Casting

As a youth community theater, PYT believes everyone deserves a role. Everyone who registers for a MainStage production is cast - around 100 actors for each show across two casts.

Even so, casting is the hardest part of any production, for the actors, the parents, and the staff! It can be tough to manage young actors' expectations, and their disappointment if they do not get the part they dreamed of.

But, there is a lot we at PYT can do, and that parents and actors can do, to make this as fair and as easy as it can be.

Most children do not get a leading role, this is the nature and the numbers of any theatre production at any level. That's why PYT is ensemble focused. We are pro-ensemble. We love ensemble! Because this is where actors grow and learn. PYT develops the ensemble in every show in as many creative ways as the script allows, to make sure each actor with a non-leading role has the most and richest stage and rehearsal time as possible.

Ensemble roles can get a bad rap elsewhere, but this is not our position. We know ensemble members are critical to every production and every performance, which is why we celebrate an ensemble member with our biggest award, every show: the PYT Judy Robe Award.

As a community-focused theater, we prioritize the following in all casting decisions:

• How ready any actor is to take on a given role — age, abilities, and experience come into play, but are not the overriding considerations.
• Expert creative judgement. PYT is fortunate to have an incredible staff of artists and teachers with decades of high level experience in casting, producing and directing professional-level productions.
• Compatibility with the potential cast around them — who could each performer work well with, how do they relate to others, where do they best fit the ensemble?
• Behavior and attitude in auditions and callbacks. Were performers talking in auditions when someone else was performing? Did they listen and respond well to other actors and to staff? Did they demonstrate curiosity and a willingness to work?
• Calendar conflicts. How many rehearsals the actor can commit to. Our productions and their schedules are challenging, and people who miss rehearsals will not keep up.
• Requested carpool arrangements.

It's our aim to inspire all actors and parents to trust the casting team, who go to great lengths to make this process equitable.

Above all, any actor and any parent preparing to register for a PYT show, should discuss and understand the decision: "will it be fun to be a part of this show, no matter the role?" We do everything in our power to make the answer, YES!