I wrote a play with myself in mind for the lead so why didn't I get it?

Question:I'm so angry about this! I wrote a play along with one of my best friends for our high school musical. ANd I had myself in mind for the lead. I knew the role better then anyone and I was surprised when I audtioned and didn't get the role and instead got some bit part! My drama teacher told me I have the power to not allow them to use it. I was thinking of doing that since I'm not the lead. SHould I?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm so angry about this! I wrote a play along with one of my best friends for our high school musical. ANd I had myself in mind for the lead. I knew the role better then anyone and I was surprised when I audtioned and didn't get the role and instead got some bit part! My drama teacher told me I have the power to not allow them to use it. I was thinking of doing that since I'm not the lead. SHould I?

If you left the casting to the drama teacher, perhaps they saw the characterizations differently from you. I have worked on a number of new plays where the writer has been in rehearsals. They spend a lot of time making cuts and re-writing lines and scenes.This doesn't mean that the play is bad, just sometimes once the character becomes three dimensional (human), little things don't work so well, or something works really well and needs adding to. If you have a smaller role, you are still an integral part of the story and important. As you know it so well, you should still shine. Don't let you emotions get in the way. Also, once the play has passed to the director, you have to accept the way the characters are seen and it may not be necessarily what you see in your mind. Be glad they thought the show good enough to perform. If you can't bear to let go, next time, write a one woman show and star in it yourself.

No, don't. You may have been given a smaller role because the director might need you to help out in the development of the play itself. Even though you wrote it with yourself in mind the director has the ultimate power in choosing who they feel best fits the role.

I know that it hurts, but don't give up. Don't quit and enjoy watching your play come to life.

Absolutely not. That would be the behavior of a very poor sport. If you are planning on continuing acting, whether in community theatre or professionally, you will have to face rejection sometimes. Trust the director-he/ she made the casting choice for a reason.

It's an honor that they are producing your play.

If I were in your shoes, I would definitely not take the role away from someone else. You might have wanted the part, but maybe you are a writer and not an actor. It really is an honor to have your play produced like that, so you should enjoy it. Maybe you should ask your drama teacher if you can help to coach the other actors and help with the production process.