Drinks, Rain, and Rock n' Roll

So today I got up early and headed downtown for a cattle call for a Broadway show. When I arrived the line was so far back that I was sitting in a gas station. Luckily, my friend Laura from college was there too! We kept each other company while we waited to audition.

Then it began to rain. I ran to my car to get an umbrella for us, only to discover that I had actually cleaned it out recently. I ran into a White Hen and they didn't have any, so I bought a box of garbage bags. While draping garbage bags over myself and Laura, we handed out extra ones and made friends with the people around us. Since it was raining, the casting monitor started handing out numbers and hour chunks to return. I was number 248, and I was to be back for the 3-4PM hour, and it was currently 10:30AM.

Laura and I and our 2 new out-of-town friends piled into my car and we drove to Wishbone. We had a delicious breakfast together. We drove back to the audition place, and Laura left to get some things for work later. That left me and the 2 guys. We hopped into the bar across the street.

So we drank together, had a shot with the awesome bartender and got to know each other. When 2:00 rolled around, we closed our tab and took a walk around the block. Then we met up with Laura and we began waiting, again.

Finally we were ushered into a dance studio to wait some more. We were lined up in groups of 20 or so and made to wait in a hallway. I went in and sang, it went really well. I don't think I was the correct vocal type for the show, but at least I did a good job! We cheered each other on, and one by one we finished. None of us got a callback. We said our goodbyes, exchanged information, and were happy to have had such a nice day.

The Good and the Bad

As my theatre teacher always told me to do, I'll start with what's positive:

The people I work with are great. They all responded super fast to my plea to switch work shifts, and most people wished me luck on my audition. That was so nice. Also, no one has punched me in the face for asking one million questions. So that's also really good.

The people in my play seem pretty cool too. I've only had two rehearsals, and one was just a reading, but they seem like a good group of people. I'm excited to really start to get into it.

Alright now what's bad:

My audition today was all over the place. The songs I ended up doing went fine, but I was somewhere else. I'm pissed that I let myself get so flustered, but they told me about five minutes before I went in, that they actually wanted a different genre than they had said on the phone. Great. Good things I had my book, but I still wasn't totally prepared. The piano player was super nice, and she made the audition bearable.

I am unmotivated. I haven't been working on new monologues, reading plays, or doing any movement work (yoga, exercise, combat, or dance). When I have more free time, I tend to let things slip. Someone needs to just come and organize me a bit and give me deadlines and goals... although I suppose I'll just be proactive and figure it out myself.

Talent alone won't make you a success. Neither will being in the right place at the right time, unless you are ready. The most important question is:
'Are your ready?'"

- Johnny Carson

One Show I Won't Be Doing

Well, that was a doomed audition from the start. I guess it was a self-fulfilling prophecy somewhat. I was surprised I was called back for Beth, as I didn't sing anything like that in the audition. I am more of an Amy or Jo.

Anyway, I was thrilled to be called back at all, but super nervous as I wasn't confident in that singing that role. I was feeling good last night, but still I felt a disconnect from the material. I have a very good instinct about what roles I am good for, and I was not getting any vibes from this.

So at the audition, I went in and my breathing was not there. I had to take odd catch breaths and some notes sounded gravely... mostly because I am exhausted and so is my voice. Anywho, it's over with now and at least I got a callback with all those people who sounded really great.

I also met a very nice girl who is playing Jo right now somewhere else. I couldn't believe there are genuinely nice people like that out there still. Although we were both called for Beth she offered me her headband when mine broke, and wanted to come see my show. It pretty much made the whole trip worth it - to know that humanity is essentially good at heart.

Actors Are Crazy

So every audition is basically the same, at least at the level I am at right now.

There is/are...

...the girl "getting into character" or making herself sad for her monologue in the corner.
...the talkative straight guy who doesn't know for what he is auditioning, or what he needed to prepare.
...the uptight gay guy who is all business (unless his girl friend is there, and they chat about how great the other is very loudly).
...the girls in high heels.
...the girls who are women pretending to be girls.
...the girls who are going to let everyone know they aren't nervous by talking to everyone like they know them, and laughing at everything.
...the "normal" people who are semi-relaxed and are genuinely nice.
...the people who know everyone there, including the director.

I've probably been all of these at some point, even the gay guy. Anyway, if you want to go to an audition that's what you can expect to find.

Things I Like:

1. Dreamgirls
2. My new haircut
3. Lists
4. Love's frozen yogurt
5. Twizzler Bites
6. um... people, sometimes

(insert awkward segue about liking things) New York: Super fun and super fast.

Day 1 - I arrived in Chelsea and began to adventure for food with my good friend Mason. We wandered about and decided on Benny's Burritos as it was Cinco de Mayo. Needless to say, frozen margaritas were had. As we walked back we spotted A Salt & Battery, which was recently on Bobby Flay's Throwdown. If you know me, I am not a huge fan of fish, but they did have a FRIED MARS BAR! It was a bit disappointing. It's basically a mars bar (delicious) with a funnel cake on top (too much). I later met up with Zach and his friend and we went to a local bar Flight for dinner and drinks. Then later Zach graciously lent me his bed, and I snuggled up to watch Free Willy and went to sleep.

Day 2 - I woke up early and waited for student tickets for plays. I made a friend while waiting in-line who recommended some good stuff. I ended up seeing 110 in the Shade and Spring Awakening. Both were excellent. Audra McDonald is a goddess. Spring Awakening was extra fun because Zach knew one of the guys in it, and I met one of the associate set designers that morning at the boy's apartment. Traveled around all day by myself, and it was very easy and fun. Then we all got some Ben and Jerry's and I crashed on the couch.

Day 3 - I got up and went to my Oregon Shakes audition. It was easy to find and close by which was convenient. The audition went 45% very good 55% fine I think. Which is great considering I haven't done a monologue, let alone Shakespeare in a semester. Then I went back packed up and flew home.

Overall, it was great. Thanks so much to everyone who helped me out for those few days. I will most definitely be back to visit, if not to live one day in the future.

Oklahoma!

So a while back I auditioned for the Light Opera Works season, which included Oklahoma. I got a callback and I had to do a short jazz combo from Kiss Me Kate, and then a very long ballet sequence from Oklahoma. Oh, and, by the way, I am not a dancer. Then, I saw this clip from Reno 911.

Hmm...maybe next time I'll just take a few shots before the dance callback.

P.S. Firefox is definitely the way to go.