Spring Awakening Got Its Viral Open Call. Now Cast Someone From It.

by Chris Peterson

Congratulations to the producers of the upcoming Off-Broadway Spring Awakening revival. Your open call worked.

The lines were enormous. Videos were everywhere. Performers documented their outfits, their song choices, when they arrived, how long they waited, etc. One auditionee posted that she had been assigned number 1,228. For several days, the theatre side of social media was filled with young actors talking about Spring Awakening.

That is the kind of publicity most Off-Broadway productions could never afford to buy. Now somebody from that open call needs to get cast.

Studio Seaview held an open dance call on July 9, followed by singer calls on July 10 and 11. Casting for the fall production has not yet been announced. The revival had also held Equity principal auditions in late June.

Productions can look for performers through several channels at once. Open calls provide another route into the room. But that route needs to lead somewhere.

We saw a version of this frustration during the national “Search for Dolly” for Dolly: A True Original Musical. Thousands of people submitted, 15 finalists were invited to New York and none of the three actresses ultimately chosen to play Dolly came from that group.

The 2012 Broadway revival of Annie shows what a large public search can actually accomplish. Producers spent nine months considering more than 5,000 auditions and then cast an established actress in the title role.

An open call does not have to uncover someone who has never worked professionally. It does not have to guarantee a lead role to an actor without representation. It should provide a legitimate opportunity for performers who would not otherwise receive that appointment.

Thousands of people prepared songs, rearranged their schedules, and stood in line for Spring Awakening. Their excitement helped make the revival one of the most discussed theatre stories of the week.

The producers already received the videos, attention, and headlines. Now, cast people from that room.

Otherwise, stop calling these events opportunities. Call them what they are: marketing.