Ethan Slater Recalls Worst-Ever Audition When Director Said, 'Why Did You Even Bring Him In?'
- - Ethan Slater Recalls Worst-Ever Audition When Director Said, 'Why Did You Even Bring Him In?'
Raven BrunnerDecember 31, 2025 at 6:20 AM
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Ethan Slater in November 2025 -
Ethan Slater opened up about a bad audition that happened early in his career during an interview at Vassar College
"Early on, I had an audition where I left the room, I'm going to say no specifics, but I left the room and before the door closed, the director said, ‘Why did you even bring him in?' " he shared
The actor added that being involved in casting conversations has since changed his perspective on the negative experience
Ethan Slater opened up about a bad audition that happened early in his career.
The actor, 33, participated in an interview at his alma mater, Vassar College, on Dec. 10, where he also received the Young Alum Achievement Award. During the event, he revealed that a director he once auditioned for made a blunt comment about his performance.
"Early on, I had an audition where I left the room - I'm going to say no specifics - but I left the room and before the door closed, the director said, ‘Why did you even bring him in?' " Slater shared during his sit-down conversation with Professor and Chair of Drama Chris Grabowski and Professor of Drama Shona Tucker.
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Ethan Slater visits SiriusXM Studios on Nov. 18, 2025 in New York City.
The Wicked star continued to say that he later found out that he was "20 years too young" for the role.
"I know exactly who they cast, and I know everybody else they auditioned. But at the time, I left that room and I was like, ‘I'm never going to work.’ That is the worst thing. I was 23 years old," Slater said.
The actor added that being involved in casting conversations has changed his perspective on the negative experience.
"Having the experience of getting to be on the other side of it, which has only happened professionally for me more recently, has been pretty great," Slater said. "Now I'm like, ‘Oh, first of all, inappropriate. That was on them, but also they probably didn't even mean anything by it.' "
While Slater didn’t specify which project he assisted with casting, he recently co-wrote the play Marcel on the Train with Marshall Pailet. In October, it was announced that the work will premiere Off-Broadway at New York City's Classic Stage Company in February 2026.
In addition to co-writing the play, the Tony-nominated actor will also play the famous French mime Marcel Marceau.
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Ethan Slater at the 'Wicked: For Good' premiere on Nov. 17, 2025 in New York City.
Slater previously co-wrote the musical Edge of the World with Nick Blaemire, which had a sold-out one-night only concert at the same venue.
The actor recently played Boq in the movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Wicked and its sequel. He also made appearances in the television shows Elsbeth, Gen V and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
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Slater made his Broadway debut as the title character in 2017's The SpongeBob Musical, which nabbed him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.
The actor graduated from Vassar College in 2014 and was named the recipient of the Young Alum Achievement Award in 2024. The honor is awarded by the college’s alumni association to an inspirational graduate within the last 10 years.
Wicked: For Good is now in theaters.
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