My musical cast just SUCKS....!!?!?!?!?

Question:its just bad...and getting worse. normally our high school musical has at least 1000 ppl per night. we r a big show in a large city and the tradition started 35 years ago. we hve broadway stars who are alumni come back...and our school is shutting down next year so this is it. Its now or never.

but we r terrible. there was almost a fight today. we r very cliquey...ppl push and shove to be in the front...laugh at ppl who mess up...basically its all very negative!

god help us

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: its just bad...and getting worse. normally our high school musical has at least 1000 ppl per night. we r a big show in a large city and the tradition started 35 years ago. we hve broadway stars who are alumni come back...and our school is shutting down next year so this is it. Its now or never.

but we r terrible. there was almost a fight today. we r very cliquey...ppl push and shove to be in the front...laugh at ppl who mess up...basically its all very negative!

god help us

it is shameful that you are not supporting your cast in anyway you can. the best gift you can give as an actor is to be supportive in all areas of performance.

have you EVER heard of a famous hollywood actor bad-mouth a fellow cast-member? it's just not done.

the only way you can have a successful and fulfilling performance is to have faith in your cast and make sure that everyone understands the groups objectives for performing in the first place.

sure, there might be people in the cast that are not suited but you need to be bigger than putting them down.

Welcome to the new competitive selfish egotistical America

Get used to it, it has gotten deeply entrenched.

Really how can you put on an ensemble piece like a musical if everyone thinks it just about them?

So I guess there's not really a question here, just a running commentary?

You could start by talking about what works, not what doesn't work.

Ask your director to do some bonding-type warmups before the show/rehearsal. After the show/rehearsal have everyone say what they liked about the performance. Your lack of ensemble is going to show in the performance.

Unless, of course, you are the director, in which case shame on you for dissing your cast.

I would have to agree, try to be positive, but still acknowledge what needs to be fixed. A fight? oo.

Did you have that talk with them yet that I mentioned before? You need to emphasize the meaning of an ENSEMBLE piece and if people still try to get all the attention or are incredibly rude, threaten to remove them from the scene and actually do if it continues (if you need voice volume, they can still sing offstage).

A good old freakout might be necessary at this point. When the director REALLY flips and goes into a vent about what the cast needs to fix, it usually scares us all into being more well behaved (it worked with my fall musical to a degree, us senior leads realized how upset she was and got the cast to listen to her and pay attention). Respect is a key word, and it sounds like that is what's missing. Maybe mention respect in your talk?

Also point out how unprofessional it is to be out of character (by laughing, trying to be the star) during a scene. They should be focused on their CHARACTER alone.

Good luck