FEB
12

Posting the Cast List Without Drama

(or at least with a little less drama) 

Being a drama teacher is not easy, but many of you will agree that one of the toughest aspects of the job is posting the cast list.  We get it.  You’re a teacher and you hate to disappoint people, especially when students have been brave enough to audition in the first place.

We’ve scoured various online teacher forums on this topic and have compiled these popular and frequently repeated suggestions to hopefully reduce the drama surrounding this most dramatic of theatre moments.

It was almost unanimous that teachers no longer announce their cast by posting a cast list on a bulletin board at school.  Instead, they send private emails on a Friday after school to those who auditioned so students have a few days to either celebrate or process their disappointment in private, then come in Monday with a (hopefully!)  positive attitude.

• One teacher only shares via Friday evening email what role the particular student got and doesn’t share the entire cast list until the following Monday.  While the kids pretty much have it pieced together by then, this teacher feels that playing down the “big reveal” of the cast list avoids a lot of drama.
  
  
• To increase the chances of students taking the time to read any “words of wisdom” before looking at the cast list, teachers make their note in the body of the email, then attach the cast list (or the individual role) as an attachment to be opened separately.
  
  
• Many teachers include reminders to students to respond humbly with “grace and maturity” if they get the role they want, as not all students do.
  
  
• To give students more space to process their good or bad news, some teachers put restrictions on what can be shared on social media until the cast list is officially posted on Monday.
  
  
• Teachers also send emails of encouragement to students who auditioned but were not cast, hopefully with both a positive and a constructive comment about their audition, urging them to try again at the next audition.
  
  

No matter what, though, there’s going to be disappointment.  We especially love these suggestions on how to diffuse it:

• “Before auditions, I tell everyone that if they can’t take ‘no,’ then they are not prepared to audition.  I sort of frontload the possible disappointment by telling them to be proud of what they do and not to let my decision take away from their pride.”
  
  
• “I put out a letter a day before I post the cast list explaining that the casting process was very, very tough and that it was incredibly difficult to leave some folks out of the cast.  I remind them that if they were not cast, it doesn't mean they had a bad audition or that they aren’t talented, it just means there wasn't a part for them in THIS show.”
  
  
• “I remind all of them that how they handle disappointment reflects what kind of team player they are, which I will keep in mind for future shows or if someone drops out of this cast.”
  
  
• “I always tell them that I am putting together a very difficult puzzle that needs very specific pieces.  Then I explain that they may be the perfect piece in my puzzle, but they also may be the missing piece to complete a different puzzle.  The one they fit is just as beautiful as the one I'm putting together, but you can't mix pieces from different puzzles and have a finished product that works.”
  
  

Inevitably, there will be some tears, some wanting to quit because of the role they got (or didn’t get), and some calls from parents.

While some teachers will meet with disappointed students to go over their audition and make suggestions for next time, most agree that they won’t discuss or explain their casting decisions.  Almost universally, all teachers agree to not meet with parents about their casting, and the few that do will only do so when the student is also present.

And in terms of those students who want to quit?  Hopefully, you covered your...  um...  bases by having the students (and their parent or guardian) complete an Audition Application before auditioning.  (Here’s a sample Audition Application from the director’s book of one of our popular shows.)  Many teachers also add that any student who refuses to accept the role offered to them in the current production may not audition for the next one.

No one ever said your job was easy!  But if you lay the groundwork in advance, have the students complete an Audition Application, then make your announcements sensitively and in a way students can receive the information privately, you can minimize the unwanted drama and get on with the show!