The Truth About Casting

Abstract

As a young woman who plans on pursuing acting after graduation, I have begun to learn how I must craft myself in the professional world. In theatre, the importance of accurately portraying one’s “type” is a concept that has been consistently stressed. One sees the irony of “type” if they consider the very premise of acting, to portray someone other than oneself. If acting is actually “living truthfully under imaginary circumstances” as Meisner suggests, then any actor should be able to play any role. However, actors are constantly pigeonholed into roles that objectify them to a particular type. Academic research has failed to sufficiently address casting conventions, especially in theatre. My study aims to address this gap by gaining insight on casting practices from the director’s perspective. To put it simply, it is my hope that this thesis will reveal the intricacies of casting, including the prevalence of type. Consequently, this will generate a better understanding of the process so that others and myself can learn how to breed success and simultaneously maintain our dignity whilst adhering to a field that requires one to brand themself.