Bah! I just found out that all slots are filled for the League of Washington Theatres auditions! Damn.
I really wanted to make those happen, I just didn't know if I would be able to make the planned time... See, it would have required me to have the following itinerary.
- Sunday, Feb. 8th
Perform in Spreading It Around at Stage Door Players.
Leave immediately after and drive from Atlanta, GA to Memphis, TN (6 hours, 14 minutes) for UPTA.
- Monday, Feb. 9th
Audition in the afternoon for the fine folks at UPTA. Callbacks (hopefully) into the night. Drive from Memphis, TN to Nashville, TN (3 hours, 13 minutes). Find a place to sleep.
- Tuesday, Feb. 10th
Get up. Drive from Nashville, TN to Washington DC (10 hours, 27 minutes). Find Meg and Tyrone. Sleep and prepare for the long day ahead of me.
- Wednesday, Feb. 11th
Audition for League of Washington Theatres. High five Obama. And, either this day or the next, depending on my audition time, drive back to Atlanta from Washington DC (10 hours, 10 minutes).
- Thursday, Feb. 12th
Collapse. Do Spreading It Around again.
All in all, it would have been a trip I'm not sure I'm capable of making any more. But, man, it would have been fun to give it a shot...
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The New Year
Here we are, folks. 2009. As I look back on the year that we just left, I must admit, it's been pretty eventful.
- I started this year having not even performed once at The Shakespeare Tavern, the place I now consider to be my "theatre home" in Atlanta. By the end, I'd added Twelfth Night, an understudy gig in Romeo and Juliet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, my beloved Much Ado About Nothing, and the Three Parts of Henry VI. Not only that, but I was their May Featured Actor, which got me a lunch with Redd, so it's alright by me.
- I started this year basically not going to church, since not being able to attend The Journey. Now, I'm the comic host at Kidstuf Buckhead, and feel like I'm actually affecting positive change, I judge.
- That's another difference. A year ago, I wasn't ending any sentences with "I judge."
So, here I am, a year later. A year older. A year into my Atlanta theatre career, having auditioned for most of the places I want to audition for. I've auditioned at The Alliance, Theatre in the Square, 7 Stages, Georgia Ensemble, Synchronicity, Theatrical Outfit and Georgia Shakespeare. Now, granted, nothing came from those... So, maybe that's a bad thing. Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe it's just a thing. The hope is, though, that the more familiar these people become with my face and with my work, the more comfortable they will feel using me. That's the hope...anyway. Plus, there are a couple of spots in town that I'd really like to audition for that I haven't been able to, for one reason or another (I'm looking at you Horizon, Aurora, Actor's Express and True Colors...), so I've got to redouble my efforts this year.
I say I've never been one for resolutions, but, down deep, I know I am. I love the idea of being able to have a fresh start, and will myself to a better, somehow more true "me". Some have worked out pretty well in the past. Some haven't. Some I make foolishly, knowing I've got no real control over them. But, most are resolutions that are based on my own willpower and drive. This year, I'm hoping I have more of the latter.
By my expectations, I've had an incredibly successful year. Coming out of my apprenticeship, I didn't dream that I would be involved so much in the next year at the Tavern. There's a problem buried in that, though. I'm so used to working solidly, especially during the tail end of the year, anything less feels like failure. Do I need to readjust my expectations or let that feeling of failure drive me, even if nothing comes from it? I don't know. Really, truly.
I'm doing a lot of introspection. "Thinking out loud" is how I just described this.
So...what do I want to do (somewhat "professionally") in 2009?
- Lose Weight.
Isn't that just so cliché? I lost a lot of weight my summer at The Lost Colony, but, since then, I've sort of stagnated. It's almost enough reason to make me want to go back. (You hear me, Tim Dunn!? Spectrum!) Don't get me wrong, I feel like I was getting in really good shape (for me, at least...), but my weight loss sort of plateaued. Not only that, but in the last few months, I feel I've taken some pretty severe steps backwards. Well, no longer. I'm going to start my new workout program on Monday. I'll be doing some basic warm-up workouts this week, to get my body used to the idea that it's going to start having to work again. Then, I begin my EXTRA SUPER SPECIAL WORKOUT PLAN OF PAIN. It has, basically, three components.
P90X, which forms the backbone of the program.
Bas Rutten's MMA Workout. One! Liver Punch! Right Straight, Left Hook!
And, of course, good old fashioned weightlifting and cardio.
Theoretically, I'll be doing two workouts a day (excepting Sundays and rest weeks...) for 90 days. If I can make it through...and there is doubt in my mind...then I will come out the other side in the best shape of my life. I just know it.
- Work around Atlanta more.
I really like Atlanta. I mean...I'm truly a huge fan of Atlanta. I like it's proximity to home. I like it's proximity to the only other place I've felt at home. I like the fact that it's in the south, so it's warm and people talk slowly. I like the people I've met down here. I like the Hawks. I like living in a city, without the feel of living in a city. I like the fact that, actually, it's a pretty darn good theatre town, with a lot of different options for jobs. That's where this one comes in.
I want to establish myself more firmly in Atlanta. In reality, I could see myself being here for a very long time. Laura Cole, one of my teachers at the Tavern, said in a podcast interview that she was interested in training and retaining Atlanta actors. I want to be one of those actors, so one of my goals is to work around town. To get more places on my resume, to improve my standing at The Tavern, and, in general, start to gain a foothold as a solid Atlanta actor.
- Audition outside of Atlanta more.
Now...that being said...I want to go where the work is. For instance, this summer, I see nothing for me around town. Last year, when I went to UPTA, it was on a lark more than anything else. I was pretty sure I would be able to swing something in the summer, and I wanted to be able to solidify my standing in Atlanta further. Now, though, I really want to be out of town this summer. Don't get me wrong, if something fantastic fell in my lap from any of those places I mentioned earlier, I'd take it. But my instinct tells me that I need to roll on to another pasture for a bit.
And that doesn't just me talking from a summer perspective. I want to head back up to Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and audition for Shakespeare Live, to give that one last shot. I want to head to Orlando Shakespeare and get in for their generals, so that I might be able to take a year and move back down there. I'm strongly considering going to the League of Washington Theatres general audition, since I've got an offer to live up there, rent free. I'm also...secretly...half considering auditioning for another "apprenticeship" type position out of town. It's something I'm currently wrestling with since, frankly, I'm so old. 26, folks. It ain't no picnic.
I'm in like with Atlanta. Not quite in L-U-V, yet. I want to be...but I also want to go where I'm able to get hired.
- Read More. Learn More.
I feel this is pretty self explanatory. As I've said before, I can't change a perception of me. But I can change myself, and through that, others may change their perception. I want to educate myself. That will change me.
- Slowly...quietly...take another step toward my degree.
I don't care what it is. But I need to move forward. Sounds like something else I can do this summer.
- Go to Florida more.
I actually don't know if I can do this. I've been to Florida quite a bit this last year... This one isn't particularly professional. I just like it.
- Enjoy it.
It's been a really good year. A hard one to top, frankly. I started off this year in a place of structure. Now I'm in a very nebulous place, where things switch from month to month. I played Claudio. In the last six months, I made more money from acting than I did at my "day job", which made me feel like a professional. Without the quotes. I ended the year by going to Disney World and a black dude got elected president. It's been a really good year. Here's hoping for another one just like it.
Love to all those that I love. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.
- I started this year having not even performed once at The Shakespeare Tavern, the place I now consider to be my "theatre home" in Atlanta. By the end, I'd added Twelfth Night, an understudy gig in Romeo and Juliet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, my beloved Much Ado About Nothing, and the Three Parts of Henry VI. Not only that, but I was their May Featured Actor, which got me a lunch with Redd, so it's alright by me.
- I started this year basically not going to church, since not being able to attend The Journey. Now, I'm the comic host at Kidstuf Buckhead, and feel like I'm actually affecting positive change, I judge.
- That's another difference. A year ago, I wasn't ending any sentences with "I judge."
So, here I am, a year later. A year older. A year into my Atlanta theatre career, having auditioned for most of the places I want to audition for. I've auditioned at The Alliance, Theatre in the Square, 7 Stages, Georgia Ensemble, Synchronicity, Theatrical Outfit and Georgia Shakespeare. Now, granted, nothing came from those... So, maybe that's a bad thing. Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe it's just a thing. The hope is, though, that the more familiar these people become with my face and with my work, the more comfortable they will feel using me. That's the hope...anyway. Plus, there are a couple of spots in town that I'd really like to audition for that I haven't been able to, for one reason or another (I'm looking at you Horizon, Aurora, Actor's Express and True Colors...), so I've got to redouble my efforts this year.
I say I've never been one for resolutions, but, down deep, I know I am. I love the idea of being able to have a fresh start, and will myself to a better, somehow more true "me". Some have worked out pretty well in the past. Some haven't. Some I make foolishly, knowing I've got no real control over them. But, most are resolutions that are based on my own willpower and drive. This year, I'm hoping I have more of the latter.
By my expectations, I've had an incredibly successful year. Coming out of my apprenticeship, I didn't dream that I would be involved so much in the next year at the Tavern. There's a problem buried in that, though. I'm so used to working solidly, especially during the tail end of the year, anything less feels like failure. Do I need to readjust my expectations or let that feeling of failure drive me, even if nothing comes from it? I don't know. Really, truly.
I'm doing a lot of introspection. "Thinking out loud" is how I just described this.
So...what do I want to do (somewhat "professionally") in 2009?
- Lose Weight.
Isn't that just so cliché? I lost a lot of weight my summer at The Lost Colony, but, since then, I've sort of stagnated. It's almost enough reason to make me want to go back. (You hear me, Tim Dunn!? Spectrum!) Don't get me wrong, I feel like I was getting in really good shape (for me, at least...), but my weight loss sort of plateaued. Not only that, but in the last few months, I feel I've taken some pretty severe steps backwards. Well, no longer. I'm going to start my new workout program on Monday. I'll be doing some basic warm-up workouts this week, to get my body used to the idea that it's going to start having to work again. Then, I begin my EXTRA SUPER SPECIAL WORKOUT PLAN OF PAIN. It has, basically, three components.
P90X, which forms the backbone of the program.
Bas Rutten's MMA Workout. One! Liver Punch! Right Straight, Left Hook!
And, of course, good old fashioned weightlifting and cardio.
Theoretically, I'll be doing two workouts a day (excepting Sundays and rest weeks...) for 90 days. If I can make it through...and there is doubt in my mind...then I will come out the other side in the best shape of my life. I just know it.
- Work around Atlanta more.
I really like Atlanta. I mean...I'm truly a huge fan of Atlanta. I like it's proximity to home. I like it's proximity to the only other place I've felt at home. I like the fact that it's in the south, so it's warm and people talk slowly. I like the people I've met down here. I like the Hawks. I like living in a city, without the feel of living in a city. I like the fact that, actually, it's a pretty darn good theatre town, with a lot of different options for jobs. That's where this one comes in.
I want to establish myself more firmly in Atlanta. In reality, I could see myself being here for a very long time. Laura Cole, one of my teachers at the Tavern, said in a podcast interview that she was interested in training and retaining Atlanta actors. I want to be one of those actors, so one of my goals is to work around town. To get more places on my resume, to improve my standing at The Tavern, and, in general, start to gain a foothold as a solid Atlanta actor.
- Audition outside of Atlanta more.
Now...that being said...I want to go where the work is. For instance, this summer, I see nothing for me around town. Last year, when I went to UPTA, it was on a lark more than anything else. I was pretty sure I would be able to swing something in the summer, and I wanted to be able to solidify my standing in Atlanta further. Now, though, I really want to be out of town this summer. Don't get me wrong, if something fantastic fell in my lap from any of those places I mentioned earlier, I'd take it. But my instinct tells me that I need to roll on to another pasture for a bit.
And that doesn't just me talking from a summer perspective. I want to head back up to Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and audition for Shakespeare Live, to give that one last shot. I want to head to Orlando Shakespeare and get in for their generals, so that I might be able to take a year and move back down there. I'm strongly considering going to the League of Washington Theatres general audition, since I've got an offer to live up there, rent free. I'm also...secretly...half considering auditioning for another "apprenticeship" type position out of town. It's something I'm currently wrestling with since, frankly, I'm so old. 26, folks. It ain't no picnic.
I'm in like with Atlanta. Not quite in L-U-V, yet. I want to be...but I also want to go where I'm able to get hired.
- Read More. Learn More.
I feel this is pretty self explanatory. As I've said before, I can't change a perception of me. But I can change myself, and through that, others may change their perception. I want to educate myself. That will change me.
- Slowly...quietly...take another step toward my degree.
I don't care what it is. But I need to move forward. Sounds like something else I can do this summer.
- Go to Florida more.
I actually don't know if I can do this. I've been to Florida quite a bit this last year... This one isn't particularly professional. I just like it.
- Enjoy it.
It's been a really good year. A hard one to top, frankly. I started off this year in a place of structure. Now I'm in a very nebulous place, where things switch from month to month. I played Claudio. In the last six months, I made more money from acting than I did at my "day job", which made me feel like a professional. Without the quotes. I ended the year by going to Disney World and a black dude got elected president. It's been a really good year. Here's hoping for another one just like it.
Love to all those that I love. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Monologue Monday - Henry V by William Shakespeare
For this edition of Monologue Monday, I'm doing an easy one. One that I don't have to think much about. As it is, I'm still at home and recovering from Christmas. I think we'll probably have more on that in the next post, since I've been thinking a lot about New Year's Resolutions. For the record, write more on my blog is not one. I tend to get very reflective around this time of year, as, I imagine, others do, and I'm looking forward to unpacking the soul searching I've been doing over the last week.
But, until then, here's Williams from Henry V by William Shakespeare. He's my favorite part in the entire play, no joke. It was one of my monologues from UPTA last year, and I'm sure I'll have it bouncing around in my head, but it isn't going to be what I show people. For that, I've got a couple of choices. All of which, I'm sure you folks will become familiar with.
But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath
a heavy reckoning to make, when all those legs and
arms and heads, chopped off in battle, shall join
together at the latter day and cry all 'We died at
such a place; some swearing, some crying for a
surgeon, some upon their wives left poor behind
them, some upon the debts they owe, some upon their
children rawly left. I am afeard there are few die
well that die in a battle; for how can they
charitably dispose of any thing, when blood is their
argument? Now, if these men do not die well, it
will be a black matter for the king that led them to
it; whom to disobey were against all proportion of
subjection.
See you on the other side.
But, until then, here's Williams from Henry V by William Shakespeare. He's my favorite part in the entire play, no joke. It was one of my monologues from UPTA last year, and I'm sure I'll have it bouncing around in my head, but it isn't going to be what I show people. For that, I've got a couple of choices. All of which, I'm sure you folks will become familiar with.
But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath
a heavy reckoning to make, when all those legs and
arms and heads, chopped off in battle, shall join
together at the latter day and cry all 'We died at
such a place; some swearing, some crying for a
surgeon, some upon their wives left poor behind
them, some upon the debts they owe, some upon their
children rawly left. I am afeard there are few die
well that die in a battle; for how can they
charitably dispose of any thing, when blood is their
argument? Now, if these men do not die well, it
will be a black matter for the king that led them to
it; whom to disobey were against all proportion of
subjection.
See you on the other side.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Monologue Monday* - Hurrah at Last by Richard Greenberg
* From now on...I'll try to do these on a Monday. I just couldn't turn down the alliteration.
I've made a vow with fellow actor, Dennis Frymire to post a monologue that I like once every two weeks. Granted, these will probably tend toward monologues that I could do, but who KNOWS what will show up here. Maybe I'll be able to dig up 24 monologues that I like, maybe not. At the very least, it'll give me some food for though and hopefully expand my repertoire as I see what Dennis puts up there.
Also, naturally, if you like the monologue, I strongly encourage you to hunt down the play. The more stuff like this is seen and passed around, the better it is for all involved. And, I feel weird saying this, but if you happen to be a copyright holder for any material I use on here and you take offense, just let me know and I'll take it down. Weird.
The first one I'm going to use is from a play I recently discovered, called Hurrah at Last by Richard Greenberg. In this, Oliver (a playwright and occasional screen writer) is telling his friend, Laurie (a novelist) why it is going to be difficult to adapt his novel for the screen.
Oh darling - of course there's nothing wrong with the way you write. For a leisurely paced chronicle of rumination your style can't be beat. It's just that...well...your book is like the novels those English ladies write- where two hundred pages later they've poured the tea. I mean, it's virtually adaptable. You see, it comes down to the differences between the media. You've got Theatre, where I toil, which is totally irrelevant. Then you've got novels, which you do so magnificently, which are totally irrelevant as well as completely archaic. Then there are movies which, for the time being, people are still going to and, therefore, unlike those other media have to have some vitality. And I'm thinking that if I can just trump up a really strong opening shot, it'll trick people into thinking something is going to happen in the story. Which, of course, it does not.
I'm going to try and keep it around the minute / minute and a half line. If anyone else wants to join in, help yourself! I'd love to see your monologues on Monologue Monday, which won't always be on a Friday!
I've made a vow with fellow actor, Dennis Frymire to post a monologue that I like once every two weeks. Granted, these will probably tend toward monologues that I could do, but who KNOWS what will show up here. Maybe I'll be able to dig up 24 monologues that I like, maybe not. At the very least, it'll give me some food for though and hopefully expand my repertoire as I see what Dennis puts up there.
Also, naturally, if you like the monologue, I strongly encourage you to hunt down the play. The more stuff like this is seen and passed around, the better it is for all involved. And, I feel weird saying this, but if you happen to be a copyright holder for any material I use on here and you take offense, just let me know and I'll take it down. Weird.
The first one I'm going to use is from a play I recently discovered, called Hurrah at Last by Richard Greenberg. In this, Oliver (a playwright and occasional screen writer) is telling his friend, Laurie (a novelist) why it is going to be difficult to adapt his novel for the screen.
Oh darling - of course there's nothing wrong with the way you write. For a leisurely paced chronicle of rumination your style can't be beat. It's just that...well...your book is like the novels those English ladies write- where two hundred pages later they've poured the tea. I mean, it's virtually adaptable. You see, it comes down to the differences between the media. You've got Theatre, where I toil, which is totally irrelevant. Then you've got novels, which you do so magnificently, which are totally irrelevant as well as completely archaic. Then there are movies which, for the time being, people are still going to and, therefore, unlike those other media have to have some vitality. And I'm thinking that if I can just trump up a really strong opening shot, it'll trick people into thinking something is going to happen in the story. Which, of course, it does not.
I'm going to try and keep it around the minute / minute and a half line. If anyone else wants to join in, help yourself! I'd love to see your monologues on Monologue Monday, which won't always be on a Friday!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
What I'm grateful for
There are times when I question why I do Kidstuf. I mean, I gotta get up so early.
And there are times others question me about why I do Kidstuf. In some ways, it's theatre, in the same way that one would call a Kaiser Permanente show theatre, but it's not what one always envisioned when going to school. I know I figured I'd be getting paid six figures to do Cherry Orchard somewhere by now.
But when I ask myself that...or someone else asks me that...I can always point to this.
For this month, one of the "props" we're using is called a Grati-journal. You write down something you're grateful for. We got an e-mail with this in it...
If you can't tell, the text is, "I am Grateful for Church" with a drawing of the Kidstuf stage underneath.
To be doing something constructive. That is what I'm grateful for.
And there are times others question me about why I do Kidstuf. In some ways, it's theatre, in the same way that one would call a Kaiser Permanente show theatre, but it's not what one always envisioned when going to school. I know I figured I'd be getting paid six figures to do Cherry Orchard somewhere by now.
But when I ask myself that...or someone else asks me that...I can always point to this.
For this month, one of the "props" we're using is called a Grati-journal. You write down something you're grateful for. We got an e-mail with this in it...
If you can't tell, the text is, "I am Grateful for Church" with a drawing of the Kidstuf stage underneath.
To be doing something constructive. That is what I'm grateful for.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Forcing a post
Hey folks.
I really don't feel like posting today, but it's been a while and I have ample free time during Part 3 of the Henriad, so I thought I'd make myself do one.
I'm two sentences in and, already, it isn't my best work.
After the show closed on Sunday, I had to rush home to deal with some stuff. It worked out as well as it possibly could have, though, because I got to see Godspell at my alma mater. It was good, even though they were just starting dress rehearsals. It's always nice to sit in an audience and forget about life for a little while.
I'm contemplating a sequel to the Jacob York World Tour of 2005, but, this time, head from place to place auditioning. Any one want to come?
I'm pretty actively searching for something to do this summer. I look at the seasons of theatres in the Atlanta area, though, and I just don't see much there for me. UPTA and others, here I come!
Man, I am greatly anticipating December.
I really don't feel like posting today, but it's been a while and I have ample free time during Part 3 of the Henriad, so I thought I'd make myself do one.
I'm two sentences in and, already, it isn't my best work.
After the show closed on Sunday, I had to rush home to deal with some stuff. It worked out as well as it possibly could have, though, because I got to see Godspell at my alma mater. It was good, even though they were just starting dress rehearsals. It's always nice to sit in an audience and forget about life for a little while.
I'm contemplating a sequel to the Jacob York World Tour of 2005, but, this time, head from place to place auditioning. Any one want to come?
I'm pretty actively searching for something to do this summer. I look at the seasons of theatres in the Atlanta area, though, and I just don't see much there for me. UPTA and others, here I come!
Man, I am greatly anticipating December.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Red Rose
Tonight, we open the First Part of Henry VI at the Shakespeare Tavern. It's an incredible undertaking. To sit in the house after our preview last night, you would have thought we had a small audience. We were spread out a bit, but there's just a lot of people involved in this project.
I'm happy to be one of those people involved. I'm enjoying my time as Somerset. He's very different from anyone I've played on the Tavern stage, so it's good that I'm not getting plugged into a precise slot just yet. Unless that slot is "Hot Young Lord"...which...you know...
After the show opens tonight, there's going to be a party. I'll talk more about that at a later date, I'm sure. I have few goals for this party, but I at least want to play some Rock Band and watch Paul Hester dance.
It's been pretty quiet on the audition front, which isn't bad, exactly. I'm still looking around and trying to be as available as possible. I actually got to hand out one of my cards today to someone who came into my day job! Only 485 left to go.
If you haven't been able to get out to the Tavern to see my stuff, but you would still like to see me make a fool out of myself, you should go check out the Kidstuf website. I'm at the Buckhead campus, if you want to delve in. I'm even in the opening page video now. I find that when I don't have a script to follow, I dance a lot.
Come see Henry VI! My unofficial diagnosis is that, IF you can only see one (which, it goes without saying, you should try to come see all three), I think you should come see Part II. Just my opinion. Also, I fight in it. Yay!
I'm happy to be one of those people involved. I'm enjoying my time as Somerset. He's very different from anyone I've played on the Tavern stage, so it's good that I'm not getting plugged into a precise slot just yet. Unless that slot is "Hot Young Lord"...which...you know...
After the show opens tonight, there's going to be a party. I'll talk more about that at a later date, I'm sure. I have few goals for this party, but I at least want to play some Rock Band and watch Paul Hester dance.
It's been pretty quiet on the audition front, which isn't bad, exactly. I'm still looking around and trying to be as available as possible. I actually got to hand out one of my cards today to someone who came into my day job! Only 485 left to go.
If you haven't been able to get out to the Tavern to see my stuff, but you would still like to see me make a fool out of myself, you should go check out the Kidstuf website. I'm at the Buckhead campus, if you want to delve in. I'm even in the opening page video now. I find that when I don't have a script to follow, I dance a lot.
Come see Henry VI! My unofficial diagnosis is that, IF you can only see one (which, it goes without saying, you should try to come see all three), I think you should come see Part II. Just my opinion. Also, I fight in it. Yay!
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