The 24 Hour Rule!
Mr. McCrossan has used the 24 Hour Rule for all productions that he has produced over the past 25 years. QMS Drama has always stuck by the rule, as we feel it is an important and healthy way to process audition situations that don't go as you hoped they would.
Year after year, QMS Drama is so lucky to have so many students who are interested in being a part of the program. Shows are chosen to profile as many students as we can in a safe and productive environment. Cast sizes are always shared before auditions, so that students can be aware if we are going to have to cut students if we have more auditioners than we have parts.
Casting is based on students' whole audition, meaning the second you walk into the auditorium, we are observing your interactions, your attitude, and your ability to take direction. While your actual performance at your audition carries the most weight, we also want to see that you are a team player who will be a strong ensemble member. No grade is given priority over another- a 6th grade has the same chance at a leading role as a 7th or 8th grader.
REMEMBER! Not being cast is NOT a reflection on YOU as the WONDERFUL human that you are! Sometimes things work out the way we want to, and sometimes they don't, and THAT IS OK!
If casting doesn't go your way, we ask that you remember and abide by our 24 Hour Rule. The basics of this rule are:
1) You are absolutely allowed to feel your feelings if you are not cast! That's human nature!
2) For the first 24 Hours after the cast list is posted, feel those feels! We ask that you refrain from:
Posting nasty things about QMS Drama on social media
Emailing the directors to call them names and tell them that they are bad at their jobs (we are humans too!)
Making students who were cast feel badly about being cast
3) After 24 Hours, it is time to move on. There will be other opportunities for you to perform, whether it be here at QMS, over at MHS, or with one of the many theatre companies in the area! QMS Drama is not the end all and be all of your performing career, so fear not!
4) If you want feedback on your audition, you are ABSOLUTELY allowed to ask for it! Find one of the directors during the school day and we can have a conversation! What we WON'T do is give anyone else (parents included!) feedback on your audition, or share feedback via email. If YOU want to know about YOUR audition, YOU will make that happen.