2 Shows and 3 Auditions Later...

Acting is a craft, it requires work and dedication and tenaciouness. There are few other industries where you face rejection on a regular basis and yet you still get up and bare your heart and soul in front of strangers in the strange hope that they like what they see enough to cast you in their next production so that you can pour yourself into the skin of somebody else and actually escape from who you are and all of your problems for a bit and take on someone elses -- and their problems are faced and dealt with and given some form of closure 2-3 hours later. If only life was that simple.

I guess I should start with the show news. When I auditioned for 12 ANGRY they were soliciting song titles to be considered for inclusion in their fall cabaret show, WHAT I DID FOR LOVE (which is also one of the best known songs from A CHORUS LINE). Of course I had song titles!! Most of mine were not from the happy, "i love you, life is good" variety. The songs that were excavted from my mental storage units were more along the lines of "love sucks, leave me alone, I'm alone" variety. Well, 3 of my top 4 were. My 4th song was just silly. My top 3 suggestions were "Being Alive" from COMPANY, "Not that Girl" from WICKED, and "Build Me a Wall"from SHREK. The fourth was "Love is Always Lovely" from THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. When speaking with the director, I had arguments for all of them, but was very passionate about why they needed to counter all the "happy love songs" and even the "really not that bitter" end of love songs with a song about why someone would be apprehensive about entering into a relationship and at the same time have longing for the things they are apprehensive about.

So....imagine my surprise when I walk into the first 12 ANGRY rehearsal and discover that they wanted me to sing "Being Alive" in WIDFL. Now, they have NEVER heard me sing! But they said that I was so passionate about it they wanted me to sing it. HOLY SHIZZ!!! So, working with 1/2 of the Dramatic Duo via e-mail on intention and acting the song and mambo blonde (voice) on the technique side for 2 weeks (had more of that for the show, but my voice school had a break), I put it into shape. This show was the first time, other than my Grandmother's funeral, that I sang a solo in front of people. EEP! I was also the ONLY person in the show that was brand new to the group! Everyone else has been involved with the troupe for at least 3 years. I think I did a pretty decent job. Video is posted on my FB page..there is room for improvement, but not a bad first time singing solo!!

12 AJ opens next week. It has been hard getting my brain back into it after having a week off for WIDFL. I now know all of my lines and pretty much have my cue lines down. I <3>

On to auditions!!
#1 was for the Drama Group production of FOOTLOOSE. I am the first person to say that I am NOT a big fan of this show, as I think the arrangements of songs I love from popular radio are weak at best. But I was begged by the AD to audition and many of my DG friends asked me if I was going to.....so I did. Normally, I will prepare a specific song for an audition, bu for this one, since I literally decided to attend the day of the audition, I walked in and said "these are the 2 songs I can sing for you. What do you want to hear?" Immediately they chose one because it was similar in style to what one of the mothers sang. No problem. Then off to learn the dance, which was fun and cheesy and, well, a bit 80's! But it was a blast and I even had a partner taller than me, so SCORE!! Finally, it was time for the cold reading. I was paired up with someone I would LOVE to work with to read Shaw and Vi. It. Was. Electric! The only other time I have had a reading this good was for COA. Sadly, every time the music director or assistant diretor would recommend they read me, the director would brush me off. Before we left, he went on a LOOOOOOONG rant about how if you have a lot of conflicts (hello, my Sept. w/the 2 Hale productions), then you should not even be auditioning. Pretty much knew right then and there that I was not cast, no matter how strong my audition was....and I was right.

#2 was for Oak Lawn and CABARET!!! I want to play Frau. Kost!! I think it is a great role. I worked on my German accent (which, with my bg you would think would come naturally), sadly did not work on my song as much as I would have liked, as the audition was the day after WIDFL closed and I was so focused on that (and I could not sing "Being" b/c that was learned and performed to a backing track and this was a w/piano audition) But I went in on the first day (never my favorite), sang my song, danced the dance (and bruised my right thigh from here to eternity)...was one of 3 asked to dance again(!) and for the first time I was one of 4 girls (out of about 15 there) who was asked to stay and sing again and one of 2 asked to sing for the role I wanted! WHEEEEEEEE!!! Seriously, I was waltzng on air. =) They had me sing Kost's song with someone. I missed the first high note b/c I tried to belt it, but the next time it came around I flipped into my head voice and nailed it!!!!! Sadly, I did not get the part and was not asked to read.... =( ..... but apparently only 1 person did read for the role, and from what I hear, she is also the only other person to sing for the character. The performer is a favorite with the group with an amazing voice, so....I'm focusing on the positives from the auition!!!

#3 was for JPAC and another straight play. It was a monologue audition (which I need help with for some reason) and I broke out a new old monologue (haven't touched it in a couple of years) as my last one was not working too well. Sadly, it took me forever to find it, so I did not have a lot of time to work it. Thankfully, my brain remembered it all! I got a laugh, which was a first so YEA and was asked to read a side, which was also a YEA. I did not get the show, but I gave a good audition and I am happy with it.

There is more coming up on the horizon. I'll keep you posted on life!!

It's Been Awhile

Wow, it has been a LOOOOOONG time since I wrote!

Let's see, CITY OF ANGELS with the Drama Group opened....and closed. I had lines and was so happy to get laughs with my lines. I learned how to smoke a cigar (ick) and made friends that I thought would last a while. Who knows what is going on there, you know? It's after a show....

The next adventure was with 99th Street Summer Theatre and being Reporter #1/Passenger in their production of ANYTHING GOES. It was an adventure, that is for sure. Not sure it is one I want to repeat, for reasons I will leave to myself, but I met some fantastic (and fantastically talented) people. All in all, it was an interesting way to spend the summer.

While that was going on, I auditioned for THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. I <3 that show and 1/2 of the Dramatic Duo encouraged me MONTHS ago to audition for Mrs. Tottendale, saying it would be a better fit than Chaperone (another character I love and dream of playing). I REALLY want to play Mrs. T. While I did not get THAT production of it, my spirits were lifted when I received an e-mail from the director informing me that I was 1 0f 2 that he felt horrible about not using. I take that as a good sign, right??

Then, I got my next adventure. Doing a straight drama. No music. Me and 11 other people on stage. 12 ANGRY JURORS. You know 12 ANGRY MEN? Well, this is the version with men and women, so there really is no difference other than we aren't all men. I am playing juror #12. Not a large role, but considering the director has never worked with me before and I am the only one where that is the case or he has not seen the person on stage, I consider it an honor to be cast at all. This show is going to be a challenge and I am looking forward to all that it brings!

Then today I had an audition that was just about perfect for me. It was for a new show titled ALIEN QUEEN. The show looks to be a spoof on the ALIEN/ALIENS movie (hello! I look like Sigourney Weaver) and uses the music of QUEEN, my all-time favorite group. Who knows how it went. I went in, sang a capella b/c the music did not arrive in time, read a Ripley scene, they said to read scene 2 to see where it went. I infused it with a little more anger/passion/fury/disgust. Then they asked me to sing one more song. Oh, the first song was "I Want to Break Free" and the second song was "Save Me." Like I said, who knows how it went. It was an audition, I went in, did my best, felt like I learned a little something and if anything comes from it GREAT, and if not...GREAT! =)

For now, I'm going to focus on being an angry juror! =)

Audition 4 -- I thought City of Angels was a movie!?!?!

Ok, actually that is not true. I have known that City of Angels was a musical since 1991 when Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps presented selections from the show as their on-field production. Granted, I did not rush out to purchase the CD after 91 & 92 when they repeated the show with some different selections, but I knew the basic premise of the show.

Fast forward to now....I know the audition is coming up, it is the one I have been hoping to get since MAME ended. Many thank to my Vats for making sure I had the CD on my iPod when I visited NOLA last summer so that I could learn to love the music. Since the audition called for a song from the show, I picked one out that I liked (It Needs Work), went to the library and made a copy of it and then started working on it with my new voice instructor.

A week before the audition, I was offered a part in the Adult Ensemble in OLIVER! (ie, Audition #3) OMG! 3 auditions in and I was offered a role!!! That is sooo much better than 21 auditions before a role. =) However, I asked them to wait because I had put so much time in prepping for CITY that I wanted to audition for that and the rehearsal days did not allow for overlap.

So...off to the audition. Should I mention that it was a BLIZZARD out?? Yea, the snow was coming down like CRAZY, but I was NOT going to miss this audition. So, I set out early in the batmobile, drove slowly and carefully and made it down to the theatre. Seeing as how this was the same group that produced MAME, I knew a LOT of people at the audition! So, filled out the paperwork and waited.

First up, the singing. Your gut drops a bit when you present the music director a song from the show, taken from the score, and she does not recognize it or know how to play it. Ever try to sing something that was supposed to be syncopated against something that is played straight?? Yea, it kinda throws you off a bit, but you work your way through it. Sadly, I was working so hard on that some of my higher notes did not hit quite right. Oh well.

Next, the dancing. The first routine was a little bit challenging but not that much. The one thing it was driving home was that I really needed to work on my technique. Didn't even take it into the studio to perform it, the choreographer scored us right there in the rehearsal space/costume build area.

On to the cold reads! I read for Oolie and Avril Reigns. When I finished with Avril several people gave me thumbs up and told me I did a great job! Honestly, it was the first time I really felt good about a cold read.

Finally.....last dance combination! Holy sexy batman!! It was INTENSE and HOTTTTT!!!!

............

Ok, I started writing this a while ago and never got around to finishing it....I had to make a choice between CITY OF ANGELS and OLIVER! and chose to do CITY because I was offered a speaking role, which (in my mind) beats out Ensemble any day of the week. I am also going to be dancing in a couple of the numbers, which is thrilling. I am not in all because, once again, I am the tallest person on stage! =)

2010 Audition 3 -- or the one where I audition to get beat to death.

So, last night was my 3rd audition of the new year. I have to admit I have not been going after the auditions as hard core yet this year because there is an audition coming up in early February for a show I REALLY want to do, and I do not want to be unavailable for it! Right attitude to have, or wrong? I really don't know, but if I do not really try for CITY OF ANGELS I will be very mad at myself.

Anyhoo, last night I drove to Beverly for the Beverly Hills University Club production of OLIVER! BHUC is an interesting group because they only put on one show per year and that show is a scholarship fundraiser. Great Cause, so out I went to audition!

The notes said to prepare a short piece and sing it acapella. Ok. I decided that since it was OLIVER! I would do "As Long As He Needs Me." Why? Well, because I love to sing ballads and, for me, ballads are easier to sing acapella. So, I worked on it as much of yesterday as I could (I had a migraine) and then drove off to find the church the audition was in. And of course I drove past it =)!

Anyway, I get in and I am the 2nd person there. What the heck! I was on time...not early, not late, but right on time and I was only the 2nd person there! Sorry, I'm not used to being that low a number. After filling out all of the paperwork and getting a picture taken, I went into the main room...where the entire panel of producers, the production staff and all the other auditionees. I don't like auditioning in front of everyone else who is auditioning! For whatever reason, it makes me more nervous.

But then, in walks Auntie Mame. *gulp* Here's the thing, and maybe it is just a me thing, but I don't like singing in front of people who I KNOW are great singers. Maybe it is because I do not feel like I am that great a singer, but it increases my nerves. And Auntie Mame is pretty darn awesome and I have a lot of respect for her...it would almost be like asking me to sing in front of one of the Dramatic Duo. Even though they are my friends, my nerves would kick into overdrive because I want to impress them. Thankfully, I got to sing first, so I didn't have to be intimidated by hearing her sing the EXACT SAME SONG!

Anyway, I got up and sang and tried not to look at Auntie because it would just make me MORE nervous and tried to put all of the emotion I was feeling and that the lyrics expressed. Then time to sit and listen to everyone else sing! Granted, there were only about 8 other people there, so it went pretty fast.

Then, time to read!! Yea, cold readings!! (hahahahahahahahahahaha) For once, I did not put down a role I was interested in. I mean, c'mon. I am a six foot female who looks like she would put the smackdown on any guy who tried to hit her. Seriously, unless Bill Sykes is BIG, who would believe I would get kicked around by him??? And yet, they had me read for Nancy! =) First side was when Nancy gets strong armed by "the boys" to go get Oliver. Not many lines, and of course I got tongue tied. BUT I did my best and tried to find the fear and determination Nancy would have to NOT do that. 2nd side was a bit more fun. It was of the tiny bit of dialogue between Fagin, Dodger and Nancy between "Fine Life" and "I'd Do Anything." That one, I let the big, brassy personality out (I hope) and had fun with it. The important thing is...I had fun with it!

As we were leaving Auntie Mame told me that I did a good job and I should be proud of my audition (I am) and to remember that "an actor's job is to audition and today we did our job." I did my job today and it was fun! Thank you Auntie Mame for being so supportive, even though you intimidated the HECK outta me!

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!

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!!!

Ebb and Flow

I'm sorry, this probably is not going to be the most fun blog today. But see, the thing is, I don't really have anyone to talk to about what I am thinking. I feel that I have to wear different masks when interacting with different people and I cannot let them drop, not even to my family. With this person I have to be fun and playful, with that one I am their to offer support, with another I am a "big sister" figure and with others I am that random person on the periphery that they say "HI" to once in a while. But I feel like I don't really have anyone that I can share with. So my blog will have to do.

2 years ago I moved to Chicago to "grow up." I had decided that it was time that I had an adult job, earning real money and making a move to have a career. I LOVE(d) performing at Disney, but 2 knee surgeries and various aches and pains later, thought that I could not do it forever and that I needed to move on. Those who know me, know all of the details of the move and the whys and wherefores, so I am not going to rehash them here.

Thing is, I have tried 2 adult jobs and been fired from both of them. The HR Director at my last job told me that now I could go follow my passion and do what I love. Bt I don't have a lot of non-theme park experience in what I love, I am running out of money, earning LESS than I did at Disney, the city of Chicago is draining my money because of stupid reasons (forgetting to get a new city sticker, then ticketing me the day I go buy the new one, being parked on the wrong side of the street on sweeping day cuz there was not a sign near where I parked, etc), and I am frustrated, tired and working my way toward depression.

YES, I have another part-time job leasing apartments. It pays $8/hr plus a set commission on anything I rent, so it will help. But when you go from earning $14/hr to $8 and full-time with benefits to part-time with none, it hurts.

I know myself and I know the signs. I am prepping for a BUNCH of auditions in August and staying positive on that one, but with the rest of my life I feel the big chasm of depression starting to open up and I do not know how to fight it or how much strength I have TO fight it. Granted, I say that now, but knowing me, once I start really sliding I will find a way to pick myself up and fight on and get out.

But do I take a year and try to really break into performing, or do I go after the jobs that will pay the money I need to pay off my student loan debt and live comfortably? And why is it an either/or situation? Oh, I am so confused and lost.

Audition #6 aka Good God in Heaven, How Many Local Groups are Putting on Rent this Year???

So, last night was another audition in another town. Yes, I was cuing some EVITA in my head when I typed that, where did that come from???

Anyway, The Drama Group in Chicago Heights had auditions Thursday night and I figured "what the hey!" Let me first say that I had NO CLUE where Chicago Heights was and the good folks at Google Maps, which is usually a trusted friend, completely failed me this time. FYI, Chicago Heights is a southern suburb, it might be south-west, but I am not that geographically gifted. Anyway, I was told to get on IL-394, which I never saw....instead I stayed on 57 and hoped I would see a sign for one of the roads I was told to get off on. After seeing cornfields, I decided I needed to get my happy, citified bottom off of the highway and into a service station for directions. Thankfully, the guy behind the counter had a clue where I was going and got me there very easily! So, I ended up at The Drama Group for my audition.

What a crowd! There were 3x as many people for this audition as there were for the last one. In all, they auditioned 79 people for 20 parts between two nights of auditions. It was a good crowd, everyone was really friendly and I met some really cool people whilst waiting for my turn to audition. I kind of started to feel bad for the director and others in the audition room, because you HAD to sing a song from the show. Well, Maureen and Joanne really only have one number for the girls to choose from, so "Take Me or Leave Me" was heard multiple times, and yes, that is what I sang (Joanne's part). Next time I audition for this show I am going to HUNT for a copy of the score so I can do "We're OK", just to be different!

I am not going to lie, somehow I allowed myself to get a little bit psyched out. I was hoping and praying I could remember my first note and got a little nervous. Went in, spoke to Mark, the accompanist, said hello to the panel at the table and started. I just let myself belt that sucker out. According to Stephanie (later on her), I sounded good and she could hear me through the door! When I finished, they asked me what a "Reindeer Swing" was (from Disney) and how tall I was. I was the tallest freaking person there last night! They asked all of us to say so they could see us all in a line-up and form stage pictures.

When they finished with the stage pictures they asked 3 girls and a couple of guys to stick around. They paired Steph with each of the girls to do the duet portion of "Take Me or Leave Me." Steph played Joanne in her High Schools production of RENT and knocked it out, the 2 girls were a little weak, but had potential. The guys were kept to do "I'll Cover You".

Steph came in for Kenosha, WISCONSIN (she crazy) for the audition. She is starting Columbia in the fall and I offered to give her a ride to the train station, and then said, how about if I just take you to Union Station so you don't have to stand on the train platform by yourself at 11pm. OMG, we hit it off! I had her laughing so hard, it was great. She kept telling me that I am so getting cast because I had a rich, soulful voice that she would kill to have. Uhm..... ok?? I am not counting my chickens or anything like that, but it was nice to have someone boost me, cuz I don't know how I really sound when I sing. I know I let the director know that I would be honored to have any part in the show.

Anyway, it was fun, I learned that I need to keep my confidence level up at auditions and not let myself get psyched out by others and that I cannot get in my head when my brain wants to forget the lyrics so that I reach the point where I look ABOVE the directors head and don't quite act out the lyrics.

I've been feeling a little Blue.

Everything is finally catching up to me and I am going to admit here that I am feeling more than a little blue. When I talk to people online they ask me, "What's this I hear about you being depressed?" And I brush it off like it is something I am over because I don't want to trouble them with it. But the truth of the matter is, I am depressed. I HATE the fact that I have no one to go out with here in Chicago or that I hold people at arm's length. I have been this way for so long it is part of my personality and I just don't know how to undo it.

I am scared over going to New Orleans. My last experience there was not the most shining example of me at my best due to some personal drama that was going on at the time. I am scared I burnt some bridges to some people who I really enjoy spending time with. I get that the people I am staying with are super busy, I get it, but I hope I have not totally pissed them off from something in the past that I haven't already apologized for.

Then there is the whole job thing. When I left my job, the HR Director said that now I could go do what I loved doing. Great. What is that exactly? If it is performing, my non-Disney resume is so freaking thin I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I am going to auditions and looking for monolgue material that I like, but it is a battle. In the meantime, what is going to pay my bills? And, even more important, what am I meant to do that will make me happy and not make going into the office a drag???

Did I mention loneliness? Yea, that one is in there too.

I'm sorry to dump on you. I actually don't know if anyone really reads this. But, I needed to talk to someone, so thanks for reading.

In the meantime, I am listening to one of my favorite "pick-me-up" shows -- "The Drowsy Chaperone." Look it up if you haven't heard it, it's great.

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? =)

Step in Time

I am a bit late on this, but the excitement level is still there.

Last Wednesday, the 25th, I had the priviledge of attending opening night of the national tour of Mary Poppins!

Now, if you know me, you know I love musicals, Julie Andrews and musicals! And that Mary is one of my favorites. I was thankful that I had listened to the London cast recording many times before going (most of the melodies are the same, the new songs blend, but I did not like Super the first time I heard it). And, I had heard of some of the technical stage things that were done on Broadway and London from my reading and talking to people who saw it. But this was the tour, they could not do all that...could they??

First off...I had the original Broadway Mary (Ashley Brown) and the original London and Broadway Bert (Gavin Lee). OMG! Both of them were Practically Perfect! Jane and Michael were perfect and Mr. Banks ... fabulous. Mrs. Banks was a little off, but not enough to be a huge distraction and the rest of the supporting cast was on point.

The house is not the same as it has been on Broadway, but that is probably due more to the challenges of getting it in and out of theatres, but what they came up with worked so perfectly. You got an idea of height when the nursery came down.

I was sitting so that I could see the Stage Right wings, and I loved watching people as they prepped for their entrances. I was watching the stage, but catching that out of the corner of my eye. Watching Ashley get prepped (and raised) for her Act 2 entrance was really cool, especially as she calmly hung there until it was time to grab the kite. Watching the techs get Gavin ready for his dance AROUND the proscenium was cool, and I wanted to take that walk. I still don't know how the cop pulled off his quick change in "Jolly" but it was impressive!! And I watched Mary at the end until I could not see her anymore when she exited the stage at the end of Act 2.

The story is closer to the books than to the movie, which actually works very well. The movie felt like a series of incidents, while the play felt like there was more of a story. The entire family was flawed and needed Mary's fixing. And I loved how Bert flirted with Mary and was hopeful. Mary was a bit of a bitch, but she IS practically perfect.

And the dance numbers...oh, the production numbers! I LOVE the fact that they had a HUGE tap number to "Step in Time." Sometimes it feels like tap numbers are going by the wayside....I wish I could tap. And the lyrics to "Anything is Possible" were fantastic! OMG, I had heard the song before, but seeing it on stage and with some of what is going on in my life made it just more poignant. The line that sticks...
"If you reach for the stars, all you get is the stars,
but we found a whole new spin.
If you reach for the heavens, you get the stars thrown in."

Perfect, just like the show was.