Celebrity Casting

I rarely mind who is cast, famous or otherwise, if they can truly deliver.

But from time to time nowadays, I am dragged back to those dark, dark days in musical theatre when Caprice "did" Rent, with advertisements around London proudly boasting the fact. Oh that was a grim performance. Even Jeanette Crankie having a bash at Christine Daaé was a much more enticing prospect.

There is an insidious form of celebrity casting where a good actor who has appeared in a massive TV hit gets over-cast in a stage role they are simply unsuited for - Martin Freeman's inexplicable turn as Richard III being a notable example.

Its a very strange thing viewed from outside the profession.  You can have lesser TV names who can do things you wouldn't expect really well, but who still don't bring in a crowd on merit or name. And the same shows can also cast utterly awful names with the  same audience figures.  Chicago being a good example. And there's the wooden in everything names -  who seem to get picked for nepotism, or because they have a deaf and blind fanbase.

There's also a mystery why so many mediocre people from soaps   get cast when theatre tickets cost what they do, and soap audiences have shrunk massively . Its also a mystery to me why pantos cast celebs, last  known in the 80s , when only the older grandparents attending will ever have heard of them.

The X factor graduates illustrate the problem that where you became known doesn't say anything about your ability. Some like Diana Vickers can act really well, and do 8 shows a week in a big role, some are good for undemanding roles, and some have fully transitioned into Musical Theatre actors. There's a bit too much of the drama school/ luvvie approach to some people get jobs acing or singing without training - many of our current top singers and actors still learn on the job .And while  for some people  coming from an ALW audition show or other singing shows adds useful publicity nad experience . almost all those shows have produced people who have been underused as they missed out on getting the  BA after their  name.

There's also the  problem of the  role. Jerry springer couldn't sing , or dance, or remember his lines reliably - but he looked the part as Billy in Chicago - as he had been a lawyer and was convincingly suspect.


And there's a general  problem  with audiences , many of whom don't know who is really good, don't do any research , and tend to go to names they recognise  from elsewhere, and shows they know . I am rather perverse,  and tend to avoid shows that haven't got anyone I have noted as being really good in them . I keep on finding new people who I think are worth seeing again  But if shows  turn up with just  a lot of TV names I tend to wonder why they are there - and not any of the the people I could imagine playing the role really well.  There's an awful lot around  at the moment that shouts out don't bother -  because its TV name cast. The talent is increasingly elsewhere - on the good tours, the smaller shows, the empty WE shows ,moving from musicla theatre into straight acting,  or on Broadway, or elsewhere overseas.

The celebrity casting in Spamalot almost always seemed to be a catastrophe, Phill Jupitus and Alan Dale being particularly low points.

Joe Pasquale as Leo Bloom in The Producers is literally the worst performance I've ever seen on a stage, nothing short of a disgrace that he was cast in that show, particularly opposite the brilliant Corey English.

I guess it also depends on who you class as a celebrity and youre meaning of the word. When i hear celebrity casting i think more of soaps, reality tv etc, someome assumed to be sub par in terms of quality. I would never class Nicole Kidman and the like as celebrity casting, that to me is star casting. Someone who has earnt a reputation through their strong body of work. Would you class Judi Dench or Maggie Smith as celebrity?

Wasn't sure where else to post this but the latest nepo baby North West making an...interesting musicals debut

Stacey Dooley in that ghost story play

That's how I see it. Stunt casting is purely for the headlines and no real hope or expectation they'll be particularly good, and sometimes we're grateful if they are adequate. 

Celebrity or star casting for me is someone who is capable, and wouldn't have stood out (in a bad way) at the auditions. They might not have been first choice, but if they had been the best person at the auditions they wouldn't try to schedule another round of auditions. Someone who did professional theatre before they became famous shouldn't be thought of as stunt casting if they return as a star name. 

Casting pop stars in musicals for the first time is potentially a grey area - assuming they can sing. It's unlikely they've had acting training, but will have performing experience, and a good singer tells a story through their performance. Not all of them, as this thread confirms, and solo artists will have an edge on those in bands etc. But I don't see why they can't check that at the secret celebrity audition stage, then provide a bit of training.

People who have been to stage school might be annoyed if pop stars or soap stars are beating them to parts, but sometimes it's the best way for working class people to get into showbiz, so I like to be open-minded. That excuse does not wash for employing Kelly Osborne.

Greg Jenner wrote an interesting book a few years ago on the history of celebrity. The definition of celebrity he uses is pretty wide, and if I remember correctly includes anyone whose name or face might help to sell something. So if anyone buys a theatre ticket because they recognise an actor - they are a celebrity.

Apologies, I didn't mean to claim that not having done theatre before becoming famous means it's stunt casting. More the fact they did it before they were famous then I'd assume accusations of stunt casting are unfair. 

Celebrity/star casting - yes. And Jodie is a very good example of someone who had the star profile, and screen acting experience, but lacked stage experience, but nailed it. 

If Pugh were to appear on the West End I'd consider it star casting. She's already got a reputation as a great screen actor, although also has a profile as a celeb beyond acting, which might prove interesting. I don't know what her training is so I'm sure with the right direction and a willingness to learn she'd handle it. 

I think she's also smart enough to realise that at this point in her career that she has more to lose than to gain. She's already considered to be a commercial and critical success, and while she might aspire to a rave review and an Olivier nomination, signing up to the wrong project at the wrong time with inadequate preparation risks being a humbling experience, and not in a good way.

She'd sell tickets - lots of them, which might benefit producers, but also puts her at extra risk of being offered a part that doesn't suit her.