Next to Normal

     So this past Monday, I had the opportunity to see another show that I'd really been wanting to see, Next to Normal.  It was, to say the least, quite the contrast to Shrek.  But in my opinion, if you're planning a trip to NYC, this is another must see!

Cell Users Anonymous

  

   Hi, my name is Marcus and I'm a cell phone using addict.  I think it first started about ten years ago when I got my first cell phone as a way for my parents to reach me more easily.  It started out small because I've never been much of a phone chatter but, as the phone companies started adding features, it just got progressively worse.

The Pitter of Patter, pt. 3

     So, I've started working on putting my showcase together and am finding it to be a little tougher than I thought.  I've decided to talk about my love for performing from a very early age, I may have mentioned this in an earlier post, which is actually not the tough part.  The hard part has been trying to figure out which songs to do.  Of course there are literally thousands of songs out there to do but, the trick is, finding the two that work with what I'm talking about.  Plus, doing songs I really like is a bonus and makes for a better performance.  Why waste my time doing songs I don't like?  Anyway, I've had several ideas for the song to close the set when, last week,  I found the song that I KNEW I wanted do.  I even knew how I needed to gear the patter to lead into the song.  Then I went to look for it.  So far, I'm finding that the song isn't available.  Ugh!  I guess the vocal selections aren't available but, funny thing is, I managed to find two songs from the same show that WERE available.  I think that makes it even more "ugh."  Oh well, I guess I'll keep looking.  It is still a month away, after all.

    Another part of this experience, has been inviting people to come.  I decided to create my first "Facebook Event" to invite people to come see the showcase.  Not sure it was such a good idea.  First off, I did it extremely early; the showcase is Oct. 28th and I sent the FB invites last week.  But now, I'm constantly checking to see if anyone responds to it.  So far, I have 3 confirmations (one of which is me), 7 maybes (not so bad...it IS early) and about 9 declines (yikes!).  People have lives, jobs, their own shows, just not wanting to come, etc., I understand these things.  But my anxiety has kicked in that NO ONE is going to come to this thing.  Now, I know this isn't true.  It'll all work out and whoever can come will make it.  But of course, I can't help but think, "Who's gonna want to come see you."  Lovely thought, I know.  It'll pass and things will work out.  I just need to focus on doing the best I can so that people that DO come will let the others know what they missed.  And who knows? Maybe this will lead to something else.

    So, babbling session over.  I'm going to keep looking for that song and planning this thing.  I'll let you know what happens.

    Until then....

----MC

Shrek the Musical

     Friday night, I had to chance to go see one of the shows that I've been most wanting to see for the past year.  I sat in my seat, at the Broadway Theatre, waiting for it to start with great anticipation.  I'm not sure why I wanted to see it so badly.  I liked the original movie but, found the sequel to be better than the first one.  I guess for me, it was all about seeing the original cast which isn't totally intact but the ones who matter are still there.  Of course, the show I'm talking about is Shrek the Musical.  And did it live up to the hype I'd built in my head?  Hell yeah it did!

The 39 Steps

     On Wednesday, I got to meet a friend of mine from Florida whom I hadn't seen in about two years.  We had lunch together and chatted for a few hours and then, I walked him to the Helen Hayes Theater where he was going to see The 39 Steps.  As I walking toward 8th Ave, I heard him yell my name from down the street.  When I went back, he told me two women were just giving away a ticket if I wanted to see the show.  So of course, not being one to pass up a FREE Broadway show, I said, "YES!!"  And that's how I got the surprise of seeing, The 39 Steps.

Pounding the Pavement

  

     Auditioning sucks!  Most actors know this but, also know it's a necessary evil.  If we want the jobs, we have to audition for them.  It's hard to like anything when your future employment hinges on 16 bars of a traditional theater song.  But the other day, I was back at the Equity building singing for another company.

The Toxic Avenger

  

     So, I finally had my first chance to take advantage of 20 at 20 yesterday.  For the first two weeks in September and, again in January, several Off-Broadway shows run a special which offer $20 tickets to the show 20 minutes before the show begins.  It's a way to help boost sagging ticket sales in, what are typically, the slowest theater weeks of the year.  Yesterday I had the chance to see The Toxic Avenger which is playing at the New World Stages.

The Pitter of Patter, pt. 2

       So, I got the e-mail yesterday that I'm going to be part of Seth's Talent Showcase at Don't Tell Mama's on Wednesday, October 28th, at 7:00. WOO HOO!!!

I'm really excited because I've never done anything quite like this before.  The show itself will consist of four or five singers who will each do ten minutes of a small cabaret show.  It's really exciting because it's a way to invite industry types (agents, casting directors, etc.)  to come and see you in a setting that, for those ten minutes, is only you.  It's a tough audition world, here in New York, and any way to be seen away form the audition room, where 100 other guys are waiting outside the door, is great!  It's also really exciting to be performing at DTM because it's a place where I've seen some really great performers and is very well known in the city.

Just the F.A.C.T.s please, pt. 1

       So, the other "first time" venture that I began last night was a workshop group that I had been invited to join called F.A.C.T.  An anagram for Friends Always Creating Theater, the group is made up of about 20 actors, directors and playwrights.  The goal is to collaboratively work on new pieces by the writers and present them at a two day workshop in October.  Eventually, the group hopes to raise enough money to put on its own Equity (the stage actor's union) showcases.

       Like the showcase audition, I've never been a part of a group like this before.  Only once with Gutter Star: The Paperback Musical, co-written by the founders of this group for FringeNYC '09, have I been part of the creative process for a new work.  But even with that, I came in after the groundwork had initially been laid.  This is seeing something grow from the VERY beginning which is really exciting for me.

The Pitter of Patter, pt. 1

        So, today was the beginning of two new ventures for me.  The first is an audition for a showcase to be held at Don't Tell Mama's as part of Seth's Talent Showcase.  Basically, a showcase is a mini-cabaret where you get ten minutes to sing two songs and patter.  Patter is basically just the chatter in between the songs that tells the audience a little something about yourself and ties the two songs together.  I've been a performer for a long time but, usually, it's involved a director telling me what to do with work that's already been previously written.  This showcase is a little different in that it's, pretty much, my own little show that I'll put together myself.

A Day Starting With UGH!

So today started out with a giant, "UGH!!!" The alarm went off at 7:30 and, of course, I wasn't ready for it. I got up and got in the shower with cranky thoughts already going through my head. We were out of coffee. I poured milk into my cereal which would have been better used as cottage cheese. There was no cream cheese for the bagel that had been toasted. We were completely out of bottles of water which immediately reminded me, "I thought we were getting a BRITA pitcher...." Finally, I get out the door to go into to town for my audition and realize...I'd left my glasses and forgotten to staple the headshot and resume together...AAAARRGGHH!! So, I turned around, got out of my clothes and got back into bed.

     Hopefully, if anyone's reading this, you can feel my pain. It was one of those days where nothing was going wrong that couldn't have been fixed but, starting it out on the wrong foot just started the domino effect that had me back in bed after only an hour and a half. After I got back up, I realized how silly I was in letting those things get to me.

  But, things are so much better than I sometimes remember them to be. I still have the rest of the day to go including work tonight and three more auditions to prepare for in the next three days. Plus, I have people who love me and believe in me no matter how crazy I can be. Those people are part of the reason I've started this blog. That way, all of you ones of twos of readers can read about what's going on (good or bad) without them having to take the brunt in person.

    Anyway, enough for now. Talk to you soon...

----MC