I had an audition on Saturday for Cats. It's not the type of show I would ordinarily audition for. I'm not an exceptional dancer. I also don't know the show very well, and Webber isn't my favorite. But I'm eager to be in a musical again, so I'm pretty much trying out for everything.
And I had a blast at auditions!
Well, with the exception of my nervousness during the singing audition. What is going on with me? I started out fine, and then I started feeling panicky. And, I was the second-to-last person to sing ... and most of the people who went before me weren't really singers. They ranged from bad to okay to good, but nobody was terrific. I didn't have anything to be nervous about really. But there I was singing, while my insides were jumping all over the place. *sigh*
After the singing was the dance. First we learned the dance combination. It was tricky, but not too hard. After learning it, we performed in pairs. When I performed, I did it the best I had done it to that point, and didn't mess up the steps. ... And then we had to do it again! That unexpected turn made me nervous, and I messed up the second time. (In fact, they had to start the music over. And then I still kind of messed up the second time through.) Oh well. I wasn't going to out-dance the other dancers anyway. Overall, I was pleased with my dance audition. Then we did a series of kicks and leaps and crawling on the floor (to show our extension and movement abilities).
We ended with improv. They'd pull up two or three of us and give us a scenario (e.g. cats fighting then making up, cats stalking something or being stalked). So much fun! It was one of those situations where you could really let go of your inhibitions. I didn't worry about looking silly or stupid — because it was a given that I was going to look silly and stupid! So I just committed to what I was doing. After one round, I realized that I was so involved in that little world that I had no awareness of the production team or the other auditioners. And it was so freeing to crawl and jump around like a cat! It's so different from my normal life of sitting behind a desk.
After the auditions I was extremely sore and tired, but it was a great time and totally worth it. I'll find out today or tomorrow whether I got cast.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
A Bird in the Hand...
There are certain shows I'd rather do than others. But I've learned not to pass on auditions for one show just because I'm hoping to get cast in a different show later.
Coming up, there are auditions for Little Shop of Horrors. The production dates conflict with key rehearsal period for West Side Story. So it's impossible to do both shows. If I had my druthers, I'd pick WSS. But I'm not going to not audition for LSoH on the hopes that I'd get cast in the other show. Simple enough.
But I have an option to have a really plum role in the Green Mountain Renaissance Festival. The conflict is that I really should give an answer asap. But I also have two sets of auditions for musicals (LSoH and Cats) coming up. In this case, I'd really rather be in a "real" show than in the ren fest. Plus, I wouldn't have to completely give up being in the ren fest if I said no to the big role and then didn't get the musical. I'd just have to give up the big role.
On the other hand, given my recent bad luck at being cast in anything, I can probably play both sides for the time being. I can say yes to the big ren fest role and audition for the musicals. If I don't get into the musicals (most likely scenario), then I have a nice big role in the ren fest. If I do get into the musicals, well, then I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it.
Coming up, there are auditions for Little Shop of Horrors. The production dates conflict with key rehearsal period for West Side Story. So it's impossible to do both shows. If I had my druthers, I'd pick WSS. But I'm not going to not audition for LSoH on the hopes that I'd get cast in the other show. Simple enough.
But I have an option to have a really plum role in the Green Mountain Renaissance Festival. The conflict is that I really should give an answer asap. But I also have two sets of auditions for musicals (LSoH and Cats) coming up. In this case, I'd really rather be in a "real" show than in the ren fest. Plus, I wouldn't have to completely give up being in the ren fest if I said no to the big role and then didn't get the musical. I'd just have to give up the big role.
On the other hand, given my recent bad luck at being cast in anything, I can probably play both sides for the time being. I can say yes to the big ren fest role and audition for the musicals. If I don't get into the musicals (most likely scenario), then I have a nice big role in the ren fest. If I do get into the musicals, well, then I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Creating a Performance
I've gotten my first good taste of directing in the past few days. (I'm assistant director for A Few Good Men.)
I'm sure I prefer acting. But directing is a great alternative! I still get to help craft a performance, so that's a wonderful feeling. And I find I have some amount of natural talent for it. I could probably be a pretty good director.
What I know of directing comes from having been an actor. And, I think, that directing can help me become a stronger actor.
I'm sure I prefer acting. But directing is a great alternative! I still get to help craft a performance, so that's a wonderful feeling. And I find I have some amount of natural talent for it. I could probably be a pretty good director.
What I know of directing comes from having been an actor. And, I think, that directing can help me become a stronger actor.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
What's Stopping Me?
My mom told me the other day that the things we think are holding us back aren't always things that actually are holding us back.
That makes a great amount of sense. I saw a TV biography of Stephen King that described how he worked until late at night (after his "real"/day job). Sometimes I think I don't have time to do all the things I want to do, but then I spend an evening sitting on the couch watching a movie on TV I've already seen. That's a result of feeling tired and uninspired. But motivation can overcome tiredness and lack of time.
So I have to ask myself a) What do I want? and b) Do I want it enough to not be lazy about it? The long-term response is that I'd do anything, I'd work my butt off to achieve my dreams. But the short-term response is often that I'd rather take a nap or read. That's the tendency I need to fight against. And that's part of the reason I've started this blog — to hold myself accountable for taking actual steps toward achieving my dreams.
That makes a great amount of sense. I saw a TV biography of Stephen King that described how he worked until late at night (after his "real"/day job). Sometimes I think I don't have time to do all the things I want to do, but then I spend an evening sitting on the couch watching a movie on TV I've already seen. That's a result of feeling tired and uninspired. But motivation can overcome tiredness and lack of time.
So I have to ask myself a) What do I want? and b) Do I want it enough to not be lazy about it? The long-term response is that I'd do anything, I'd work my butt off to achieve my dreams. But the short-term response is often that I'd rather take a nap or read. That's the tendency I need to fight against. And that's part of the reason I've started this blog — to hold myself accountable for taking actual steps toward achieving my dreams.
Learning is Power
Why do actors and others take classes? It's probably because it's something — possibly the only thing — they can have in their control.
One of the best ways to learn is by doing, but that's not always an option. So, I sign up for lessons instead of stagnating. I started vocal lessons in early March. And I sent in registration for an "acting through song" class this summer. (I have yet to see if I am actually registered or if the class is full.)
It feels good to be actually doing something. That's an end to itself. And hopefully, it will also be a means to an end (i.e. getting cast in shows).
The other aspect of this (other than the desire to keep moving and doing) is the realization that I might have to work for what I want. I know it sounds ridiculous that I'm just now realizing this. It's primarily because acting and singing never felt like work that I didn't think I had to work at it. This isn't Broadway; it's community theatre. Many people do it just for fun and don't work at it and don't have to. And I know how to sing; I'm a naturally good singer — so why would I need to take singing lessons? But maybe I have to work to improve myself and improve my chances. Maybe, to get what I want, I have to put in some genuine toil.
And what I want is twofold: 1) to gain more opportunities (i.e. being cast) and 2) to improve myself and learn for the sake of learning, which I hope will boost my confidence and the amount of joy I take from my art.
One of the best ways to learn is by doing, but that's not always an option. So, I sign up for lessons instead of stagnating. I started vocal lessons in early March. And I sent in registration for an "acting through song" class this summer. (I have yet to see if I am actually registered or if the class is full.)
It feels good to be actually doing something. That's an end to itself. And hopefully, it will also be a means to an end (i.e. getting cast in shows).
The other aspect of this (other than the desire to keep moving and doing) is the realization that I might have to work for what I want. I know it sounds ridiculous that I'm just now realizing this. It's primarily because acting and singing never felt like work that I didn't think I had to work at it. This isn't Broadway; it's community theatre. Many people do it just for fun and don't work at it and don't have to. And I know how to sing; I'm a naturally good singer — so why would I need to take singing lessons? But maybe I have to work to improve myself and improve my chances. Maybe, to get what I want, I have to put in some genuine toil.
And what I want is twofold: 1) to gain more opportunities (i.e. being cast) and 2) to improve myself and learn for the sake of learning, which I hope will boost my confidence and the amount of joy I take from my art.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
The story behind the URL
My dad reminded me of this story the other day. (I don't actually remember the incident myself, but I'd heard it before from multiple family members.)
When I was 2 years old, I used to go around singing all the time. One day, my grandma asked me why I sang all the time. I replied, "I have music in my body!"
(Yes, I was talking in complete sentences and singing at 2 years old.) That story seems to be a perfect way to start this blog. There's something in me — in all artists — that fuels this unexplained need to create, to play, to explore, to imagine. My 2-year-old self understood it, perhaps better than my adult self does. Art is a part of me, and I should embrace it and feed my passion.
When I was 2 years old, I used to go around singing all the time. One day, my grandma asked me why I sang all the time. I replied, "I have music in my body!"
(Yes, I was talking in complete sentences and singing at 2 years old.) That story seems to be a perfect way to start this blog. There's something in me — in all artists — that fuels this unexplained need to create, to play, to explore, to imagine. My 2-year-old self understood it, perhaps better than my adult self does. Art is a part of me, and I should embrace it and feed my passion.
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