Age and Height Issues

BroadwayChai · Age and Height Issues

I'm going to be auditioning for a semi-professional (paid) production of Fiddler in a few months. I really want to go for one of the three older daughters, but I'm having some issues deciding which would be best for me, and I'd love your opinions.

A few things about me--I'll be 16 when the audition rolls around, brunette, very thin, nearly 5'8" (definitely could be a problem!). I look pretty old--depending on the makeup and clothes I wear, I can look my age, but I can also pass for at least 20. I'm technically a legit first soprano, but I'm also comfortable singing mezzo and alto.

The character I'd want most would be Hodel, I think, but I'm really nervous about trying out for that large of a role in this theater--I've never worked with them before, and I've only acted in my community theater and high school productions up until now. I'm kind of thinking that they'll cast someone older and more experienced within their company.

Tzeitel would work, too, especially with my height if they want to do the whole stairstep thing, but I'm concerned that the director will think I'm too young.

Chava would probably the most age-appropriate for me, but since I'm so tall, I'm not sure they'd cast me. I am also a pretty weak dancer and have very little experience in ballet.

I can sing all of these parts just fine, I guess what I'm mostly concerned about is the height and age factor. I could just say that I'm auditioning for any of the three, but then I wouldn't know whether to act older or younger in my audition.

What are your opinions? Also, what have your experiences been with how old the daughters are in more adult-oriented productions?

Thanks; it's much appreciated. Very Happy

MaisieM

As this is an adult-orientated semi-pro production, I'm going to have to say that I can forsee a few problems (sorry):

a) At 5'8" I wouldn't want to cast you as either Hodel or Chava unless the girl cast as Tzeitel was even taller. I know that in real life, siblings' heights don't always correspondad with their age (my younger sister is 6" taller than me!) but the human sub-conscious is a strange thing and people do associate height with age (ie. the taller you are, the odler you are)

b) If you're a weak dancer (especially at Ballet) than I'd disregard Chava.

c) Height wise, Tzeitel sounds the best option for you .. but not unless you can really look older than the other girls.

Sorry to be negative, but I think it's best to be realistic. In the theatre, look is all!

jazzygirlsings

While look has a lot to do with it, I say go for it! You have 0% chance of getting the part if you don't go...

And since the audition is in a few months, I would strongly urge you to take some ballet classes...If nothing else, you will learn a new and very valuable skill for the future. It's one thing to say you're a weak dancer, but it's another to actually try...

I used to feel like you do about dancing, but when I put a little effort into it, I am actually not so bad!

You never know exactly what the director is going to think, so I say just go and do your best.

norayouadora

^ Agreed. Height may be a factor, especially since it's semi-professional, but you might as well give it a shot.

Just as an FYI, in my school's production of Fiddler this spring, the girl cast as Hodel was noticeably taller than our Tzeitel... And Shprintze was actually just a teensy bit taller than Chava, lol. So--you never know! Very Happy

PappyCat

I'm a production of a musical based off of Little Women, and I'm Beth, who is the second youngest. The girl playing Meg (the oldest) is 6 years younger than me and about 7 inches shorter. It's bizarre...I'm actually kinda confused on why they did it that way, because she is...noticabley younger looking.

audreydarling

I'd sya go for it...you never know...also there are a lot of ensemble members..you could end up in the chorus..and you never know who else is going to auditon. Another big factor with the daughters though is being tall in relation to their respective husbands....and honestly I think your age would probably be whta would hold you back more than height...if you're auditionig against adults they'll probably cast the daughters as adults who look like teens....but still definitely audition and write those roles down..it's better than not. I also know what you mean because I'm auditioning for fiddler at a regional theatre in a couple weeks and I'm 5'6" which is shorter but I'm also much younger than everyone. Anyway I'm going for Chava (I think Hodel is too out of reach b/c of the age thing)...anway best of luck..let us know what happens.

choochoo

Well it sounds like it really will depend on your acting ability and type. In the book "Tevye the Dairyman" he describes Chava as being "Tall, fresh, and lovely as a young willow"...and in the international tour with topol chava was taller than hodel...but a lot of directors don't know this and they usually want to cast it in height order...in which case your best bet is Hodel.

It sounds like even though your age is the closest to chava you should probably go for hodel because the director probably won't know that chava's character in the book is described as tall, and also he may be looking for a strong dancer. Sometimes they don't pick a dancer and it's just a very light and easy ballet but sometimes that is a big factor in how they cast chava...so I would say go for Hodel, because 16 is definitely too young for tzeitel in proffesional theatre (she has a baby) and it might be really risky to go for chava unless you think you can act the heck out of the part.

Smile

Hope that helped.

BroadwayChai	Age and Height Issues I'm going to be auditioning for a semi-professional (paid) production of Fiddler in a few months. I really want to go for one of the three older daughters, but I'm having some issues deciding which would be best for me, and I'd love your opinions. A few things about me--I'll be 16 when the audition rolls around, brunette, very thin, nearly 5'8" (definitely could be a problem!). I look pretty old--depending on the makeup and clothes I wear, I can look my age, but I can also pass for at least 20. I'm technically a legit first soprano, but I'm also comfortable singing mezzo and alto. The character I'd want most would be Hodel, I think, but I'm really nervous about trying out for that large of a role in this theater--I've never worked with them before, and I've only acted in my community theater and high school productions up until now. I'm kind of thinking that they'll cast someone older and more experienced within their company. Tzeitel would work, too, especially with my height if they want to do the whole stairstep thing, but I'm concerned that the director will think I'm too young. Chava would probably the most age-appropriate for me, but since I'm so tall, I'm not sure they'd cast me. I am also a pretty weak dancer and have very little experience in ballet. I can sing all of these parts just fine, I guess what I'm mostly concerned about is the height and age factor. I could just say that I'm auditioning for any of the three, but then I wouldn't know whether to act older or younger in my audition. What are your opinions? Also, what have your experiences been with how old the daughters are in more adult-oriented productions? Thanks; it's much appreciated.
MaisieM	As this is an adult-orientated semi-pro production, I'm going to have to say that I can forsee a few problems (sorry): a) At 5'8" I wouldn't want to cast you as either Hodel or Chava unless the girl cast as Tzeitel was even taller. I know that in real life, siblings' heights don't always correspondad with their age (my younger sister is 6" taller than me!) but the human sub-conscious is a strange thing and people do associate height with age (ie. the taller you are, the odler you are) b) If you're a weak dancer (especially at Ballet) than I'd disregard Chava. c) Height wise, Tzeitel sounds the best option for you .. but not unless you can really look older than the other girls. Sorry to be negative, but I think it's best to be realistic. In the theatre, look is all!
jazzygirlsings	While look has a lot to do with it, I say go for it! You have 0% chance of getting the part if you don't go... And since the audition is in a few months, I would strongly urge you to take some ballet classes...If nothing else, you will learn a new and very valuable skill for the future. It's one thing to say you're a weak dancer, but it's another to actually try... I used to feel like you do about dancing, but when I put a little effort into it, I am actually not so bad! You never know exactly what the director is going to think, so I say just go and do your best.
norayouadora	^ Agreed. Height may be a factor, especially since it's semi-professional, but you might as well give it a shot. Just as an FYI, in my school's production of Fiddler this spring, the girl cast as Hodel was noticeably taller than our Tzeitel... And Shprintze was actually just a teensy bit taller than Chava, lol. So--you never know!
PappyCat	I'm a production of a musical based off of Little Women, and I'm Beth, who is the second youngest. The girl playing Meg (the oldest) is 6 years younger than me and about 7 inches shorter. It's bizarre...I'm actually kinda confused on why they did it that way, because she is...noticabley younger looking.
audreydarling	I'd sya go for it...you never know...also there are a lot of ensemble members..you could end up in the chorus..and you never know who else is going to auditon. Another big factor with the daughters though is being tall in relation to their respective husbands....and honestly I think your age would probably be whta would hold you back more than height...if you're auditionig against adults they'll probably cast the daughters as adults who look like teens....but still definitely audition and write those roles down..it's better than not. I also know what you mean because I'm auditioning for fiddler at a regional theatre in a couple weeks and I'm 5'6" which is shorter but I'm also much younger than everyone. Anyway I'm going for Chava (I think Hodel is too out of reach b/c of the age thing)...anway best of luck..let us know what happens.
choochoo	Well it sounds like it really will depend on your acting ability and type. In the book "Tevye the Dairyman" he describes Chava as being "Tall, fresh, and lovely as a young willow"...and in the international tour with topol chava was taller than hodel...but a lot of directors don't know this and they usually want to cast it in height order...in which case your best bet is Hodel. It sounds like even though your age is the closest to chava you should probably go for hodel because the director probably won't know that chava's character in the book is described as tall, and also he may be looking for a strong dancer. Sometimes they don't pick a dancer and it's just a very light and easy ballet but sometimes that is a big factor in how they cast chava...so I would say go for Hodel, because 16 is definitely too young for tzeitel in proffesional theatre (she has a baby) and it might be really risky to go for chava unless you think you can act the heck out of the part. Hope that helped.

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Age and Height Issues