ABSTRACT
When a stage play or musical is first produced, the creative team have a blank canvas on which to mould and craft the production. The actors are the originals, and, if they have been well cast, will be the template for subsequent companies, or even productions of the piece. Recasting, therefore, can often be a harder and more demanding process than finding the originals, as the creatives will often have preconceived ideas of what they are looking for, perhaps seeking exact replicas or wanting a better, stronger or more talented cast than the one before. I know several actors who have taken over in shows because they were not only good performers and right for the part, but they exactly fitted the existing costume. It may sound bizarre and even penny-pinching, but costumes are expensive to remake and this can sometimes be another deciding factor. Go and see as many original productions as you can, watching the actors playing principal roles and the various ensemble tracks, so you know if there might be a job for you when that show is recast in the future.
