An Interview with Casting Director Alison Franck, Franck Casting by Tony Nation
Alison Franck (CSA) is a casting skilled with over 20 years of Broadway, Off-Broadway, Touring, Regional Theatre, TV, Movie, Industrial and Voice Over Casting expertise. I lately had the pleasure of interviewing her.
When was the second you knew that casting was the job for you?
I believe I knew once I was in highschool – I used to file no matter I used to be watching to be able to see who was who within the credit (this was earlier than the Web) & I’d save all playbills and memorize actors bios. Then I’d go to the library and spend hours studying about who performed what on Broadway.
I wished to know actors and what they did… I used to be such a busy physique about all of it. I spotted in some unspecified time in the future there was a job for me…. Properly, once I determined I didn’t wish to be an actress any longer.
What are a few of your favourite musicals and performs?
I really like Sondheim! So Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Sunday within the Park with George. (be aware: I’ve by no means forged a single Sondheim musical) I cherished a play known as “Our Nation’s Good”…I really like the same old large hits: A Refrain Line, Hire & Hamilton. I additionally love 1776, She Loves Me & Ragtime. I may go on and on.
I really want to see extra new musicals. Lately I actually cherished Come from Away ( and I do know that’s not so current)
What are you able to inform us in regards to the strategy of casting for a few of your initiatives?
As a result of I largely forged non-union excursions. The principle factor to notice is – I’m searching for individuals who need the job & can be found for the job. I submit breakdowns on Breakdown Companies/Actors Entry at all times – then Backstage & Playbill On-line more often than not & additionally on social media (Fb & Instagram) it’s superb to me what number of totally different locations I have to submit.
I typically am shocked at how random all of it is as of late. I’m not simply going to begin calling individuals I do know… I have to open up all jobs to all actors.
If you happen to may forged any musical or play proper now, what would it not be?
One thing by Stephen Sondheim. Actually something.
Or a model new musical. I additionally would like to work on initiatives like Come from Away, that makes use of a small chore of actors to play many roles… it requires actors who can do something… I additionally cherished that the actors all seemed like actual individuals. So it’s all about expertise… that’s my favourite.
What excites you about an actor if you see their work?
Sturdy appearing decisions. Actors who don’t play it protected, however primarily based on their supplies (songs, sides, monologues) actually make contemporary and attention-grabbing decisions as a result of they’ve invested within the supplies… that features understanding the time interval, the age of the function & their work standing/regionalisms/physique language.
Individuals through the years have misinterpreted my tackle how individuals gown or what footwear they put on as part of how I forged. Really no. I simply can typically inform primarily based on what an actor is carrying that they’ve thought in regards to the character. I additionally by no means make the precise casting selections. So on the level an actor exhibits as much as audition- it’s out of my palms and it’s all as much as creatives.
My pleasure is normally over how that call influenced their appearing decisions and the way the room responds to them. Generally dressing “otherwise” (which means not carrying pink when auditioning for Elle Woods) is precisely what would possibly make the actor stand out. It’s not at all times a matter of what’s anticipated, however somewhat, what works for that actor….
It’s a part of a thought course of that could be a sequence of decisions. What somebody is carrying is superficial, but it’s a part of their story they’re sharing with the creatives.
What’s your finest recommendation for actors immediately?
Issues are altering so much- particularly with self taping. It’s nonetheless a brand new hybrid & I’m nonetheless attempting to navigate it. I really feel like some actors love self taping however are by no means accessible for in individual callbacks- and assume we will forged from a Zoom callback & my creatives actually need and have to see individuals within the room.
And a few actors gained’t self tape… and honestly- I’ve been open to skipping the self taping and simply bringing individuals in from expertise reels… however that is how I work. It’s not at all times as much as me. I simply am attempting to get the perfect individuals within the room. I could wish to recommend.. self tape to the perfect of your means, however the aim is an in-person callback. (For theatre)
Alison Franck (CSA) is a casting skilled with over 20 years of Broadway, Off-Broadway, Touring, Regional Theatre, TV, Movie, Industrial and Voice Over Casting expertise. For a decade, she was the Casting Director for the distinguished regional theatre Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, the place she forged over 50 productions with among the theatre neighborhood’s best expertise.
Notable credit at Paper Mill embrace the Broadway switch of I’m Not Rappaport starring Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen, Something Goes starring Chita Rivera, The Baker’s Spouse starring Alice Ripley, The Chosen starring Theodore Bikel and John Lloyd Younger, Child starring La Chanze, Norm Lewis, Carolee Carmello, Michael Rupert and Chad Kimball, The Full Monty with Elaine Stritch, The Significance of Being Earnest with Lynn Redgrave, and was the unique Casting Director behind the Broadway switch of Godspell, which included Telly Leung and Uzo Aduba. Off-Broadway Tasks embrace It’s Simply Intercourse and the unique alternative casting for The Donkey Present (directed by Diane Paulus).
Tony Nation is a accomplice on the Actors Connection, and an expert actor who has labored in all areas of Present enterprise. You’ll be able to at the moment see him on HBO’s THE REHEARSAL within the pilot episode, in season 3 of THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL and in an upcoming animated characteristic movie in 2023.
