Even though I was crampy and irritable and had a sore throat I had a good show last night and two good auditions today. On Friday I get a call from the folks at ACT they were holding a round of auditions Monday for Tales of the City. I totally ate those books up in paperback and never thought I would ever get a call. It would have been nice if I had a little more time to prep, but I am not one to be picky. I had to trust my talent and with an early morning audition I had to bank on my technique. They wanted a pop-rock song and since the Scisssor Sisters are composing JRB recommended singing How Deep Is Your Love by the BeeGees. I have been cramming lyrics for that and Eddie Floyd's On the Radio since Saturday night when I met with Dave Moschler. I got up super early and luckily Jerald was in Sac so I could warm up and freak out. This included all of my warm ups and singing both songs down the octave, up the active, on vowel - even singing in bent over. That one got me a little sick to my stomach. I was not sure if that was nerves or being light-headed. Luckily, the high range was there when I needed it and the folks at ACT and my fellow auditionees were quite lovely. I was also able to get out in time to make it up to Mill Valley to teach Playwriting this morning. The kids were a little scattered. We moved to the theatre and it was a little distracting teaching in the lobby of the theatre.
I was pretty out of it for the rest of the day. I was too nervous to eat breakfast so I made some cheese toast and soup when I got home and then passed out on the couch.
I got up in time to get down to Lafayette to audition at Town Hall for Glass Menagerie. Susannah Martin is directing and while I dusted off the Darlene Craviotto's Pizza Man monologue I have been doing for the past 15 years I found some new things. At last night's performance of The Real Thing there was tons of new energy. Not surprising in the second week of a three week run. It was exciting to respond to new things. What did surprise me is what Ms. Martin coaxed out of me this evening. I hoped to pull out a new piece, but with my schedule I decided to mold the Pizza Man piece into Amanda's world. I have done the piece with just about every dialect and have changed the age of the character in question as I have matured. This morning I put it at 30 and for the first time this evening I did it at 40. It's been a while that I was given direction on a monologue and it was kinda nice. I noticed Susannah's head nodding as I found a new way through her direction. I cannot even tell you how I love that. It felt great. It's the mark of a smart director, a good piece and an actor who listens.
As I begin to teach the second 2-week Cal Shakes camp I am so excited to add an acting class to the movement regiment. I had a little freak out a few minutes ago when I realized that I didn't plan tomorrow's class. Luckily I have all of the DRA 10 notes and to be honest, I can teach an intro class with little planning. In class one, how can I get the students to relax and observe. I have them for 5 sessions (a combo of acting and movement) so I think I can wait until session 2 to play with trust.
No comments:
Post a Comment