Although attending auditions was not technically required as part of my internship responsibilities for Shrek the Musical at Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach, I decided to be present because I viewed it as an important opportunity for professional exposure and networking. In theatre, especially in community and regional environments, many opportunities develop through relationships and consistent involvement rather than only through assigned responsibilities. Since I am serving as a stage manager for this production, I wanted to begin establishing stronger communication with the creative team as early as possible.

I already knew the director through a previous summer camp experience, but auditions gave me the opportunity to formally exchange contact information and discuss expectations for the production process. During our conversation, I requested several materials that I believed would help me prepare more effectively for the internship, including a preliminary rehearsal schedule, a copy of the script, and additional contact information outside of email communication. I also asked whether I could be included in conversations regarding casting decisions. My interest in this came from the fact that I have recently been given the opportunity to direct a production in Daytona next year, and I want to better understand how directors evaluate performers during auditions and callbacks. Unfortunately, I am still waiting for a response regarding those requests, which has highlighted how important timely communication is within theatrical production teams.

One of the most interesting aspects of the audition process was seeing how many performers I already knew personally. Many of the actors auditioning are people I have worked with before and whose talents I already respect. Watching auditions from a more observational and managerial perspective made me think carefully about the challenges directors face when casting productions. If I were directing, I think one of the hardest parts would be separating my previous experiences with actors from what they specifically bring into the room during that audition. There is also the concern of how casting choices may appear to outside observers. Favoritism is something I have seen discussed frequently within community theatre spaces, including at this theatre specifically, and it made me think about how important transparency and fairness are during casting decisions.

Overall, attending auditions was valuable even beyond my required internship duties. It allowed me to begin building stronger professional relationships, observe a critical stage of the production process, and reflect on leadership and directing challenges that I may encounter in the future. I am looking forward to seeing the final cast list and officially beginning work on the production.