A couple of weeks ago I had an audition for a famous play by William Inge called Picnic. I really like this play and was happy to be going in for the character of Madge (made famous by [URL=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001571/]Kim Novak[/url] in the 1955 [URL=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048491/]film version[/url]).
Continue reading i guess there’s no picnic →

I knew 2005 was going to be a great year. I could just feel it. And despite car trouble getting me down this week I am in good spirits because today I acheived one of my goals for 2005. Already!!

Woo hoo! Last week I had an audition for a commercial for ‘Blue Cross of Rhode Island’. Here’s the scenario:

Cute, young couple out to dinner with her parents. Dad goes to pour his daughter some wine and she subtley puts her hand over her glass. Well, perhaps she is usually a lush, because her mother looks surprised and intuits that it means she’s pregnant. She says “Oh honey. I’m so happy for you!”. Her dad, cluelessly says, “What? What did I miss?” Her mom says, “Well, are you excited…Grandpa?” And then much congratulating and celebrating ensues while the voiceover says something like, “Blue Cross of RI is here when life changes come along” or something cheesy like that.

So I dressed in my best “East Coast, well-to-do, dinner attire” and was asked to do the audition twice (with two different husbands and two different moms, but the same dad). It was fun—I didn’t have any lines, so I just got to react and show my best “I’m so happy to be having a baby” look. (not that I’ve ever experienced that, but I guessed it was little like the “I’m so happy I got the part” feeling)

That was last tuesday, so I figured they had already notified people if they were called back. Well, apparently not, because tonight my agent called and told me I got the callback!!

I have my first callback for an “on-camera” job and I’m so pleased…check that off my list.

Now onto ‘booking the job’ !

Over the weekend I auditioned to be a member of the [URL=http://alliancerepertory.com]Alliance Repertory Company[/url], a small, 99-seat, member supported theatre company in Burbank. Today I was asked to become a member and I am happy to be joining a new group of “theatre people”…

And hopefully it means I’ll be back on stage sometime soon!

Tonight I had an audition for an all women’s version of The Merchant of Venice. I haven’t done a Shakespeare monologue since April, so I spent all day rehearsing and rehearsing and re-memorizing. It felt so good to have that language in my mouth again. The athleticism of it gives me energy and the poetry makes me so happy!
I was nervous just before the audition, but not enough to feel disabled, as can often happen to me — I felt prepared and confidant. When I arrived I heard other women practicing their monologues (and a scene in one case), which can often make me feel unsettled. Tonight I practiced putting on my imaginary blindfold and earplugs and sat in a chair with my eyes closed; focusing on myself when I was finally called into the audition room. The director and producer introduced themselves and I then began my monologue.

“Prince Troilus, I have loved you night and day
For many weary months.
Hard to seem won; but I was won, my lord…”

I was careful not to rush it, as is my wont. And when I was finished, they laughed! (which is good, ’cause I was trying to be funny) Then the director said that she was going to call me back. (yippee!, I was thinking, while trying to remain professional) And I’m going to call you back for Nerissa (the role I expressed interest in) and Portia (the main female character). I was so thrilled and now I can’t wait for the callback in 2 weeks.

Guess who’s going to spend her free time reading The Merchant of Venice?