Audition #4 and Life

Green is my favorite color and today was SUCH a green day! (no, not the band silly. A day in which I was totally happy). Yesterday was such a rough day that I was DETERMINED today would be so much better ("I feel so much better...than before". Sorry, random LB:TM quote). And it was!

First, the audition. Royal Caribbean had auditions at Lou Conte Dance in Chicago today. For those of you who were clueless, like me, that is the Hubbard Street Dance Building on Racine. Gorgeous facility! ANYWAY...today was the dancer audition (pass) and the Improv Actor audition. yesterday was the singer, but I don't even come CLOSE to fitting that one, so I ignored it and just went this afternoon. Well, I get there, get my number (76) and wait with some of the others. Everyone there has been performing around town, many of them knew one another, but I was in there throwing insults and cracking up with them like I belonged. What a great way to start the audition process and get my brain warmed up. Got to say, I miss keeping my chops sharp with the Dramatic Duo...they forced me to be quick on my feet. I am in the first group to go in and they line us up on the red line of death and tell us we are going to do a rant. But not one, continuous rant. Nope, each one of us will have our own that we will continue at any point we want when we are pointed to. My rant? Stupid theme park guests who stand in line for characters without knowing who they are and are not ready to meet them when they get to the front of the line. I know, right?? =) Then we do "Lights Up, Lights Down." Do not even really remember what we had to do, put I know I did the Bend and Snap and almost fell on my ass. Oh well. Then they thanked us and told us to wait.

The second group goes in, we are shooting the shit and whatnot and the facilitator comes back and tells us who they are keeping for the next round. OMG! Did he just say #76? He did! He did just say #76! I made the first cut! Talk about a step in the right direction! But...more improv games. *gulp* And of course, yours truly slightly misunderstands the directions for the first one, and jumps in with an idea and....it was just suppossed to be 2 people. *sigh* He made it sound like they were going to start with 2 and build. That threw me a little. So, the first game we did in this round was _____, where one person was given an activity, had to start a motion and you were to continue it, but come up with new definitions for what it was. I did ok, but I think I was the one to run out of ideas first both times. *sigh* Second game of this round was 4 Corners. 4 of us went up and they rotated us around this square. Each pairing was a different scene. One of mine was the bearded lady and the manager of the boardwalk and the other was a tv producer and the anchor. I thought I did pretty good, I gave them 2 different things and I got a chuckle. Then, back in the room to wait while they deliberated.

And I was not called to read a side. Oh well. Out of the 3 girls, they only kept one and she had a LOT of experience, so.... I am just more than thrilled that I did as good as I did. They did do that whole "just because we are not keeping you does not mean we are not going to use you" spiel, but, I never really believe that one. I am proud of myself for surviving the first cut, having fun and laughing like a loon today. It was AWESOME!

The reason I needed the emotional reset button pushed today is because I have been sliding into a funk these last couple of weeks. If anyone asked, I was fine, because I did not want to burden them and I wanted to keep things light and fun. But, the limited personal contact I have had, combined with the fact that I lost my job, was starting to pull me down. And I was starting to feel it. I posted the lyrics to "For Good" yesterday on my Facebook page, as I wanted people to know how much they meant to me as I was feeling more and more isolated. I thought my voice class would help, but not really. I appreciate my voice teacher pushing me, but when she has the sheet music RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER, you would think she would play something more than just strumming quarter note chords!! I am actively going on auditions, some help and constructive advice would be more than welcome at this point in time. That is, after all, what I am paying you for.

Anyway, it was all starting to bury me and make me feel worse and worse and I could not let it continue any longer. It is not who I am choosing to be anymore. I am stronger and better than that. So, I woke up this morning and went for a jog. Yes, I ran outdoors. I do not know what is more shocking...that I ran not on an elliptical, or that it was outdoors. But, I had to cancel my gym membership and endorphins make you happy, so I was going to get my exercise dagnabit! And I did feel good after! It totally set my day, which included that awesome Audition, finding out for the Apple store that the problem is NOT with my computer *whew*, and seeing UP, which surprise, surprise, I loved!

And now, bed for a Six Flags Karaoke day tomorrow. Where are my earplugs again? =)

Legally Blonde (and late!)

I normally try to post my theatre reviews within a day or two of seeing the show, so that everything is fresh in my head. I have failed this week and I really do not know why, other than unemployed craziness has been getting to me. Which is weird when you think about it, I am unemployed, I should have lots of time to take care of my blog, and yet, I do not. I think I get a failing grade here....

Anyway, last Wednesday (the 27th), I attended the matinee performance of Legally Blonde: The Musical at the Ford Center here in Chicago. I am the first to admit that I scoffed (yes scoffed) when I heard that they were making the movie Legally Blonde into a musical. I mean, like, OMG, give me a break you guys! =)

Then, last spring, I watched the MTV Show "Legally Blonde: The Search for the New Elle Woods." The whole reason I watched is because 2 of my mermaids from Disney were in the first episode. (Last two cut, *tear*). But the audition song they sang "So Much Better" spoke to me and made me curious. Yes, I laughed at some of the songs ("Ohmygod You Guys" being the main one), but as I watched I fell in love with some, loathed others and wanted to know who would win. My favorite did not win, btw. And as I watched, I was wishing I had watched the show when MTV taped it and aired it, deciding that WHEN it came through Chicago, I was going to go see it!

So, being unemployed, I headed my happy ass down to the Ford Center on Wednesday afternoon to see if I could get a cheap ticket. $25 later I was sitting 10th row orchestra, stage right. And seeing Rhiannon (the 4th place finisher) as Margot and Lauren (3rd place) as Elle! I loved Lauren, and not just because she was from Michigan! Rhiannon was offered the role of Margot after she got cut and Lauren was offered the Elle u/s role when she got cut (I believe) and I think they got the better deal, seeing as how the show closed 2 months after the winner went in and they are still out on the road, getting a paycheck, and performing the role they were trying for..or at least in the show!

Anyway, I really enjoyed Legally Blonde: The Musical. It was fun, peppy, good message and just a good distraction from everything that is going on in my life. And isn't that part of the reason we go to the theatre? To step away from the things that are plaguing our life? Everyone did a great job. I wish the sound mix had been a bit better, as it sometimes sounded like the orchestra was playing on top of the actors, which annoyed the hell out of me! I came to hear the songs dammit! But yeah, loved the cast, loved the show, it was exactly what I needed on that day in that moment in time.

Now, if you will forgive me, I need to listen to "Bend and Snap" again. Kyle makes me drool. =)