Why I Cast People, Not Roles
As my Theatre Company, Anything Goes Theatre Company moves into its next chapter, one thing I've been thinking about a lot is what it means to build a company rather than simply cast a show. Because for me, they're not the same thing. A lot of people think casting starts with the roles.
Who's playing the lead?
Who's playing the villain?
Who's singing the big songs?
Who's getting the most stage time?
But that's never been how I approach it. I start with the people. The storytellers. The collaborators. The people who are excited to create something together. The people who bring positive energy into a room. The people who support those around them. The people who are willing to learn, grow and work hard. Because ultimately, roles change. Shows change. Companies evolve. But the people you choose to create with are what shape the culture of a company.
One of the reasons our upcoming Members Auditions are so important is because they aren't auditions for The Grinning Man. They're auditions to become part of the company. To become part of the team that will help tell this story and the stories that follow. Of course, we're looking at performance skills.
We want talented performers.
People who can act.
People who can sing.
People who can dance.
People who can tell stories.
But we're also looking at something bigger. We're looking at how people work.
How they collaborate.
How they communicate.
How they support others.
How they respond to feedback.
How they contribute to the rehearsal room.
Because those things matter- a lot!
I've often said that casting is like a puzzle. You're not simply picking the strongest individual pieces. You're finding the pieces that fit together to create the strongest overall picture. Sometimes that means the person with the biggest voice isn't the right choice for a particular role. Sometimes it means somebody's unique strengths are needed elsewhere. Sometimes it means chemistry between performers matters more than individual performances. Sometimes it means seeing potential rather than perfection.
The audience never sees those conversations. But they're happening every time a cast is built. That's why I don't believe the cast list is a ranking system. It's a collection of choices designed to tell the story as effectively as possible & those choices only work if the people involved are willing to work together.
I've worked with incredibly talented performers over the years. Some of the most memorable weren't necessarily the people playing the lead roles. They were the people who elevated everybody around them. The people who made rehearsal rooms better. The people who helped build the world of the show. The people who made the entire company stronger. Those are the people I remember. Those are the people I want to work with again. And that's why I cast people before I cast roles.
Long after a particular production has finished, those are the people who continue to shape a company. They're the people who inspire others, who make new members feel welcome, who make everyone around them better.
That's what I'm looking for.
Not just for The Grinning Man.
Not just for one production.
But for the future of the company.
Because great theatre isn't built by casting the right role.
It's built by finding the right people to tell the story together.
