Playmakers Casting Policy

Goal: To assign students to roles that feature their unique talents and skills, in service of best storytelling, and of a respectful, collaborative ensemble process.

Guidelines: All roles in the Winter Musical are assigned by audition only. Students grades 4th and up go through the audition process, where students prepare and perform assigned material for the casting team (director, music director, choreographer and/or other music or theater professionals). Students may be “called back” for a second or third day with new material, but this is not required in order to be cast. Students auditioning are not guaranteed a role; those not cast will be put in a waitlist pool to fill any spaces that open after casting.

Consideration will be given to:

  • •         Acting ability (defined by voice, physicality and thought process) and unique skills, as assessed by the directors in auditions, callbacks, and previous productions. A uniform worksheet is completed for all formal auditions to assess acting ability.
  • •         “Fit” for a specific role, in service of best storytelling, as assessed by the directors in auditions and callbacks.
  • •         Personal character, professionalism, ability to work as part of a team, and commitment, as demonstrated in involvement with the program at large, in previous production processes, and in school.
  • •         Adherence to Sacred Heart School’s Code of Conduct and Policies and Procedures Manual.
  • •         Grade and tenure in program, solely as a tiebreaker between two students who are equally qualified (in the opinion of the directors) to fill a role.

Non-Traditional Casting: Playmakers is first and foremost an educational program devoted to allowing all students to shine. Where it is in the best interest of the program, production and students involved, the director may opt to cast roles non-traditionally. This includes, but is not limited to, dividing roles, casting multiple actors to share a role (either double-casting or as principal and understudy), gender-blind casting, and adding non-speaking roles to scenes.