- by Alison Goodman, Casting Director-Guiding Light

When auditioning for a role on a sSoap Opera or Daytime Television, it helps to understand the many different types of roles acting roles available:

• Background
  These actors do not have lines.  They add to the atmosphere of the show.  They are the nurses and doctors that move through the hospital corridors to make it feel busy.  They are the customers that are dining in restaurants.  They make our show feel like a real world and not a set.
  
  
• Under Five
  This is a term given to the actors that have five lines or under.  They are the cops, doctors, waitresses, teachers, reporters, bartenders, etc.  The list goes on and on.  These actors help move story along and help bring our world to life.
  
  
• Dayplayer
  These are roles that have more than five lines in a single episode.  They are more integral to the story and are more competitive to book.
  
  
• Recurring
  A recurring role means the character will appear in multiple episodes.  It can be a recurring under five or a recurring dayplayer. 
  
  
• Contract
  The most coveted role on a soap opera is the contract.  The auditioning process is a long one as these roles are the most competitive to book.  There may be multiple readings with the casting director, callbacks and a screen test involved.  Contracts are generally for three years, they may be shorter or longer depending on the show and the nature of the character.