When immersed in a live performance it’s easy to get swept away in the story and characters, forgetting sometimes you’re watching actors on a stage at all. It’s okay to be transported, but on the casting side, it took a lot of work to get there.

Grady Soapes

Every single show produced at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts has at least one casting session. Between the Theatre Company, Off-Center, Cabaret and Education, there are around 10 to 15 audition sessions a year. Depending on the size of the show, audition sessions can run from one to 10 days for each group. That’s a lot of auditions for Grady Soapes, Director of Casting at the DCPA.

“You get to know so many folks as a casting director, and watching these actors come and transform into someone new each time you see them, it’s very exciting,” said Soapes. “I have a huge amount of respect for the ‘actor hustle,’ and I often walk away feeling humbled and in awe of the talent and efforts that were showcased.”

To start the casting process Soapes, dishes out the “sides,” otherwise known as material from a show including songs and script. By using these tools, he observes how the person embodies the character, and interprets the words and scene. When casting without a set production or role in mind, actors come in and preform a monologue or song of their choosing in order to reflect their style and energy.

For each call hundreds of applicants respond, said Soapes. Often he knows the actor and their work. But when it’s someone new to the ticket, he encourages them to come to the company’s open calls, held each season locally, as well as in Los Angeles or New York.

“On average, when I release a character breakdown for a role I am seeking, I get about 300 to 500 resumes submitted,” said Soapes, emphasizing that’s just for one role. “If we are casting a big show like a Shakespeare or a musical, we are vetting thousands of submissions.”

Overall, Soapes sees casting as a fun puzzle of people trying to find the best way to fit together and give the play shape. The only downside, he added, is having the songs and scenes stuck in his head for weeks after hearing it over and over at the casting call. Because of that saturation, he jested, casting directors also make amazing understudies.