in the show. It was just ensemble, but it's still one of the shows that I'm the most proud to have been a part of.

I've delt with unfair politics too. I tried so many times to get cast in shows at the local children's theatre. They only chose me twice in at least 8 or 9 auditions over the years. I definately sensed playing favorites both there and at my high school.

Tell your daughter to keep trying.

 

[Tabetha]

Your daughter is learning one of the most valueable lessons a person who wants to pursue a career in the arts can learn. Rejection. The majority of auditioning leads to rejection. As I'm sure you've learned, the key to a happy and successful career lies in how you handle the rejection.
You can't let it get to you. You can't take it too much to heart. Don't compare your daughter to others, she is her own talent, and her opportunity will be her own. Don't let the bitterness creep in.
There is also something to be said for demonstrating commitment to a goal. I've worked on both sides of the curtain, professionally and in university, and the time spent working behind the scenes made me a much smarter actor - and easier to work with. You gotta get some sawdust under your fingernails. If we're talking about a JH production (or a community theatre production for that matter), it may be less appealing for a director to cast someone who is only interested in the limelight. Another good idea is for her to stop in and visit the director herself, to talk face to face about how she can work towards the next audition. It is 'her battle', and a conversation like this could be quite empowering for her. Plus, its a good way for the director to get to know her, and her intentions a little better.

Its true, that there are many stories of famous actors that begin with "I never got cast in school plays". If she wants to pursue it, keep trying.
If money's tight, look around for non-profit theatre that offers lessons for kids her age, then offer to do some volunteering in exchange for class credits. (I know of theatres in my area that do this, so it's feasable.)

PS: A little tip. Never turn down an audition. If there are auditions for shows that have conflicting runs, audition for both. If she gets cast in both, cross that bridge when you get to it, and turn down one of the roles. Besides, auditions are GREAT learning tools.

 

[Rowena]

Unfortunately, the politics of these things get started far too early. If I were in your shoes, I would suggest DD get involved some way, as in crew now. Not so much for the JH teacher's benefit but to get to know the other kids. And, let them know her. When they move on to HS, it may make things easier to have some friends. Please, please do not do anything that may make DD poison or view her relationship with the teacher in JH as anything but amicableas you can never tell. This JH teacher may be best friends with the HS teacher. Learning should be fun and if DD is serious about the craft, anything, even passing out programs is better than not being involved. Do what you can to keep her enthusiasm high, find stories of "paying dues", take her out for a hot fudge sundae and enjoy each other's company.
I do think what you've described sucks and hope it changes.

 

[rascalmom]

I just went through this with my daughter at the HS level. She had a great role in a community production of Godspell this summer, but didn't even make the ensemble for the HS's Little Shop of Horrors. She is in show choir & works soooo hard. It is very frustrating! She's a really good kid & a couple of the others that were cast have been in a bit of trouble at school, so I really don't get it. It's so hard for us moms to have our kids rejected. I am going to encourage her to work crew so that she can get to know the drama teacher better. I did crew in HS and had a great time just being around the other kids - but I couldn't sing so I knew that I didn't belong onstage. Hang in there!

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

She is always polite in choir and listens there, but doesn't want to fetch and carry at rehearsals just to be thrown a chorus role next year.

I'm not sure what this means. In my junior high school many things were chosen as much on effort and attitude as talent. I know especially our drama teams were chosen mostly that way. The teachers casting were not just watching our stage audition, they were watching how we pitched in setting up before hand or cleaning up afterwards, how we interacted with others (not popularity but attitude), whether we complained at all. Its not politics. Its who wants it and who is willing to put in the hard work. Now I'm not saying this is whats going on or your dd is doing this but the "fetch and carry" comment threw me off. IMO her best bet would be joining the crew and making it clear she was trying to learn everything she can to make it next year.

For me I always wanted to be a cheerleader, tried out every single year and took every dance class I could. For 6 years (junior high through high school) I never made it, but I did make it the first time I tried out for an NBA dance squad and the girls who had been cheerleaders those 6 years did not. So don't let this get her down.