What does go on Inside & Out at an audition...

I just spent a good twenty minutes writing a long and involved answer here made a stupid mistake lost it and I am not sure I can reproduce it. I am in effect a one man band. I run my own company and have only two or three other people to worry about. I do precast shows (not always and rarely more than one cast member). I have worked for various companies over the years and had to cope with audition techniques ranging from having the entire executive committee present and dictating to the director who gets what role through to simply having a silent observer present. When I audition I go with an open mind on any role I have not pre cast. Yes folks Directors usually care about the play and want to cast the best people available. I often have written the play I am directing and usually wrote a role with a specific actor in mind. That is the role I precast. Beyond that I will audition. Don't listen to people hanging around at auditions who say things like "Well I believe they are only looking for 6 foot redheads." The Director may have expressed a preference in that direction but he or she will, in the audition, cast the person who they see as right for the role. Sure if the decision is difficult to make they will tend to select the candidate they know and trust over someone they haven't worked with. Some of the biggest battles I have had in audition rooms have been over smaller roles, amusing that isn't it. Some of my favourite reasons for not giving roles are a bit amusing. "Give it to Bert He stage managed last time." "You can't give it to her she's a man hunter." "Don't give him the lead he has no loyalty and only goes where the good roles are." I also direct semi pro co-op shows where I don;t have to audition if I don't want to nice position to be in. Edit: I don't at the moment direct musicals. I am intending to produce a couple of musicals in the future and may direct one or more of them myself. That will be a new experience for me. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au