What: Open Call Acting Auditions
Where: MY Place
When: Tuesday, June 17
There’s no business like show business. Well, no salary like it at least, especially if you’re in the box office big league.
If you’ve ever wanted to trade the boards for your big break, or be in the spotlight for just a few seconds, now is your chance. Quantum Theatre Company and MY Place need actors of all abilities to help boost Whistler’s own off Broadway scene.
An open-call audition will be held June 17 to gauge interest and experience for future productions, and don’t worry, it won’t be as brutal or as public as an American Idol drubbing. Quantum’s directors, professional actors Neil Schell, Diana Pavlovska and Benson Simmonds, are committed to taking the talented or even just the tenacious, under their wing and onto the stage in monthly productions to start in August.
We caught up with Schell, a 20-year acting veteran of stage, screen and the teaching fraternity, for a lowdown on the realities of "the industry".
Pique:
What type of people do you think make good actors?NS:
There’s got to be a desire for the craft. A hunger, a real passion for it. Although some people may not realize they have that passion because they never dreamed they could really do it, or were too shy to admit it. In Whistler, I really want to bring that out in people. They have to really love story telling and be willing to commit to a character that will most likely not be anything like their real persona.Pique:
Does it really happen out there that you can be discovered overnight like in a high school play and then next thing you know you’re in Hollywood making out with Ben Affleck?NS:
It can happen but usually not that fast. It’s a lot of smaller steps. People can go rather quickly from community theatre to bigger productions or from commercials to TV and films, but there is a certain path you need to follow. I see a lot of talent in Whistler and I’m happy to recommend them to the next level of casting directors and agents and so on and that’s how it goes. Eventually something clicks.Pique:
What are the plays going to be like?NS:
They will be contemporary, some comedies with real issues that are of concern today and very actor driven. The quality of the acting will drive the story and the actors will carry the burden of getting that across more than a situation piece.Pique:
In the auditions, people have to come with a rehearsed two minute monologue. What will you be looking for?NS:
People who understand the text of the monologue they are doing. Not just portray the character but embody them. It comes from the energy of your body. Sometimes there’s a natural ability there and sometimes it needs to be trained to come out. That’s probably what I’ll mostly be looking for.Pique:
Are you looking for people with drama experience?NS:
No, they need talent and drive and passion more than anything. The more experience they have, then of course the more willing I am to put them in lead roles. Those without experience but have those other characteristics, will go into understudy roles. They will work with the director and the cast and prepare for the role of the lead as back-up. The benefit of being an understudy is priceless training that will help their confidence immeasurably.Pique:
What’s the level of commitment people will have to make to be part of these productions?NS:
People who get the lead roles will have to work on their part for a few hours a day every day for about six week. Rehearsals will be once a week for understudies. If they are a lead they may even have to get out for a few days of full time rehearsal when the show gets closer, depending on how confident they are with the script. Anthony Hopkins (Hanibal Lector) works on a scene at least 200 times to make sure it’s right. He wants to eliminate all doubt in the scene and ensure he knows exactly what to do. Everybody’s different but that gives you the idea of the level of commitment that may be expected.Pique:
Will people get paid for these roles?NS:
The leads will get paid but the understudies will not. You can’t put a price on the experience, confidence and contacts though.Pique:
Why Whistler for these productions?NS:
I think there is a need for actor training and professional opportunities to gain practical experience in Whistler. I have a class of a dozen enthusiastic actors that I’ve been teaching since June at MY Place and I know there’s more out there. I also see a great potential as an international resort for actors to be seen by, gosh, who knows who? MY Place offered us a very professional environment to put on very good productions. They are so supportive. If the Olympics get awarded there could be huge advancement in the arts and theatre so getting the wheel in motion now is not a bad idea really.Sign up for your audition by calling 604-935-8410. If you need to find a good monologue, a great Web site Schell recommends that’s full of scripts and screenplays is www.script-o-rama.com .
