The bottom line here is that this is "show BUSINESS." I'm sure JRB is under extreme pressure to make a hit as he must owe investors huge sums of $$$. First and foremost, this is a business and, as a result, all casting choices are business decisions. Nothing we can do about that.

I don't know the man, but I do know a bit about the pressures of the biz from the other side. Just thought I'd share a bit of that perspective.

medavinci,
Just curious, how tall is your friends daughter that was told she is too tall? I heard a couple at 4'11 were too small, so wondering what too tall is?? Thanks!

Medavinci,

I read your description of JRB and audition process and have to say my daughter's experience was anything but negative. She auditioned for this show at Mark Taper in LA and again for the reading in December. In December, she said Jason is my favorite person to audition for. He is so nice and helps in so many ways. I LOVE working with him.

I also can say that they are open to looking at lots of sizes and maturity levels. Mine was a tiny (4'7) and not mature 11 yr old in LA and she made it to the final callbacks. Not cast, but left feeling like she had made a good impression on some great people in the biz AND that she had learned from the process.

December reading she was 12 and beginning to look older. Still very young looking and now 4'11. She again made it to final callback. In that group there were young looking ones like mine to kids who looked much older and taller (like real middle school kids look). I think it boils down to vocal quality - period. think JRB is particular about how his music sounds. Think mine has good vocal quality -- but maybe not quite what they need for this show (it requires some major high belting).

But just wanted to say, in our experience -- very nice team to audition for. Very encouraging. And all sizes in the mix at both final callbacks we've been to.

I agree with Rose 123. My daughters experience was wonderful - she thought JRB and casting couldn't have been nicer. On her initial audition they actually were moving to the beat of her song and then took the time to go through her vocal book for another song. She made it to the finals but was not cast for the workshop. My dd is also 12 years old and definitely looks 13, I too felt it was a true mix of kids in the final, very representative of the age group (13). It will become more apparent when we see it on stage but I think they are trying to be true to the age of 13.

As far as height goes my daughter has been on both ends too short then a growth spurt too tall and not the right look - not your typical commercial look. It truly is a business and we feel most of these experiences are great training and when the time is right, she will be cast for the right thing.

I don't get to write here often but it is great to hear from the other mom's out there.

All the best, it truly is a tough business.

Okay, I'm going to type this off quickly before running off to a meeting so excuse the typos or imperfect English...

For someone who asked (I apologize for being too lazy to scroll back!). My friend's daughter just turned 13, and she is 5' 6'5". She is very mature for her age, and she dresses appropriately. She's not flashy nor does she wear low cut shirts which a lot of teens these days tend to do. Because she is tall (and very bright and articulate), most people assume she is 15-17 which is sad. She is not the tallest in her class. She is in the mid-range. Most of her 12-14 year old friends are around her height - there are very few short girls 5' or under. There are 6 in her class that are 5'9-5'11 (which is a bit unusual but the basketball coaches love them!), but I'd say average height is 5'3-5'5".

I think by age 12-13 you will see 5'2-5'4 as average height from my observations. My friend's daughter's vocal ability, and another girl who did get to audition (and was told at the audition that she was a beautiful belter but too tall for the production), are both superb and have great range and are belters.

As for the boys, several are on hold (that my friend's daughter knows and they are very small - about 5'2). She's thrilled for them and really hopes they get the lead parts. She said 2 of the 3 are not great singers - it seems to be a different set of criteria for boys (as told by one of the moms of the boys on hold - she agreed that it really is easier for boys than girls - she's an acting teacher/coach). She also indicated they are probably going to cast 4 lead boys (as backup) and the kids in considertion have to see vocal coaches to see if they can handle 8 shows a week. When you think about it, there really isn't a show out there that has teens on stage performing for 2 hours (or however long the show will be) except Spring Awakening (and they are older). Don't know about Grinch as I haven't seen it.

Also, FYI, this is the latest casting notice for the show:
Mark Simon Casting Rehearses 4/7/2008 and performs 5/9-6/8/08. Seeking MUSICIANS: 5 youngmen/women 13-18. KEYBOARD: - must be conversant with rock and contemporary styles (not a classical player)- has to be able to read musica as well as improvise over chord changes. Experience with Hammond organ a plus. GUITAR 1: lead guitar player, several exposed solos - has to have at least a rudimentary ability to read music as well as substantial skills as a soloist and ensemble player. GUITAR 2: - plays rhythm electric as well as solo acoustic guitar - must read music and be comfortable in ensemble situations (have played in a rock band or jazz band) BASS: electric bass guitar (no upright necessary), must read music, play and improvise in all contemporary styles. DRUMS - need exceptional and experienced rock and R&B drummer, must read music well, also play additional percussion (tambourine, shakers); experience with electronic drums a plus. To audition mail/fax resume ASAP to: Mark Simon casting - 13 band - 240 west 44th street, ny, ny 10036.

There has also been talk by parents whose kids auditioned about the ticket prices. A lot of parents of kids in this age group have said they would not pay $75 a ticket to take their kids to the show. Interesting, because isn't Grinch or Lion King priced that high? And certainly a Hannah Montana concert (lol) - but according to my friend's daughter, most kids that age do not want to be caught dead at a HM concert (I'm so totally disconnected on those things). And also people pay that price to see Grease and Hairspray which are shows for that age group.

I still believe you need to keep these shows real, but again, I'm not a backer looking for a ROI. I can say even my older daughter is getting discouraged, because she's now almost 5'9" and most of the kids she auditions with who are in her age group 17-18 are still so short! We told her that being tall when she was younger would pay off when she was 17-18 because tall girls look great on stage (she has a wonderful stage presence and a strong dancer/singer/actress); however, it looks like she might be in the same situation yet again. I never realized what a problem being tall is in this business (except when she was younger).

Is there no place for tall people in theater? In fact, when we took my older daughter and my friend's daughter (the one who auditioned for 13) and 2 of her 13 year friends to see Legally Blonde and Hairspray, all of the kids were taller than the cast (except the men) when they came out to sign autographs! Very discouraging for the kids! What my own daughter hates most is when people look at her and say "You should model"..she gets so upset, because it is not what she wants to do at all.

Callbacks are next Friday! Good luck to all!

Medavinci,

They height can be good at times and bad at others. Dear Friend has had a long theatre career and she is 6 ft and always wears heels. Played lead roles in Broadway shows. She looks great on stage. But at times, height has also kept her from the job. I guess it's always something! On-camera actors are also tiny. It's strange -- what is it about this biz that connects it with small people. I think casting for kids don't have a real view of how big kids actually are per always dealing with small ones.

We are kinda glad to hear that some of the boys allegedly in contention are small as my DD is still very small. But has been asked back again for this show.

Break a leg to all going to callbacks! Some callbacks already happened ....A few have been called back for the Broadway show and 1 was called back for Goodspeed. It sounds like there might be 2 separate callbacks sessions going on.

Rose123,
Thanks for some inspiration about a 6ft gal that I can pass on to my girl who is so down right now about her height! I hope something will come her way soon.....time to start writing the play called Tall Girls! (tee hee).

Any one hear any casting news on this yet after weekend of callbacks.

nope

Although when casting released most of the kids yesterday (looked like about 8 left) he said they would be in touch one way or the other by mid week. I would have thought calls would have went out today. It was a long weekend for those kids. Especially from out of town. we are VERY TIRED. Maybe they did cast today and we just were not cast. If anyone got a call could you please let us on the board know
thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by georgiamom:
Although when casting released most of the kids yesterday (looked like about 8 left) he said they would be in touch one way or the other by mid week. I would have thought calls would have went out today. It was a long weekend for those kids. Especially from out of town. we are VERY TIRED. Maybe they did cast today and we just were not cast. If anyone got a call
could you please let us on the board know
thank you.

we were there sunday, is that what you are referring to? all girls were released and boys were kept, no word on calls

Calls started going out today. Good luck to everyone!