---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <olena.ripnick2@mail.dcu.ie> Date: Nov 21, 2007 1:44 PM Subject: FAME Dance Auditions URGENT To: dcudrama@gmail.com Cc: aoife.kearney7@mail.dcu.ie, olena.rinpick@gmail.com Hi Pauric-- Just wanted to get in touch with you re: FAME dance auditions. Though we're still searching for our director and MD, we have our choreographer secured (and CC'd on this email), and, after consulting with her, we both think it would be most prudent and efficient to hold dance auditions for FAME before DCU breaks for winter hols, rather than in week one of semester 2. Restructuring the dance auditions as such will allow us to achieve several aims. First of all, it will allow Aoife to see the calibur of dance talent we have and choreograph accordingly. She is planning to choreograph the entire show over winter hols, so that way we can start with dance rehearsals in ASAP in week 2, rather than figuring out what she has to work with in February and have to choreograph from scratch/massively rework choreography then. As you know, FAME is an extremely dance-heavy show, and 7 weeks is a very tight margin to put it up on; by holding the dance auditions early, it will give us a much better idea of what we have to work with so we can maximize both time and talent once rehearsals start. Holding the dance auditions early will also give us a very clear idea of who will be eligible for leading and supporting roles come time for music and acting auditions. To put it quite bluntly, we need to know who can carry the major roles (especially of the dancers!) and who can support so we don't waste our time having calling them back to sing and act and then find out they're uncastable because they can't dance/be taught to dance (we're not just looking for trained dancers, but auditionees need to be able to move and take direction--we need to see that they can work with Aoife and learn, which is the biggest part of the dance audition--potential is just as great as talent, we just need to know.) On the flip side, we need to know who can dance, because even if they're weaker in, say, singing, we can highlight their dancing talents in the production. Those who we cannot work with in dance will of course be eligible for the non-dancing roles, but it really makes it a whole lot easier to know in advance who can do what, especially when it comes to callbacks. Early dance auditions will also alleviate the audition and callback process in week one of next semester. I'm planning to hold auditions over 2 days and callbacks over one day in week one next semester, and quite frankly, this will be a hell of a lot easier and more efficient if dancing is already out of the way and we know who can do what. We will, of course, be taping the dance auditions and referencing them in future casting (basic NY style cattle call--give people numbers to wear, keep a list of corresponding numbers and names, and then we can review these/cross reference them both before and during the casting process). This will be particularly helpful when we have our director and MD secured, and of course casting will be a group process, but when it comes to dancing, Aoife will have the final say. I trust her implicitly, and since she's the one whose going to be working most with the cast (because dancing is by far the most challenging part of this production), she needs to have the people she can work with. Ideally we would like to hold dance auditions over 2 days in either the final week or the week before the final week of this semester (we three should coordinate to see when and where is best). The audition dates and times should be set (for example, December 6 and 7, 5-9 pm) and people MUST be there for the ENTIRE length of the audition (tell them to bring work, but basically we're going to be auditioning in groups, and we can't be waiting around for people to stagger in) OR we'll do them in hour blocks (5-6, 6-7, etc.) half hour blocks, etc. and people MUST be there for their block (Aoife can provide specifics on how much time she needs per group, as she knows best how long it will take to teach a routine and have people dance it). People should come in dance clothes prepared to dance (again, Aoife can provide shoe/clothing requirements) and it should be stressed that ANYONE who wants to be in FAME this spring MUST attend the dance audition now. There will be absolutely no exceptions, because there will not be ANY dance auditions in semester 2 (and we can't cast people without seeing them dance). Anyway, I know this is a lot and it probably sounds crazy complicated right now, but it really isn't. Aoife and I have logistics totally covered, and we'd really love your assistance and the support of DCU Drama in making these early auditions happen. I'm in London until Saturday evening, but I'll be checking email sporadically, and, of course, when I'm back, so let me know what your thoughts are on making this happen, that would rock. Thanks a mill, and talk to soon. Olena -- www.dcudrama.ie