Auditions - A Beautiful Thing...

One of the things I have been doing as AD of Walterdale is sit in on all the auditions for the shows this season. This past Sunday and Monday night we held the auditions for our February show, Beautiful Thing. Being involved in all the auditions, even just as an observer has given me a great opportunity to see the depth of our talent pool. I am not sure of the exact cast for this show, but I have an idea based on my own assessments of who is in running. I know that based on those who came out we shall have a strong cast. This is exciting as I figured this would be the most challenging show in our season to cast.

I have also gotten to observe the same people auditioning more than one time. One thing I am tremendously pleased with is that over the course of consecutive auditions I have seen marked improvement in some of the auditioners. That means that they are either learning from the experience, or they are going away and training or re-thinking their approach. For me, as a Director at Walterdale, it makes me excited to think that some of these people may audition for me down the line. Please, please, please do not stop coming out for auditions. There were people we saw that were good, but just not right in the mix or right for the part... there will be a part for you eventually! I know it! One long-time Walterdalian told me this weekend, she auditioned 12 times before she finally got into a Walterdale show, but it was worth it!

Another benefit to this round is that Justen Bennett, the Director, had me do a little introduction to Walterdale while he sorted readings. I hope that some of the people listened and will take me up on the offer to fine a role in our community even if they do not get cast. Walterdale is about opportunity, but sometimes the opportunity looks different than you think it will!

Dates and Times and Things to Do...

Board meeting last night. it is a bit of a challenge to wear both hats, but I try to get all my A.D. material done and in my report so that I can focus on the Secretarial duties while at the meeting. The report works like a bit of a checklist for myself as well, because in it I can see what I have done and what is still on the to-do or pending list. One of the big things I am working on is compiling a calendar for the 2 years of my term so that I can hand that to the next A.D. so that they might have a framework from which to approach the theatre. I have a skeletal calendar framed out and gradually I am filling up the days with items as they come. I am also using this as a communication tool with the Directors so that they can see at a glance what is in the space. I don't want them to have any unhappy surprises that will affect their diligent planning!

We have some exciting ideas for membership/community development. One of the ongoing refrains we hear from our members is the need for ongoing social activity in addition to the shows. A member may not be in a show every year, but they still want to see other members. So, we hope to revisit a more social atmosphere at the AGM, as well as incorporating "play reading parties" and a Christmas Variety Show. These are on the table, in any case. The next big thing will be a Season Wrap Party. Stay tuned!

Patience and Understanding...

Walterdale is a true community theatre. That means that aside from our part-time Administrator everyone who works on the shows at Walterdale is a member volunteer. Most of the membership have jobs. Many of them are in other theatre projects as they attempt to start a career. Most of them have family obligations that take up their time. However, sometimes we forget that. When we send an email we want a response right away, not thinking that maybe that person is picking up their kids from school, or at work in Starbucks, or in rehearsal. When we leave a phone message at the theatre on Friday we forget that the Administrator is only in on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays and no one checks the messages until he gets in. We forget that the people we want to reach might be busy painting a set or trying to find a lighting operator. We need things to get done, but we need to have patience and understanding.