Casting process helps prepare students

Before the actors step into the spotlight on opening night and before long rehearsals engrain the songs and lines into their memories, a big moment happens -- casting is announced and an actor receives his or her dream role. That was the case for Michael Burrell who will portray one of the main characters, Emmett, in the upcoming performance of the musical "Legally Blonde."

Southeast Missouri State University students who wished to audition for principal roles came to the River Campus to try out on Aug. 19. In that one day, the actors auditioned, had callbacks, received their roles and began rehearsals. Burrell said that it was a long day, but he was ecstatic when they announced his role.

"I am happy with any part I'll get," Burrell said. "I'll bring my best to the show, but Emmett Forrest is definitely, definitely one of my dream roles, so I was very happy. I kind of stopped breathing when they announced the cast."

Dr. Ken Stilson, the director of the musical, said the auditions are designed to be exactly like professional auditions in order to prepare the students for future experiences in the business.

Molly Dowd, who will play the lead role of Elle Woods, said that the fast-paced auditions make her feel well prepared for future professional auditions. She has been through this process before because she has been in other Southeast productions such as "Pajama Game," "Miss Firecracker Contest" and "Into the Woods."

Dowd had her heart set on the role of Elle Woods ever since she heard that the musical was selected about a year ago, so she was thrilled to get the part. She researched the character and worked on both physical fitness and vocal fitness all summer in order to be ready to even audition, let alone take on this role.

Jacob Buckenmyer, who will portray Warner, is leading cast-wide workouts before each rehearsal so that the cast is in shape for this physically demanding show.

"I did work harder for this role than I've ever worked for any other part in my life," Dowd said. "It was really rewarding to see all that hard work pay off."

In the first round of the audition process the students came in with prepared and polished songs and monologues. This was a combined audition, meaning that directors from the three theatre productions for this fall, "Legally Blonde," "Sordid Lives" and "Orpheus Descending," held auditions for the casts of all of the shows.

After that, those in charge of each individual production gave callbacks to the students that they were interested in. At the end of the evening the directors, choreographers and those in charge of the musical aspect of the production discussed who would be cast. This is done in order to allow for as many of the students to get parts as possible and to not overlap cast members. After they decided who would be best for each part, the results were posted immediately.

Although the cast just formed, it is not the beginning of the process.

"The show is already way in motion once you get to the auditions," Stilson said. "As far as the construction of the show, it all begins about that time, but the design process and all of those elements-- they start months and months and months ahead, before you bring in a cast and construction crew."

The rest of the cast was finalized by Aug. 29, and the rehearsal process and preparation is now underway. The cast will continue to rehearse until it is finally time to perform, beginning Oct. 2 for the cast of "Legally Blonde," the first production of the fall. Stilson said that this show was chosen for all of the students at Southeast to enjoy. He said that because there are so many references to fraternity and sorority life in the musical, he hopes that the students in Greek organizations, especially, will come to the show.

"It's a great show, my gosh," Stilson said. "This show is picked for the students. A lot of people know the movie, and the musical is so wonderful, and we're really hoping to get a large student population."