Building a Bigger Stage: Some Thoughts on Representation, Casting, and the Stories We Can't Tell Yet

This is a different kind of Backstage Pass post. Usually, I come here with something I want to explain, a story I want to tell, or an opinion I've had enough time to wrestle into submission. This isn't one of those posts. This one is a question. It's a question I have thought about a lot as a director and as the Executive Director of a small community theater in a predominantly white rural county: How do we genuinely work toward greater racial and cultural diversity on our stage when the diversity we would like to see isn't reflected in our current audition pool? I don't have a great answer.

I do know what I don't want to do. I don't want an actor to ever wonder whether we cast them for what they bring to a role or simply because we needed someone who looks like them. I don't want to ask one or two performers to carry the burden of making our theater look diverse. I don't want to select a culturally specific show that we have no reasonable expectation of casting appropriately and simply hope the right people appear at auditions. And I certainly don't want our programming choices to send the message that stories centered on people who don't look like most of our current actors aren't welcome on our stage. Somewhere among all of those competing concerns is a better path forward. I just haven't found it yet.

So, this isn't a post about what Hamilton Players has figured out. It's a rumination on something we haven't, why it's more complicated than it might initially appear, and some of the ways I think we might begin trying to do better.

Ravalli County is not a particularly racially diverse place. According to current U.S. Census estimates, our population is approximately 48,600 people, 90% of whom identify as white and not Hispanic or Latino. That demographic reality affects the potential pool from which our actors come, but it doesn't fully explain our audition pool, nor would we necessarily expect our audition pool to mirror county demographics exactly. Our reality? In an average year, roughly 50 to 100 actors audition for Hamilton Players productions, and typically only one to three are people of color.

Even "people of color" is an imperfect shorthand in this conversation because culturally specific casting isn't interchangeable. Increasing the overall racial diversity of our audition pool would be wonderful, but it wouldn't necessarily make a particular show castable. A show may include characters of a specific racial, ethnic, or cultural background, and one identity can't simply be substituted for another.

I don't know why the racial and cultural diversity that does exist in Ravalli County isn't proportionately reflected in our audition pool. Maybe there are barriers I don't see, including some that extend well beyond Hamilton Players. Maybe we aren't reaching people effectively. Maybe people don't see themselves represented and therefore don't see Hamilton Players as a place for them. Maybe community theater simply isn't of interest to some of the communities we're failing to reach. Most likely, it's some complicated combination of factors I haven't identified yet. So how does a small rural theater work toward greater representation without engaging in tokenism, compromising responsible casting, or choosing productions it has no reasonable expectation of being able to cast? I DON'T KNOW. But I want to, and I don't know where to start.

I have identified several challenges that frame the issue for us. Our first hurdle is figuring out why our audition pool doesn't reflect even the limited diversity that exists in our broader community, and what we can do differently to reach people who aren't currently coming through our doors. While that isn't easy, or we'd be doing it already, it may actually be the easiest of the bunch. It gets trickier from there.

Show selection may be part of the issue. Perhaps people of color or people from different cultural backgrounds don't audition because they don't see themselves represented by the material. Could we just program more culturally diverse shows and hope that attracts more diverse actors? We've considered it. But choosing a show we have no reasonable expectation of casting creates its own problems. It potentially sets the production up to fail, and it can put enormous pressure on the few actors of color who do audition.

Our Play Reading Committee gets to be aspirational, and I want them to be. We should be reading shows that challenge, inspire, educate, and expand our idea of what belongs on our stage. But eventually aspiration has to meet production reality. When someone falls in love with The King and I, In the Heights, Kinky Boots, or Hairspray, part of my job is to ask the less exciting question: "From whom, specifically, do we reasonably expect to cast these roles?" I'm not opposed to the show or its representation. I'm responsible for helping make sure that when we choose a story to tell, we have a reasonable expectation that we can tell it responsibly.

So, what about choosing a show that requires only one or two culturally specific roles? Suppose we select a show with a character written specifically as Black and our licensing agreement requires that the role be cast accordingly. One Black actor auditions. But the role also requires a demanding vocal range, significant dance ability, or the experience to carry a major dramatic role, and that particular actor isn't yet ready for those demands. Being right for a character's identity is one part of casting. It isn't the only part. A performer may be right for a character's racial, ethnic, cultural, age, or other identity and still not yet meet the specific acting, vocal, dance, or technical demands of the role. That's true of every actor who auditions. So, what does responsible inclusion require of us?

Automatically casting someone because of their racial identity rather than because they're right for the role doesn't feel like genuine inclusion. Violating the requirements of the script or our licensing agreement simply to get the show cast isn't an option either. Canceling the production despite having a willing actor could look terrible from the outside and, more importantly, what message might that send to a new performer who took the risk of walking through our doors? Yet putting an actor into a role they aren't ready for isn't fair to the rest of the cast, the audience, or arguably even that performer. There isn't a magic fourth option that suddenly makes that particular production castable.

But maybe there is something we can do about the next production. If an actor isn't ready for a particular role today, how do we help them become ready for opportunities tomorrow? Can we provide classes, workshops, smaller roles, Readers Theatre, ensemble opportunities, mentorship, or other places to develop skills and confidence? We don't have to lower the requirements of a role in order to lower the barriers to developing the skills necessary to play it. That should be true for every actor who comes through our doors.

And there's another side of this equation that I can't answer from my own experience: What does it feel like to be one of the only people of color walking into our audition room? Does being the only one create pressure I don't recognize? Does it feel welcoming, or isolating? Are there things about our theater culture that tell people they belong here, or things we don't even notice that tell them otherwise? And if someone does take that risk, auditions, and isn't cast, do they understand why? Or does it confirm a fear that this wasn't really a place for them after all? Those aren't questions I can answer for someone else. They're questions I need to be willing to ask and then listen to the answers.

For now, I will continue to recommend against productions I don't believe we have a reasonable expectation of casting responsibly. But I refuse to believe that our current casting limitations simply have to remain this way forever. Our goal isn't to make our casts look inclusive. Our goal is to make our theater a genuinely welcoming place where more people feel invited to participate while continuing to cast actors according to the requirements of the work. Those two responsibilities sometimes create difficult choices but abandoning either one isn't the answer.

I don't know what the answer is yet. But I do know that simply wishing for a more diverse audition pool won't create one. I know that choosing shows we cannot responsibly cast and hoping the right people materialize isn't a strategy. I know that casting someone primarily because of their racial identity isn't the kind of inclusion I want us to practice. And I know that avoiding the issue altogether guarantees that nothing will change. So maybe, for now, the answer isn't a particular show or a particular casting policy. Maybe it's curiosity, outreach, relationship-building, training, and listening. Maybe it's looking honestly at who is coming through our doors, who isn't, and asking why.

How do we lower barriers to participation and create more welcoming entry points for people who don't already see themselves here? How do we build relationships with people and communities who aren't currently represented in our theater? And most importantly, how do we listen without beginning the conversation with something we want from them? What might our theater look and feel like from the doorway to someone who doesn't see many people like themselves already inside?

I'd love to reach a point where our community of actors is broader and more representative, not because we need certain people to make a particular show possible, but because more people genuinely see Hamilton Players as their theater, too. I don't know exactly how we get there, but I think it's a question worth asking out loud and then listening to the answers.

 

The Show Must Go On, but Maybe YOU Shouldn’t

It’s October, which means cold and flu season has officially arrived. For Hamilton Players, it also means we segue into our seasonal “contagion safety” protocols. During cold and flu season, we step up disinfection of high-touch public surfaces like doorknobs, counters, and bathroom fixtures. We run our air purifiers more regularly and in more areas of the building. From October through May, we require casts to wash their hands when they arrive for rehearsals and performances, although we certainly encourage that year-round. We also restrict shared foods like dips and salsas. There are plenty of reasons for all these precautions, with everyone's health and safety obviously at the top of the list.

But there's another very practical reason: We don't have understudies. One eensy-weensy virus can work its way through a cast remarkably quickly. One sick actor becomes three sick actors. Three become seven. Pretty soon, half the cast is coughing, the director is reconsidering every life choice that led to this moment, and an entire production may be in jeopardy. It can happen. It has happened.

So, beyond the precautions we take at the theater, there are some things actors can do to protect themselves, their castmates, and ultimately the show.

Wash your hands.

Handwashing is one of the simplest tools we have for reducing the spread of illness. And that means washing them more than once when you arrive at rehearsal. Wash them throughout the day. Wash them after using the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, and whenever you've been touching things that approximately 847 other people have also touched. You never really know who touched what after touching who knows what. Nobody wants to discover they've achieved Patient Zero status in the cast.

Don't share.

We're taught from an early age to share and share alike. When it comes to theatrical preventative medicine, however, a little selfishness can be a virtue. Don't share water bottles, makeup, lip products, utensils, towels, or other personal items. Avoid sharing microphones whenever practical, or clean them appropriately between users. A good rule is that if something touches your mouth, nose, eyes, or bodily fluids, it probably doesn't need to become a community resource. There are several jokes available to me here. I'm going to demonstrate admirable restraint and move on.

Get some sleep.

Rehearsal schedules are exhausting. You're working all day, rehearsing all evening, practicing at home, learning lines, doing choreography, and still somehow expected to accomplish mundane tasks like laundry and feeding yourself. But sleep matters. Adequate sleep supports normal immune function, while chronic sleep deprivation can make us more susceptible to illness. It also affects concentration, memory, reaction time, and mood, none of which are particularly helpful things to sacrifice during a production. So when you're tempted to stay up until 1:00 a.m. running lines one more time, consider whether sleep might actually be the more productive rehearsal choice.

Create some distance from sick people at home.

If someone in your household gets sick, this is an excellent time to temporarily reconsider your usual domestic arrangements. Sleep separately if you reasonably can. Don't share drinks, utensils, towels, or pillows. Improve ventilation. Clean high-touch surfaces. Give the sick person some space. Yes, this may mean temporarily banishing your beloved to the couch. Or volunteering for couch duty yourself. Think of it not as rejection, but as an exciting short-term theatrical residency in the living room. Once they're improving and have been fever-free without fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours, you can begin easing back toward normal life while still taking some extra precautions. Romance will survive. And if it doesn't, at least you made it to opening night.  

Be sensible about your health routine.

Some people swear by hot tea with lemon and honey. Others love saline rinses, zinc lozenges, vitamins, ginger, garlic, or whatever mysterious concoction their grandmother has been recommending since 1974. We're theater people, not doctors, so we're not going to prescribe your cold-and-flu regimen. Follow the health practices that are safe and appropriate for you. Eat. Hydrate. Sleep. Take care of yourself. Talk to your healthcare provider when you need actual medical advice. And perhaps most importantly, pay attention when your body tells you something isn't right.

When the Sniffle Becomes Something More

Not every sniffle means you need to miss rehearsal. Allergies exist. Lingering coughs exist. Minor symptoms exist. If you're dealing with something mild and otherwise feel well enough to participate, think about what you can do to protect the people around you. Wear a well-fitting mask if appropriate. Keep some physical distance when you can. Wash your hands frequently. Don't share personal items. Let your director know what's going on. And maybe skip the stage kissing for the evening.

Yes, masks can inspire strong opinions. But when you're recovering from a respiratory illness, they're one useful tool for reducing what you spread into the air around other people. They also have the very practical theatrical benefit of broadcasting: I HAVE THE CRUD. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. Plus, again: stage-kissing roadblock.

But if you're genuinely sick, one of the most important things I can tell you is this:

Sometimes the most responsible thing you can do for a production is stay home.

There is a weird culture in theater around the show must go on that can very easily turn into I must go on no matter what. Those are not the same thing. Coming to rehearsal contagious because you don't want to let down the cast may ultimately be the very thing that does let down the cast. Directors have some responsibility here, too. We need to create rehearsal environments where legitimate illness is treated differently from unreliability. Actors need to know that they can say, "I'm sick." If the culture is How dare you miss rehearsal?, people will drag themselves through the door with influenza because they're afraid of being considered difficult or undedicated. And that doesn't help anyone. In fact, if you're sick enough that you shouldn't be there, we'd much rather know sooner rather than later. Give your director as much notice as possible. That gives us time to adjust the rehearsal schedule, work different scenes, review choreography, rehearse other actors, or find another productive use of the evening. Missing one rehearsal is inconvenient. Taking out half the cast is considerably more inconvenient.

Let's Retire the Sick-Day Heroics

There's also a slightly uncomfortable theater tradition worth talking about: we love a good war story. "I had a 102-degree fever and I STILL DID THE SHOW!" "I was throwing up between scenes!" "I had pneumonia, three broken ribs, and possibly scurvy, but I went on!" These stories are usually told as evidence of extraordinary dedication. And sometimes circumstances genuinely do leave very few options, particularly once performances have begun and there is no understudy waiting in the wings. But maybe we shouldn't automatically celebrate exposing thirty other people to an infectious illness as evidence of professionalism. Sometimes professionalism looks heroic. Sometimes professionalism looks like sweatpants, chicken soup, and texting your director, "I'm really sorry, but I need to stay home tonight." There should also be some obvious hard stops. Significant fever, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, symptoms severe enough that you can't safely perform, or an illness for which a healthcare provider has told you to stay home are not push through it situations. And yes, for the record, projectile vomiting is definitely a hard stop. We feel comfortable drawing that line.

Take Care of the Show by Taking Care of Each Other

"The show must go on" has never meant that every individual person must go on at all costs. It means we take care of the production. Sometimes that means showing up when you're tired, pushing through the awkward rehearsal where nothing seems to work, and honoring the commitment you made to your cast. And sometimes it means recognizing that your absence today may be the thing that protects everyone else's ability to be there tomorrow.

Staying home Tuesday when you're genuinely sick may be precisely what gets you healthy enough to perform Friday. It may also keep the person playing opposite you healthy enough to perform Friday. So wash your hands. Get some sleep. Keep your water bottle to yourself. Take care of your body. Tell your director when you're sick. And when necessary, stay home. Because sometimes the best way to make sure the show goes on is to recognize when you shouldn't.

 

How to be a Good Backstage Roommate

Congratulations! You've been cast in a show. You have also just agreed to spend the next several weeks sharing a very small space with a dozen or more people, their costumes, shoes, hairspray, emotional-support water bottles, nervous digestive systems, and wildly incompatible musical tastes. Welcome to backstage. There are a few things about being part of this particular little community that nobody necessarily tells you, but everyone should know.

Manage Your Personal Ecosystem

Casts and crews are often forced into very tight quarters backstage. Bodies are bodies, and along with them come certain, shall we say, smells. A good castmate does what they can to minimize their contribution to the collective backstage atmosphere. And I'm not just talking about the gnarly odors. The perfumey ones count, too. Imagine the combined bouquet of Roy's stinky shoes, Shirley's perfume, backstage hairspray, BO, Axe body spray, latex, spirit gum, Febreze, and whatever burger joint Dan visited before rehearsal. It's a lot. Anything you can do to eliminate a layer of that olfactory lasagna puts you one step closer to sainthood. So, in the interest of everyone's respiratory well-being:

• Shower regularly and reapply deodorant before rehearsal or getting into costume.
• Avoid heavy perfumes and body sprays.
• Brush your teeth before rehearsals and shows, and maybe keep some breath mints handy. Your scene partner will thank you.
• Don't wear the stinky shoes. Everyone has that one pair that just reeks. Maybe those aren't the shoes to leave backstage in a small room with fifteen other people.

And it should go without saying, but I'm saying it anyway: wear clean undergarments. The impact of your end-of-day funk is multiplied when you add hot stage lights, physical activity, and costumes that may not be laundered after every performance. Your castmates will appreciate you. Your costumer will appreciate you. Civilization itself may depend upon you.

Plan Your Meals Ahead

Right before a show is probably not the time to indulge in black bean chili topped with onions. Nor is tech week the ideal moment to begin your new "I Love Cruciferous Vegetables" diet. No green room is big enough to accommodate that sulfurous miasma. I'm not saying don't eat broccoli. I'm just saying that perhaps you don't eat all the broccoli immediately before spending three hours in a poorly ventilated backstage area with twenty other people. Likewise, if tonight's dinner contains enough garlic to ward off Dracula, maybe add some breath mints to your theater bag. Again, it's all about the ecosystem.

Poop at Home

There. I said it. Poop happens. And as the children's book has been assuring us for decades, everybody poops. But when you are sharing a small backstage space with limited bathrooms and even more limited ventilation, it is a kindness to practice a little bathroom diplomacy. Obviously, we don't always have control over our digestive processes. Bathrooms are there for a reason, so please, use them when you need them. Nobody wants you suffering through Act II because you're trying to earn some sort of gastrointestinal Good Castmate Award. But if you can handle your business at home before coming to the theater, backstage will be a friendlier place for everyone. And remember: Leave. The. Fan. On.

Respect Everyone Else's Process

You may love loud '80s hair bands and find them a fantastic pre-show energy boost. But not everybody wants to listen to Pour Some Sugar on Me while they're getting ready. Some people want quiet. Some review their lines. Some do vocal warmups. Some need a few minutes to get into character. Some apparently enjoy elevator music. It takes all kinds. Fortunately, we live in the miraculous age of headphones and earbuds. You can do you without infringing on everyone else's aural space.

The same principle applies to conversation. If someone is clearly trying to review lines, focus, or mentally prepare for the show, let them. They aren't necessarily being antisocial. They may simply be trying to do the job they came to the theater to do. Give your castmates room for whatever process helps them walk onstage ready to perform.

Remember That Changing Clothes Changes the Rules

Community theater dressing rooms can include people of wildly different ages, backgrounds, bodies, comfort levels, and expectations about privacy. And shows sometimes require costume changes in places that aren't particularly private. Quick changes may happen backstage, in the wings, behind a curtain, or wherever we can carve out three square feet and thirty seconds. That doesn't mean normal boundaries disappear. Don't stare. Don't comment on other people's bodies. Don't take photographs of people changing. Give people whatever privacy the space allows. And don't assume that because you're perfectly comfortable changing clothes in front of everyone, everybody else should be. When circumstances require people to be physically vulnerable around one another, being respectful isn't just good theater etiquette. It's part of making backstage a place where everyone can feel safe and comfortable.

Clean Up After Yourself

Your mother doesn't work here, and the stage manager and costumers are not your maids. It is your job to pick up after yourself, hang up your costumes, return things where they belong, and keep your personal clutter reasonably contained. Backstage spaces usually contain more people, costumes, props, equipment, and assorted theatrical debris than they were ever designed to accommodate. Clutter doesn't just make the space unpleasant. It can become dangerous. A purse strap left across the floor becomes a tripping hazard in the dark. So does a pile of discarded clothing. A cluttered makeup station can become a costume disaster waiting to happen. Have you ever tried to get mascara or lipstick out of a white costume thirty seconds before an entrance? Trust me. It's a stage manager's nightmare. So hang up the costume. Put away the makeup. Pick up your shoes. Contain your stuff. Your backstage footprint should not require its own zip code.

Remember the Golden Rule

There isn't a super-secret theater handbook that requires a special decoder ring to understand. Most of these "rules" aren't really theater rules at all. They're roommate rules. Being a good castmate isn't about memorizing a list of obscure theatrical etiquette. It's about recognizing that your experience isn't the only experience happening in the room. Your music is someone else's noise. Your perfume is someone else's headache. Your clutter is someone else's tripping hazard. Your conversation may be interrupting someone else's concentration. Your comfort level isn't necessarily someone else's comfort level. Backstage is a shared space, and for a few weeks, it's also a strange little temporary home. You don't have to become best friends with everyone who lives there. You just have to be a good roommate and “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

 

The Castmate Code: The Unspoken Rules of Being a Good Cast Member

Community theater can be a great experience: fun activities with new friends, the pride and joy that comes with putting on a great production, cool costumes...every show is a new adventure. The thing to remember is that you aren’t alone. There’s a whole host of folks who are part of the process, and like any good community, there is an unspoken social contract that helps make the experience good for everyone. The problem with an unspoken social contract is that it is, well, UNSPOKEN, so not everyone knows how to fulfill it. But I’m here today to raise the curtain on the mystery with a short list of tips on how to be a good cast member, no matter what role you have. Let’s begin at the beginning.

Be on time.
Rehearsals and shows are a huge time commitment. If you are late, it delays the rehearsal process, extends the time commitment, and often wastes other people’s time because material has to be repeated. And believe me, if you have ever been in a show, you know there is more than enough repetition already! “One more time” never means just one more time. It’s about as accurate as a doctor saying, “This will only hurt a little.” Be on time and ready to rehearse at the scheduled time. That may mean arriving 10 minutes early to change shoes, hydrate, get settled, and warm up. Being on time is respectful and responsible, both imperatives to being a good cast member (much less a good human being!).

Be off book early!
For reference, “off book” means being fully memorized and no longer needing to use the script on stage. The faster you get your face out of the script, the faster you can discover genuine eye contact, dynamic blocking, spontaneous reactions, and real chemistry with your scene partners. That’s where the stage magic happens.

Carry a pencil and take notes.
Never assume you will remember a director’s note or a specific piece of staging because, believe me, you won’t. Keep a pencil handy during every rehearsal so you can immediately write down your blocking, your blocking changes, changes to the blocking changes, pronunciation corrections, emotional beats, and more blocking changes directly into your script. Theater is dynamic. As you uncover more character nuance, your stage business and blocking may change to accommodate it. Keep your notes updated so you always know how the scene is currently staged, not how it was staged three Tuesdays ago.

Do not direct other actors.
The job of directing belongs to the director. Even if you have a brilliant idea for another actor’s performance, keep it to yourself unless you are specifically asked. Giving unsolicited notes to fellow cast members can create tension, confuse the director’s vision, and undermine the rehearsal process. Not to mention that it is disrespectful to your fellow actors. Your job is to focus on your own character, your own choices, and your own responses. Respect your castmates and your director by allowing them to do their jobs.

Treat the crew like royalty.
A production cannot happen without stage managers, light and sound techs, costumers, dressers, prop crews, set crews, and everyone else working behind the scenes. Treat them with respect. Listen to your stage manager. Be where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there. Say thank you. Besides being the decent thing to do, this is how you maximize the fun factor of your show. Many a stray straight pin from a disrespected costumer has derailed someone’s journey.

If it is not yours, don’t touch it.
This is a really important rule to live by in theater. Actors and crew members preset props and costumes in specific places and in specific ways for a reason. If you pick something up to look at it, move it out of the way, or “helpfully” put it away, you may have just inadvertently sabotaged a stage moment. Maybe that garment was laid out in a certain direction to facilitate a quick change. Perhaps that prop is sitting in a certain place at a certain angle because someone has to grab it on the fly. Maybe the actor simply doesn’t have time to get to the prop table and back. The point is, you don’t know. Trust that the actor or crew member who put it there had a reason. And what if, heaven forbid, you accidentally break it? Now you’ve added a whole new dimension of stress and expense. Since you can never know for sure how someone else’s costume, prop, or equipment is supposed to be set, the best rule of thumb is simple: If it is not yours, don’t touch it.

Come prepared.
This is related to being off book, but it’s broader. Know what was rehearsed last time. Review your music, choreography, blocking, and lines between rehearsals. Bring your script, shoes, water, pencil, and whatever else you’ve been asked to have. Rehearsal is not where you repeatedly relearn what everyone else has already learned. Rehearsal is where you are given the building blocks: blocking, choreography, stage business, music, character work. Later rehearsals refine and build on those things. Practice is what you do at home: memorizing, drilling, reviewing, and preparing so your foundation is ready for the next layer at the next rehearsal.

Don’t make everything about you and your stage time.
One of the biggest differences between a wonderful castmate and an exhausting one is whether they understand that a show is an ensemble endeavor. Sometimes you wait. Sometimes someone else’s scene gets worked for an hour. Sometimes your favorite bit gets cut because it isn’t helping the show. Sometimes another actor gets the laugh. Sometimes somebody else gets the big number, the beautiful costume, the dramatic moment, or the applause. The goal is not for you to be great. The goal is for the show to be great. And when everyone understands that, everybody gets better.

Help, but don’t “help.”
There is a lovely distinction here. Absolutely help strike the rehearsal room. Move chairs when asked. Clean up after yourself. Ask whether the stage manager needs a hand. But don’t reorganize props, fix somebody else’s costume, change scenery, adjust equipment, or decide you’ve discovered a better system without talking to the person responsible for it. Good castmates make other people’s jobs easier. They don’t create surprise projects for them.

And lastly...

Leave the drama on the stage.
Not in the sense that casts can never have disagreements – actors are human after all. Put enough people in a rehearsal room for six weeks and eventually somebody is going to get on somebody else’s nerves. But gossip, grudges, romantic drama, casting resentment, cliques, passive aggression, and personality conflicts can poison a production remarkably quickly. You don’t have to become best friends with everyone in the cast. You don’t have to socialize together outside rehearsal. You don’t even have to particularly like everyone. You do have to be someone everyone can safely and comfortably work with. Because ultimately, being a good cast member isn’t about having the best voice, landing the biggest role, getting the most laughs, or even giving the best performance. It’s about understanding that for a few weeks, you are part of a community of people trying to build something together.

Do your homework. Show up prepared. Respect other people’s time, work, belongings, and boundaries. Support the people around you. Take responsibility for your little piece of the production and do it as well as you can. That’s the social contract. And when everyone holds up their end of it, something pretty wonderful happens: a collection of actors, technicians, volunteers, costumes, props, scenery, music, nerves, mistakes, inside jokes, and countless hours of work somehow becomes A SHOW. And even better, it becomes a show people are glad they were part of.

 

The Lobby has Ears

Theater is a lot of fun, but it is not all sunshine and unicorns. Disappointment is part of theater. You won't get every role you want. You won't agree with every casting decision. You won't love every production you see. Sometimes you'll dislike the script, hate the ending, question the director's choices, or sit in the audience absolutely convinced you would have done something differently. And that's okay. Art is subjective from start to finish. Not every production, performance, design choice, or directorial decision is going to connect with every person. You are absolutely entitled to your opinion. But there is something worth remembering before you share it: The lobby has ears.

You have every right to dislike a show. You can think a particular performance didn't work. You can think the costumes were ugly, the set was weird, the pacing dragged, or Act I was forty minutes too long. You can disagree with the casting. You can even privately believe that you would have been better in a particular role. You do not owe anyone false praise. But you do owe the people around you a little awareness of where you are.

Community theater is, quite literally, made by your community. The person standing behind you in the lobby may be the director's husband. The woman washing her hands next to you in the restroom may have designed the costumes. The teenager waiting for a cookie at intermission may have spent three weekends helping build the set. The stranger standing within earshot may be the actor's coworker, teacher, best friend, mother, or child. And the actor whose performance you're loudly dissecting may be standing ten feet away. In community theater especially, there may be only one or two degrees of separation between virtually everyone in the building. You don't have to pretend you loved something you didn't. But the lobby, restroom, concession line, or parking lot immediately outside the theater may not be the ideal location for the full unabridged review. Save the detailed critique for the car.

And definitely don't do it during the show.  There is another person in the equation who may have absolutely nothing to do with the production: the patron sitting next to you. They bought a ticket too. Maybe they're loving the show you hate. Maybe this is their daughter's first time onstage. Maybe they've been looking forward to this night for weeks. Maybe they're completely immersed in the story until the person behind them starts whispering about how terrible someone's accent is. There is a difference between having an opinion and making another person's theatrical experience collateral damage for it.

Years ago, we had an actor who was deeply unhappy about a casting decision. She had wanted a particular role, wasn't cast, and came to see the production. Unfortunately, she didn't leave her disappointment at the door. During the performance, she openly criticized the production, the casting, the director, and especially the actor who had received the role she wanted. She also unknowingly happened to be sitting directly behind that actor's extended family. So, yes. We heard about it. All of it. Her commentary didn't change anyone's opinion of the casting decision. It didn't make the other actor less deserving of the role. What it did provide was some unexpected insight into how this person responded when another actor received an opportunity she wanted. And in theater, that matters. And in theater, that matters.

Casting isn't only about who can sing the highest note, give the funniest line reading, or deliver the best monologue. (You can refresh yourself on that particular rabbit hole in our June 1 blog, Casting a Show.) Directors are building an ensemble. They need people who can collaborate, take direction, handle frustration, celebrate each other's successes, and support the person who did get the role. Not getting a role you wanted can genuinely hurt. You may be disappointed, angry, embarrassed, confused, or convinced the director made the wrong decision. Those feelings are real, and you are allowed to have every one of them. But the actor who got the role didn't take it away from you. They auditioned, just like you did. Someone else made the casting decision. That actor deserves the opportunity to enjoy the role they earned without being diminished because someone else wanted it too.

Of course, casting disappointment isn't the only kind of criticism that can spill into the lobby. Maybe you're an audience member who simply didn't enjoy the show. Maybe you worked on the production and disagree with decisions that were made. Maybe you thought your friend's performance was fantastic but didn't care for anyone else's. Maybe you've done the same show before and are absolutely certain your production did it better. Have the opinion. Just choose the audience for it. That includes being careful with the seemingly harmless backhanded compliment:

“Well, you were great. I don’t know why you weren’t the lead.”

Or:

“You were my favorite. The rest of the show was...interesting.”

Those may be intended as compliments, but they come at someone else’s expense. And in a crowded lobby, you never know who just heard the other half of what you said.

Criticism immediately following a performance is also a particularly vulnerable moment. Actors have just poured themselves onto a stage. Crew members have been working in the dark. Volunteers have spent hours making the evening happen. Directors may be watching weeks or months of work come to fruition. Friends and families are waiting excitedly in the lobby. There will be plenty of time for thoughtful criticism later; in that moment, a little grace goes a long way.

That doesn't mean criticism is forbidden. Criticism isn't disloyalty. You don't have to love every Hamilton Players show. You don't have to agree with every casting decision. You don't have to think every actor was wonderful. You don't even have to think you wouldn't have been better in the role. And if you have genuine feedback you want the theater to hear, tell us. Thoughtful criticism can be valuable, especially when it's shared with someone who can actually do something with it. That's very different from broadcasting a running review to everyone within earshot.

And sometimes you aren't offering feedback at all. Sometimes you just didn't like the show and want to talk about it. That's okay, too. Talk about it over coffee tomorrow. Analyze it with your spouse on the drive home. Discuss what worked and what didn't with your theater friends. Have thoughtful conversations about directing, acting, design, scripts, casting, and artistic choices. Those conversations are part of loving theater, too. There is a time, a place, and an audience for all of it. Just remember that criticism doesn't become more valid because it is delivered loudly, immediately, or within earshot of the people it concerns.

Theater is collaborative. It is also remarkably intimate. In a community theater, the line between audience and artist is especially thin. Tonight's patron may be next season's actor. The person building the set may be sitting beside you at the next show. The actor you're criticizing may direct you someday. Or none of those things may ever happen, and kindness and discretion are still worthwhile. Your opinion about the art is yours. What you do with that opinion tells people something about you.

So critique freely. Disagree thoughtfully. Be disappointed when you're disappointed. You don't have to love everything that happens onstage. Just remember where you are. Because the curtain may be closed. But the lobby has ears.

Theater Etiquette, Part 2 of 2: The Things Nobody Tells You

 A week or two ago, we talked about some of the basics of theater etiquette: arrive on time, put away the phone, don't talk during the performance, remember that there are people sitting behind you, and please, for reasons I still cannot believe require explanation, keep your shoes on. But there are other pieces of theater etiquette that aren't quite so obvious. In fact, calling them "etiquette" might make them sound more formal than they really are. They're mostly little customs regular theatergoers pick up along the way. But if nobody has ever told you about them, how would you know? So consider this Theater Etiquette, Part 2: The Things Nobody Tells You.

If you need to leave, timing matters.

Sometimes you have to get up during a performance. Nature calls. A coughing fit starts. Some emergency crops up. It happens. If you can comfortably wait for a natural break in the action, that's usually the best time to slip out. If you can't, quietly make your exit.  Coming back in can be a little more complicated.

Opening the auditorium door or walking back to your seat during the show can be incredibly distracting to both the actors and the audience. Actors may also be unexpectedly using the aisles or entrances. So please follow the direction of the Front of House staff or House Manager. They may postpone your reentry for a few minutes until there's an appropriate moment to return to your seat, often during a scene change or applause break. They're not trying to punish you or keep you from seeing the show. They're trying to get you back to your seat with the least amount of disruption possible and keep you from inadvertently becoming part of the show yourself.

You don't have to know when to clap.

People who don't attend theater often tend to worry about this one: "When am I supposed to applaud?" The answer? Whenever it feels right! In a musical, audiences frequently applaud after songs. In other productions, applause may come after a scene or a particularly wonderful moment. Sometimes an audience is so caught up in what's happening that nobody makes a sound. Laugh when something is funny. Gasp when something surprises you. Applaud when you're moved to applaud. You don't have to know some secret theater code. Live theater is meant to have a live audience. We love knowing you're out there, and genuinely reacting to the story unfolding onstage is one of the best ways to show it.

A standing ovation isn't mandatory.

Sometimes a performance brings an audience immediately to its feet. Sometimes a few people stand and others remain seated. Sometimes everyone stays seated and applauds enthusiastically. All of those are perfectly okay. A standing ovation has traditionally been one of an audience's highest expressions of appreciation: the theatrical equivalent of saying, That was extraordinary. That's part of what makes receiving one so meaningful to performers. When an entire audience rises to its feet, it can be an incredibly powerful moment for the people standing onstage. And that's also why you shouldn't feel obligated to stand simply because the person next to you did. A standing ovation is supposed to be an expression of genuine enthusiasm, not the final required activity of the evening. If a performance makes you want to leap to your feet, by all means, stand! If you loved the show and want to remain comfortably seated while applauding enthusiastically, do that. Save the standing O for the moments that make you want to stand. That's what makes it such an extraordinary compliment when it happens.

Curtain call is still part of the show.

We know you want to beat the crowd to the parking lot. But unless you genuinely need to leave, stay through the curtain call. Those bows are the performers' opportunity to step out of the characters they've inhabited for the last couple of hours and acknowledge the audience. They're also often the audience's only opportunity to recognize the entire company, including ensemble members whose work may not have received an individual moment during the performance. And in community theater, those bows can mean a great deal. Applause is quite literally the only payment most of those actors will receive.

That person taking a bow may be performing in their very first show. They may have spent six weeks rehearsing after working all day. Their family may be seeing them onstage for the first time. They may have spent the entire production moving scenery in the dark, changing costumes at lightning speed, or singing harmonies you barely noticed but absolutely would have noticed if they weren't there. Give them those last couple of minutes. Besides, nobody wants to be the person who starts the mass exodus. The parking lot will still be there in three minutes. Curtain call won't. And yes, actors can be fragile creatures. Sometimes they need that Sally Field moment: You like me! You really like me!

Intermission is for talking!

After all this discussion about being quiet, here's the good news: at intermission, talk to your heart's content. Talk about what you loved. Ask your companions what they think. Debate what might happen next. Explain something that confused your child. Go find someone you know and tell them you're having a great time. Just be careful about spoilers. If you've seen the show before or know the story, remember that the person standing beside you at concessions may not. Nobody wants to hear, "Just wait until you find out the butler did it!" while buying a cookie.

Please don't call out to someone you know onstage.

This is one of those uniquely community-theater temptations. You know that person! It's your coworker! Your neighbor! Your kid's teacher! Your best friend! And suddenly there they are, walking onto the stage. Resist the urge to yell their name or wave at them. The fact that you know the actor is wonderful. Cheer loudly for them at curtain call. Tell them afterward how much you enjoyed seeing them. But while the performance is happening, they're trying very hard not to be your coworker, neighbor, teacher, or friend. They have spent weeks learning lines, rehearsing, developing a character, and working toward this moment. For the next two hours, let them be somebody else. This is particularly important during youth productions. It can be incredibly tempting to wave at a child you know or try to get them to acknowledge you from the stage. But they've worked hard to learn the same skills we're asking of our adult actors, including staying focused and remaining in character. Don't undermine all that hard work by distracting them or encouraging them to break character. They know you're there. You can make a HUGE fuss over them afterward.

Close enough to touch doesn't mean interactive.

Actors sometimes enter through the audience, perform in aisles, or end up very close to patrons. Unless the production makes it clear that audience interaction is invited, continue watching just as you would if the actor were onstage. Don't grab them, talk to them, hand them something, or try to make them break character. They're close to you because that's where the staging put them, not necessarily because they've invited you into the scene.

Backstage is still backstage.

After the show, you may be excited to congratulate someone you know in the cast. Please don't go looking for them backstage unless you've specifically been invited. Immediately after a performance, backstage can be surprisingly busy. Actors are changing clothes and removing microphones. Props and costumes are being put away. Crew members may be resetting things for the next performance. And sometimes actors simply need a few minutes to come down from the experience before greeting people. But there's another reason backstage access matters: it is shared space.

The dressing room doesn't belong only to the person you came to see. It may be shared by ten, twenty, or thirty other performers who are changing clothes, fixing costumes, gathering their belongings, talking through something that happened during the performance, or simply decompressing. Bill may be delighted to see Aunt Mary backstage. That doesn't mean the other fifteen people changing clothes in the same room are delighted to see Aunt Mary. Backstage and dressing rooms are both working spaces and personal spaces. That's why "Cast and Crew Only" signs really do mean Cast and Crew Only.

If performers are coming out to greet the audience, give them a little time. They'll find you. And when they do, you can tell them how fabulous they were without accidentally meeting half the cast in their underwear. Everybody wins.

Be aware of the space you're sharing.

Theater seats can be cozy, especially in older or smaller venues. Try to keep coats, bags, and other belongings within your own space and out of the aisles. You might even consider how much baggage you'll need to "store" before you leave the house. Be mindful of armrests and the people sitting beside you. And because many people are sharing a relatively small room for a couple of hours, going easy on strong fragrances is a kindness to people who may be sensitive to them. None of this requires perfection. It just requires a little awareness of the people around you.

Most theater etiquette isn't really about theater.

That's probably the biggest secret. There isn't an elaborate rulebook experienced theatergoers have memorized. Most theater etiquette comes down to one simple idea: you're sharing a space and an experience with other people. You're sharing the room with the audience around you. You're sharing the story with the actors performing it. You're sharing the experience with people who may have waited months to see this particular show. And unlike a movie, every performance is temporary. Tonight's audience will never gather in exactly the same way again. The actors will never give precisely the same performance again. The laughs will land differently tomorrow. A quiet moment may feel completely different with another audience. That's part of the magic. So laugh. Applaud. React. Enjoy yourself. Talk about it at intermission. Tell the actors afterward that you loved seeing them. And if you didn't love it? Maybe wait until you're in the car. Because the lobby has ears. …but that's a blog for another time.

 

Raising the Curtain on the Next Generation

 

There is something pretty wonderful about watching a child experience live theater. Maybe it's the first time they see a set transform in front of them. Maybe it's realizing that the people singing onstage are actually singing, right there, just a few feet away. Maybe it's the moment they become so completely absorbed in the story that they forget they're sitting in a theater at all. A great experience with live theater can create memories that last a lifetime and, sometimes, begin a lifelong love of the performing arts. But taking children to the theater can also require a little preparation.

Unlike watching a movie at home, there is no pause button, no volume control, and no easy trip to the kitchen when attention starts to wander. Live theater asks something of its audience, and learning how to be part of that audience is a skill. Fortunately, it's a pretty fun one to teach.

Start with the right show.

The single most important question isn't necessarily, "Is my child old enough?" It's "Is this a show my child will enjoy?" Children are wonderfully individual. One six-year-old may happily sit through a two-hour musical while another has reached the absolute limit of human endurance after 45 minutes. Some children love big music and spectacle. Others prefer familiar stories, comedy, or smaller productions. Consider your child's interests, attention span, maturity, and sensitivities when choosing a performance. And don't assume that "musical" automatically means "for children." Plenty of musicals contain mature themes, frightening moments, strong language, violence, or other material that may not be appropriate for every child. If you're unsure about a particular Hamilton Players production, ask us. We're happy to help you decide whether a show might be a good fit for your family.

Tell them what they're about to experience.

If a child has never attended live theater before, the experience itself can be surprising. Explain that the theater will get dark when the performance begins. There may be loud music or sudden noises. Actors might yell, cry, fight, wear unusual costumes or makeup, or appear somewhere unexpected. If you know a production contains something your child might find frightening, prepare them ahead of time. Knowing that a loud sound is coming, or that the "scary" character is really an actor playing pretend, can make a big difference. You can also explain some of the fun parts. People will laugh together. The audience may applaud after songs or scenes. There may be an intermission when everyone gets to stretch, use the restroom, and talk about what they've seen. And at the end, everybody gets to applaud the actors.

Give them a little bit of the story beforehand.

You don't have to spoil every surprise, but knowing the basic story can help children follow what is happening onstage. Tell them who some of the main characters are. Explain where the story takes place. If it's based on a book or movie they already know, talk about what they might recognize and what might be different. Then, once the show begins, they can concentrate on watching the story unfold rather than trying to figure out who everybody is.

Teach theater manners before you get there.

Children aren't born knowing theater etiquette. Someone has to teach them, and it's much easier to explain expectations at home than to introduce them for the first time in a dark theater.

Keep the rules simple:

• We stay in our own seat during the performance.
• We keep our feet off the seats and don't kick the seat in front of us.
• We use quiet voices only when absolutely necessary.
• We don't use phones or other electronic devices during the show.
• We try not to do things that make it hard for other people to see or hear.
• If we need a break, we'll quietly go to the lobby together.

Notice that none of those rules says a child must remain perfectly motionless for two hours. Children wiggle. They change positions. They react to things. Sometimes they ask a question. That's okay. The important distinction is whether their behavior is beginning to interfere with someone else's ability to enjoy the performance.

Set everyone up for success.

Use the restroom before the show. Even if they insist they don't need to. You know why. If you think your child might need a break during the performance, aisle seats can make getting in and out much easier. Make sure everyone has eaten, isn't overtired, and has had an opportunity to get some wiggles out before settling into a theater seat. These are small things, but they can make an enormous difference.

Let them know that taking a break is okay.

This may be the most important preparation of all. Before the show begins, tell your child that if they become scared, overwhelmed, restless, or simply need a break, you can step into the lobby together. It isn't a punishment and it doesn't mean they did anything wrong. Sometimes we all need a break. At Hamilton Players, if a child becomes restless or upset enough that it begins disrupting the performance, we ask an accompanying adult to step into the lobby with them. Our Front of House staff will be happy to help you return to your seats at an appropriate break in the performance. Knowing that there's an escape hatch can actually make the experience less stressful for both children and adults.

Every person needs a ticket and a seat.

At Hamilton Players, every audience member, regardless of age, must have their own ticket and their own seat. Babes in arms are not permitted. There are several reasons for this, including safety, comfort, and sightlines for the people seated behind you. More importantly, very young babies simply aren't developmentally ready for most of what live theater asks of an audience. They can't understand why the room suddenly became dark, why there was a loud noise, or why everyone around them suddenly burst into applause. There will be plenty of time to introduce them to theater when they're a little older, and we hope you will!

Remember that you're teaching a new skill.

A child's first theater experience doesn't have to be perfect to be successful. Maybe you make it through the entire show. Maybe you spend ten minutes in the lobby during Act II. Maybe they whisper one too many questions. Maybe they are absolutely mesmerized and spend the entire ride home talking about how the scenery worked. All of those experiences are part of learning how to be an audience member. The goal isn't to teach children to sit silently and disappear into their seats. It's to teach them that live theater is something special. Real people are onstage telling a story for us, and we're sharing that experience with all the other people in the room. We listen. We react. We laugh. We applaud. We make room for everyone else to enjoy it, too. And then, hopefully, we come back and do it all again. Because one of the best ways to ensure that live theater continues for generations is to invite the next generation in and teach them how much fun it is to be part of it.