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Artistree Performing Arts

Performing Arts Group | Mamaroneck, New York

Acting Classes

The View from the Casting Table: Casting 101

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It’s casting season once again at Artistree and as I’m in the midst of casting four shows in two weeks, I have a few things to say on the subject.  Casting is one of the most wonderful and most horrible parts of my job. The gleeful emails make me smile and the tough emails bring me to tears. I have said this before–in class, in the blog, in the studio–casting is a like putting together a puzzle.  And the puzzle only fits together with pieces you are given–essentially, the members of the cast. A different puzzle is going to have different pieces in any given production. But for this moment in time, the creative team has the job of trying to make these particular pieces (actors) fit together.

I love taking chances and risks in casting.  And I always cast the actor over the singer. But I also love finding that spark in an actor’s audition.  Something that makes them stand out–(especially after you’ve heard thirteen renditions of “Tomorrow” back to back.)  

In the end, I would say to every parent and child to trust the process.  I say those words, (as many of you know) to my students before every performance.  But I would encourage you to think about that phrase from the first audition. Trust that you or your child is being put exactly where they are supposed to be at THIS moment.  And throughout the process, can you make your mantra, “what can I learn from this?” If you’re given an ensemble role, what else can you learn when you’re not working? Can you study the performances or the direction being given?  Can you tell when an actor is actually TAKING direction? So much is to be learned by watching the process–sometimes even more than the doing.

Think about this as the casting for your show is released.  Take a moment to breathe before you approach your creative team and see if you can trust the process that is underway.  I assure you, taking that challenge, will be the greatest learning experience of all.

Should I enroll my child in an acting class?

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I get this from parents all the time: “should I enroll my child in an acting class?” Or “should my child do theater?” Being a proud theater nerd, my answer would ALWAYS be YES!! But the deep-seated knowing that I have about why theater is important might not resonate with everyone. (Just as your love of lacrosse is lost on me….) But after 30 years of performing and teaching, here is why I think you should enroll your child in an acting class.

Acting is just communicating. Speaking. Having a conversation. And don’t we all want our kids to be able to carry on an intelligible conversation? Better yet, don’t we want them to be able to stand up in front of a crowd and voice their opinion with ease and confidence? By teaching communication through the guise of “acting,” kids get to create characters, make-believe and become someone else. And sometimes that’s an easier way to get them to speak up.

Acting also helps kids to understand disappointment at an early age. Not everyone gets to be “Annie” and if they can understand how to deal with not always getting the part, they can translate that into other areas of their life. And truly learn that “the sun’ll come out tomorrow.” (I can quote that because I’m good friends with Martin Charnin… 🙂

Another reason to take an acting or theater class is that your theater friends are your best friends–most of the time for life. I don’t know if it’s the storytelling, the fact that you have to open up and be vulnerable when you perform or that some theater kids don’t feel like they fit in in the other areas of their life, but when they can be together, a bond is formed like nothing else. I had a mom tell me today that the only thing that motivates her daughter in school is the threat of taking away her Artistree Performance Workshop class. When she asked her why, she said, “it’s my home, my safe place and nobody judges me there.” That’s the power of theater, folks.

And lastly, taking an acting class and creating characters makes you a more empathetic human being. You learn to stand in someone else’s shoes and understand why they think the way they think, move the way they move, speak the way they speak, feel the way the feel. And in that process, you learn to better understand why they do the things they do. If we could all have that trait, we might have a more peaceful and palatable world.

Therefore, all children and politicians should take an acting class. And maybe some regular adults too. Either way, acting and performing help you to be your best self, hopefully on and off the stage. And isn’t that what we all want for our children?