Casting the Spider

Today intern and casting assistant Nicole Moreno talks to us alittle about the art of casting and what it is like for us to take on the mammoth job of finding the perfect cast for Kiss of the Spiderwoman.

The casting process is one of the most time consuming parts of putting on a show. It literally takes days. Now, I’m assuming that the director and his assistant know more or less what to expect from the people pouring in to audition. However, Kiss of the Spiderwoman was only my second show to work as casting assistant, and I had no earthly clue what to expect. By the end of it, I was amazed.

There were so many different people auditioning, it’s a wonder that the director, Adam Adolfo, can pick out just a few for the show. I heard beautiful sopranos and mezzos, lovely tenors and basses. Some less then lovely but the theatricality was breath-taking with just about everyone that auditioned. The talent was vast, and to get to experience it all was fantastic.

As different people start coming in one starts to wonder about them. How they are, how they will sing. Will they blow our minds? Will it be utterly disappointing? Are we going to be able to get the best cast for this? I’ve found that with so many talented actors in DFW, the last question is an obvious yes. What Adam has taught me, however, is that it’s not just about being a great actor or singer. It’s about being a great performer. One has to be able to move the audience in a way thought impossible and leave them longing for more.

So to find the absolute right cast is a rather tedious job, but it’s a job that we definitely are getting done. We still have two more days of auditions next week - it's hard to believe that the stakes can get any higher, but believe me - THEY CAN! (And probably will!) All the actors are giving the best they’ve got to be part of this memorable, heartbreaking show. Don’t miss it!