I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle the following. I saw the Breakdown notice calling for submissions to a casting director for an upcoming play. I know the play's director from working at the theater, although I was not in a play directed by her, and have submitted to the casting director recently on another project (was not called in). What would be the best way to ask the director if she could refer me or ask the CD to call me in? Looking for phrasing here as I realize this may be putting her on the spot.

Thanks!

It really depends on how close your relationship is to the director, and if the director knows your work.

A few weeks ago I was in a similar situation. I saw a casting notice on Actors Access for a project directed by someone who I acted with in a show 2 years ago. He and I had communicated a few times since our show, so I felt comfortable contacting him after I submitted to the casting director. In my email, I told him that I had just submitted for the project, and was looking forward to seeing him at auditions if I fit what they were looking for. I also congratulated him, and asked to be added to his mailing list so I could be invited to the reading. A few days later, the director responded and said that he had given my name to the casting director and was looking forward to see me read. I did not end up being cast, but I was thrilled to meet the casting director, and I got a personal thank you for lending my talents at the audition. And you'd better believe I am going to the reading next week.

The bottom line is to keep your communications focused on how you can help others in the industry. If you have a good relationship with with a director or producer and a project comes up that you are right for, they need to know that you are interested. And if it's true that this is a business built on relationships (and I think it is,) encouragement and support for your colleagues is paramount. If you keep this in your focus, I think that your communications with industry folks can be very successful.

As you've put the situation, it sounds a tad iffy, because you haven't actually worked with the director as an actor. You also didn't say how big a production this is (it seems like overkill for the typical NY off-off black box production).

I was auditioning once for "Measure for Measure" and a woman came in whom the director immediately recognized and embraced (the highly trained Shakespearian actress next to me muttered, "Well, that's that" - and in fact the woman did indeed get the part). But it was pretty clear to me that he knew and liked her work.

If you felt like if you walked into an audition, that director would light up when they saw you, it might be appropriate to ask for their recommendation. But I'm not getting that sense here.


If socially you're really buddies with this director, you might be able to lightly ask if she could at least be sure you get looked at out of the huge pile the CD will no doubt receive (the least student film gets hundreds of submissions). But if you just chatted with her from time to time, it sounds iffy.


***
Not to be a Franco-pedant, by the way, but your translation of Berlioz zaps his parallelism:

"The luck of having talent is not enough; one must have the talent of having luck."

I believe it was Napoleon who said the main thing he wanted to know about an officer was "Is he lucky?".

Good advice here!

I think it's important not to make people feel used, but also important to be able to ask for help. If you have a good relationship with this director, even in passing, I think you might try something along the lines of Eric's story. Tell her you just submitted for this project and hope to have a chance to audition for her! You could even add that you've heard great things about her from other actors at the theatre and hope to get a chance to read for her....

One other thing, just to be sure this is clear, the CD is handling the auditions for the director. Anyone the director WANTS to see will be seen. SO, you don't need the director to refer you to the CD as much as you hope the director is interested in seeing you read.

Thank you all for the advice (including the translation correction. I see where that one went awry. I feel a new signature coming on anyway). Actually, the play is at a well-respected regional theater and the director knows my work as she has auditioned me previously and suggested me for the play I went on to do, although she did not direct the piece I was in.

I think an email along the lines of what Eric described would do the trick.

Thanks!

I believe the person you're thanking is Erin.

If she suggested you for a play, that's a whole other haul of herring.

You're very welcome!

Erin (not Eric- thanks, Jim!)

Thanks Erin!