Kate Newhouse ’18 amazes audience in the fall play, The Illusion.
Age and seniority play a big part on Choate’s campus. As a result, underclassmen are often excluded from holding certain positions of greater responsibility, such as School President, prefect, and Assessment Team member. Many people seem to think that these same practices of seniority also apply to the casting of theatre productions. This is because seniors who have participated in the program for several consecutive years often appear more likely to be awarded the part than a freshman who has just arrived to campus.
Ms. Tracy Ginder-Delventhal, the head of Choate’s Theatre Department and the director of Blue Stockings (which opened last night), weighed in on the topic. Ms. Ginder-Delventhal began by stating that casting for every play is different and what the director brings to the work is one of the biggest factors. She added that she has no “hard rule” for the way she conducts her casting. For the most part, Ginder-Delventhal says she looks for the student that best fits the character. The only time Ginder-Delventhal says seniority influences her decision is when two students with the same qualifications are in different grades. Typically, she gives the role to the older student. Otherwise, Ms. Ginder-Delventhal said, “The way casting works isn’t mysterious, I cast the person who is right for the role.” According to Ms. Ginder-Delventhal, casting is a matter of talent, hard work, and appropriate fit.
This year, Ms. Ginder-Delventhal cast Will Flamm ’21 as one of the male leads in Blue Stockings. When asked, Flamm didn’t think that age is a deciding factor in many things on the Choate campus and in the community, including the plays and theatre showings. He also mentioned he is not the only freshman to have recent success in the casting process. The spring musical will also star a freshman in a leading role. In fact, in the past, there have also been numerous underclassmen cast in more significant roles than their upperclassmen counterparts. Even if a student is in Arts Concentration, they are not guaranteed any lead or role; it’s all about the fit.
Will Raccio ’18, a seasoned performer at Choate, echoed both Ms. Ginder-Delventhal and Flamm’s views. “I feel as though in casting a show at Choate, whoever is the best fit for a lead role will be cast regardless of age,” he said. “At the same time, I do feel that seniority plays a role. In Blue Stockings, a couple of the major male characters are played by freshmen and sophomores. Even though there were several seniors who auditioned, those who were best for the roles were cast despite being under formers.” Raccio also recalled that in Anne Frank, staged in 2016, a fourth former played Anne.
Siri Palreddy ’20 and Wavy Griffin ’21, who are both newer members of the theatre scene at Choate, look at the matter a little differently. Palreddy said, “seniors definitely get major roles most of the time, but there are also really good reasons for that. Seniors usually have the most acting experience and skill needed. The seniors who get the leading roles are most often those who are very passionate about acting and have done a lot of plays. There is a seniority thing going on, but it’s for a good reason.”
Griffin’s said that the reason for seniors often being cast is because of the hard work they’ve put into the program and the relationships they may have developed with directors.
Most students involved in Choate’s theater program agree that age has little effect on casting decisions. If anything, when age comes into consideration, it is only for fair reason and to break a stalemate in the casting process.
