GETTING THE PART

It’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for some, a “right place at the right time” coincidence for others – being cast in a Broadway show, that is. Several performers from the touring production of Wicked participated in Playhouse Square’s KeyBank Careers in the Performing Arts distance learning program while they were in Cleveland. Students from high schools across the state connected to the program to find out what it takes to pursue a career in “show biz.”

Feeling a passion for performing – at the earliest ages – should fuel a desire to be involved in any and all school productions. Versatility is paramount. A person who’s really “hooked” on the idea of musical theater as a career should look into private voice and dance lessons early on as well.

A college or conservatory education generally is the next step for intensive study of musical theater, sometimes followed by pursuit of a Master’s degree. There are those, however, who advise young actors who feel secure enough to start auditioning right out of high school. Clifton Hall (Fiyero) had intentions of going to college but auditioned for the Miss Saigon tour, was hired, and has been working ever since.

Then there are those serendipitous situations. Brad Weinstock (Boq) was a senior musical theater major at Northwestern University when he performed in the annual New York Showcase at the school, an opportunity for top students in the theater program to perform for industry professionals. One of the panelists was a casting director for THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, scheduled to open in April, 2006, at Chicago’s Drury Theatre. The director invited Weinstock to audition for Chip, and after four call-backs, he got the job.

“And I am no ‘triple threat,’” Weinstock explained, referring to the much-sought-after actor/singer/dancer who seems to have an edge over others. “I consider myself a 2.2 threat – I can’t dance, but I guess I’m an actor/singer who moves well enough when necessary.” He says he plans to take some dance lessons when his current tour of Wicked finishes.

Weinstock’s casting in the Chicago production of SPELLING BEE illustrates another point all would-be actors must deal with: the “I-can’t-explain-it-but-this-person-has-that-certain-something” factor. Weinstock’s character is usually cast as a swarthy-looking Filipino-American named Chip Tolentino. The casting director saw something in Weinstock that he wanted in the show, so he changed the character to Isaac “Chip” Berkowitz, an overachieving “alpha male” with an ego. “He’s a bit of a good Jewish boy,” Weinstock said.

Very, very rarely is someone simply plucked off the street for a starring role. In order to work, regardless of educational background, one must audition. New York. Chicago. Los Angeles. Regional. Newspapers and trade magazines such as Backstage, Show Business, Variety and websites like www.castingnetworks.com and www.NYCastings.com provide information on just about every show or tour being cast.

Talent and preparation are important, of course, but directors and others involved in the casting process usually have a vision for each character’s age, look and “type.” In spite of what happened to Brad Weinstock, a character is not often changed to fit an actor. Usually the most talented actor who auditions for the role and fits the age, look and type is chosen.

Weinstock noted, “If you’re not what they’re looking for at THAT audition, you will fit somewhere – you just keep auditioning and auditioning and auditioning.”

Photo: Cast from "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" touring production.