metaphor17
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MY AUDITION IS TOMORROW!that's right, I'm FINALLY auditioning, so I'll stop bothering you all about the ballet and script and stuff. 
I'm a bit nervous. if I don't get it I have a couple other things lined up, but I'd really LOVE to be Chava or even Hodel, if I look the part.
so, I'll keep you all posted, for any of you who care 
and many thanks to star2ballie, who helped me prepare for my audition! 
love, Leah
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superdave
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Break a leg!
I just got through doing this musical. It is loads of fun. We had packed crowds, about 1000 each night. It was soo fun, to play infront of such a large audience, and it was recieved so well. I hope you get the part you want.
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Cake_in_Song
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Woohoo! Go kick some serious kosher butt! Even if you don't get one of the daughters, you'll still have an awesome time. I really wanted to be Hodel this summer, but I ended up having a blast as Fruma Sarah. Just relax, take a deep breath, and remember how much fun theatre is, and things will go swimmingly.
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star2ballie
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Ooooh! I wonder if you're auditioning...NOW?!
Best, best, BEST wishes and much luck. I'm sending you good vibes, so from one of Tevye's Daughters to another...that should help! LOL! 
You're so welcome, it was no problem at all. I sincerely hope you get what you want, but any role in this show is a blast, honestly. It is quite possibly one of the best musicals ever!
Break-a-leg! When will you let us know the results?
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Mark Walton
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(sound of breaking glass) MAZEL TOV!!!
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metaphor17
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thanks for your kind comments, everyone!
I'm leaving for the auditions in SEVEN MINUTES....!
I've decided to sing Much More from The Fantasticks. It shows my range, tone and emotion off really well.
I'll know about callbacks by midnight tonight... I'll definitely keep you all posted
Love, Leah
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norayouadora
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Good luck good luck good luck! I'm sending you good vibes as a current Golde. Haha.
Let us know how it goes!
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metaphor17
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So, it's 10:30 PM here where I live, but I had to get on and post this:
I GOT A CALLBACK!
Yay They called back two girls tonight (including me) and four girls from last night. So there will be SIX girls at callbacks for THREE parts-- Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava.
They didn't specify which daughters they were considering any of us for, but I'm thinking I'm up for Hodel or Chava.
They gave all of us copies of Matchmaker and Far From The Home I Love. I know both of those pretty well, so that's good. The director said to just have FUN with Tzeitel's part in Matchmaker and to be ourselves in Far From The Home I Love.
I don't think that dancing will be included in callbacks. I did really well with the dance tonight; it wasn't hard
THANK YOU EVERYONE! I'll continue to update about the show. I should know by Wednesday evening!
Love, Leah
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norayouadora
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Oooh, that's great news! Good luck with the callback! 
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metaphor17
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Just got back from the callback. It went REALLY REALLY well... but you know, sometimes you have a good feeling about things and then you don't get cast, so we'll see 
I just have to say that I did the scene where Chava first tells Tevye that she and Fyedka want to be married, and I made half the audience CRY I was even crying. I think I really nailed it but it's not all based on performance... looks play a part, too!
I'll know by tomorrow night-- I'll be sure to post!
Love, Leah
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star2ballie
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You should know by now!! I'm so excited for you!
I love that scene with Tevye...it's a toughie to make it seem real...especially because IMO so much of it is listening and reacting (well, of course we all know that acting IS reacting)...but I mean, there isn't a ton of lines...Tevye is the chatterbox so it's hard to stand there and really take to heart what he's saying and applying it to the character.
I'm sure you did an AMAZING job, it sounds like you did! Well done no matter what happens. You had fun and that's what matters!
Please let us know!
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metaphor17
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well, here's what happened:
as I said, I made callbacks for the three oldest sisters and did REALLY well. I don't want to sound concieted but there were only 7 girls there for the 3 parts and most of the girls were pretty... inexperienced. My reading, singing and dancing were spot-on; the two men who got called back for Tevye and one of the two Goldes came up to me at the end and told me how amazing I was and how they really hoped that THEY would get cast so they could work with ME.
well, the director called the next night. the first thing she said was "you were the most talented girl there." so I was like "great, thanks!" and then she said "unfortunately we couldn't cast you. you're too short."
I went to rehearsal for the show I'm in right now, and word had already gotten around. the choreographer for Fiddler is in dance corps with me, and she was furious... she didn't get any say in the casting after callbacks, but she highly recommended me after my initial audition. everyone else was a bit stunned, and I've heard that the Tevye they cast is EXTREMELY unhappy and is thinking about quitting the show... most people I know have decided not to see it...
I didn't mean to cause a scandal!
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what_the_heck013
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Wow, that's pretty sucky. One problem with Fiddler definitelt is height, though. The actress who plays Tzeital does not have to be the oldest actress, Hodel the middle, and Chava the youngest. But Tzeital does have to be the tallest, Hodel the middle, and Chava the shortest. Also each girl has to sort of match up with one of the guys and they all have to be taller than Sprintze and Bielke (sorry I am AWFUL at spelling Russian names--you should see me write about Chekhov--hah!). So height will factor in as much as talent, too bad height was more important.
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superdave
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I dont see height in being a problem in casting. Unless you are extremely short, and look very young and couldnt pass off as being at least 16. I mean this is Russia in the early 1900's. Tzeitel says, "I am not yet twenty yet..." and that would probably make Chava somewhere in the neighborhood of 16. Girls got married a lot younger back then. Dont beat yourself up about it. The directors probably have a reason of why they casted the way they did. Its not logical at times, but they are the decision makers.
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Cake_in_Song
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| what_the_heck013 wrote: | | . But Tzeital does have to be the tallest, Hodel the middle, and Chava the shortest. . |
Not true. My four-eleven best friend was Tzeital in Fiddler, and all her sisters (with the exception of Bielke, I believe) were a heck of a lot taller than her. She's also Peruvian, and they were all white. Casting based on height is relatively moronic.
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metaphor17
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Yes, I don't understand the height issue either. I AM sixteen and I look it.
Nobody else I've talked to understands it either. This includes my current director who is very well respected in the theatre community around here, the choreographer of the show, etc.
It's very frustrating but I don't want to draw any more attention to the situation, so I do the majority of my venting here
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RachaelB
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The person who plays Bielke in our show is way taller than any of the other sisters we all look tiny compared to her!
Don't worry about it. Just think... theyre missing out lol. They'll be so many more opprotunities.xxx
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LisaKitty
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Sounds like there were some major theatre politics coming in to play in the casting of this show, and they used your height as the "official" BS reason you weren't cast. I've seen it happen before.
That truly sucks!!!!!
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metaphor17
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| LisaKitty wrote: | Sounds like there were some major theatre politics coming in to play in the casting of this show, and they used your height as the "official" BS reason you weren't cast. I've seen it happen before.
That truly sucks!!!!! |
yes yes yes it does.
but I'm just chalking it up to "one of those experiences", you know? at least I know that the reason they didn't cast me WASN'T my talent, it was either politics or they were WAY focused on looks.
one of my best friends, who is a very gifted actress, didn't even get a callback. when she got her call, the director told her that they couldn't use her because she's BLONDE, and there were no blonde Jewish people back then.
HONESTLY. it's ridiculous. and everyone's making quite a fuss about it around here... not just actors, either.
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star2ballie
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I'm sorry hun. At least you did the best you could do, and impressed everyone. If you handle this with poise and grace (as it sounds like you are) people will remember and think about that next time they cast.
And, my Tzietzel is blonde. Big whoop.
We *do* go in height order though. Although Hodel and I are barely an inch apart... :S
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LisaKitty
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| metaphor17 wrote: | | one of my best friends, who is a very gifted actress, didn't even get a callback. when she got her call, the director told her that they couldn't use her because she's BLONDE, and there were no blonde Jewish people back then. |
WHAT?!?! First of all, that's so not at all true. Secondly, they didn't even ask if she'd be willing to dye her hair or wear a wig?
This company is either very stupid and short sighted, or not very honest. Possibly both. Either way, I'm guessing you're better off not working with them.
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superdave
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We had blonde haired girls in our company. And one of them played Hodel... Seriously, I dont think the hair thing is an issue...and if it was, you can sure as hell dye it.
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jazzygirlsings
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So basically, this company is going to put on a show with a "perfect looking cast" that has second-rate acting because they didn't choose the best people for the job...unfortunately, that's the way it is a lot of places...
Sounds like it's gonna be a real snooze to me...
With all your preparation, you have learned something and you can take that to your future auditions. Just remember that even though you weren't cast, your "performance" at the audition really touched people.
Keep up the good work and someone is bound to notice you and put you in a real quality production!
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metaphor17
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thanks a lot for your posts, guys
I haven't been having the best of luck in the theatre world this season, mostly because of stupid stuff like this. everyone knows about it, and I'm handling it as graciously as I can.
but earlier tonight the entire crew (minus the director) of the show I'm in right now took me aside at rehearsal. they are all people I respect greatly, and they are all respected in the theatre community as well.
all eight of them sat me down and basically told me that it's not my fault that I've been having such bad luck; it's a combination of "poor casting choices" (not my words) and my looks, namely, my height and unusual hair color 
I was really shocked when they told me that they all wanted ME to be cast as the female lead in the show we're putting on right now. the girl who is playing it is doing an excellent job, and I'm her unofficial understudy. everyone knew that it had come down between me and the other girl, but I didn't know that ALL of the crew except the director wanted me. the director does have final say, and she wanted an older girl, no matter what. I guess they were all still a bit miffed at her for casting the other girl...
I feel kind of bad that I'm accidentally causing small controversies within the local theatre community, but at the same time I know it's not my fault, and I am glad that people are sticking up for me. all I can do is be as gracious as possible and realize that things like this are part of "the business"
thanks again, everyone. I know that no one here knows me personally, but your posts are all very reassuring and kind
love, Leah
P.S. apparently, the director of Fiddler refused to cast ANY blondes at ALL... and no, there was no mention of dye or wigs at the auditions.
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Mark Walton
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| metaphor17 wrote: | | P.S. apparently, the director of Fiddler refused to cast ANY blondes at ALL... and no, there was no mention of dye or wigs at the auditions. |
Neva Small, the movie Chava, was a very attractive redhead!
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metaphor17
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| Mark Walton wrote: | | metaphor17 wrote: | | P.S. apparently, the director of Fiddler refused to cast ANY blondes at ALL... and no, there was no mention of dye or wigs at the auditions. |
Neva Small, the movie Chava, was a very attractive redhead! |
yes, I know. but I was the only redhead that even auditioned, so I don't know if they would have taken any other redheads... all I know is that they didn't cast any blondes.
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bbforsheebee
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our chava right in our production right now is a blonde and I'm hodel and I have auburn hair. I think that the director was not right not to cast you solely based on looks. I hate appearance casting. Our music director is very much like that as well.
So I definently feel for you. Keep at it though, by the sound of it you're a fantastic actress and singer!
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pish123c
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| metaphor17 wrote: | thanks a lot for your posts, guys
P.S. apparently, the director of Fiddler refused to cast ANY blondes at ALL... and no, there was no mention of dye or wigs at the auditions. |
what?? does this director not know that lots of Russians are fair skinned and have lighter hair?
ooo how we americanize some things...
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Mark Walton
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| pish123c wrote: | | what?? does this director not know that lots of Russians are fair skinned and have lighter hair? |
Like Raymond Lovelock's Fyedka in the movie.
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mary_lion
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Hello- Sorry to hear you didn't get the part based on height, but I know how you feel. I auditioned for The Sound of Music a few years ago, and didn't get the part because I was an inch too short- cus for SOM the children need to be like stepping stairs, and the guy who was supposed to be shorter than me, was the same height. And yah, not getting a part based on looks stink, but what can yah do? If a director has a vision, they're gunna go with it.
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Lion
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That's too bad. When I did Once Upon a Matress, prince Dauntless was only 4'2. Winnifred was 5'8. LOL! They were both good actors.
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Glissando
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(I know this is really late and all, but...)
As one 4'11'' buddy to another, don't let it affect any other shows that you may do with the company. Or do what I do with the company that refuses the cast you- let it go when they hate you, but when they want you, refuse and make them squirm. 
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