Gulfport Little Theatre’s Youth Division produces shows throughout the entire year. The plays call for young actors and actresses and these productions are wonderful opportunities for young people to build self-confidence, learn responsibility, and interact positively with adults and peers.
When considering upcoming auditions, here are a few points to remember:
Know the Play for which your child is auditioning. If the play requires a teenage girl, do not bring your eight-year-old actress to audition regardless of talent. If the description says singing role, the actor auditioning must be able to sing.
Prepare your child for rejection. Many children audition for the limited number of roles in a given play. Unfortunately, not all will be cast. As a parent, you need to stress this point to your child from the start. Often, the choice is not indicative of how well a child auditioned. For example, a director may be looking for a certain physical attribute or he or she may want siblings in a play to share certain characteristics. In many, many cases, a child needs to be animated (show interest, enthusiasm) to catch a director’s eye; it separates the novice from the stage veteran almost every time.
Is the "ROLE" the "GOAL"? Most, if not all, directors ask in advance if your child wants to audition for a specific role --- or --- will they accept another role in the play. Be Honest! If your child auditions for a specific role and is not chosen for that role, everyone is likely to remain on good terms for the next opportunity. Conversely, no director likes to have someone accept a role (for whatever reason) and then drop out shortly after or later. You and your children run the very real risk of not being cast in future productions with that director or possibly with that theatre.
Parents are being auditioned as well. Parents who call a theatre or director and ask for special privileges are sending a red flag to the director. Parents who don’t get their child to an audition on time send the message that their child may not make it on time to rehearsals, either. As a parent, you need to be accountable and follow directions---show that you will be an asset to the production should your child be cast.
Finally, know why you want your child to be on stage. If it’s to learn responsibility, make sure that they are prepared and on time for every audition, rehearsal, and performance. If it’s to build self-confidence, always have a word of praise and encouragement for them and leave all criticism to the director. If it’s to encourage cooperation and respect, make sure you are a team player as well.
Remember-- There’s nothing wrong with being a "Stage Mom" (or Dad); just be a good one!