Theatre Company G: Sometimes, a screw job is not about race!

I get plenty of e-mails from Theatre Company G.  Despite being a community theatre, they apparently have some very sizeable endowments, giving them a nice venue and allowing them to offer all sorts of programs (classes, shows, and even bus trips to see Broadway shows!).

They do "combined auditions".  I went to their "combined audition" for Spring 2012.  They stated upfront that they welcome people of different ethnic groups.  I wasn't interested in their musicals, but their dramatic shows were going to be "Toys in the Attic" and "Farragut North".

They gave me sides for "Farragut North".  When they gave me the sides, they told me that I was too old to play one part, but they wanted me to read for the other.  Great: I took my time and I prepared for that part.

When I went in for the audition, they asked me to read for the other part, the part they had told me I would not be reading!  I did my part, I went ahead and read what they had wanted . . . but my goodness that was scummy!  They had basically sabotaged my audition.

By the way, one person in the audition committee remarked about my "powerful voice".  I hear that a lot, by the way.  So, it came as a bit of a surprise a week later, when I received an e-mail asking if I would consider a small non-speaking role in "Toys in the Attic".

A year before, I would have accepted that, in the hopes that this could lead to more roles for me.  I knew, however, that this wouldn't have happened: once I had accepted that small role, I would have been on their list of "people we can pull in for small roles".  Besides, this theatre company was maybe 45 minutes away: driving that far for rehearsals for a "small non-speaking role"?  No.  Besides, this show would be in 2012, and I had made my decision that I wouldn't take bit parts in 2012.  This was actually the first time I actually turned down a part!

I didn't hear anything else from them.  I recently sent an e-mail asking what wound up happening regarding either "Toys in the Attic" or "Farragut North", but I haven't received any response.  I know that many theatre companies will often not bother to send "sorry" e-mails, but I hope this bunch are better than that.

For a nice change of pace, I don't believe their actions were racially based.  "Toys in the Attic", from what I understand, DOES deal with race at one point, so my brown skin is a factor.  It's important to remember that I didn't read for any sides in that show, and they DID ask if I was interested.  I think it was an honest mistake that they asked me to read for a different part than for what I had prepared . . . but it was still a screw job!