Congratulations Beauty and the Beast cast!
One thing Green Mountain is known for is its outstanding musicals. There are a lot of factors that make a musical great, but what it really comes down to is the cast members. So, how is the cast decided?
The Audition:
The auditions for Beauty and the Beast were separated into two sections: singing and acting. Students were asked to prepare each section of songs/scenes that were chosen by the directors.
During the singing audition process, the student auditioning performed in front of the judges and audience. The judges were scoring the individual on their rhythm, tone quality, and pitch. As the choral director at Green Mountain, Mrs. Austin knows how to spot a good singer. She explained, “The number one thing is if they can sing [well]. If they have to do solo work, they have to sing on pitch.” This was especially important as Beauty and the Beast, is a very music heavy musical.
During the acting audition process, the judges were looking for believability, energy, how they developed their character, and the ability to connect with the other actors on stage. Acting is certainly not just reading words off a page, it's about truly getting to know your character. The band director, Ms. Saul, explained, “There is a naturalness that comes to it. If you see someone acting as something and is… extremely entertaining for the part and it doesn’t seem super forced… if it's fun to watch and it looks like they are really into it” that is what truly makes a good actor. Other than singing and acting abilities, the two teachers mentioned that students are also evaluated based on their preparation for the audition. The judges can tell if the kids put effort into their auditions and if they are truly committed to the musical process.
After each day of auditions, the judges met and conversed about the students’ performances. The judging committee was very large this year and was joined by Ms. Fierman, the new principal. This year, the committee announced that they were holding “callbacks,” in which specific students got asked to come back to read for different lead parts. This allowed for the judges to see the students as different parts one last time before they all made the final decision.
Other Factors:
The quality of how a student performs in the audition is a big part of getting their role, but other things are thought about when casting a musical as well.
In every musical production, TV show, and movie, “typecasting” comes into play, not just at GMUHS. Typecasting is considering the physical appearances of the actor and how they relate to or match the actual character they are auditioning for. Ms. Austin explained that although no one really likes typecasting, you have to “think of the show, as a whole, and you look at the kids that you’ve got to work with, where do they best fit?... [We have to ask] ‘can we give the Beast to a tiny little boy?’ You really have to think about things like that.” The judges also have to make sure that they cast someone reliable who they know can handle the workload of a lead. It takes a lot of courage to go on stage in front of hundreds of people and be vulnerable.
Erik Heitsmith, who started acting in GMUHS’ productions only two years ago, got the part of Gaston. Erik explained that he hasn’t always gotten the part he auditioned for or wanted. Erik spoke about the hit musical Grease that was put on last year, he said, “I was Roger in Grease and I didn’t necessarily want that part. However, I eventually realized that it was the right part for me. The casting committee knows what people should be… and they know [the students] will excel in their characters.” He explained that the actors that the judges choose for the roles are who they truly think is best for the parts. Erik watched the production multiple times and he realized that Gaston would be a fun part to play, so he prepared and practiced for the audition.
In past years, I have found that if I do not get the role that I auditioned for, the role that I am casted as actually fits me better! The directors can see something in students that they are not yet aware of. I was very surprised to see that I was casted as the Beast, and I am very excited to take on this new challenge. I always have an enriching and fun experience no matter what part I get. Remember, “there are no small parts, only small actors!”
-Rosie Saccardo
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