Hey everyone!! On with the show.....
So "Which Witch is Which" has ended, and unfortunately, right now I am project-less. Feels weird. Haven't been project-less since 2009.
If I said this was a relief, I'd be lying!!! I miss rehearsals, I miss the make up, being in the empty theatre with my fellow actors-breathing life into new and exciting characters, and being able to tell a story!
In the interm, until I get the next project (which looks like will have to wait until AFTER the holidays since things are being cast and mounted for Christmas NOW), I am working on my 3rd play.
I've been working on this show on and off since I was in "The Heiress" in May. I actually began writing it backstage while I was waiting for my cues. However, after reading what I had written so far, a friend of mine suggested I re-structure some of the characters, and essentially begin anew.
After reading it over again myself, I knew she was right. So, this past week, I've been working on re-structuring my characters, and will begin a second draft of my ACT I this week.
I intend to keep a few things that I fell in love with in the first original draft, but a lot of stuff will be fixed so that my characters can keep talking.
Making the characters talk is always the hardest part for me. Making the conversations last is difficult. As a playwright, I walk the fine line between making the conversations believeable, but not dragged on so much that I'll lose the audience.
The disadvantage to this, is that sometimes, I just write and write, just to fill space-and then ultimately, the conversation I've been writing drags, and the scene no longer makes any damn sense.
This time, though, I face another challange-how do I make my point without using a lot of words. The focus of the show is to make people aware of the sounds around them. But in order for people to HEAR the sounds-there can't be a lot of talking, or there needs to be moments of silence.
I'm shooting for the first full length draft to be done in about a week, maybe 2. Once I get started writing, I really get on a role and get things done quickly.
We shall see...
Until next time....
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Goodbye Sweeney...Hello Which
Hey everyone!!
Oh jeebus, it's been forever since I've been around to let you all know what's going on. Sorry about that!! Tech for Sweeney, and then Sweeney took a bit of my soul, so I wasn't able to form sentences to let everyone know what was going on.
Anyway...on with the show!!
Sweeney went wonderfully!! The audiences loved loved loved it, and as soon as I saw it up on its feet-the concept of the insane asylum that the director had us using made sense (before I couldn't see how it worked!).
I'm currently trying to get a video of parts of it on youtube or something so people can see it that wanted to, but weren't able to.
Closing was hard...it was my first musical (but not my last-of course!), and I'll always have a soft spot for the cast that was in it with me. I mean, hell, we spent 3 months together just in rehearsals before we went up, then a month and some change DOING the show! I'll always look fondly on Fleet Street, and smile when I hear of the demon barber now :).
BUT! Out with the old, and in with the NEW. While I was in "Sweeney Todd", the producer approached me and asked me to be in their yearly kidsworks Halloween production of a show called "Which Witch is Which". Its a cute little story of a which that's too good for her own good, can't play tricks on people and all tha good stuff. There's a weird doctor, a prankster named Tom Foolery, a ghost named Grimey (picture pigpen from Charlie Brown, just in white), Abby Good (the good which), Abby II (the bad which), and Pamela Pumpkin (the narrator-me).
We had about 10-15 rehearsals, and most of it was us learning the original score-the lines we had to learn on our own.
**side note-the day we had to be off book, I was a little shakey on ACT II. So, when I went off stage after my part of Act I was over-I went backstage and learned ALL of Act II. Just sayin... **
Opening afternoon wasn't without its flaws, but the kids are LOVING it so far! And I said this to the cast, and I'll say it here: Kids are the HARDEST audience to perform for. They have short little attention spans, they want to get up and run around and play and do all these things little kids do. So, as a performer, you need to hold their interest for the hour and some change you're up there, trying to put on a show for them. There are no BAD DAYS in chidlren's theatre-no matter what's going on-you get on that stage with a BIG smile, and do what you need to do.
I have an audition coming up for "It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play" in a few weeks, and I'm hoping I get it, and that that show takes me to the end of the year.
Then...who knows?.....
Until Next time...
Oh jeebus, it's been forever since I've been around to let you all know what's going on. Sorry about that!! Tech for Sweeney, and then Sweeney took a bit of my soul, so I wasn't able to form sentences to let everyone know what was going on.
Anyway...on with the show!!
Sweeney went wonderfully!! The audiences loved loved loved it, and as soon as I saw it up on its feet-the concept of the insane asylum that the director had us using made sense (before I couldn't see how it worked!).
I'm currently trying to get a video of parts of it on youtube or something so people can see it that wanted to, but weren't able to.
Closing was hard...it was my first musical (but not my last-of course!), and I'll always have a soft spot for the cast that was in it with me. I mean, hell, we spent 3 months together just in rehearsals before we went up, then a month and some change DOING the show! I'll always look fondly on Fleet Street, and smile when I hear of the demon barber now :).
BUT! Out with the old, and in with the NEW. While I was in "Sweeney Todd", the producer approached me and asked me to be in their yearly kidsworks Halloween production of a show called "Which Witch is Which". Its a cute little story of a which that's too good for her own good, can't play tricks on people and all tha good stuff. There's a weird doctor, a prankster named Tom Foolery, a ghost named Grimey (picture pigpen from Charlie Brown, just in white), Abby Good (the good which), Abby II (the bad which), and Pamela Pumpkin (the narrator-me).
We had about 10-15 rehearsals, and most of it was us learning the original score-the lines we had to learn on our own.
**side note-the day we had to be off book, I was a little shakey on ACT II. So, when I went off stage after my part of Act I was over-I went backstage and learned ALL of Act II. Just sayin... **
Opening afternoon wasn't without its flaws, but the kids are LOVING it so far! And I said this to the cast, and I'll say it here: Kids are the HARDEST audience to perform for. They have short little attention spans, they want to get up and run around and play and do all these things little kids do. So, as a performer, you need to hold their interest for the hour and some change you're up there, trying to put on a show for them. There are no BAD DAYS in chidlren's theatre-no matter what's going on-you get on that stage with a BIG smile, and do what you need to do.
I have an audition coming up for "It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play" in a few weeks, and I'm hoping I get it, and that that show takes me to the end of the year.
Then...who knows?.....
Until Next time...
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
He hardly uses his fancy chair
Hey everyone!!
So sorry I've been out of the loop for a bit, rehearsals for Sweeney run long and late into the night!
Anyway..on with the show!!
The show is going well, and things are really picking up. Some of the set is up, and we're completely offbook now, just working on the blocking and little details. Next week, we begin running the show from beginning to end, in order for us to time it out, and to see the whole thing cover to cover in case something needs to be altered or fixed.
As I watch everyone rehearse (the main leads, not the ensemble--I'm IN the ensemble), I can't help but get shivers up and down my body at the immense amount of talent there is on that stage. Granted, there's a lot in the ensemble too, never count them out!
I also feel shivers up my spine every time we rehearse, hearing us sing this haunting score, and know that Stephen Sondheim is out there somewhere-smiling that his words are reaching SO so many people!
On MY end... I've been given a few duet parts, and have a bit of a featured role right before the finale :) Very exciting!!
I was also ASKED to do this company's Halloween children's show "Which witch is Which" about a little girl witch who's too good to BE a witch. I'll be playing the narrator, and the owner of the town convience store, Pamela Pumpkin.
A few more audititions coming up in the next few weeks. One for a version of Dracula, and one for another production of Sweeney Todd (don't worry, there will be a blog for my audition prep for each show as my process is a bit different between a play and a musical).
I've also been writing a lot lately, and hope to have this new play done by the third week of September (meaning completed, typed, and beginning to shop it around).
I have also aquired a "day job" finally!! I'm working with infants/toddlers at a daycare, and of course, the money will be used for headshots and such!
Believe that's it for now...planning headshots...etc.
Til next time...
So sorry I've been out of the loop for a bit, rehearsals for Sweeney run long and late into the night!
Anyway..on with the show!!
The show is going well, and things are really picking up. Some of the set is up, and we're completely offbook now, just working on the blocking and little details. Next week, we begin running the show from beginning to end, in order for us to time it out, and to see the whole thing cover to cover in case something needs to be altered or fixed.
As I watch everyone rehearse (the main leads, not the ensemble--I'm IN the ensemble), I can't help but get shivers up and down my body at the immense amount of talent there is on that stage. Granted, there's a lot in the ensemble too, never count them out!
I also feel shivers up my spine every time we rehearse, hearing us sing this haunting score, and know that Stephen Sondheim is out there somewhere-smiling that his words are reaching SO so many people!
On MY end... I've been given a few duet parts, and have a bit of a featured role right before the finale :) Very exciting!!
I was also ASKED to do this company's Halloween children's show "Which witch is Which" about a little girl witch who's too good to BE a witch. I'll be playing the narrator, and the owner of the town convience store, Pamela Pumpkin.
A few more audititions coming up in the next few weeks. One for a version of Dracula, and one for another production of Sweeney Todd (don't worry, there will be a blog for my audition prep for each show as my process is a bit different between a play and a musical).
I've also been writing a lot lately, and hope to have this new play done by the third week of September (meaning completed, typed, and beginning to shop it around).
I have also aquired a "day job" finally!! I'm working with infants/toddlers at a daycare, and of course, the money will be used for headshots and such!
Believe that's it for now...planning headshots...etc.
Til next time...
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd
Hey everyone!!
I know it's been a while since I wrote, but we've all been kicking our asses in "Sweeney Todd" to make sure we get the music right and everything!
The show is going well, we've got about seven ensemble songs now that we've been working on, and we need to practically be memorized by tonight when we get into rehearsal. I have about 3/4 memorized at this point, using the OBC recording to help me to learn the part, since that's how the music is written, and how the director wants it to sound in the show.
It's always a challange when you walk into a new theatre, a new cast, a new theatre company. Anf this has been no exception. While I'm used to a theatre rehearsing and performing one show at a time, this theatre currently has three shows in rehearsal, "Sweeney Todd" and two others. It's a bit odd to me, more like being in a rehearsal studio in New York, where you need to look at a board to determine what room YOUR show is rehearsing in, rather than a theatre that will soon be mounting a show.
Still looking for that "day job", and have been working on my play a lot lately, since I babysit now and I have about twenty minutes before he gets home from school to write and collect myself before he gets home. Now that I'm not sitting during the day anymore, though I should have even more time to write, and hope to have the play done by the end of the summer-I'm talking about like the first week of September, don't everyone start looking for this show in the middle of August all at once, now! :)
I think that's about it for now, but I promise to write more frequently from here on out, as I know I hardly update anymore. I promise to try to bring an update once a week from now on.
Thanks for your patience!
Til next time.....
I know it's been a while since I wrote, but we've all been kicking our asses in "Sweeney Todd" to make sure we get the music right and everything!
The show is going well, we've got about seven ensemble songs now that we've been working on, and we need to practically be memorized by tonight when we get into rehearsal. I have about 3/4 memorized at this point, using the OBC recording to help me to learn the part, since that's how the music is written, and how the director wants it to sound in the show.
It's always a challange when you walk into a new theatre, a new cast, a new theatre company. Anf this has been no exception. While I'm used to a theatre rehearsing and performing one show at a time, this theatre currently has three shows in rehearsal, "Sweeney Todd" and two others. It's a bit odd to me, more like being in a rehearsal studio in New York, where you need to look at a board to determine what room YOUR show is rehearsing in, rather than a theatre that will soon be mounting a show.
Still looking for that "day job", and have been working on my play a lot lately, since I babysit now and I have about twenty minutes before he gets home from school to write and collect myself before he gets home. Now that I'm not sitting during the day anymore, though I should have even more time to write, and hope to have the play done by the end of the summer-I'm talking about like the first week of September, don't everyone start looking for this show in the middle of August all at once, now! :)
I think that's about it for now, but I promise to write more frequently from here on out, as I know I hardly update anymore. I promise to try to bring an update once a week from now on.
Thanks for your patience!
Til next time.....
Saturday, June 11, 2011
One ended, and the saga begins again!
I know it's been a while since I've written, but once the ride called "The Heiress" took off, there was very little time for me to blog (though I've been writing a new play!).
So, the run of "The Heiress" was a great one, and the cast became a real family. It's been a long time since I had experienced that feeling to its fullest like this, and it felt really really good to be able to feel it again.
At the end of the run, this past weekend, I actually cried seeing it go. I haven't cried over a show closing in a long time, and this closing really hurt deep.
But! Like every rain storm of a show closing, there's another show that's ready to be rehearsed and mounted-and this time is no exception!
I am currently in rehearsals for my FIRST MUSICAL!!! "Sweeney Todd"!!. New exeperience, new theatre, new people.
We started rehearsing actually the day I got the show, which was a little weird, but we have a LOT of work to get done!
Sondheim is hard, ya'll! Even though I've been singing his music since age 3. It looks very different when I need to read the music for it :-P.
I'm in the ensemble, and actually am really thrilled about it. We're right now working on the 3 big ensemble songs: "The Prologue", "God That's Good!", and "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir". And I gotta say, everything sounds wonderful.
I've also made a fan page for myself on facebook-so go find me, become a fan :). It'll have stuff about my upcoming shows and such, and other little good things.
Not much else is going on (the job hunt continues btw!). Just writing, rehearsing, babysitting and jobhunting.
I will keep everyone posted, thanks for being patient!
Til next time...
So, the run of "The Heiress" was a great one, and the cast became a real family. It's been a long time since I had experienced that feeling to its fullest like this, and it felt really really good to be able to feel it again.
At the end of the run, this past weekend, I actually cried seeing it go. I haven't cried over a show closing in a long time, and this closing really hurt deep.
But! Like every rain storm of a show closing, there's another show that's ready to be rehearsed and mounted-and this time is no exception!
I am currently in rehearsals for my FIRST MUSICAL!!! "Sweeney Todd"!!. New exeperience, new theatre, new people.
We started rehearsing actually the day I got the show, which was a little weird, but we have a LOT of work to get done!
Sondheim is hard, ya'll! Even though I've been singing his music since age 3. It looks very different when I need to read the music for it :-P.
I'm in the ensemble, and actually am really thrilled about it. We're right now working on the 3 big ensemble songs: "The Prologue", "God That's Good!", and "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir". And I gotta say, everything sounds wonderful.
I've also made a fan page for myself on facebook-so go find me, become a fan :). It'll have stuff about my upcoming shows and such, and other little good things.
Not much else is going on (the job hunt continues btw!). Just writing, rehearsing, babysitting and jobhunting.
I will keep everyone posted, thanks for being patient!
Til next time...
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Didn't want to have to do this..but I guess I have to
Okay, so a few months ago, I posted a blog on here I entitled "Day Job". This is the blog where I mentioned that it takes me $28 to get into the city, and without a day job it's hard.
THIS is the post everyone has decided to jump on and comment on...so I feel it's neccessary to defend my position, instead of going on, telling people about the show that I'm in.
First off, let me say I'm very sorry for putting that ONE statement in the blog post, because you all grabbed it and ran with it and beat me over the coals for it.
Second, I KNOW that I'm not in NY bussing tables or anything like that-don't you think I'd LOVE to be doing that? LOVE to be in NY somewhere, taking shifts at a part time job? I'm on survivaljobsforactors.com everyday looking for stuff just like that-haven't found anything yet. So let's start there.
I know I'm in community theatre in the suburbs right now-and Im not going to be here much longer, and am scouring playbill.com everyday looking for open calls since I don't have my equity card and can't go to equity calls yet.
As for living at home-anyone that's a RECENT college graduate almost has no choice but to live at home. Unless they've got something set up in terms of a significant other, or a roommate to live with and split the rent with, neither of which I have.
And where did I ever say that I think my life is like Mark and Roger's? I've never used those words, not once, not ever. I know that I don't live that way, I'm not dumb.
I know auditions aren't easy to get, I'm not delusional..but, I could still "audition my ass off" at the auditions that I DO get-right? Right.
Now. If there's anything else I've missed, any other grievenece my "Anonymous" posters have for me...let me know.
If not, let's all move on. I'd really hate to lock comments so that just these 7 people can read them again. And it wouldn't be because I don't want to hear what people say-you guys think you're the FIRST ones to tell me this? Please...
It'd be because that ONE poste, is NOT what this blog is about. If you don't like what I have to say-don't read.
And this is the last time I'm entertaining this type of conversation here. I do plan to make big moves and changes in the next year.
End of story.
THIS is the post everyone has decided to jump on and comment on...so I feel it's neccessary to defend my position, instead of going on, telling people about the show that I'm in.
First off, let me say I'm very sorry for putting that ONE statement in the blog post, because you all grabbed it and ran with it and beat me over the coals for it.
Second, I KNOW that I'm not in NY bussing tables or anything like that-don't you think I'd LOVE to be doing that? LOVE to be in NY somewhere, taking shifts at a part time job? I'm on survivaljobsforactors.com everyday looking for stuff just like that-haven't found anything yet. So let's start there.
I know I'm in community theatre in the suburbs right now-and Im not going to be here much longer, and am scouring playbill.com everyday looking for open calls since I don't have my equity card and can't go to equity calls yet.
As for living at home-anyone that's a RECENT college graduate almost has no choice but to live at home. Unless they've got something set up in terms of a significant other, or a roommate to live with and split the rent with, neither of which I have.
And where did I ever say that I think my life is like Mark and Roger's? I've never used those words, not once, not ever. I know that I don't live that way, I'm not dumb.
I know auditions aren't easy to get, I'm not delusional..but, I could still "audition my ass off" at the auditions that I DO get-right? Right.
Now. If there's anything else I've missed, any other grievenece my "Anonymous" posters have for me...let me know.
If not, let's all move on. I'd really hate to lock comments so that just these 7 people can read them again. And it wouldn't be because I don't want to hear what people say-you guys think you're the FIRST ones to tell me this? Please...
It'd be because that ONE poste, is NOT what this blog is about. If you don't like what I have to say-don't read.
And this is the last time I'm entertaining this type of conversation here. I do plan to make big moves and changes in the next year.
End of story.
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Countdown is ON!!!
Well, here it is folks...FOUR DAYS TIL OPENING!!
Gotta say, I always start to get butterflies as we go into tech week and are fully in groove and tune with out characters, and with each other. Now's the time for the last second fine tuning, and making sure the sound, lights, and props are all where they need to be, and fill in the missing gaps.
This is also the week that we all may as well set up cots in the theatre as we are there longer hours than with regular rehearsal. This is why actors affectionately call this week "hell week"!
Here's what this week has in store for me:
Monday-need to be at the theatre for 6pm...need to be able to eat dinner around 5, or grab something on the way and eat it at the theatre as I get into costume, hair and makeup.
Tuesday-Important e-mail to be written in the morning, 2 hour workout, and need to be at the theatre for 6pm
This goes on until Thursday. On Thursday night, we have our one and only preview performance-we call it our "dress rehearsal", but we DO have an audience, so I call it our preview performance.
Usually, we open the theatre up to anyone who wants to see the show for free-remember, this is the dress rehearsal- and then after the performance, the actors sit onstage and answer various questions and take compliments from the audience.
However-that is NOT the case with this show. On Thursday night, we are having the "women in business" group come to the theatre, and we are hosting a special night full of finger sandwhiches and lessons about how far women have come since the 1850s-now.
The show is scheduled to start...at 6:30pm! This means, I need to be at the theatre for 5pm..Thursday's going to be fun as I make last minute arrangements for people who want to come to the show in the coming weeks, and make sure my butt is in the makeup chair by NO LATER than 5:15, and I've eaten, no later than 5:30.
Man I love this industry!
This will also be the week that you see actors doing their pre-show rituals, more bonding will occur backstage now that we're no longer allowed to sit in the audience and watch each other, and THIS is where the memories start coming from when all is said and done.
I am incredibly excited to begin this show on Thursday night, and even more excited for opening on Friday night!
On Friday afternoon, I'll post another blog and document the pre-show feelings as I sit at home in preparation for leaving for the theatre.
Until next time.... :)
Gotta say, I always start to get butterflies as we go into tech week and are fully in groove and tune with out characters, and with each other. Now's the time for the last second fine tuning, and making sure the sound, lights, and props are all where they need to be, and fill in the missing gaps.
This is also the week that we all may as well set up cots in the theatre as we are there longer hours than with regular rehearsal. This is why actors affectionately call this week "hell week"!
Here's what this week has in store for me:
Monday-need to be at the theatre for 6pm...need to be able to eat dinner around 5, or grab something on the way and eat it at the theatre as I get into costume, hair and makeup.
Tuesday-Important e-mail to be written in the morning, 2 hour workout, and need to be at the theatre for 6pm
This goes on until Thursday. On Thursday night, we have our one and only preview performance-we call it our "dress rehearsal", but we DO have an audience, so I call it our preview performance.
Usually, we open the theatre up to anyone who wants to see the show for free-remember, this is the dress rehearsal- and then after the performance, the actors sit onstage and answer various questions and take compliments from the audience.
However-that is NOT the case with this show. On Thursday night, we are having the "women in business" group come to the theatre, and we are hosting a special night full of finger sandwhiches and lessons about how far women have come since the 1850s-now.
The show is scheduled to start...at 6:30pm! This means, I need to be at the theatre for 5pm..Thursday's going to be fun as I make last minute arrangements for people who want to come to the show in the coming weeks, and make sure my butt is in the makeup chair by NO LATER than 5:15, and I've eaten, no later than 5:30.
Man I love this industry!
This will also be the week that you see actors doing their pre-show rituals, more bonding will occur backstage now that we're no longer allowed to sit in the audience and watch each other, and THIS is where the memories start coming from when all is said and done.
I am incredibly excited to begin this show on Thursday night, and even more excited for opening on Friday night!
On Friday afternoon, I'll post another blog and document the pre-show feelings as I sit at home in preparation for leaving for the theatre.
Until next time.... :)
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