<p>Ahermitt, that was smart thinking. Although I keep hearing that some kids go through BFA programs without ever getting cast at all.</p>
<p>Kudos to your daughter for speaking up about the maid thing. I know that happens a lot and many talented actors suffer in silence. I can give you an example of the opposite problem, though – much less prevalent, which makes it more funny than upsetting – My son’s acting coach has worked with a lot of students who attended Howard University’s excellent theatre program. When my son asked if that was a program he should consider, his coach replied that although the training would be first-rate, he would find himself cast in roles as a bigot for four years (my son is white and Howard is a historically black university)!</p>
<p>LOL Prodesse! Exactly. Your son going to Howard would be like my kid going to Bob Jones (who courted her heavily). The “stereotypical” role is only interesting the first time. </p>
<p>My goal was in looking to protecting her heart because you can start to second guess your talent when you get typecast so young.</p>
<p>My D just did you last musical which was Les Miserables …she was Fantine. It ran for two weeks and I still have the songs running through my head! She has been dancing since she was 3 yrs old and never has time to do much of anything outside of that and drama. I wish she could have done more community theater work but only 24 hours in a day.</p>
<p>I finally am going to post on this thread which has provided so much perspective over the last few weeks. My son started at his high school as a junior, so he did not “pay his dues” in the eyes of the director. However, he did have a lot of other skills and experience that, in most high schools, would have been welcomed, especially in a boy. It all started out well enough as a junior but deteriorated at the start of senior year and, for many good reasons, we decided that there was no other alternative but out. In retrospect, I should have seen the signs at the end of last year, yet even with decades of professional experience between my husband and I, I never could have imagined anything like this. After my kid met with the director in the fall, it was clear that he was going to be cast in the ensemble in the musicals and would not be cast in any of the non-musicals nor would he be given a chance to direct. Because there seemed to be such a hierarchy, I was even worried that taking time to go to college auditions would be seen as a negative as the director’s opinion of my son’s abilities was very low. </p>
<p>I am happy to say that he auditioned for a community theatre production and got a role that he loves for his “last show in high school” with a super director and welcoming group of actors. It has certainly helped with the high school situation which has been pretty brutal all in all. </p>
<p>However, at our first two college auditions out of the gate, things started looking up considerably. After that, he felt very much appreciated at every college he auditioned for although we weren’t sure if that would translate into acceptances. But over the last month, it has. Interestingly, he has received acceptances for both MT and acting equally across the board, some schools have offered him both, and he will have to choose. There’s been merit and talent, too. </p>
<p>It comes from the top down at his high school, so we don’t hold anything against the kids or parents. Just one of those unfortunate circumstances I wish we could have avoided. On the plus side, he has had a wonderful year academically. Every other teacher has been an inspiration to him, and that part of his senior year has been amazing!</p>
<p>However, the director is not at all happy we’ve heard as I suppose this calls his credibility into question, and there is still a lot of negativity in the air. But we are also moving on…</p>
<p>Wow, Ewanes, that is tough. A friend of mine’s daughter is going through the same thing that you describe, but she is only a junior. I told the mom to do the exact thing you guys did - go outside the school to community theatre and have a ball! Don’t let the school validate your son/daughter’s talent. Good for you! And congrats on his acceptances, I’m sure he deserved them.</p>
<p>My daughter goes to a performing arts school. Enough talent there to quadruple cast Les Mis, but they decided to just double cast it, and it goes up in a few weeks. Very very strong singers, and it will sell out four performances of our city’s opera house (the community is also invested in this schools’ performances).</p>
<p>My kid is lucky to have been cast, as this is a singer’s show and she is a character actress…so she is Madame Thenardier, and having a BIG time. Went prop shopping in her grandmother’s things yesterday…and found some lovely trinkets and jewels that she can pickpocket … she is also looking forward to the cursing and the bawdiness. (yippee!)</p>
<p>The only sad thing is that some amazing singers/beautiful actresses are in the chorus, featured singers or ‘lovely ladies’…some are seniors, and some are my friends’ kids. Just too many talented kids and not enough roles. </p>
<p>Again, we feel fortunate, but wish there could be lots of opportunity for all kids.</p>
<p>And dreamsiklz, I have these songs permanently stuck in my head too…esp “Master of the House”! lol</p>
<p>Chaptertwo congrats to your daughter! Mine was chosen for Madame when her school did Les Mis her Sophomore year. She had SOOOO much fun with that character. She’s got this beautiful soprano (but then has her belt range too) usually, and has done arias etc., but she loves to play the character. Especially the funny ones. She didn’t have the competition your daughter has as we do not have a performing arts high school of course, but it was a thrill for her to do that role.</p>
<p>Brandewyn, I hope the performances of “The Importance of Being Earnest” went well. My D did that one earlier this year. It was the first and last time she and her boyfriend got to portray a couple on stage, as he’ll be graduating this year.</p>
<p>Theatermom2013, that’s funny. Originally my D’s first choice would have been Laurey, because that’s just the way she is. Every time a new show is announced she automatically wants to go for the lead. She talked herself out of that before long (as she often finds lead roles aren’t the most interesting characters) and really wanted to be Ado Annie. Then she watched the Hugh Jackman London stage production and decided Aunt Eller was her favorite character, so it worked out perfectly. In fact, I think the only way it could have been more perfect for her is if she could have played Aunt Eller while singing Laurey’s songs. We were pleasantly surprised to see better attendance than usual. Those who didn’t attend your D’s “Oklahoma!” performances don’t know what a great show they missed. I hope “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” ends up being a big success!</p>
<p>Ewanes… kudos to you all for being smart and rising above it all. I have always told my D that theatre is a very small world and you never know who knows who. You did just the right thing by having an open discussion with that director and then quietly choosing another path. And then that path completely validated your decision! How great. Good to hear.</p>
<p>Marbleheader and Dramamom0804, thanks for your support. It certainly hasn’t been easy in many ways, but it was for the best. We’ve also learned in the course of the school year that my ds was definitely not the first nor probably will be the last to have this type of experience there. Sad…</p>
<p>I feel your pain Ewanes. We have been there. As I posted earlier in this thread, my daughter gets into UNCSA and can’t get call back for high school drama production?! Reason #10 my daughter would have loved the CMU acceptance was for some validation at her high school after being black balled for not being part of the choirs. They are all too clueless there to even understand what a difficult program UNCSA is to get in to. </p>
<p>Glad your son has community theater to fall back on. My daugther had that for a couple of years and got good roles until it shutdown after her Sophmore year when it ran out of money. I think this waiting process has been made so much harder for her by not having a show to get her mind out of it.</p>
<p>I’ve got a big season haha. Just finished Hamlet (As Claudius) and am rehearsing for Les Mis (as Valjean) and starting The Sunset Limited (as Mr. White). I’m about run ragged haha.</p>