[NEohioPAL] Honoring Commitments, Part 2

Pamela Lewis pamelajl01 at yahoo.com
Tue Apr 14 09:19:55 PDT 2009


Actors who keep their commitments are honorable, talented or not. 

Pamela Lewis 
12535 Edgewater Dr. #336  Lakewood, OH 44107  o 216.221.2561 
c 216.233.7626

--- On Mon, 4/13/09, Kathie Dice <kdice2 at verizon.net> wrote:

From: Kathie Dice <kdice2 at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [NEohioPAL] Honoring Commitments, Part 2
To: "Mary McManaway" <manaway at neo.rr.com>, neohiopal at listserve.com
Date: Monday, April 13, 2009, 1:07 PM



 
 

Not to toot my own horn but just to say there are actors out there that DO 
honor their commitments.
 
I had a very very minor role in an independent film being shot (unpaid). We 
had a day scheduled to do "pickup" scenes, the scene had already been 
shot, I was called by my agency, that I was chosen for a part in an 
industrial film (paid) on the same day as filming for the pickup scenes. 
Although I struggled, do I take the paid gig from my agency, or do I keep my 
commitment to the independent film even though it was JUST pickup scenes and 
even though it was UNPAID. 
 
Needless to say...I kept my commitment and turned down the booking from my 
agency. I figure someday it will come back around to my benefit.
 
Kathie

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: 
  Mary 
  McManaway 
  To: DVangaasbe at aol.com ; neohiopal at listserve.com 
  Cc: Lisa Paynter ; ncplayhouse at sbcglobal.net 
  Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 23:08
  Subject: Re: [NEohioPAL] Honoring 
  Commitments, Part 2
  

  Hi Dave,
  just wanted to let you know that I agree with your comments about these 
  irresponsible actors....just a little observation, though.  You keep 
  referring to all of these theatres as "the playhouse".  We are not the 
  theatre (NOrth Canton Playhouse) that you are referring to, so please clarify 
  that.  And yes, we have instances, throughout the years,  where 
  actors just feel free to walk out because they "got a better part 
  elsewhere".....nothing you can do about it....it is the way it is with 
  volunteers!
  Like you, we work around everyone's schedules.....and some days it is 
  real fun!!
   
  Mary
  Artistic Director
  North Canton Playhouse 
  
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: 
    DVangaasbe at aol.com 
    To: neohiopal at listserve.com 
    Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 6:10 
    PM
    Subject: [NEohioPAL] Honoring 
    Commitments, Part 2
    

    I have received several e-mails from other directors who have worse 
    stories than what I had happen.  One director running a weekly mystery 
    theatre discovered much to his shock two days before a performance that one 
    of his actors had a major role in a production somewhere else.  It 
    seems that the young man could not figure out that the Opening Night 
    conflicted with the performance at the mystery theatre.  Ipso facto, a 
    massive scramble to get someone in at the last minute occurred.  The 
    young man knew about this particular opening night for two months and failed 
    to tell the mystery theatre.  
     
    Another director wrote me and stated that a leading actor dropped out 
    of the play only one week before Opening Night.  It was soon discovered 
    that he had accepted a part with another playhouse because he wanted to 
    play that part.  
     
    A student director had to find two actors two days before her class 
    project was presented to the professor because the leading actor felt that 
    the particular drama being presented did not meet his specifications.  
    It seemed odd that he had no problem with the drama for weeks.  It was 
    soon discovered that he took a part at another playhouse.  The 
    other actor seemed unable to function without the first actor and dropped 
    out as well.  There's backbone.
     
    Frankly, I have three weeks to correct the damage.  Already the 
    cast and crew are pulling together to make this play work.  Junior who 
    left us in the lurch did not get the part he wanted and is a member of the 
    ensemble with the other playhouse.  I understand that he is happy as a 
    lark.  Frankly, he does not know how many bridges he burned behind 
    him.  I received notice from another playhouse who figured out who it 
    was stating that he is no longer welcome there either.
     
    I do believe that we as directors and producers should take a very high 
    road here.  That is we should put the fear of God in these rather 
    talented but rude actors and actresses who believe they can walk out 
    whenever they feel like it.  That means you sit Junior down and tell 
    him or her that he or she will never act again in the area until he or she 
    cleans up the act.  That is you finish what you start.  I have two 
    children.  They are both highly talented and are in demand.  
    However, they were both told you finish what you start.  Both are no 
    nonsense type people.  Coaches, directors and teachers loved them 
    because they took the responsibility of honoring a commitment.  
     
    I had a bad feeling two months ago about an actress when I was 
    casting Once Upon a Mattress.  This young talented 
    actress came running in about one and one half hours after auditions 
    started.  She claimed she could not be at the beginning of 
    the auditions because she was in rehearsal for another play.  I 
    allowed her to audition since she was there but I told her that the 
    part she wanted was going to be given to another actress who had shown up on 
    time and in my opinion had more talent.  I did state that I would 
    offer her another part but that I would have to talk to her 
    director in the other play. When I asked for the name of the director 
    who was in the other production so I could coordinate schedules, she 
    balked.  I withdrew the offer.  I later discovered that there was 
    no way that she could have done this play and that play.  Frankly, my 
    instincts clearly showed that she was not happy with the part in the other 
    play.  Unfortunately, she accepted the part.  In my opinion, that 
    means you play the part.  If you are that talented an actor or actress, 
    then it should be a snap to make it work.  
     
    I did have another actress who was involved in another play when she 
    auditioned.  She was up front about it and gave me her schedule.  
    I saw that I could use her in Once Upon a Mattress and the part I had for 
    her could accommodate her schedule.  She went to every rehearsal of the 
    other play and when she was not scheduled for rehearsal she came to 
    us.  That is a good actress because she was honest and she was willing 
    to work with everyone.  
     
    I am asking all directors and producers to honor other playhouses 
    productions. The playhouse that cast Junior has had several of their 
    actors come to my playhouse for major parts.  When I see that there is 
    no way we can coordinate a schedule so the actor or actress can play both, I 
    do not cast.  That other director has invested time and energy in 
    directing that actor or actress.  He or she should not have the rug 
    pulled out because Junior who has talent cannot figure out that commitment 
    means to the end of the production.  
     
    David Van Gaasbeek, Director and Producer, Canal Fulton Players
     

    
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