jonnysilver.com

I saw part of an interesting movie a few weeks ago on The Sundance Channel called “Approaching Union Square.” While I am usually loath to suggest people do monologues from films, this one had some great ones. When I went to look up some information about it, I discovered the film had started its life as a series of monologues for the stage. Go figure. Not sure if the play is published but you can get info on the film here.

On Saturday I sat on a panel on directing for Backstage’s Actorfest, a convention of sorts for actors — booths from schools, coaches, photographers, as well as workshops, open auditions and panel discussions. The panel was aimed at examining the director’s role in auditions, as well as our relationship to casting directors and actors, both in the audition room and rehearsal.

I was in distinguished company: Neil Pepe from The Atlantic Theatre Company (and currently represented on Broadway with Speed the Plow), Casey Childs from Primary Stages (whose company now has two terrific shows running: Love Child at their home at 59 E. 59 and Dividing The Estate on Broadway), and Gabriel Barre, a freelance director of (mostly) musicals.

I felt like the “junior member” of the team, having had a shorter career than these folks, yet we all shared some very similar thoughts. We all agreed that preparation, truth and strong (yet appropriate) choices were key for any actor in the audition room (and the rehearsal room, for that matter). Seemingly simple concepts actors must hear over and over again, yet ones that are easy for forget. And the three things that actors can control in the very uncontrollable audition process.

There were a lot of questions on the same topic during the Q & A, all to do with type. Essentially, actors see their type (be it age, physical attributes or nationality) as a limitation rather than an advantage. We all agreed that an actor must exult in what makes them unique. So, all you actors out there, stop worrying about what roles you cannot play - and find (and go for!) the many, many roles you will play in your career ahead.

I think there has got to be a life lesson in there somewhere, as well.