Advice on this rejection letter?

Honestly I think it’s kind of patronizing. Rejection sucks, and the thing that sucks about it is being rejected, not the delivery. It’s important to learn how to deal with it and each person is going to have to do that in his/her own way.

Mmmm, I think you are focusing on being a bit overly apologetic in your explanations.

Part of any craft, acting, writing, is to expect a good amount of ‘rejection’ and while it is important to be clear with the decision making process you do not need to be overly solicitious (sp?) in your rejection.

I’d edit the letter down some and revise the in depth reasoning, although it is admirable of you to want to let the un-chosen down easy.

See as a parent of a 2 and 3 year old I think my 3 year old would ask me mommy but why didn’t I get the part and I would be able to give her that information that she gives below

Shorter…...too much information…...you lost them after the first sentence…. just say you did not get the part, try for another and good luck.

It’s not a bad letter. However, I would change the opening a bit. I would loose the “however, we have decided to go with someone else” line in favor of something more like:

Thank you for your interest in Madeline and the Gypsies.

As with any casting call, there are always more people auditioning than their are roles to fill and It’s never fun to hear you were not selected this time around, but please keep in mind not getting cast isn’t like losing a race…

I like YoBob’s approach…. Kids need explaination as to why things happen.

First, I think it’s great that you’re involved in community theater. I am, too.

Second, it’s admirable that you’re sending out letters to those not cast in the production, but really, it’s the nature of theater that some people get parts and some don’t. I would suggest you make the letter as short as possible. Say you’re sorry and encourage them to try out for future shows and leave it at that.

I also think it is a little over the top. Thank them for auditioning, let them know they did not get a part in this production (don’t call it rejection), and tell them you look forward to seeing them at the next auditions (put in the information if you have it.)

Yep too long and over the top.

Thank you for your interest in auditioning for Madeline and the Gypsies, however we have decided to go with someone else.

It’s never fun to hear you didn’t get cast. Just because you didn’t get cast doesn’t mean you weren’t good enough! We encourage you to continue to audition for our future productions and hope to see you then.

(Insert Upcoming Events Info)

Shorter is better. Maybe you could flesh that out.^^
But the examples, the apologies, too much. Way too much.

Honestly, I’m surprised you’re sending out rejection letters. In all the years my siblings and I did theater as kids you got called if you were in, and they just posted the information so parents could find out themselves. This letter nonsense seems like a waste of time.

“Just because you didn’t get cast doesn’t mean you weren’t good enough for the show, it doesn’t even mean you weren’t as good as someone who got in!” – no. awful.

Thanks everybody for your response! it really helped me to reword my letter.

Here is a copy of the letter with my edits set off. I think, overall, that it is very kind (although perhaps it over-emphsizes its point.)

Thank you for your interest in Madeline and the Gypsies, however_,_ we have decided to go with someone else.

It’s never fun to hear you didn’t get cast, but please keep in mind that not getting cast isn’t like losing a race, in fact it’s not like losing at all. Just because you didn’t get cast doesn’t mean you weren’t good enough for the show, it doesn’t even mean you weren’t as good as someone who got in!

Casting is an extremem_e_ly subjective process. Before anyone even walked through the door_,_ the director had a vision for what she wanted the show to look like_;_ furthermore_,) she had a vision for what she wanted Madeline, Clementine, and Pepito to look, sound and act like. When you were auditioning_,_ the director wasn’t only looking at how “good” you were (al_though, of course that was part of it),_ _s_he was seeing how you fit in with her idea of what she wanted the show to be like.

For example, when The Wizard of Oz was being cast, one of the people who tried out for Dorothy was none other than Shirley Temple herself! Now, just because Judy Garland “beat out” Ms. Temple for the role certainly doesn’t mean _that_Shirley Temple was a bad actress! It doesn’t even mean she wasn’t as good or better than Judy.

In short, not being cast simply means you weren’t cast. It doesn’t mean you weren’t good enough, and it certainly doesn’t mean the Alaska Fine Arts Community theater wouldn’t love to see you try out for more shows. This year_,_ our summer camp show is “Sleeping Beauty_._” _I_t runs from June 6-July 1, is directed by Joe King, and participants will get to act in our summer Bear Paw show, as well as be in the Bear Paw parade. We would love to see you there!

I like the anecdote about Judy Garland being cast over Shirley Temple. That’s a good example of show, not tell. You could remove a lot of the body where you explain the same idea (“In short, not being cast simply means you weren’t cast. It doesn’t mean you weren’t good enough…”) while still leaving things on an encouraging note.

I agree with @Coloma , this letter is too long and too apologetic. Also, it sounds like you are assuming that the recipients are going to be crushed or doubt their self-worth. I would say:

Thank you for taking the time to audition for “Madeline and the Gypsies.” We were pleasantly surprised at the high quality of talent displayed by all. It was a very hard decision, but we have chosen another performer to play this part.

We appreciate your interest, and truly hope that you will audition for us again in the near future.

This year our summer camp show is “Sleeping Beauty.” It runs from June 6-July 1, is directed by Joe King, and participants will get to act in our summer Bear Paw show, as well as be in the Bear Paw parade. We would strongly encourage you to audition for a part in the show, and hope to see you there!

Way too long. After the first line I was too depressed to read any more.

I like @Skaggfacemutt letter double lurve xx

I like it, BUT that line at the beginning “Thank you for your interest in Madeline and the Gypsies, however we have decided to go with someone else”....sucks.
Personally I would feel the bruise less if it said something like ” we loved your audition but we feel this part isnt right for you” afterall, that seems to be the message in the letter.

Keep everything from the start, up until the end of the line, “casting is an extremely subjective process.” Then cut everything up until the end of the paragraph ending in “Judy”, picking up with “In short, not being cast…”

Keep it short and helpful. The way you have it written makes it sound like a form letter.
Use your own words, just use less of them.

Put the last three paragraphs first, then rearrange and delete the remaining sentences to close out your main idea. In the real world of theatre (if that’s not too close to an oxymoron), a cast list is hung. You look at it. If you were cast, you will see your name. If you were not, your name won’t be there. Why do you have to hold the parents’ hands through this? I mean, what kind of world will this be if the next generation grows up completely coddled? Theatre is a tough business to be in and you must be committed to your craft to be successful. You have to be able to handle rejection. You have my empathy concerning the whole letters to parents whose children weren’t cast thing.

Thanks, @aseymour. Letter-writing is my forte, it’s what I do for a living. I usually charge for my services, but I lurve you all so well, I’ll do it for free. :)

Sorry @Skaggfacemutt was that thanks meant for @sakura? after reading it, it seemed to be referencing my post, which was in response to the original question. I hope you didnt think I was negatively referencing your well put suggestion?

Oh, whoops! I did mean @sakura . Sorry, @aseymour . No, I did not take offense to your post.

Panic over! No worries!

Actually Shirley Temple was not chosen for Wizard because her singing voice was not as powerful as that of Judy Garland.

Obviously she survived the experience and went on to serve as an Ambassador once her childhood film career ended.

Succeeding in an audition isn’t the be-all and end-all of life, after all :)

I agree, @Buttonstc , which is why I don’t think the letter should be reassurance-focused. The only thing I would change from my example above would be to include where and when the next auditions will be, or if that is not set yet, then say more information on the next auditions will be forthcoming, or to watch the local papers in (May, June?) for the time and place of the next auditions.

Go with @Skaggfacemutt‘s letter, but don’t sign her name to it…