Open or closed?
When high school musical auditions roll around, which type of audition will you be holding? Which audition process is more familiar to the students? Which process will envoke more phone calls from parents? These are all questions to be considered when holding auditions, especially in a high school setting.
In most cases an open audition consists of students auditioning in front of peers in addition to the show’s directors. Students are welcome to sit in and observe other auditions. This process may increase stress levels and competitive edge of students auditioning. It also may unintentionally allow students to feel as though their assessment of the auditions makes a difference in any casting decisions. Directors may find that having so many extra opinions, especially from uninformed teenagers is not something they wish to deal with.
On the other hand a closed audition consists of students auditioning individualy for the only the directors (and possibly a choreographer). By excluding other students from viewing the actual auditions, directors can make decisions without other opinions “breathing” down their backs. In this type of process a student may give the best audition of the night for a certain role…But the directors might be aware of the student’s tendancy to hang out in detention or in-school suspension. After much discussion, they give the role to a more dependable student. This kind of consideration is necessary to creating the best environment for a successful show. In an open audition, other students would have been able see this student’s audition and as a result, feel obligated to question the directors’ decision…
Both audition processes have positive and negative sides. No matter how auditions are structured, some students will be unhappy with the results and blame the system. Parents are also eager to voice their opinions and may try to intimidate the directors’ decisions. Directors can take measures to prevent these situations by educating their principals and other administrators. Making the administration aware of the auditioning process and reasons why it is conducted as such will hopefully bolster their ability to stand up for your program and decisions.
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