Today, as I was sitting at the computer, just hanging out after my morning workout, a friend of mine sent me a link: To the open call for American Idiot's national tour!!
WHAT?!!!?? Open casting call!! I'm totally totally there!!!!
But-it's on April 9th. The Heiress (the show I'm in right now) opens on April 29th, so I just need to make sure I don't have rehearsal on April 9th. If I do, obviously The Heiress takes priority and I'm right there at rehearsal. Not a big deal.
If we don't have rehearsal that day though-I'm totally at the open call! It's in Boston, which isn't that far if you think about it, and I would totally be willing to go ahead and go there for the audition.
My only problem now remains to be finding an audition song. Hey, whether I can go to this thing or not, I need to have a rock song for an audition piece, because it's called upon more often than you'd think!
I have two options in my mind that I've been kicking around:
1) Pat Benetar- Hit me with your Best Shot: I used this song when I auditioned for a local production of "Rent" back last May. It was before I started voice lessons, and it wasn't my best performance that I've ever given.
While I do have a vocal coach now, this song proves harder than it sounds, and I learned that the hard way when I attempted to sing it, solely based off of her recording.
2) Black Velvet-I have a long history with this song. When I was younger (like 16), my friend recorded this song on her old demo CD. But, we were always singing this song. And it reminds me of her, and its a lower song.
The problem I have with this one is that I'd need to brush off the part of my voice and brain that does rock songs. All of my training that I've receieved from my vocal coaches (now, and when I was a kid), were all classical Broadway songs, or pop songs, and just an edge of rock- that I had to teach myself, using the tools of the other two styles.
But I haven't had to perform a rock song in a bit, and this is defenitly a rock song.
Opinions are welcome, and all that stuff.
Either way, I'm excited!!!!!
until next time....
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
The Table Read..
So this past weekend, we had our first rehearsals for "The Heiress".
I love this process, so so much. This is where the work is, kids! Right here is how we actors make it look effortless onstage-because we rehearse it, and feel it out, and make it our own!
We got together twice this weekend. Saturday afternoon, we sat onstage, just a few of us in the cast since the whole group couldn't be there, and read through just some scenes that we were in.
Sunday though, was when things really started to kick off and the rehearsals, in my mind, actually began.
We had to be at the theatre for 7pm so we could all be together, and record the reading so that we could all get tapes to practice our lines (I will not be using this tape-I don't learn my lines like that, but to some actors in the cast, I know that tape will be GOLD!).
I got there late (not my usual habit-I find it rude, disrespectful and very unprofessional to show up to call late!) due to a family dinner that was mis-timed.
Anyway, when I got there, all the chairs were in a circle and a recording device was on a small table in the middle to record us.
This is when magic happened! Being able to hear everyone's voices, to see them breating life into these characters for the first time together. It was a bit of amazing!
As the reading went on -and it was a bit rusty, due to the fact that it was our first reading-, I could see us all getting more into our characters. We directed our voices to each other, and tried to make ourselves blend into this world that we have to re-create onstage for an audience at the end of April.
Listening to everyone, I could tell we were going to be a good group. The director of this production absolutely cast the show correctly (and believe me, I've seen performances, and been in performances where roles were terribly mis cast). And I can't wait to keep going, to get to know my character, Maria, better, and better yet, to get to know my fellow actors better.
Acting is funny- You go into a project with a group of essentially complete strangers (unless you've worked with them before), and by the end of the run of the show, you are a family, with a bond possibly stronger than the one you have with your own family. You have inside jokes, funny moments, memories, and stories that you tell with your theatre family year after year.
That's the great part about rehearsing, you get to mold, get to know your character, the world your character lives in, and get to play with them for as long as you'd like-until the end of the run.
This is just the beginning of a long road-we still have 2 months before we open for 4 weeks and 15 shows. By then..we'll be ready. And I'll keep everyone in the loop of what's going on and everything like that. Maybe I'll even put some pictures here, too :).
Until next time...
I love this process, so so much. This is where the work is, kids! Right here is how we actors make it look effortless onstage-because we rehearse it, and feel it out, and make it our own!
We got together twice this weekend. Saturday afternoon, we sat onstage, just a few of us in the cast since the whole group couldn't be there, and read through just some scenes that we were in.
Sunday though, was when things really started to kick off and the rehearsals, in my mind, actually began.
We had to be at the theatre for 7pm so we could all be together, and record the reading so that we could all get tapes to practice our lines (I will not be using this tape-I don't learn my lines like that, but to some actors in the cast, I know that tape will be GOLD!).
I got there late (not my usual habit-I find it rude, disrespectful and very unprofessional to show up to call late!) due to a family dinner that was mis-timed.
Anyway, when I got there, all the chairs were in a circle and a recording device was on a small table in the middle to record us.
This is when magic happened! Being able to hear everyone's voices, to see them breating life into these characters for the first time together. It was a bit of amazing!
As the reading went on -and it was a bit rusty, due to the fact that it was our first reading-, I could see us all getting more into our characters. We directed our voices to each other, and tried to make ourselves blend into this world that we have to re-create onstage for an audience at the end of April.
Listening to everyone, I could tell we were going to be a good group. The director of this production absolutely cast the show correctly (and believe me, I've seen performances, and been in performances where roles were terribly mis cast). And I can't wait to keep going, to get to know my character, Maria, better, and better yet, to get to know my fellow actors better.
Acting is funny- You go into a project with a group of essentially complete strangers (unless you've worked with them before), and by the end of the run of the show, you are a family, with a bond possibly stronger than the one you have with your own family. You have inside jokes, funny moments, memories, and stories that you tell with your theatre family year after year.
That's the great part about rehearsing, you get to mold, get to know your character, the world your character lives in, and get to play with them for as long as you'd like-until the end of the run.
This is just the beginning of a long road-we still have 2 months before we open for 4 weeks and 15 shows. By then..we'll be ready. And I'll keep everyone in the loop of what's going on and everything like that. Maybe I'll even put some pictures here, too :).
Until next time...
Sunday, February 13, 2011
I hope I get it...OMG! I GOT IT!!!!
So every actor waits for that moment...the moment after the audition is over, where they hold their breath as the phone rings, or the "you've got mail" voice is heard on their computer...
I've been SITTING on this information for weeks, because I wasn't allowed to say anything until tonight when it was finally announced.
A few weeks ago, I went on an audition for a show called "The Heiress", and am absolutely THRILLED to announce that I GOT THE SHOW!!!!!
My role is the role of the maid, Maria. I do what every maid does- serve the people she works for. But, its a substantial enough part :)
I actually start both acts! I'm very excited! We open on April 29th and run until May 29th-this means I have a project until the first week of JUNE!
When we start rehearsals on Saturday, I will blog and post all of the information about the show-how to get tickets, the playhouse's address, and maybe even ticket prices.
If anyone is interested in coming to see the show, please let me know, and then go ahead and order tickets! :)
Very excited and I just couldn't wait to share the information! :)
Until next time....
I've been SITTING on this information for weeks, because I wasn't allowed to say anything until tonight when it was finally announced.
A few weeks ago, I went on an audition for a show called "The Heiress", and am absolutely THRILLED to announce that I GOT THE SHOW!!!!!
My role is the role of the maid, Maria. I do what every maid does- serve the people she works for. But, its a substantial enough part :)
I actually start both acts! I'm very excited! We open on April 29th and run until May 29th-this means I have a project until the first week of JUNE!
When we start rehearsals on Saturday, I will blog and post all of the information about the show-how to get tickets, the playhouse's address, and maybe even ticket prices.
If anyone is interested in coming to see the show, please let me know, and then go ahead and order tickets! :)
Very excited and I just couldn't wait to share the information! :)
Until next time....
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
To Eat..or not to eat?
To eat or not to eat...that's always the question!
Sitting here, looking at the clock, I know have to be at the theatre do some backstage work for a production of "Barefoot in the Park". And, my refridgerator is empty, as is my freezer (I ate the last lean cusine at lunch time).
So here's my dilemma: What in the world am I going to eat tonight?
Anyone who's been following this blog, knows that I'm on a mission of sorts to lose weight, even going out and buying a Nintendo Wii to work out with.
I'm happy to report I've lost 8lbs so far, and that number of pounds lost I hope keeps climbing in the next few weeks.
Here's the problem though: With nothing in the house to eat for dinner...all I'm left with is picking something up on the way to the theatre-something, undoubtedly no damn good for me, or my goal, or my waistline, my pants..etc! You get the picture!
So what to do? Well, obviously this is going to take some careful planning. As I wasn't expecting to be working 'Barefoot..', I didn't carefully plan out how I was going to deal with the not being home at night to eat blah blah blah, and the whole, being on my own for dinner thing.
I had a plan for "The Heiress" that I auditioned for (more about that in another post), but not for this.
I'm flying by the seat of my pants here, kids!
Tonight, I succumb to my vice: Dunkin Donuts, as a source for my meal for the evening. But, I know that if this weight loss thing is going to work-that I need to cut that out!
Tomorrow, after babysitting (I picked up an early morning babysitting gig), I'll come home, nap, work out, and then carefully plan how I'm going to get through dinners on my own for this run of the show.
I do feel like all actors face this at some time or another, and I've seen pictures that prove this: What in the hell do you eat during show runs?
You can't eat anything heavy before a show-you just can't! Your nerves are in knots, and so is your stomach, your one focus is getting out there to entertain the people, and to have fun. Most of the time before a show, I'm just thinking of a quick snack or a small meal to hold me over so I don't pass out onstage from lack of anything in my system.
In a rarity, when I tech a show, I do like to eat before hand. If I'm not onstage, but am working at the thearte-which again, rarely happens because I keep myself ONSTAGE rather than OFF, I eat beforehand because it's just another part of my night to me.
That's just my take on it. With it being 5pm now, I need to get ready to go and then stop and get my dinner for tonight.
Until next time....
Sitting here, looking at the clock, I know have to be at the theatre do some backstage work for a production of "Barefoot in the Park". And, my refridgerator is empty, as is my freezer (I ate the last lean cusine at lunch time).
So here's my dilemma: What in the world am I going to eat tonight?
Anyone who's been following this blog, knows that I'm on a mission of sorts to lose weight, even going out and buying a Nintendo Wii to work out with.
I'm happy to report I've lost 8lbs so far, and that number of pounds lost I hope keeps climbing in the next few weeks.
Here's the problem though: With nothing in the house to eat for dinner...all I'm left with is picking something up on the way to the theatre-something, undoubtedly no damn good for me, or my goal, or my waistline, my pants..etc! You get the picture!
So what to do? Well, obviously this is going to take some careful planning. As I wasn't expecting to be working 'Barefoot..', I didn't carefully plan out how I was going to deal with the not being home at night to eat blah blah blah, and the whole, being on my own for dinner thing.
I had a plan for "The Heiress" that I auditioned for (more about that in another post), but not for this.
I'm flying by the seat of my pants here, kids!
Tonight, I succumb to my vice: Dunkin Donuts, as a source for my meal for the evening. But, I know that if this weight loss thing is going to work-that I need to cut that out!
Tomorrow, after babysitting (I picked up an early morning babysitting gig), I'll come home, nap, work out, and then carefully plan how I'm going to get through dinners on my own for this run of the show.
I do feel like all actors face this at some time or another, and I've seen pictures that prove this: What in the hell do you eat during show runs?
You can't eat anything heavy before a show-you just can't! Your nerves are in knots, and so is your stomach, your one focus is getting out there to entertain the people, and to have fun. Most of the time before a show, I'm just thinking of a quick snack or a small meal to hold me over so I don't pass out onstage from lack of anything in my system.
In a rarity, when I tech a show, I do like to eat before hand. If I'm not onstage, but am working at the thearte-which again, rarely happens because I keep myself ONSTAGE rather than OFF, I eat beforehand because it's just another part of my night to me.
That's just my take on it. With it being 5pm now, I need to get ready to go and then stop and get my dinner for tonight.
Until next time....
Saturday, January 29, 2011
I want to share the stage with.....
So last week, I wrote a blog listing the people I would love to share the stage with, and hope to one day either see me perform or perform with them.
I also said that I would write something up, telling everyone why. I don't know why I've decided to do this, but I feel that I need to identify these things, both for myself, and for people that I tell these things to and they go "who's that?", or "why them?".
I need to start by saying that this is in no specific order:
1) Terrence Mann- Okay, I saw him perform in Beauty and the Beast when I was 10 years old, and loved it, and him! That show made me want to perform at all, and absolutely inspired me. He, himself is a wonderful, wonderful actor. I've seen him in other, more serious roles, such as Javert, and Bob on "The Dresden Files", and I love just watching his process, you can tell each word is thought about, and caluclated, even though someone else wrote it-he thinks each word through before he delivers it, and I love it. His stamp of approval of my performance would mean the world to me.
2) Nathan Lane-This guy is amazing on another level entirely! He's another wonderful actor I admire greatly. He's funny, he's right on the mark with his timing and he's great. I don't remember the first time I saw or heard Nathan Lane, I just know he was always someone I really really loved as a performer. I finally had the chance to see him twice. Once in "November", and twice (and soon to be three times), in "The Addams Family", and he is absolutely everything I thought he would be onstage and more.
3) Harvey Fierstein- There aren't enough words in the vocabulary to describe my love for this man as a performer, and as a writer. Harvey is one of my biggest influences, and one of my main reasons for being in this industry at all. I saw him when I was a kid in "Mrs. Doubtfire", and have been hooked on him ever since. His movie/show "Torch Song Trilogy" was wonderfully written and beautifully executed.I even used one of those monologues for my oral interpretation class in college. He has the power to make me laugh, and cry, in the same sentence. I had the wonderful pleasure of seeing him in "A Catered Affair", which he wrote, and will be seeing him again in "La Cage Aux Folles", which he also wrote. I would love to have my work evaluated by him as well, or to perform with him.
4) Adam Pascal- This. Man. Is. A. Machine! He's just a machine, and in the best way possible. I know other people share my opinion of this, but he IS Roger Davis, and there isn't another one in my mind. Not because he was the first and blah blah blah. But, because I feel that his Roger has a bit more of an edge than I've seen with other people who have tried to play the role. He's a passionate performer when he's doing his own work, and I can see in his performances, that he truely connects with his words, and his audiences. At the same time, he's not afraid to be silly and poke fun of himself occasionally. This is why I'd love to share the stage with this man.
5) Anthony Rapp- I've never seen a performer bare his soul like Anthony does. Between his book, and his one man show, and everything in between, when Anthony is onstage he lets himself just fall right into the character he's playing-even if that character is himself. He's a genuine person, and really is a wonderful performer.
6) Larry Edoff- Larry's cool. He plays the piano for Adam in his show, and in my mind is just as talented. His voice is wonderful, and I have had the pleasure to meet him and speak to him at length several times. He's always nothing but wonderful, and a really nice guy.
While this is just a short list, these are the main people and reasons why I do what I do, and who inspires me, whom I'd love to share the stage with, and whom one day would love to perform for and get their opinion of said performance.
I also said that I would write something up, telling everyone why. I don't know why I've decided to do this, but I feel that I need to identify these things, both for myself, and for people that I tell these things to and they go "who's that?", or "why them?".
I need to start by saying that this is in no specific order:
1) Terrence Mann- Okay, I saw him perform in Beauty and the Beast when I was 10 years old, and loved it, and him! That show made me want to perform at all, and absolutely inspired me. He, himself is a wonderful, wonderful actor. I've seen him in other, more serious roles, such as Javert, and Bob on "The Dresden Files", and I love just watching his process, you can tell each word is thought about, and caluclated, even though someone else wrote it-he thinks each word through before he delivers it, and I love it. His stamp of approval of my performance would mean the world to me.
2) Nathan Lane-This guy is amazing on another level entirely! He's another wonderful actor I admire greatly. He's funny, he's right on the mark with his timing and he's great. I don't remember the first time I saw or heard Nathan Lane, I just know he was always someone I really really loved as a performer. I finally had the chance to see him twice. Once in "November", and twice (and soon to be three times), in "The Addams Family", and he is absolutely everything I thought he would be onstage and more.
3) Harvey Fierstein- There aren't enough words in the vocabulary to describe my love for this man as a performer, and as a writer. Harvey is one of my biggest influences, and one of my main reasons for being in this industry at all. I saw him when I was a kid in "Mrs. Doubtfire", and have been hooked on him ever since. His movie/show "Torch Song Trilogy" was wonderfully written and beautifully executed.I even used one of those monologues for my oral interpretation class in college. He has the power to make me laugh, and cry, in the same sentence. I had the wonderful pleasure of seeing him in "A Catered Affair", which he wrote, and will be seeing him again in "La Cage Aux Folles", which he also wrote. I would love to have my work evaluated by him as well, or to perform with him.
4) Adam Pascal- This. Man. Is. A. Machine! He's just a machine, and in the best way possible. I know other people share my opinion of this, but he IS Roger Davis, and there isn't another one in my mind. Not because he was the first and blah blah blah. But, because I feel that his Roger has a bit more of an edge than I've seen with other people who have tried to play the role. He's a passionate performer when he's doing his own work, and I can see in his performances, that he truely connects with his words, and his audiences. At the same time, he's not afraid to be silly and poke fun of himself occasionally. This is why I'd love to share the stage with this man.
5) Anthony Rapp- I've never seen a performer bare his soul like Anthony does. Between his book, and his one man show, and everything in between, when Anthony is onstage he lets himself just fall right into the character he's playing-even if that character is himself. He's a genuine person, and really is a wonderful performer.
6) Larry Edoff- Larry's cool. He plays the piano for Adam in his show, and in my mind is just as talented. His voice is wonderful, and I have had the pleasure to meet him and speak to him at length several times. He's always nothing but wonderful, and a really nice guy.
While this is just a short list, these are the main people and reasons why I do what I do, and who inspires me, whom I'd love to share the stage with, and whom one day would love to perform for and get their opinion of said performance.
Friday, January 28, 2011
What the....?
What happens when you don't nail an AUDITION????
Recently I took a leap of faith and submitted my resume and headshot to a singer showcase in NYC at the suggestion of my college roommate.
However, unlike her..I haven't heard from them yet. I may not hear from them at all. So how do you deal with it when you don't even land the audition? Don't even get seen.
No...seriously? How do you deal with it? The rational part of my head keeps saying 'this is ONE audition, don't put so much stress on yourself-it's going to happen, so just work for it, let it, move onto the next role or the next audition..."
On the other hand, the part of my brain that houses the actor in me goes "HOLY JEEBUS!! They didn't even want to HEAR from me?! What did they see on my resume they didn't like? Is my headshot not good?! I need answers, damnit!"
So, again, what does this do to the psyche? For starters: I haven't slept right, I've noticed as I take more and more leaps of faith, and more and more auditions come around, I get less and less sleep. When I do sleep,the dreams that I have are weird and vivid, or they're nightmares that I need to differenciate from reality when I wake up.
It also has me craving approval-I need to hear someone tell me I'm good! I need to. I need to know that I'm not doing all of this for nothing, and I need to know that there are people out there that realize that this is serious to me, and I don't take it lightly.
I realize I won't get every part I go out for...but to not even land an audition? What's that say? That is the question I'll ask myself about this failed "audition" over and over again.
They could surprise me though, they could e-mail me Monday (audition is on Thursday), and let me know they DO want to see me. But, as it stands right now, that's not going to happen.
*sigh* This is the business I chose, and I knew what was going to happen going into it. Doesn't mean that it doesn't play with the mind every so often.
We'll see what happens....oh, and I may have an announcement here sooner rather than later...I'll let you all know :)
Recently I took a leap of faith and submitted my resume and headshot to a singer showcase in NYC at the suggestion of my college roommate.
However, unlike her..I haven't heard from them yet. I may not hear from them at all. So how do you deal with it when you don't even land the audition? Don't even get seen.
No...seriously? How do you deal with it? The rational part of my head keeps saying 'this is ONE audition, don't put so much stress on yourself-it's going to happen, so just work for it, let it, move onto the next role or the next audition..."
On the other hand, the part of my brain that houses the actor in me goes "HOLY JEEBUS!! They didn't even want to HEAR from me?! What did they see on my resume they didn't like? Is my headshot not good?! I need answers, damnit!"
So, again, what does this do to the psyche? For starters: I haven't slept right, I've noticed as I take more and more leaps of faith, and more and more auditions come around, I get less and less sleep. When I do sleep,the dreams that I have are weird and vivid, or they're nightmares that I need to differenciate from reality when I wake up.
It also has me craving approval-I need to hear someone tell me I'm good! I need to. I need to know that I'm not doing all of this for nothing, and I need to know that there are people out there that realize that this is serious to me, and I don't take it lightly.
I realize I won't get every part I go out for...but to not even land an audition? What's that say? That is the question I'll ask myself about this failed "audition" over and over again.
They could surprise me though, they could e-mail me Monday (audition is on Thursday), and let me know they DO want to see me. But, as it stands right now, that's not going to happen.
*sigh* This is the business I chose, and I knew what was going to happen going into it. Doesn't mean that it doesn't play with the mind every so often.
We'll see what happens....oh, and I may have an announcement here sooner rather than later...I'll let you all know :)
Monday, January 24, 2011
Taking a leap of faith
A leeeeeeaaaapppp o-o-of...faaaiittthh!!!
Sorry, had to do it! Thinking about Jonathan Larson tonight. Anyway!
On with the show!
So tonight my college roommate called me and she told me that she was accepted into the Bound for Broadway singers showcase in the West Village..WHAT?!! Amazingness!
What's even more amazing, is that the ad was still on playbill.com. Where I found it like she did, and sent them my own resume/headshot and cover letter.
Now, I'm waiting to see if I get an audition like she did. We're looking to do this together, because really, it's not fun doing it by yourself, and it just adds that extra element to the audition if you're doing it with a real friend.
This is HUGE for me. The last time I went to a NY audition was for some showbiz expo thing, that really didn't have much there. And the 2 auditions I did, took all of a half an hour. This, if this happens...could have the potential to be absolutely freaking AMAZING!!!!
Again though, I'm playing the waiting game and I really hope to hear from them soon since my friend's audition is on Feb 3rd. I need to prep if I'm going into this thing :).
I may have an announcement by the end of the week....we'll see :)
Until then....
Sorry, had to do it! Thinking about Jonathan Larson tonight. Anyway!
On with the show!
So tonight my college roommate called me and she told me that she was accepted into the Bound for Broadway singers showcase in the West Village..WHAT?!! Amazingness!
What's even more amazing, is that the ad was still on playbill.com. Where I found it like she did, and sent them my own resume/headshot and cover letter.
Now, I'm waiting to see if I get an audition like she did. We're looking to do this together, because really, it's not fun doing it by yourself, and it just adds that extra element to the audition if you're doing it with a real friend.
This is HUGE for me. The last time I went to a NY audition was for some showbiz expo thing, that really didn't have much there. And the 2 auditions I did, took all of a half an hour. This, if this happens...could have the potential to be absolutely freaking AMAZING!!!!
Again though, I'm playing the waiting game and I really hope to hear from them soon since my friend's audition is on Feb 3rd. I need to prep if I'm going into this thing :).
I may have an announcement by the end of the week....we'll see :)
Until then....
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