Is casting theatre through a reality show the end of the world as we know it?

So for the last few weeks I have watched intermittenly High School Musical :Get in the Picture and Legally Blonde: The Search or Elle Woods.

First disclaimer: I worked at MCC Theater where Bernie Telsey was one of the Artisitc Directors. Telsey and Co cast the majority of the Playhouse's shows. I think Bernie is one of the most brilliant men in the business, and Telsey and Co is the best casting firm in NYC. Telsey and Co's Will Cantler who handled most of the shows I worked at three of my theatres and is the Associate Artisitc Director at MCC is one of my favorite people on earth and I trust his opinon on ANYTHING having to do with the industry. I consider many of the people who work at and have worked at Telsey and Co friends.

Second disclaimer: My husband is an actor, a working actor. But he is not a musical theatre actor.

Back to the shows...

I must admit from the first episode of Legally Blonde, I was proud of Bernie. It would have been so easy to find the traditional reality show sterotypes rather that finding a group of talented actresses.

Although the casting search was tied to the traditional reality formula - shove a bunch of strangers in a single living area and see what happens, the show did break the formula in many ways. First the challenges were about building endurance to be able to perform 8 shows a week on Broadway. Second, the living situation personality clashes were not centerstage - the performances were. Third, the shows contestants were able to be open and honest about being ACTORS due to the nature of the "contest." Fourth, the winner got a REAL job with a real contract (for the record so did the runner-ups which was very smart of the producers of the Broadway show). Fifth, we have no idea where Telsey and Co found the contestants - no televised embarassment of open calls in Americal Idol Style.

Of course many "dramatic" elements were added - the whole casting office element is non-existant in real auditions, an actor is usually not given a biting critic by a panel of judges. The audition process is usually two solidary session with a reader, not full production rehearsals - although maybe that is how it should be done!

Now over on Disney's traveling circus, youngsters are competing for a chance to appear in a VIDEO at the END of High School Musical Three. The dramatic tension is HIGH. Teens crying, their hearts and dreams broken. It is a giant open cattle call taped for the audiences enjoyment. (I admit I only saw a few episodes, whereas I did watch every episode of Legally Blonde).

Now I know they are doing several of these casting shows in England and Canada. We had that Grease You're the One that I want version on some network (obviously I didn't watch a single episode of it). And, I would have to be blind not to see all of the American Idol finalists and winners all over Broadway. Which is probably where the idea came from in the first place.

So the real question is...good thing or bad thing?

Well, I most note as anyone can see, this type of "stunt" casting (although I hate that term) is only being employed in musicals. Now someone outside of the industry or audiences, might incorrectly assume that it is because musicals require less acting skill or goodness forbid are easier to do. This is would be a negative. There are already enough people in the world who think anyone can get on a stage and act or even worse that he or she certainly could just hop up there and do it. Acting requires skill, talent and training. You can't learn talent. You have to have it. Acting is not something just anyone can do. For musicals it is not just about being able to hit the right note, you have to bring the song to life. These shows in a roundabout way reinforce the misconception that anyone can do it.

On a positive note, this kind of programming is basically a commerical for the show--if anyone is watching--they can help a show reach a larger audience. But what are we saying to that larger audience? Legally Blonde told us how difficult it is to get a show and to DO a show. It was the first time I had seen this expressed (even if it was done is a somewhat humorous way).

I think the answer is simple for some shows this kind of "stunt" makes sense. I thought the broadcast of Legally Blonde on MTV was a brilliant choice (that is a whole different blog topic). If these casting competitions are done even more realistically it would make sense for quite a few show even for High School Musical. But would it work for all shows--certainly not. Would it work for straight plays--I can't even imagine how.

But is it the end of the world? NO. It is just another way to go about it. And if it brings a little attention to the world of theatre is it really a bad thing.I applaud the folks at MTV for keeping the Elle search as realistic as is probably possible. It will be interesting to see if that process can be replicated ever again.