The Casting Process
FLORA: grounded; driven; an arrow
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When approaching casting, I am most excited by potential.
In order to look for potential rather than who walks into the room and is immediately "perfect" for any given role, I assign core images and energies to each character. This way, when I watch auditions and callbacks, I am able to focus on aspects of the humans in the room that are not necessarily taught. I have found this strategy of casting integral to the pedagogical equity of students auditioning in educational institutions. Below each rendering by costume designer Brianca Robinson (created after casting was complete), find the core images and energies I attributed to each of the principal roles in Flora & Ulysses. |
ULYSSES: radiates energy; body awareness; laser-focus
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PHYLLIS: airy; fiery
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GEORGE: the human embodiment of an exhausted sigh
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WILLIAM SPIVER: an old man in a child’s clothing; a turtle
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TOOTIE TICKHAM: sturdy and shining, like a diamond
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DR. MEESCHAM: a river
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