DC Theatre Scene's Audience Choice Awards

Hey GUYS;

I was nominated for DC Theatre Scene's Audience Choice Award for "Favorite Actor in a Musical"

Please vote. I need your vote before September 2nd.

It's listed under ROB CURAMENG (Ya think they would get my first name right?)

http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/19/about-this-years-awards/

HARSH REALITY AUDITONS for ARIA?

Lately, I have been bringing Aria to children's auditions. So she can experience what she wishes to do in the future. We brought her to Signature's audition call for "Ace". It went great...experience-wise. Eric Schaeffer let Aria sing her song twice, learn a song from the show and had her read. Though Aria admitted to not giving a great audition, it was the exact experience I wanted for Aria to have just being there.

Aria and I always discuss what she learned from each audition. What she felt she did well, what she would change and do next time, How she should prepare, etc...
BUT recently, Beng and I went to accompany Aria to the "Lion King Auditions" last Saturday Morning which she really was looking forward to and wanted to try out for. I have to say..I felt like I was more like at an "American Idol audition". With the audtions scheduled to starting at 9:30am, there were all ready parents and children lined up before 8:30am (The time we arrived). I thought these auditions would run close to AEA auditions in NYC where you can sign up an hour before, leave to have breakfast or whatever and come back at that time that you signed up for. Heck no...It was literally a cattlecall of just parents and children sprawled out. Some on the ground, some in chairs and blankets, some standing,etc... One family we found out camped there since 4:30am. Around 9am, the casting director comes out and tells us the audition procedure. He then says, "Any child who is over 58 inches or over the age of 12 will not be seen". No body moves. He repeats again, "Any child who is 58 inches or over the age of 12 will not be seen." Still Nobody moves. When the casting director goes back into the building, parents start to murmur, "Well maybe if they hear my child sing and see how talented he/she is they'll think different." I thought, "It was clearly marked in the audition notice. Why would any parent put there child through this pain of being rejected if they were over 58 inches" Aria only measures 54 inches.

Since no one moved, the casting assistants came out and starting measuring children and numbers of children and parents were turned away. After the "initial weeding", the children left were given numbers, audition sheets were fillout by parents and children were brought in 40 at a time. Aria was number 38 and went in with the first group. They were taught the last verse of "Can't Wait to be King" with harmony. Then they put them in a horseshoe shape and had them sing one by one when pointed to. From Aria's group, they only called back 4 children. Looking at those 4 children, It looks like they were casting even smaller than Aria's height. Though I started to think, The way children grow these days, these 4 children would be 58 inches by the time they started the show.

As Aria came back, I could already see the disappointment in her face and her eyes starting to well up in tears. The tears held back as we marched through the hundreds of children lined up outside for there turn. As we got in the van, I asked her, "So what do you think you did well in this audition?" "I followed directions and sang well enough", she said. "And what do you think the casting director was looking for out of all of you guys", I questioned. "She hesitates a bit and answers a bit in frustration, "Skinny, short children who probably can fit the costume" I left it at that and drove in silence for a while for her to reflect.

You see, this is the 3rd time Aria's been to an audition and told point blank, "You're too heavy or you're too fat"

I did have a pep talk about it when we got home and told her she should try concentrating more on expressive musical comedy pieces that show her off as a performer as well as a singer and to keep up her "dance" for auditions with movement and dance. I assured her that being heavy doesn't mean your terrible. "Look at me!", I pointed out. "Dad still works as a performer, because I chose to use what I have to the best of my ability."

Ending our pep talk, I always reassure her that Mom and Dad will always love her and support her in all she decides.

What can one make of all this? Should I start pushing towards her to lose weight at this young age of eleven for the desired roles or should I coax her to go towards the direction of character acting?