So, last night I went out to Triton College (don't worry, I had never heard of it either) to audition for their upcoming production of BLEACHER BUMS. I had planned on going to the College of Lake County for ANNE FRANK AND ME, but then I realized it would be driving up to Gurnee and I do enough of that already and decided it was just too far, so off to be a bum! =)
Ok, not really. If there is a show that is more North Side Chicago then this one, I have not heard of it. I prepped my monologue again and did the drive over there to see what was what. Sadly, after looking at the character breakdown, I do not think I am a good fit for ANY of the roles, but I went in anyway. Hey, an audition is an audition, right?
So into the theatre I go, get the waving introduction to the director, and up onto stage where I promptly mess up the 2nd line of my monologue. After taking a moment to refocus, I restart. Every time I do it, I have noticed things are slightly different as the character starts to gel more for me. This time it went very well and I was really into the moment, seeing the cocoon on the ledge and later, the injured butterfly. (Is that method of me? I don't know). I heard a chuckle when I was doing it but really did not focus on the director.
When I was done, I looked at him and he had gone from sitting straight in the chair to leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. Is this a good sign? I don't know, but I take it as a sign that I captured his attention. Maybe I should have looked at his face. He told me he loved the show my monologue was from and asked if it was April's, to which I replied positively. He then thanked me and told me that callbacks would be on Saturday and I would be contacted on Friday (2nd day of auditions is today, Thursday).
What did I learn from this go round? That it is ok to start over in an audition if you flub and get flustered, whilst taking the time to refocus yourself so you can move forward with a positive energy. Keep your fingers crossed that I can pick up my new headshots tonite so that I can get them printed and start using them!!
27 August 2009
26 August 2009
The One Where Mel Gets Asked to Stay and Read Sides (Audition 15)
Woot Woot!
Ok, so I went to audition for a new theatre company in Chicago last night. The show is ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS and the audition asked you to prepare a 2 minute comedic monologue. So, I brushed off April's monologue from COMPANY and went in. Still need to pick up my new headshots so I can get prints, but all is well.
Anyway, I get there and check in and since I did not have a headshot (I am out of my old ones) the person behind the desk "drew" a picture of me. Needless to say, for me, that set the tone of ridiculousness for the evening. When I was finally called in, I know I started out being really silly. I was wearing my GREAT Kabuki hat cuz my hair was going crazy earlier. Anyway, I'm riffing on random things then after a couple of minutes of playing with the director, I center myself and start my monologue. Unlike the last time I did it, this time I got a chuckle at the end. I know it still needs more polishing, but a laugh is a step in the right direction. Anyway, she tells me to read the sides for ACTRESS #1 (yea, I am asked to stay and read sides after watching about 6 actresses leave without being asked). She tells me to ignore the Kate side because she saw enough of that in my monologue and to focus on the other 2. Ok, no problem!
While I am out in the lobby going over my sides, I am asked to switch from Actress #1 to T-ANNE who is the stage manager, a comically racist black director, the arts fund manager for a cigarette company and a couple other roles. T-Anne has the opening monologue which talks about the state of regional theatre in America. It was awesome. I then combined a bunch of mannerisms for the director and pulled that out. I THINK I included a couple of "Oh no you dinnt" head motions in there. What is cool is that about 1/2 way through, the assistant was supposed to feed me a line, but she was silent, so when I looked over at her, her script was closed and she was just watching. I DID have the Multiculturalism orgasm on stage though...if you are going to do it, do it well and loud! =) Sadly, they did not have me pull out a Texas twang for Don the cigarette company financeer. When I finished I was told that I should hear something by Monday.
So that is how my audition went. It FELT like it went really well, I got some laughs and I got their attention in a positive way. Will it lead to a casting? Well, who knows in this business but it was a good audition experience for me, and really, isn't that what it is about at this point in time??
Ok, so I went to audition for a new theatre company in Chicago last night. The show is ANTON IN SHOWBUSINESS and the audition asked you to prepare a 2 minute comedic monologue. So, I brushed off April's monologue from COMPANY and went in. Still need to pick up my new headshots so I can get prints, but all is well.
Anyway, I get there and check in and since I did not have a headshot (I am out of my old ones) the person behind the desk "drew" a picture of me. Needless to say, for me, that set the tone of ridiculousness for the evening. When I was finally called in, I know I started out being really silly. I was wearing my GREAT Kabuki hat cuz my hair was going crazy earlier. Anyway, I'm riffing on random things then after a couple of minutes of playing with the director, I center myself and start my monologue. Unlike the last time I did it, this time I got a chuckle at the end. I know it still needs more polishing, but a laugh is a step in the right direction. Anyway, she tells me to read the sides for ACTRESS #1 (yea, I am asked to stay and read sides after watching about 6 actresses leave without being asked). She tells me to ignore the Kate side because she saw enough of that in my monologue and to focus on the other 2. Ok, no problem!
While I am out in the lobby going over my sides, I am asked to switch from Actress #1 to T-ANNE who is the stage manager, a comically racist black director, the arts fund manager for a cigarette company and a couple other roles. T-Anne has the opening monologue which talks about the state of regional theatre in America. It was awesome. I then combined a bunch of mannerisms for the director and pulled that out. I THINK I included a couple of "Oh no you dinnt" head motions in there. What is cool is that about 1/2 way through, the assistant was supposed to feed me a line, but she was silent, so when I looked over at her, her script was closed and she was just watching. I DID have the Multiculturalism orgasm on stage though...if you are going to do it, do it well and loud! =) Sadly, they did not have me pull out a Texas twang for Don the cigarette company financeer. When I finished I was told that I should hear something by Monday.
So that is how my audition went. It FELT like it went really well, I got some laughs and I got their attention in a positive way. Will it lead to a casting? Well, who knows in this business but it was a good audition experience for me, and really, isn't that what it is about at this point in time??
24 August 2009
The One Where Mel Gets Hurt (Audition 14)
I really wish I had good news to report, like getting a callback or actually booking a role, but alas, the search continues. Such is the life of a new actress. On that note, if anyone knows of a book or a way I can learn more theatre history, I am looking for info to expand my knowledge base.
Friday was an audition for the Rising Stars Theatre Company's production of "The Music Man." I am still trying to decide if it is better to go on the first day or the last day of an audition. Any suggestions? This was the first day of the adult audition because I could not make it to Sunday's day 2.
Anyway, they did the dance portion first, which is odd, because normally the dance portion is last. But that is ok, it was fun. I really wonder how I look when I dance. Anyway, we learned the routine, then they had us learn a variation on a grapevine. Then they asked if any of the ladies was willing to do 2 chenay (I know I spelled it wrong) turns into a cartwheel. I can do a left cartwheel just fine, the right was rough, but so was everyones. It did not help my shirt flew up, exposing my bra. Oops. Then they wanted to see the ladies do a lift. Uhm, can I pass on that one? I mean, I am as tall as the tallest of the 2 guys that was there. But Val, the choreographer said if Cyd Charisse could do lifts and be tall, then so could I. Needless to say, Cyd Charisse was 5'7" tall, while I clock in somewhere in the vicinity of 6'0". But I gamely went up to do it. Well, I turn in, put my arm around my partners shoulders, kick and as we are going around we both hear this loud "POP" come from my left shoulder. It stings a bit, but it is moving so it is not dislocated, so I don't draw any extra attention to it then what has already been given. We then had to dance the Cakewalk, and she partnered me with the lighting designer who was there as a partner, who was waaay shorter than me, and in 2 people forgot she had me go! After that, we were done sooner than expected and silly me started making nice. Maybe that is my downfall, I talk to people (including the choreographers and auditors) not asking how I did, but their experience with the group and what they like.
Finally it was on to the next room. UGH, all I am going to say is UGH! How mean is it to give Alto's a song for Soprano's...and high Soprano's at that! They made us all sing "Til There Was You"...the part at the very end that was harmony between Marion and Harold. So the guys had it good. But, I'm an Alto with some Mezzo notes and the top notes for this song were waaaaay outta my range. But we practiced it about 4 times before we had to sing it. Two couples went and then it was my turn. I said there was no way I could hit most of those notes, because I am an Alto and asked if they had it transposed or a different song I could sing. They had it transposed and I got to hear it 2x before I got to sing it. The first time, I messed up on the last note and a note in between. Second time, I got it. I'm not going to say I nailed it because I did not get a callback, but I am happy with how I did with the time I was given.
Lastly we were asked to line up in 2 lines and one line had to take a line from the script (on a sheet of paper) and a way to read it and deliver the line and the other persons job was to react or not. This part was fun. I had "Super Sarcastic" and "Deep South" as my to line deliveries. Oh, it was a blast!!!
Granted, the next day my shoulder hurt like a son-of-a and I am pretty sure I popped a tendon cuz it STILL hurts (it is Monday), but I had a good time. Now, if I could maybe PLEASE see a positive result of all these auditions, I would be in 7th Heaven......
Friday was an audition for the Rising Stars Theatre Company's production of "The Music Man." I am still trying to decide if it is better to go on the first day or the last day of an audition. Any suggestions? This was the first day of the adult audition because I could not make it to Sunday's day 2.
Anyway, they did the dance portion first, which is odd, because normally the dance portion is last. But that is ok, it was fun. I really wonder how I look when I dance. Anyway, we learned the routine, then they had us learn a variation on a grapevine. Then they asked if any of the ladies was willing to do 2 chenay (I know I spelled it wrong) turns into a cartwheel. I can do a left cartwheel just fine, the right was rough, but so was everyones. It did not help my shirt flew up, exposing my bra. Oops. Then they wanted to see the ladies do a lift. Uhm, can I pass on that one? I mean, I am as tall as the tallest of the 2 guys that was there. But Val, the choreographer said if Cyd Charisse could do lifts and be tall, then so could I. Needless to say, Cyd Charisse was 5'7" tall, while I clock in somewhere in the vicinity of 6'0". But I gamely went up to do it. Well, I turn in, put my arm around my partners shoulders, kick and as we are going around we both hear this loud "POP" come from my left shoulder. It stings a bit, but it is moving so it is not dislocated, so I don't draw any extra attention to it then what has already been given. We then had to dance the Cakewalk, and she partnered me with the lighting designer who was there as a partner, who was waaay shorter than me, and in 2 people forgot she had me go! After that, we were done sooner than expected and silly me started making nice. Maybe that is my downfall, I talk to people (including the choreographers and auditors) not asking how I did, but their experience with the group and what they like.
Finally it was on to the next room. UGH, all I am going to say is UGH! How mean is it to give Alto's a song for Soprano's...and high Soprano's at that! They made us all sing "Til There Was You"...the part at the very end that was harmony between Marion and Harold. So the guys had it good. But, I'm an Alto with some Mezzo notes and the top notes for this song were waaaaay outta my range. But we practiced it about 4 times before we had to sing it. Two couples went and then it was my turn. I said there was no way I could hit most of those notes, because I am an Alto and asked if they had it transposed or a different song I could sing. They had it transposed and I got to hear it 2x before I got to sing it. The first time, I messed up on the last note and a note in between. Second time, I got it. I'm not going to say I nailed it because I did not get a callback, but I am happy with how I did with the time I was given.
Lastly we were asked to line up in 2 lines and one line had to take a line from the script (on a sheet of paper) and a way to read it and deliver the line and the other persons job was to react or not. This part was fun. I had "Super Sarcastic" and "Deep South" as my to line deliveries. Oh, it was a blast!!!
Granted, the next day my shoulder hurt like a son-of-a and I am pretty sure I popped a tendon cuz it STILL hurts (it is Monday), but I had a good time. Now, if I could maybe PLEASE see a positive result of all these auditions, I would be in 7th Heaven......
21 August 2009
All of....THIS...makes me stronger....
I have to keep reminding myself that an actors life is one of getting rejected before you finally get a foot in. And hopefully, once I get a foot in somewhere in town, it will open up other opportunities. And that I have really only been serious about seriously pursuing this for 3 months, which in the grand scheme of things is not very long.
But, wouldn't it be nice to at least get an ENSEMBLE part to make it all worth it??
Thursday night, I was out walking a friends dog and came back to a message on my phone asking me to call XXX from XYZ theatre guild. This was the group doing LITTLE SHOP, and I had not been called for a callback and was not really expecting anything because a) I'm not a soprano so not an Audrey and b) I'm not black so not an urchin. But the message made it seem like it was important for me to call him back, so trying not to be too excited I did, only to be told "Thanks for auditioning, but we cannot use you at this time, please audition for us again in the future." Uhm....if that was ALL you were going to tell me, couldn't you have PLEASE done it on the message instead of raising my hopes a wee small bit??
But, not getting that did not hurt because I had found a part I REALLY wanted, that was the first thing that actually felt like a good "fit" to my skills and strengths as a performer. And they told us calls would be Thursday and Friday regarding casting and the vibe I had gotten from the director made it SEEM like they liked what I did. Sooo...I open my e-mail today at work and discover a "Thank You but No" e-mail from them. I know I did good, other people auditioning actually told me so after I read for the character and they did not say much to people.
I have to remember that this is not a knock on me. Maybe I am too tall for the directors vision, someone else may have been better, looked more like the actor cast to be the characters brother, who KNOWS what variable there is. I KNOW I am on the right track though and I KNOW that 13 auditions is not that many in the grand scheme of things. I just want a little verification that I am on the right track and that I do have some talent for my dream.
Ok, I have to go familiarize myself with "Til There Was You" for tonites audition. They are teaching it to us, they do not want us to have it prepared (which is good, cuz it is SO out of my range) and keep hunting and auditioning. I am NOT giving up!!
OH---and my great photographer, Gretchen Kelley, is using my headshot in her online portfolio! Check her out! GretchenKelleyPhotography.com and then look in the headshot gallery. Can you find me by my eyes??
But, wouldn't it be nice to at least get an ENSEMBLE part to make it all worth it??
Thursday night, I was out walking a friends dog and came back to a message on my phone asking me to call XXX from XYZ theatre guild. This was the group doing LITTLE SHOP, and I had not been called for a callback and was not really expecting anything because a) I'm not a soprano so not an Audrey and b) I'm not black so not an urchin. But the message made it seem like it was important for me to call him back, so trying not to be too excited I did, only to be told "Thanks for auditioning, but we cannot use you at this time, please audition for us again in the future." Uhm....if that was ALL you were going to tell me, couldn't you have PLEASE done it on the message instead of raising my hopes a wee small bit??
But, not getting that did not hurt because I had found a part I REALLY wanted, that was the first thing that actually felt like a good "fit" to my skills and strengths as a performer. And they told us calls would be Thursday and Friday regarding casting and the vibe I had gotten from the director made it SEEM like they liked what I did. Sooo...I open my e-mail today at work and discover a "Thank You but No" e-mail from them. I know I did good, other people auditioning actually told me so after I read for the character and they did not say much to people.
I have to remember that this is not a knock on me. Maybe I am too tall for the directors vision, someone else may have been better, looked more like the actor cast to be the characters brother, who KNOWS what variable there is. I KNOW I am on the right track though and I KNOW that 13 auditions is not that many in the grand scheme of things. I just want a little verification that I am on the right track and that I do have some talent for my dream.
Ok, I have to go familiarize myself with "Til There Was You" for tonites audition. They are teaching it to us, they do not want us to have it prepared (which is good, cuz it is SO out of my range) and keep hunting and auditioning. I am NOT giving up!!
OH---and my great photographer, Gretchen Kelley, is using my headshot in her online portfolio! Check her out! GretchenKelleyPhotography.com and then look in the headshot gallery. Can you find me by my eyes??
18 August 2009
#13 and the fact that I realized some things today.
Today was lucky audition #13. It was in the Equity offices (eep) for the Marriott Theatre. They had the Equity call yesterday and today was the non-Equity call. Once again, I ran into someone I had met at a previous audition who was cast in the show we auditioned for. Oh well, this IS only my 13th audition after all. I came in and they noticed I was nervous and told me not to be. I tried, but my voice is a little tired from singing "Losing My Mind" as many times as I have over the past 3 days. So of course, the note that I was stressing over was a bit...off...and of course I reached for my throat like an idiot. I was soft at the beginning, but at the key change I let it rip a bit, once again, not as much as I have in the past. All in all, it was a good experience, I cannot tell you what I am taking from it other than to make sure I do a very good warm-up before leaving my house, especially if I don't drive and do it in the car. And to not over think.
In other things, I realized as I was walking today that this is really the first time I have really buckled down to pursue my dream. In college I did not have the confidence in myself and let certain family members talk me out of studying it and doing something a bit more practical. Then in Orlando, I started to go on some auditions and made a slight attempt at getting an agent and taking classes, but I was focused on getting my degree and when I worked at Disney, I mostly worked nights, so I used that as an excuse to not do more than a few general auditions. In the past, what, 2 months (?) I have been on 13 auditions. 13! I have had new headshots taken, I am sending thank you cards out to every director I audition for within 24 hours of the audition and I am taking voice and acting lessons and taking them seriously. I am actively looking for dance classes that I can afford that fit into my schedule. I WANT to, nay, NEED to do this!! And while I have yet to be cast in anything, which I could let bring me down based on the people I know who have been cast their first time out, I have to remember different markets, different bodies, different experiences and let it go at that. I do know that my voice is stronger, I am getting better at cold readings and my nerves come and go.
Finally, I know it is bad to want, but more than any other audition I have been on, I really hope to be cast in the one I went on last night. It is one of my favorite books of all time and I have 2 versions of it on DVD. I don't want to hope too much, but it would be grand....
In other things, I realized as I was walking today that this is really the first time I have really buckled down to pursue my dream. In college I did not have the confidence in myself and let certain family members talk me out of studying it and doing something a bit more practical. Then in Orlando, I started to go on some auditions and made a slight attempt at getting an agent and taking classes, but I was focused on getting my degree and when I worked at Disney, I mostly worked nights, so I used that as an excuse to not do more than a few general auditions. In the past, what, 2 months (?) I have been on 13 auditions. 13! I have had new headshots taken, I am sending thank you cards out to every director I audition for within 24 hours of the audition and I am taking voice and acting lessons and taking them seriously. I am actively looking for dance classes that I can afford that fit into my schedule. I WANT to, nay, NEED to do this!! And while I have yet to be cast in anything, which I could let bring me down based on the people I know who have been cast their first time out, I have to remember different markets, different bodies, different experiences and let it go at that. I do know that my voice is stronger, I am getting better at cold readings and my nerves come and go.
Finally, I know it is bad to want, but more than any other audition I have been on, I really hope to be cast in the one I went on last night. It is one of my favorite books of all time and I have 2 versions of it on DVD. I don't want to hope too much, but it would be grand....
17 August 2009
Auditions 11 and 12
What a morning and what a super fun day!
This morning I had an audition at Lou Conti dance studios. Have I mentioned that I believe THIS is where I want to take dance classes?? Anyway, the tour was for a company that does non-Equity tours and they were casting for 2 new tours and replacements for what they currently have out there...even though only one of the new tours was announced to get talent. So I ELevate my happy bottom there and am #132! Full house today people!! I find an isolated corner to do my vocal warm-ups and patiently await my turn. While sitting there, I see the choreographer from last night's audition and take a moment to tell him that his audition routine was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed it, especially once I got it (mostly) down! Then back to my corner. Finally it is time to get in line. I am hoping the highest note of the song is there for me as I am feeling a bit congested in the chest and rough in the throat. I go in and sing it, hitting a familiar rough patch in tempo with piano, but I think I figured it out for the next audition and hit the note. It seemed I hit it anyway. After I finish, the casting director asks me to wait a second and leaves the room. The auditor doesn't know if I am done or not so I get my music and wait in a confused state. She finally tells me that he is not feeling well and I am done for the day and that I did a great job. Those were her exact words "You did a great job." It made me feel really good! It was also cool that I ran into some people from the last RENT audition I did who were cast and able to tell me some of the cast. It was kind of cool to be able to recognize a couple of faces!
I had a break between that audition and the next one, so I thought I would walk to the main library in Chicago and browse the stacks. I know, I am SUCH a nerd! Except, for some reason, the library was closed. BOO!! So, home to chill.
Then it was off to my 2nd audition of the day and my 4th in 2 days! This time I was headed out to Elmhurst, another church basement, and an audition for Pride & Prejudice! I am a bit shocked. They are doing 3 days of auditions, had around 20 people there (mostly girls trying out for Lizzie) and they are NOT doing callbacks! WTH!! I would have thought they would have liked to see the Lizzie/Darcy's and Mr and Mrs Bennet's and other combinations in person before casting and comparing apples to apples (lizzie finalists to lizzie finalists) before the final casting is done, but ....
I was not down there for Lizzie, although I did have fun when asked to read a scene as Jane. I am so not a Jane, but it was fun to play! No, I went down there for Miss Caroline Bingley. And I had fun reading here. It was a LOOONG audition though, because they combined almost everyone for the different scenes. So all the young guys had to read Darcy and Mr. Collins with a girl (3 guys total). The gentleman there for Mr. Bennet had to read with the 5 women there for Mrs. and Lady Catherine. I asked to read Lady Catherine because I thought I could bring something the other ladies (who almost all read it exactly the same) could not. I threw in Maleficent's haughtiness and manner of looking down the nose into it. It was fun and I got a couple of thumbs up.
Who knows if I will get anything out of these. All I know is I tried, worked on my cold reading and singing in front of someone, both skills that I am working on getting better on. And I had FUN!
This morning I had an audition at Lou Conti dance studios. Have I mentioned that I believe THIS is where I want to take dance classes?? Anyway, the tour was for a company that does non-Equity tours and they were casting for 2 new tours and replacements for what they currently have out there...even though only one of the new tours was announced to get talent. So I ELevate my happy bottom there and am #132! Full house today people!! I find an isolated corner to do my vocal warm-ups and patiently await my turn. While sitting there, I see the choreographer from last night's audition and take a moment to tell him that his audition routine was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed it, especially once I got it (mostly) down! Then back to my corner. Finally it is time to get in line. I am hoping the highest note of the song is there for me as I am feeling a bit congested in the chest and rough in the throat. I go in and sing it, hitting a familiar rough patch in tempo with piano, but I think I figured it out for the next audition and hit the note. It seemed I hit it anyway. After I finish, the casting director asks me to wait a second and leaves the room. The auditor doesn't know if I am done or not so I get my music and wait in a confused state. She finally tells me that he is not feeling well and I am done for the day and that I did a great job. Those were her exact words "You did a great job." It made me feel really good! It was also cool that I ran into some people from the last RENT audition I did who were cast and able to tell me some of the cast. It was kind of cool to be able to recognize a couple of faces!
I had a break between that audition and the next one, so I thought I would walk to the main library in Chicago and browse the stacks. I know, I am SUCH a nerd! Except, for some reason, the library was closed. BOO!! So, home to chill.
Then it was off to my 2nd audition of the day and my 4th in 2 days! This time I was headed out to Elmhurst, another church basement, and an audition for Pride & Prejudice! I am a bit shocked. They are doing 3 days of auditions, had around 20 people there (mostly girls trying out for Lizzie) and they are NOT doing callbacks! WTH!! I would have thought they would have liked to see the Lizzie/Darcy's and Mr and Mrs Bennet's and other combinations in person before casting and comparing apples to apples (lizzie finalists to lizzie finalists) before the final casting is done, but ....
I was not down there for Lizzie, although I did have fun when asked to read a scene as Jane. I am so not a Jane, but it was fun to play! No, I went down there for Miss Caroline Bingley. And I had fun reading here. It was a LOOONG audition though, because they combined almost everyone for the different scenes. So all the young guys had to read Darcy and Mr. Collins with a girl (3 guys total). The gentleman there for Mr. Bennet had to read with the 5 women there for Mrs. and Lady Catherine. I asked to read Lady Catherine because I thought I could bring something the other ladies (who almost all read it exactly the same) could not. I threw in Maleficent's haughtiness and manner of looking down the nose into it. It was fun and I got a couple of thumbs up.
Who knows if I will get anything out of these. All I know is I tried, worked on my cold reading and singing in front of someone, both skills that I am working on getting better on. And I had FUN!
16 August 2009
Is this LITTLE SHOP in the mood for COMPANY?? (Auditions #9 & 10)
Today was the day I have been working toward for 3 weeks, the audition I needed to learn my first ever Sondheim piece for....COMPANY! I saw this show in New Orleans and love it. I realize that I am too young for what I want to play and do not have the voice for the other roles I enjoy, but it doesn't hurt to audition, right?
So, I finish up at the Gluten Free Cooking Expo at 1, put on my audition outfit and makeup and try to find Glen Ellyn. I get out there, the theatre is a tiny, old building and they are redoing the floors upstairs, so we go down to the basement greenroom, they welcome us, tell us the plan and then usher all but the first 5 outside to wait, because there is no place else. We are outside about 45 minutes and the heavens open up. Thankfully, a couple people brought their cars around, so I go and wait my turn in one of them. I'm in the 3rd group of 5, so I go in and am the 2nd person to sing. My song is "Losing My Mind" from Follies. It felt like I did really good. I might have had a rough note and I know my tempo was probably a bit off, but to me, it seems like this song is really about the feel and the emotion. I did my best dang it!! After everyone sang, they brought us in to read and I was asked to read for Kathy. Cool, don't think I could sing her song, but lets do her lines! It felt good to me. Lastly was a dance combination, that I got and I thought I did ok on. We finished, thank yous were said and I was off.
On to Oak Lawn for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. I really do not think that there is anything in this show for me, but I was going to go audition anyway. First off, they auditioned for this show in a church. I was checking to make sure I wasn't gonna get hit! Second, wrong song for the accompanist. It didn't sound pretty at all! It didn't help that the piano was SERIOUSLY out of tune and I need to hear something approximating my pitches to be on sooo..... Then it was sitting around listening to the rest of the auditionees sing before they sent us off to learn the routine, which was super cute and super fun! While we were learning the routine, they would call people in to read sides. I was called in with 3 other girls and asked to flip between the 3 urchins and Audrey....so we read the scene 4 times! It was fun to do it and even though I am not young and black, I thought I did a good job! And the dance was a blast to actually do, once my feet got it down!
Came home and when I checked my Google Mail, the "Thank You, but NO" note from the group doing COMPANY was already in my inbox. *sigh*
Ok, I have good and bad from each, REALLY need more time with this song and I need an uptempo...and dance lessons! On the other hand, my acting feels like it is getting stronger and I am hearing the good in my voice when singing. Focus on the positives!!!
So, I finish up at the Gluten Free Cooking Expo at 1, put on my audition outfit and makeup and try to find Glen Ellyn. I get out there, the theatre is a tiny, old building and they are redoing the floors upstairs, so we go down to the basement greenroom, they welcome us, tell us the plan and then usher all but the first 5 outside to wait, because there is no place else. We are outside about 45 minutes and the heavens open up. Thankfully, a couple people brought their cars around, so I go and wait my turn in one of them. I'm in the 3rd group of 5, so I go in and am the 2nd person to sing. My song is "Losing My Mind" from Follies. It felt like I did really good. I might have had a rough note and I know my tempo was probably a bit off, but to me, it seems like this song is really about the feel and the emotion. I did my best dang it!! After everyone sang, they brought us in to read and I was asked to read for Kathy. Cool, don't think I could sing her song, but lets do her lines! It felt good to me. Lastly was a dance combination, that I got and I thought I did ok on. We finished, thank yous were said and I was off.
On to Oak Lawn for LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. I really do not think that there is anything in this show for me, but I was going to go audition anyway. First off, they auditioned for this show in a church. I was checking to make sure I wasn't gonna get hit! Second, wrong song for the accompanist. It didn't sound pretty at all! It didn't help that the piano was SERIOUSLY out of tune and I need to hear something approximating my pitches to be on sooo..... Then it was sitting around listening to the rest of the auditionees sing before they sent us off to learn the routine, which was super cute and super fun! While we were learning the routine, they would call people in to read sides. I was called in with 3 other girls and asked to flip between the 3 urchins and Audrey....so we read the scene 4 times! It was fun to do it and even though I am not young and black, I thought I did a good job! And the dance was a blast to actually do, once my feet got it down!
Came home and when I checked my Google Mail, the "Thank You, but NO" note from the group doing COMPANY was already in my inbox. *sigh*
Ok, I have good and bad from each, REALLY need more time with this song and I need an uptempo...and dance lessons! On the other hand, my acting feels like it is getting stronger and I am hearing the good in my voice when singing. Focus on the positives!!!
12 August 2009
Spring Awakening
Growing up with musicals starting and ending with a production number of some sort, when something does not do either, you sit up and take notice. Spring Awakening is one of those shows that demand your attention, both in how it is staged and the shows structure. You know a show has touched you when you are thinking about it 3 hours later.
The show opens with the teenage character Wendla (Christy Altomare) standing on a chair in her undergarments (it is set in the 1890's gents, so get your mind outta the gutter) singing "Mama Who Bore Me". The song, and the choreography, tell you that she does not know much about the changes going on inside of her or about sex. The next scene heightens that, when her mother tells her that a stork has brought her sister a 2nd child and Wendala asks her mother (Angela Reed, deptly portraying all of the Adult Women) to tell her where babies REALLY come from, and she cannot. All of the girls come out and reprise "Mama Who Bore Me" but this time all of the angst and frustration is poured into it. My eye was caught by one young actress and her passion, that I noticed in future scenes when she was not there with the other girls. The actress playing Ilse (Steffi D) has a very strong magnetism and does a great job in this role.
Seriously, I could go on and on and tell you the plot and all of that, but....that's what Wikipedia and the internet is for! This show dealt with sexual awareness, masturbation, wet dreams, suicide, abuse, parental sexual abuse, abortion, homosexuality....I mean, is it any wonder that my brain is spinning?? And instead of ending with a bang, it ended with a whisper. Haunting you, challenging you to forget what you saw.
The cast was good, but surprisingly, I felt the supporting cast was stronger than the leads. Along with Steffi D and Angela Reed, Blake Bashoff as Moritz stood out and the moment when Henry Stram as The Adult Men broke down, my heart just about broke open. I also LOVED Sarah Hunt as Martha. Maybe it was because she towered over the other girls, or watching her wipe her eyes when she was sitting on the side after "The Dark I Know Well" but I LOVED HER!
The stage was AWESOME, with different pictures and set pieces on the wall lit up to show the different rooms that the scene was taking place in. The set pieces themselves were minimal, but perfect. The lighting was brilliant and I see why it won a TONY award. I just hate that sometimes the tech theatre geek in me wanted to figure out things and let part of my brain detach to do so.
Totally awesome, so worth the money and the time and still haunting me. SPRING AWAKENING is a must see if it comes near you!
Only reason I say just about is because
The show opens with the teenage character Wendla (Christy Altomare) standing on a chair in her undergarments (it is set in the 1890's gents, so get your mind outta the gutter) singing "Mama Who Bore Me". The song, and the choreography, tell you that she does not know much about the changes going on inside of her or about sex. The next scene heightens that, when her mother tells her that a stork has brought her sister a 2nd child and Wendala asks her mother (Angela Reed, deptly portraying all of the Adult Women) to tell her where babies REALLY come from, and she cannot. All of the girls come out and reprise "Mama Who Bore Me" but this time all of the angst and frustration is poured into it. My eye was caught by one young actress and her passion, that I noticed in future scenes when she was not there with the other girls. The actress playing Ilse (Steffi D) has a very strong magnetism and does a great job in this role.
Seriously, I could go on and on and tell you the plot and all of that, but....that's what Wikipedia and the internet is for! This show dealt with sexual awareness, masturbation, wet dreams, suicide, abuse, parental sexual abuse, abortion, homosexuality....I mean, is it any wonder that my brain is spinning?? And instead of ending with a bang, it ended with a whisper. Haunting you, challenging you to forget what you saw.
The cast was good, but surprisingly, I felt the supporting cast was stronger than the leads. Along with Steffi D and Angela Reed, Blake Bashoff as Moritz stood out and the moment when Henry Stram as The Adult Men broke down, my heart just about broke open. I also LOVED Sarah Hunt as Martha. Maybe it was because she towered over the other girls, or watching her wipe her eyes when she was sitting on the side after "The Dark I Know Well" but I LOVED HER!
The stage was AWESOME, with different pictures and set pieces on the wall lit up to show the different rooms that the scene was taking place in. The set pieces themselves were minimal, but perfect. The lighting was brilliant and I see why it won a TONY award. I just hate that sometimes the tech theatre geek in me wanted to figure out things and let part of my brain detach to do so.
Totally awesome, so worth the money and the time and still haunting me. SPRING AWAKENING is a must see if it comes near you!
Only reason I say just about is because
10 August 2009
Audition #8 or I Want To Play Mean Green
Today I had a choice between 3 auditions, and there was no way I could have hit them all up, so I had to choose. The straight play in Oak Park was shot down because I do not have 2 monologues ready to go right now, but I think I found a 2nd one today.
The 2nd option was MAN OF LA MANCHA in Downers Grove and option 3 was WIZARD of OZ in Highland Park. After looking at the distance to each and realizing that to get to Downers Grove I would have to pay tolls, Highland Park and WIZARD won.
So I headed out there, wearing green and black, and it was closer than I thought. I was #19 (they only had 20 ppl tonite) and they brought 8 of us into the room. First time doing an audition with people other than the casting directors in the room. I was the last one, and after awhile I felt short of breath and like I was forgetting my lyrics. Oh--I was singing "Not That Girl" again. My Sondheim song is not audition ready yet. Anyway -- I was the last one to go and I joked that I was foreshadowing what I was auditioning for by my choice of song and wardrobe selection. I took a deep breath and started. I don't think my nerves showed, I HOPE they did not, but I knew as the song went on my right leg started shaking and I was so focused on my singing that I was not going to waste any energy trying to get it to stop. Oh, and it was the best audition with that song I have done so far!
I got done and then they started calling people up to read. An older woman got up to read with one of the girls auditioning for Dorthy and they had her do Aunt Em and then they switched to someone to play Glinda and she did Big Green. Well, she did the stereotypical "Witch" (rough voice, hunched over). Surprise, surprise, I was next. I was not going to do the same thing...what would be the point, they already saw that. So, I pulled myself up to my full 6'0", realized that I was towering over Glinda....and then combined Maleficent with the White Witch from Narnia (Tilda Swinton's amazing performance). I kept my voice, and played with levels in my voice...switching between being cajoling and calm to being a little bit meaner and harsher...but not making the tone of my voice raspy or harsh. I really don't know how that part went...it felt pretty good, but...
Finally it was the dance portion of the audition. The music was on a tape (!), so there was not an accurate cuing system and it was to the "jitterbug" number. Ok, it was fun!! I struggled with some of the transitions because they felt a little awkward to me, but I think I did ok.
So now I wait. If they have callbacks, they will be on Thursday and the cast list is available via call-in on Saturday afternoon. I'm not going to dwell on it, cuz I have 2 auditions on Sunday and a couple more on Monday.
Just keep auditioning and see you in the footlights!
The 2nd option was MAN OF LA MANCHA in Downers Grove and option 3 was WIZARD of OZ in Highland Park. After looking at the distance to each and realizing that to get to Downers Grove I would have to pay tolls, Highland Park and WIZARD won.
So I headed out there, wearing green and black, and it was closer than I thought. I was #19 (they only had 20 ppl tonite) and they brought 8 of us into the room. First time doing an audition with people other than the casting directors in the room. I was the last one, and after awhile I felt short of breath and like I was forgetting my lyrics. Oh--I was singing "Not That Girl" again. My Sondheim song is not audition ready yet. Anyway -- I was the last one to go and I joked that I was foreshadowing what I was auditioning for by my choice of song and wardrobe selection. I took a deep breath and started. I don't think my nerves showed, I HOPE they did not, but I knew as the song went on my right leg started shaking and I was so focused on my singing that I was not going to waste any energy trying to get it to stop. Oh, and it was the best audition with that song I have done so far!
I got done and then they started calling people up to read. An older woman got up to read with one of the girls auditioning for Dorthy and they had her do Aunt Em and then they switched to someone to play Glinda and she did Big Green. Well, she did the stereotypical "Witch" (rough voice, hunched over). Surprise, surprise, I was next. I was not going to do the same thing...what would be the point, they already saw that. So, I pulled myself up to my full 6'0", realized that I was towering over Glinda....and then combined Maleficent with the White Witch from Narnia (Tilda Swinton's amazing performance). I kept my voice, and played with levels in my voice...switching between being cajoling and calm to being a little bit meaner and harsher...but not making the tone of my voice raspy or harsh. I really don't know how that part went...it felt pretty good, but...
Finally it was the dance portion of the audition. The music was on a tape (!), so there was not an accurate cuing system and it was to the "jitterbug" number. Ok, it was fun!! I struggled with some of the transitions because they felt a little awkward to me, but I think I did ok.
So now I wait. If they have callbacks, they will be on Thursday and the cast list is available via call-in on Saturday afternoon. I'm not going to dwell on it, cuz I have 2 auditions on Sunday and a couple more on Monday.
Just keep auditioning and see you in the footlights!
06 August 2009
Oh, What a Week!!!! (and Audition 7)
I am really trying to figure out where to begin with this week. It is Thursday and it has been a week....and I got some great news today and I can't think of anyone I want to call to tell, but I want to call SOMEONE! Hope whomever reads this blog does not mind that I tell you!
Monday was super crazy at work, with showing after showing and the phone not being quiet! I hope many of the people I showed all week come back to sign, but, I don't push them cuz where you live for a year is really based on how the space speaks to you. Oooh....that was kind of deep. The crazy-hectic-ness was followed by a trip back out to Oak Park to audition for the Village Players again, this time for a non-singing show--"You Can't Take It With You." I found a monologue I like but for some reason the words did not want to come into my body, no matter how much I worked on it. I finally got them on the drive to the audition and thankfully I was early so I could run it several times before I auditioned. I have read this play and I would have loved to have been a part of it, but I still need to work on my auditioning skills, so......it was fun! I also ran into someone from my Disney past, which was cool. This guy came out of "Sunday In The Park" rehearsals and looks at me and goes "Mel!?!?? I used to be your roommate in Orlando." Yea, I had to have him identify myself cuz I so totally could not ID him, but WOW. He was dating one of my roommates at one point in time and after he graduated, he ended up in Chicago. For some reason "It's a Small World" kept running through my head after that! =)
Tuesday was my last class of the summer session at the Piven Theatre Workshop. I have loved taking class from Bernie and it has been such an eye-opening experience working with him. I want to take everything I have learned from this level 1 class and use it and grow and become that much better of a performer! Of course, the day could not be without its drama. I have had someone that I met at an audition staying with me the beginning of the week and when I dropped her off at my place of employment today I told her that if she got done with her friends and wanted to go to class with me, to meet me at work. At 6:45, when I was done with work, I check my phone and she told me that she was waiting at my apartment building. (I don't know her from Sam, so I did not give her apartment keys). Well..it was my LAST CLASS and I was NOT going to be late! I am trying to stay on scholarship there and hopefully go from 50% to a 75% or 100% scholarship for the fall term, so being late was not an option and if I went home to pick her up I would have been SOOO late! So I told her to go hang at the library and BORDERS and whatnot and I would be home around 11pm. Was it a bit mean? Probably. But she had stayed with me about 2 weeks ago and made me late for that class when she was not where she said she would be when she said she would be there. I learn from my mistakes. OHOHOHOHOHOH---fyi, she came to town with NO MONEY and A NON-WORKING CELL PHONE! Can you understand why there were issues??
Wednesday, man I am trying to remember Wednesday. The morning started out calm at work, but the afternoon was hella-crazy busy. And full of silly-stupid people. One guy brought his 5 sons (5!!!!!!!!!) to look at a studio apartment for 1 of them! OMG!!! And I probably spent an hour 45 with another guy between 2 appointments--if he does not rent from us, I am going to be peeved!!! Oh, and I learned that ferrets poo in corners and that large piles of it STINK!! Why do people not clean up after their pets??????
Thursday was a sloooooow day at work. Like super super slow. Made me wonder what was up. Had my voice lesson, LOVE my voice teacher. She has given me some pretty cool assignments to help me dig into the song I am singing ("Losing My Mind" from FOLLIES) and I love every lesson. She makes me want to work harder to get better and I am hearing a difference in my voice already. It is not constant yet, but it is getting there.
The big news happened when I got home. I opened my mailbox and found this letter:
"Dear Melissa,
Congratulations! This letter serves as confirmation that the Board of Directors of the Piven Theater Workshop has granted you a 100% scholarship to be applied towards one class per session for the 09-10 fiscal year.
Your scholarship includes a commitment of 10 hours of work (that's it??), outside of your class, for the Workshop. This could include assisting in the class you will be taking, ushering for productions, mailings, etc.
(paragraph about how to register)
We are pleased that you have chosen to study at the Piven Theater Workshop and we look forward to building a relationship with you."
OMFG!!!! Ok, I have been debating the last couple of weeks if I was doing the right thing, if people were blowing smoke up my ass about my talent, if I was crazy to think I could do this, being a bit depressed cuz I have not been cast yet (I know, the number of auditions is REALLY low, but sometimes you want to see results). My voice lesson today and this letter totally confirmed everything!!!! Sometimes fate aligns just right and you are actually in the right place at the right time for once.
Monday was super crazy at work, with showing after showing and the phone not being quiet! I hope many of the people I showed all week come back to sign, but, I don't push them cuz where you live for a year is really based on how the space speaks to you. Oooh....that was kind of deep. The crazy-hectic-ness was followed by a trip back out to Oak Park to audition for the Village Players again, this time for a non-singing show--"You Can't Take It With You." I found a monologue I like but for some reason the words did not want to come into my body, no matter how much I worked on it. I finally got them on the drive to the audition and thankfully I was early so I could run it several times before I auditioned. I have read this play and I would have loved to have been a part of it, but I still need to work on my auditioning skills, so......it was fun! I also ran into someone from my Disney past, which was cool. This guy came out of "Sunday In The Park" rehearsals and looks at me and goes "Mel!?!?? I used to be your roommate in Orlando." Yea, I had to have him identify myself cuz I so totally could not ID him, but WOW. He was dating one of my roommates at one point in time and after he graduated, he ended up in Chicago. For some reason "It's a Small World" kept running through my head after that! =)
Tuesday was my last class of the summer session at the Piven Theatre Workshop. I have loved taking class from Bernie and it has been such an eye-opening experience working with him. I want to take everything I have learned from this level 1 class and use it and grow and become that much better of a performer! Of course, the day could not be without its drama. I have had someone that I met at an audition staying with me the beginning of the week and when I dropped her off at my place of employment today I told her that if she got done with her friends and wanted to go to class with me, to meet me at work. At 6:45, when I was done with work, I check my phone and she told me that she was waiting at my apartment building. (I don't know her from Sam, so I did not give her apartment keys). Well..it was my LAST CLASS and I was NOT going to be late! I am trying to stay on scholarship there and hopefully go from 50% to a 75% or 100% scholarship for the fall term, so being late was not an option and if I went home to pick her up I would have been SOOO late! So I told her to go hang at the library and BORDERS and whatnot and I would be home around 11pm. Was it a bit mean? Probably. But she had stayed with me about 2 weeks ago and made me late for that class when she was not where she said she would be when she said she would be there. I learn from my mistakes. OHOHOHOHOHOH---fyi, she came to town with NO MONEY and A NON-WORKING CELL PHONE! Can you understand why there were issues??
Wednesday, man I am trying to remember Wednesday. The morning started out calm at work, but the afternoon was hella-crazy busy. And full of silly-stupid people. One guy brought his 5 sons (5!!!!!!!!!) to look at a studio apartment for 1 of them! OMG!!! And I probably spent an hour 45 with another guy between 2 appointments--if he does not rent from us, I am going to be peeved!!! Oh, and I learned that ferrets poo in corners and that large piles of it STINK!! Why do people not clean up after their pets??????
Thursday was a sloooooow day at work. Like super super slow. Made me wonder what was up. Had my voice lesson, LOVE my voice teacher. She has given me some pretty cool assignments to help me dig into the song I am singing ("Losing My Mind" from FOLLIES) and I love every lesson. She makes me want to work harder to get better and I am hearing a difference in my voice already. It is not constant yet, but it is getting there.
The big news happened when I got home. I opened my mailbox and found this letter:
"Dear Melissa,
Congratulations! This letter serves as confirmation that the Board of Directors of the Piven Theater Workshop has granted you a 100% scholarship to be applied towards one class per session for the 09-10 fiscal year.
Your scholarship includes a commitment of 10 hours of work (that's it??), outside of your class, for the Workshop. This could include assisting in the class you will be taking, ushering for productions, mailings, etc.
(paragraph about how to register)
We are pleased that you have chosen to study at the Piven Theater Workshop and we look forward to building a relationship with you."
OMFG!!!! Ok, I have been debating the last couple of weeks if I was doing the right thing, if people were blowing smoke up my ass about my talent, if I was crazy to think I could do this, being a bit depressed cuz I have not been cast yet (I know, the number of auditions is REALLY low, but sometimes you want to see results). My voice lesson today and this letter totally confirmed everything!!!! Sometimes fate aligns just right and you are actually in the right place at the right time for once.
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