Closer to Performance

So it's been a bit more than a week since I've started rehearsal for "Seven Deadly Sins," and it's going pretty smoothly. I'm playing multiple roles, in fact I just added another one yesterday. We open on Thursday, February 10, at 9:30 pm. We run for 4 weeks at that time slot, then move to 8 pm. The theater is called The Next Stage, and is near La Brea and Sunset. Tickets are $20 a person, but for each person who says they came to see me, I get $5! Woot! Also, they do industry comps for agents etc. I'm trying to decide if I should use the postcards I have, with my old headshot on them, or the printed ones for the show, to send out to agents and managers. I don't think I have my phone number listed on the headshot ones, so it should be ok, since I got them done when I was still in Baltimore.

I'm looking forward to performance, I'm almost off-book now. The sketches are really starting to come together! I'm pretty happy with the choices I'm making with the characters, and I'm playing my newest one very similarly to the way the previous actress did, if only because that was how the director wanted it. But it was also a good, strong choice, and I'm pretty sure I can own it myself. I'm definitely having a great time, that's for sure, it's a really free, creative environment, different from Kentwood in about a thousand ways!!

Chris Berube, who runs the theater, is really open to producing and lending space to projects. He says if we have a piece we really want to do, or a workshop we want to try, he'll give us the space for rehearsal and performance for free, as long as he gets a percentage of the door. Pretty fair, I think! One of the other actresses said she loves Tennessee Williams, and really wants to do some, and he said if she wanted to put a show on she could. Just like that, and based off of an off-hand comment. It probably helps that he doesn't have a board or paying membership he has to appease in any way, he just does what he wants since it's his name on the lease. Everyone in a show is a member automatically, and gets free admission to other shows, and that membership is good as long as they stay active in the theater! I think he may start charging admission though if they haven't seen or done anything there in like a few years.

Basically, I'm pretty excited to be in the group, especially when I hear that people like Paul Reubens and Alan Rickman come by pretty often. I think the show is gonna be good, and I can't wait for curtain!

New Project!!

On Friday I had an audition at The Next Stage, a small theater in North Hollywood. The director asked us to do an exercise, in lieu of a line reading or a monologue. We got on stage, three at a time, and when he put the music and blue light on, we had to approach these boxes, as though something was attracting us to them, something we made up in our heads, something evil. Then, when he shifted the lights to red, we were to become possessed by whatever was in the box. I chose Pride, and when the lights changed, I started crawling slowly up onto the box, saying stuff like "I can do 800 jumping jacks," and "I won an award for my cake at the bake sale," in a creepy sort of voice, just listing accomplishments as though I was desperate for approval. It was a strange little exercise, but I guess the point was to have us make a deliberate choice and see how we moved and presented ourselves on stage, which I've never really had a problem with. I sweated a couple days, but last night the director called me to offer a part!

The project is called The Seven Deadly Sins, written by the director I believe, and it's basically a series of vignettes around the theme. A lot of theaters in the area seem to be doing similar pieces, as I've seen audition notices at other places. But the company seems really cool. The theater space is small but I think I'll have a lot of fun with it. The schedule is actually gonna be really convenient since rehearsals are in the afternoons rather than evenings, and performances are only Thursday nights. Rehearsals are Monday through Friday, but only for three to four weeks, so really it's not that major of a commitment, which means it won't interfere with work too much and I can still look at other projects. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that Banana makes me close most days, I could probably do a whole other play on top of this one!

Anyway, I'm super excited just to be working on something creative, and I'm really interested in seeing how it turns out!

Getting Out There

Well now that I'm on Actor's Access, there's absolutely no excuse! I've submitted to tons and tons of projects, and have had 2 auditions, neither of which I have heard back from. HOWEVER, I'm hopeful I'll get into a new project soon. Thus far I really like the website's system, great breakdowns, a lot of sides through Showfax, a good messaging/appointment confirmation system, and it's super easy to use. I can apply to 10 projects in however long it takes me to decide which roles I want. Generally about 10 minutes!

Work at Banana Republic is coming along at its own pace, I'm learning a lot and the people are lovely. Hopefully, I'll have enough money put aside for a new haircut...much needed! I think it's long enough that the old cut can be fixed, but I'm trying to decide if I want to keep the length and just clean it up, or cut it back to shoulder-length, it's about 10 times easier to deal with that way!

So far I'm doing ok in auditions...but I have a real desire to get back into an acting class, maybe an audition intensive or something. I have this feeling that I have a lot of great things inside me, I just need someone with the right connections to believe in me enough and get me some work! The agency search drags on, there is just no easy way to go about it. Hopefully when I'm working on a film, I'll look a bit more enticing!

Agent Shopping

Well I got a copy of the Representation Directory (holy mother it's huge and expensive!) and I'm on IMDBPro, which means I get to check out all the agencies in the area. I sent out about 50 or so submissions, and I'm sending more soon. Postage is kind of expensive, unfortunately. To save a little, I'm emailing my materials whenever possible. I have snazzy labels, so I can put a professional touch to it.

So far I've had one bite. A commercial agency called me back, and I had an audition with them last Thursday. I read a PSA about drugs and a L'Oreal commercial spot. I really think the on-camera class I took in MD a couple years ago really helped! I tried to slow down and take my time, smiled a lot (at least for the L'Oreal bit!) and tried to look at the camera a lot. I think I read my best, and I feel good about it. They said if they were interested I'd be hearing back in the next two weeks. In the meantime, I'm just gonna keep submitting myself for things.

Kids' classes are over, so my next project is helping out with choreography for a workshop of Little Shop of Horrors. I'm gonna concentrate on the urchins, do some motown style stuff, and just add a little to what the leads are already doing. Honestly, doing the classes gave me a lot of confidence for what I could do creatively, it was a real stretch trying to add choreography to a number like "Not While I'm Around" (Sweeney Todd), which doesn't traditionally involve dance at all.

Other than that I don't really have any projects in the offing, I'm taking some time to save up money with my new job, and anyway I'm planning to go away for a couple weeks with Jake, so it's hard for me to commit to anything right now. I am, however, looking forward to seeing my friends in some shows!

Real Actor Stuff

I'm on IMDB! You can see me here, where there's a link to the independent film I did, as well as a trailer. Hopefully more stuff will follow. "As You Like It" has closed, so now I'm trying to concentrate on more financially pro-active stuff, and I'm looking for representation. I'm hoping to get some work as a Production Assistant, as well as acting.

I am still involved in theatre though, which I'm happy about, still with Kentwood Players. I'm doing a workshop of "Bell Book and Candle" as Gillian, we're just doing the first scene. I'm also doing more dance there, assisting in the kids' classes and choreographing the "Little Shop of Horrors" workshop in November. It's a lot of fun, and not a huge commitment.

Making Progress

Well I've moved to LA and my head has finally stopped spinning after about a month! I'm doing temp work, looking for more permanent income, and getting settled in my new place. I'm also developing a routine for dealing with work and acting.

I was just cast as Audrey in As You Like It with the Kentwood Players in Westchester, a community theatre. The role isn't too complex or involved, so I don't have a lot of lines to learn and I don't have to be at all the rehearsals. Would I rather have been cast as Rosalind? Of course, who wouldn't? But it's still acting, it's still something for the resume, and it will actually mean less conflict for possible work and chances to go visit Jake. Plus, for my first Los Angeles audition, I think I did pretty well! The company is great, all the other actors seem really nice, and the directors and stage manager are really cool, they have a definite vision for the show. I don't want to give too much away, but it's a great take on the story, with some really inspired ideas for presentation.

I'm still looking around for paying work and film stuff, but you know, my first love is theatre, it's what I'm best at, and I think it'll be a great way to make new friends. Heck, I made some amazingfriends in VA doing theatre!

I'm a bit lacking in money, and there's always something else that MUST get done, that has to be paid for, or whatever, but I'm trying to be frugal and focus on getting more work, rather than freaking out.

Award-winning work!

Last summer, I was priveleged to work on a project as a Production Assistant. We were making a "previsualization" or "previz," which is basically what you show to investors when you're trying to make a full-length film. We shot several scenes from a script called "Hot Flash" by Barbie DeSantis, directed by David DeBoy, and they were edited into a short trailer that gives a feel of the concept of the entire film.

Well apparently it was entered into the 3rd annual Indie Short Film Competition and won the Grand Prize for Best Short Film for 2009! They won a ton of prizes for it, you can see more about the competition and the other winners here. You can also watch the finished product and learn more about the project here.

I only had a small part in the process, basically as a gopher, umbrella holder, photographer, and wardrobe assistant, but it was tons of fun, and everyone I worked with was professional, kind, and extremely talented. I'm so proud of the work we did, and I hope it gets picked up and made into a full-length feature soon, it's such a great script!