WICKED AUDITIONS

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:32pm

Playbill has posted two audition notices for understudies for Idina and Kristin. On one, they say its' for "EPA's" and on the other it says "Equity". What is "EPA" and does it mean that those auditioning must be equity?

78 days 'til I am at the Gershwin watchin'. Hee hee hee...

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:35pm

EPA, I believe, means 'Equity Public Announcement.'

Yes...those calls are for Equity members only. Sometimes non-Equity can be seen if there are slots available, but it can be a long wait.

PS Idina's cover has been cast.

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:37pm

How can Idina's cover have been cast if they're not auditioning for it until the 24th?

And how fair is that? Equity only. Pshaw!

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:41pm

And I've never understood EQUITY anyway...No one has ever really explained it to me. From what I understand, however, it's a catch 22. You need to be Equity to audition and, yet, to be Equity you need to have been in a show. How does that work?

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:49pm

A lot of summer stock and regional companies can help you earn Equity points and earn your card. It's not so cut and dry as getting a gig on Broadway just to get your card. I'm in Ohio and I know plenty of people getting their Equity cards by doing random jobs here and there.

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:50pm

Ah....leave it to my buddy John to have the answer! I love you!

Unfortunately, where I am, I don't think there are any 'jobs' around here to earn me equity points. *sigh*

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:52pm

Not to invade your privacy, Amneris4ever, but where do you live? Maybe we could help you on your way.

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:54pm

*SIGH* New Brunswick. Canada. Blech. Unfortunately I have a great paying job here. Unfortunately, a great paying job does not always a happy person make, huh?

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:55pm

I got my card by getting a job at a regional theatre while still in college. A dear friend did the whole points system. It's not an impossibility.

As for the role being cast, Equity is required to have these auditions out of fairness. Lots of people (like myself) are hesitant to go because roles are already cast and such. But I just had two friends get jobs in Broadway shows this past year from Equity calls. So I think I need to head back to the dreaded line and get my ass on Broadway.

As for know that Idina's cover has been cast, I was walking down the street with my boyfriend the other day when he got a call from a friend telling him that a mutual friend was just cast in the role.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:56pm

EPA - Equity Principal Audition

It's merely one of the ways they hold auditions. An EPA gives you 2 - 3 minutes to sing or perform your monologue as you are being seen for the principal roles. You show up early in the morning to get a time slot.

An Equity Chorus Call is usually 16 - 32 measures (sometimes even 8; sometimes, they type first). Here, you are being seen for the chorus.

More information about both are available on www.actorsequity.org as well as how to join.

Trying to become Equity is not a catch-22 outside NYC where you can be in the ensemble of an Equity regional theatre to earn your points. There are smaller Equity houses that may offer you the card to play a role. It just depends on what is available in your area theatre-wise. I would advise joining Equity before moving to NYC if possible. It makes auditioning so much easier--Very few non-Equity actors can get seen at an Equity audition as most often all the time slots get filled.

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:57pm

Exactly my point. I'm not about to move to NYC without being "Equity".

Posted: 8/12/03 at 1:59pm

Well that's just ridiculous. But then I'm not a producer, I guess. And so I have no say in how the casting process is done. I guess when I hear about a "call" I assume the roles are still open to be filled. Not already cast and just having the call as a formality.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:02pm

Sorry, Amneris4ever, but Canada's Equity and U.S. Equity are different unions. So even if you get your Canadian card it does not make you eligible for B'way auditions.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:03pm

That, my dear, is a frustration many of us feel. Some Equity actors wish they would do away with the required auditions when they have obviously filled the roles already. However, "every audition is a chance to be seen", right? =) The intention is meant to do Equity actors good, but it does feel like a waste of time on occassion.

Auditioning sucks anywhere--it's just more formalized sucking here. j/k

The best thing for an actor to do is to get an agent--that is the only way to get appointments (a whole separate audition process), which is probably the most serious way actors are considered. However, getting an agent---THAT can be the catch-22. =)

[Starlight]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:06pm

Equity is very complicated and sometimes frustrating...but if you start to understand it its very interesting too. I just started reading through material on their website and got hooked. I'm sure it is the same as any other union, but because it is a performance union I found it particularly interesting.

Here's a link to their membership information...http://www.actorsequity.org/Services/join.html

Casting calls are also listed on the webiste...for Broadway and regional productions.

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:08pm

Anmeris, I have to agree with JRB, in fact, I am a living example of the scenario he provided in his previous post. I am not in Equity, and it is extremely hard to be seen for these shows. Actually, if you just want to work, because acting is your passion, it would best suit you to try and go for Non-Equity National tours. But yes, auditioning for Equity when you are Non-Equity is a pain in the ass...I *tried* to audition for Beauty and the Beast recently, signed up, told that they were going to have a break, and that we should come back at a later time, and when I did, they had announced they were not going to see Non-Equity actors again....That was a whole 3/4 of a day wasted there. And there are plenty other horror stories like that. And don't forget....there are also a matter of dues and fees to be paid in order to have continued membership.

Cheers,
The Balladeer

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:08pm

Why can't I be part of what Matt Bogart called the "Lucky F^$#ers Club"? Hee hee hee. Those who go to an open call, get cast in a major production and voila! You've arrived! Hee hee hee.

[Toon]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:13pm

It makes perfect sense to have Broadway/National tour auditions be Equity. It weeds out all the people that happen to think they are good enough and gets right to people who have proven experience and are more likely to have the talent to at least be seen. Not to say everyone holding a card is top notch, but you get my point. Non equity auditions often prove this point when you look at the people who honestly think they have talent. It's scary. If people want an Equity card, put in the time with regional shows and earn the points to get one. Plus you've gained experience in the process and people are willing to take you more seriously. There are the lucky few who get cast in professional shows from open calls and get their cards handed to them. BUT they are still gaining the experience of being in a professional show and are more desireable to have in another professional production in the future.

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:16pm

I'm so happy that I've sparked such a great line of discussion! Hee hee hee.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:17pm

Oh how I wish! (to be one of the lucky f$$#@^&$)

Balladeer is right that there is a lot of work for non-Equity actors--but there is also the problem he mentioned.

As for dues and fees--it's not that bad. Yes, the initiation fee is hefty, but you can pay it over a period of time. And dues are just $98 a year? (I forget--and they may go up some). If you join the point system (EMC Equity Membership Candidate), your $100 there applies to your initiation fee--so that is a down payment. It should all be there on the web site.

If you are a working actor, then those dues are worth it--otherwise, it prob sucks. (like any union?)

btw--all theatre jobs on Broadway (ticket takers to spot ops) are union).

Updated On: 8/12/03 at 02:17 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:18pm

Again, your main problem, amneris, is that you are Canadian and there are very strict rules about employing alien actor’s in the U.S. So unless you crash an open non-equity B-way audition and you are the ONLY person that could possibly do the role, your chances are practically zero of getting a job here. Work on either immigrating to the U.S. or concentrate on your career in Canada. And remember, is your goal to act because it is your PASSION or is it to get on “BROADWAY AND BE A STAR!!!”? Because they are two very different things. Good luck and don’t give up.

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:21pm

Ah ah ah..

But I'm NOT Canadian! Therein lies my one little spark of hope. I am North American Indian, (half even though I don't really look it - I was told I don't look like the 'average white chick') and have dual citizenship.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:24pm

Well, that's a horse of a different color. Why didn't you say so!
It was awfully presumtious of me to assume that since you live in Canada that you are Canadian. My apologies.

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:28pm

Hee hee hee...

No worries. I've assumed things before too so it isn't as though I can hop off on you for doing it. But, yeah...I have a social security card so I'm all set. Now to find a job. And as for your question of what I want to do...Do I want to be a Broadway Star? No. Do I love to act and sing? Yes. So just being part of theatre would be the greatest thing for me. I did tour professionally as a 17 year old with an old company called "Up With People". Don't know if anyone's heard of it. I miss playing with a live orchestra. I miss dancing my booty off, I miss being live. *SIGH* To fill my time now I do vocal coaching with the local high school for their shows...And I play the piano for them.

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/12/03 at 2:48pm

Yes...EPAs can seem like a waste of time. But, again, my friend Gina went to an Equity Chorus call for Les Miz. She was called back and didn't think anything of it (the show was closing in a matter of months), when all of a sudden, she got hired as Eponine's understudy and got to be in the final cast of Lez Miz and go on for Eponine upwards of 6 times.

Ran into my friend who I heard just got cast in HARMONY. I asked if one of the agents he freelances with submitted him. He laughed because he could not get one of them to submit him, so he went to the open call. Two months later, he got called back and is now playing two small roles and understudying the lead.

It happens.