Raffle off parts in West Side Story?

Question:My theatre company is doing West Side Story. To raise money we will raffle off parts in the show to the audience. This will be roles like Sharks and Jets- not the leads. A few minutes before the show, we draw the winners and bring them backstage. The cast will quickly show them what to do and we will put them in costume!

I think this is a great idea and will be lots of fun for everyone! Some small minded individuals in the company, mostly the cast disagree. They say after four weeks of rehearsal, it's a slap in the face to them and the winners won't know what to do. I say, if the cast has that much time rehearsing, it should be very easy to teach someone the show very quickly!

What do you think? I hear they do this all the time on Broadway.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: My theatre company is doing West Side Story. To raise money we will raffle off parts in the show to the audience. This will be roles like Sharks and Jets- not the leads. A few minutes before the show, we draw the winners and bring them backstage. The cast will quickly show them what to do and we will put them in costume!

I think this is a great idea and will be lots of fun for everyone! Some small minded individuals in the company, mostly the cast disagree. They say after four weeks of rehearsal, it's a slap in the face to them and the winners won't know what to do. I say, if the cast has that much time rehearsing, it should be very easy to teach someone the show very quickly!

What do you think? I hear they do this all the time on Broadway.

I have never heard of a professional production doing this. But it is a fun idea for a community theatre. I hope you raise a ton of money.,

How long the cast has spent rehearsing doesn't have anything to do with how long it would take a total stranger to learn the same kind of part! In fact, I think it's kind of insulting to the cast who have worked so hard for weeks to tell them that a random stranger could probably learn a part in a few minutes!

You have no idea whether the person you pick from the audience will have a lot of talent, or a little, or be a total and complete klutz! While I think your idea is great, I suggest the part you give should be a small one, and one in which they stay mostly in the background -- not one where the person you choose will have a chance of bumping into other dancers or falling off the stage themselves!

What shows on Broadway have done this? I've never heard of any!