Type Casting
Like many other non union performers, I attended this fabulously hug open call for the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof last week. It was insanity! I arrived at 7:45am and was number 255. A friend of mine showed up at 7am and was 110 or something. Insanity. They never cut off the list. In order to be more time efficient, they decided to type.
I figured that with my Jew Look, it was in the bag. It’s Fiddler on the Roof! Well, I was typed out along with many other people who are pure jews. We stood outside Ripley (the building where the audition was held) and laughed. Some people were angry. In the end, there is nothing any of us could do about it.
We didn’t show any of our talents. We just stood there as our face was quickly analyzed. It’s a waste of time to be pissed. They are doing their job and being kind enough to give everyone a chance. Plus, if I already have the face he doesn’t want in the show, I thank the casting director for not wasting anymore of my time.
Do I still think I am perfect for the show? Absolutely.
I got typed in once for Wicked. This was back around when it first opened. I was typed in to sing. I didn’t stay because I had work. A friend rightfully gave me crap for leaving. In all truths, I don’t think it was my time. My voice still had a long way to go and I would not have given my very best audition (even if I was at my best). Now, I feel like I am ready. … and now, as a nonunion performer, it is really hard and practically impossible to get seen for that show in the first place. I pray that one day they will have an open call for singers for Wicked again. It’s very likely they will type, but even that would be miraculous.
I swear, I have a love-hate relationship with typing. In some respects, I love it for not wasting my time. But on the other hand, it prevents me from really showing my stuff (and possibly changing the director’s mind - in my favor).
Your thoughts?
