Dealing With Your Cast

For a few months, your cast mates turn into your family. Just like with any other family, there are those who will get on your nerves, but you shouldn't let these people destroy your experience, especially if this is your first show. Here are just a few types of people you might meet.

Younger Cast
This is usually in a show where the ages range, or a whole cast of just kids, such as in a youth theatre. Younger cast, primarily elementary school age, can be chaotic. They are less likely to focus and tend to make the rehearsal atmosphere more tense. If you have to work with younger children, the best is to be patient and keep the rehearsals from getting monotonous.

Older Cast
Just as there can be kids, you can have a much older cast as well. There are many different types of the people who make up the older cast. The first is the bitter seniors, who probably have done theatre a long time and don't want to deal with inconveniences. You also have the really jolly ones, who are very sweet, but I've noticed that they can be a little scattered brained and could need your extra help.

People Who Went To College For This
More than once you'll come across an theatre major in a community theatre, and they may correct you or try to give you advice on what you're doing, especially if you're still in primary or secondary school. Don't take what they say as an offense. It's kind of like when you're teacher tells how to reword a sentence to make it more effective. Not completely change it, but rework it to make it better.

Techies
Love your techies. If actors are the meat to a show, techies are the skeleton. Depending on the show, they could be in a million places at once, so if someone isn't right there to take your prop, simply wait or set it down on the prop table yourself. Many actors get there start as techies to get the feel of theatre, so be kind and support them as well.

Frenemies
Ego and drama end at the door. Don't bring any hate or intolerance of anyone into a rehearsal space. The negative energy brings the entire cast down without you realizing. Ignoring someone you have a problem with isn't always the easiest, but it can keep the tension down. Don't try to push anybody's buttons, because if it becomes too much, you are someone else could be asked to leave the show.

Directors/Choreographers/Stage Managers
So we have the meat and the skeleton, and these people are like the nerve endings. A signal from the brain, or the director, goes through the others and eventually ends up to the cast and crew. Follow any demands without question, because if you are asked, it must be done to keep moving forward, in the production.

Every cast is different, so not all the techniques used to get along with people will work each time. Always remember this: theatre brings people together, but drama tears people apart.

Sorry that this was a little late, I've been hammered with so much work and hope to get back on track very soon. As anytime before, you can always ask us questions or leave your comments. You can find me personally on twitter with @Kendall_Shepard if you would like to reach me there. Until next time, good luck.

Kendall