The Sting of Rejection

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Nope, didn’t even make the callbacks.  There was a message waiting when I got home the day after stating that I did not make the show.  It’s been a long time since I didn’t make a show.  This is not what it sounds like- in recent history I have only tried out for Oliver! and It’s a Wonderful Life before Dracula.  I didn’t even try out for Jekyll & Hyde, only responded to a plea for more actors.  Unfortunately along with a rejection comes a void that can’t be filled, a void of never knowing why.  Was something wrong with my audition?  It was only a singing audition and I feel I sang just fine.  The accompanist didn’t always keep up- was that counted against me?  I did a performance, not just the song.  Maybe I should have stood there and just sang?  Maybe my hair which I forgot to get cut bothered them?  Maybe they used the “Will you be willing to be in the ensemble/chorus” question as a weed-out tool- I said no because I would rather try out for Noah than be in the chorus- at my age I have this privilege, do I not?  Did someone find this blog and see I would rather be in Noah?  Was it even about me at all?  I do know it is a relatively small cast for two groups- yes it is a joint production between two groups.  Oh, well.  I am now free to try out for Noah whenever those auditions happen, assuming they don’t just pre-cast it since there is such a small cast.  If I make the show I will know for sure not making Dracula was a God thing (someone was praying for me).  Of course, considering the message of the Dracula story, it may just be a God thing no matter what happens.

Come to think of it, I was rejected more recently- when I did a general tryout for Metropolis last summer.  I was never called back for anything.  Well, that was professional theatre so it was expected.   I do so wish I could just call and ask, but I know that would be improper, so I will just continue to wonder.

4 thoughts on “The Sting of Rejection”

  1. HMMM… the rejection. It’s been a while. I hurts for a few and then (I) come to realize that there will be other shows. I don’t even find myself dwelling on the “what ifs” very much. Pick myself up, brush myself off, and start all over again (as the old song goes) 😀 At times, I even say…. Their loss. Hopefully Noah comes a calling.

  2. Yes, the bright side is that now you can try out for Noah, but I can see why you would wonder. Could have been any number of things, but speaking as someone who has had to help cast a few shows – it probably wasn’t you. Even if you had a terrible audition (which you say you did not), I’m sure there were other factors at work here, and I didn’t see you mention theatre politics as one of them – those come into play when casting more often than not, at least around here. Though I’d like to say I did my best to not participate when I more heavily involved with community theatre, but I’m sure there are some who would disagree. That’s the nature of the beast that is community theatre, though!

  3. Theatre politics is *always* a possibility. When I saw the last joint production, Jesus Christ Superstar, I noticed the one who played Herod was someone from the theatre group who did Little Shop of Horrors, the one C directed. He is one who had a grudge against me then for my small part of what happened with the show. I didn’t notice whether he was there at auditions, but there is a potential for politics at play right there, even if he is unlikely to still hold a grudge after all this time. One can go mad dwelling on all the politics possibilities, so I will just dust off my shoes and move on. It’s a bit sad, but when there *are* politics at play, it usually works against me due to my less social nature. The best in for any show is to be actively social with those already involved. I don’t really even hang out with the guys in my small group at church let alone people I worked with in one show.

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