Questions & Answers on Little Women and The Music Man
In follow-up to the recent posting of auditions information for both Little Women and The Music Man, ACT has received several inquiries for additional information.
In an effort to share info with as many youth actors and their families as possible, please see the Questions and Answers below.
1) ACT’s standard practice is to conduct auditions seven to eleven weeks prior to a production’s opening night. Why are auditions for The Music Man occurring significantly sooner than would normally be the case?
The Music Man is an extremely large production, with a cast up to 60 members and performances ranging approximately 2 1/2 hours. The production includes substantial choreography and music numbers involving the entire cast, as well as multiple music and choreography scenes for several cast sub-groups.
Following standard ACT practice, auditions would have occurred in late January 2019, providing only 6 weeks plus Tech Week for rehearsals. The size and complexity of the production suggested more time was needed.
The substantial prospect for inclement weather in February and early March 2019 will also likely reduce available rehearsal time, further limiting the ability to bring the production to the stage in a constrained timeframe. Potential weather impacts suggested more time was needed.
2) With more time needed for The Music Man, were auditions in early or mid-January 2019 or in December 2018 considered?
Consideration for conducting auditions in early or mid-January 2019 did occur. However, in January, ACT as a VOLUNTEER organization will be focused on Tech Week and the ten performances for Little Women – The Broadway Musical – and therefore not on The Music Man. ACT did not feel its VOLUNTEERS could serve both productions well if The Music Man auditions occurred in early or mid-January.
There is also a potential for some overlap of the 20 +/- youth actors from Little Women with The Music Man. The potential lack of, or at a minimum, limited availability of up to one-third of The Music Man cast would diminish any potential benefits that might accrue were Music Man auditions conducted in early or mid-January.
ACT’s focus on Little Women and the potential unavailability of a number of possible cast members suggested January auditions were not a viable solution.
ACT subsequently considered December auditions, but decided the loss of potential rehearsal days due to the holiday period, combined once again with the on-going Little Women rehearsals and potential cast overlaps, provided limited benefit.
Ultimately the decision was made to conduct auditions for The Music Man in November, thereby providing 1) the needed additional time for Music Man rehearsals; 2) for coordination of the Little Women and The Music Man rehearsal schedules; 3) the opportunity to work ahead of time to avoid the all-but-certain weather impacts; and 4) additional time that would not be feasible by waiting until December 2018 or January 2019.
3) Can a youth actor be in both Little Women and The Music Man?
Yes. ACT encourages youth actors, in concert with the age parameters for both productions, to audition for both productions. Little Women Director Tami Kress and Music Man Director Wayne Leonard are coordinating rehearsal schedules to allow individuals to potentially be in both productions, contingent of course upon casting.
Any actors that are cast in both productions should be equally committed to both productions – regardless of their roles in each.
4) If a youth actor is cast in a role requiring significant rehearsal time in Little Women, does that mean that same actor will be cast in a role requiring less time in The Music Man?
No, it does not. The Directors will make independent casting decisions based on the auditions for each production. An actor may be cast in roles for both productions requiring significant time investments. Or an actor may be cast in roles in both productions with varying time commitments for each. Or an actor may be cast in one production, but not the other. An actor’s casting in one production will not positively or negatively impact that actor’s casting in the other production.
It should be noted, however, that while involvement in Little Women or The Music Man or both will NOT impact casting decisions, an actor’s other conflicts and involvement in other productions may impact casting decisions.
Any actors that are cast in both productions should be equally committed to both productions – regardless of their roles in each.
5) Will actors who audition for Little Women know if they are cast in that production before they potentially audition for The Music Man?
Yes. The cast list for Little Women is planned for announcement on Sunday evening, November 4, or Monday morning, November 5, 2018. Auditions for The Music Man are scheduled for the evenings of November 5 & 6, 2018, so actors and their families will know about Little Women casting prior to potentially auditioning for The Music Man.
6) Will rehearsals for each production overlap each other, creating conflicts for actors?
Little Women Director Tami Kress and Music Man Director Wayne Leonard are coordinating rehearsal schedules to allow individuals to be in both productions. This includes working as much as possible to avoid any overlapping rehearsal times for any actors in both productions.
During November & December 2018, and in January 2019, Little Women will have priority. However, rehearsals for both productions will occur each week. Little Women rehearsal may occur one evening, and a Music Man rehearsal may occur the following evening. It should also be noted that an actor may be in a Little Women rehearsal at Alamance Lutheran Church for a portion of a particular evening/day – and then later that same evening/day in a Music Man rehearsal – also at Alamance Lutheran.
7) How often will rehearsals actually occur for Little Women and The Music Man in November and December 2018 and January 2019?
Little Women will have rehearsals on a continual basis, excepting holidays, throughout November & December 2018 and January 2019, generally 3-5 times a week. The Music Man will have rehearsals once or twice each week during November and December 2018, excepting holidays, and will likely focus on music and choreography. As occurs with all ACT productions, not all cast members will be scheduled for each rehearsal, and actors will only need to attend the rehearsals for which they are called.
Rehearsals for The Music Man will diminish or take a brief break during the first 25 +/- days of January 2019 as ACT focuses on Little Women, its Tech Week and ten performances.
Rehearsals for The Music Man will then become consistent at approximately 4-5 times a week from very late January through its Tech Week in early March.
Actors and their families are welcome to contact actinfo@alamancechildrenstheatre.com for any additional information.