"I struck out except in ‘Richard II,’ which was really lucky because that was the show I was really interested in." Still, he says, it’s "a scary prospect to not have those kind of choices. Maybe I didn’t even put my best foot forward with the other shows."
Connections and past success pull Shafrin through in the clinch. Despite the setbacks, he lands a lead in "The Pelican," snags a small supporting role in "Alice and Wonderland," and makes the Children’s Theater, one of only two freshmen accepted this semester.
"With my situation, it just shows that Common Casting is very actor friendly," Shafrin explains. "They really want people to be comfortable and be showcased and be at their best."
Kaszynski walked to the Loeb "not expecting anything," he explains, only to discover that he’s nailed the role of the Emcee in Chicago.
"It was all for done for fun. I’ve had a great time," he reflects after the dust has settled. "I’ll probably audition next fall."
He excitedly sums up the surreal experience in his non-native language: "I think some many random things that together form a funny picture, that I’ll always look back as a hilarious experience that I will talk about."
Spillane-Hinks spends over 40 hours on the week-and-a-half Common Casting process, while still attending class, writing her thesis, and working on applications to graduate programs.
Yet, for her Common Casting is a positive experience that gives her the chance to see her vision take shape. "As with any show, I’m just excited to see people speak the words," she says, reflecting on the work at hand.
But despite all her knowledge and preparation, Spillane-Hinks recognizes that she can view the play in a new light. "The surprises are some of the best parts of the auditions," she says.
Hanley sums up his goals for the final cast of "Chicago" in a reference to his previous work on "Picasso." "When you were watching the scene, it wasn’t a play," he recalls. "People felt like they were looking through a window—it’s the goal of theater, a scene of life." That has been Hanley’s guiding vision throughout the Common Casting process: the hope of making his expansive dreams very real.
With his cast selected at last, Hanley is one step closer to doing just that. Still deeply in debt and pressed for time, he’s passed the first hurdle. But for this ambitious outsider, the business of the show has only begun.
—Staff writer Mary A. Brazelton can be reached at mbrazelt@fas.harvard.edu.
—Staff writer Patrick R. Chesnut can be reached at pchesnut@fas.harvard.edu
—Staff writer Lindsay A. Maizel can be reached at lmaizel@fas.harvard.edu
—Staff writer Natalie I. Sherman can be reached at nsherman@fas.harvard.edu.