Lather, Rinse, Repeat: Scorecard #8

Between getting up at 6am for auditions and getting home from work after midnight, I haven't felt much like writing, lately.  But, I do have four new auditions to tell you about and add to the scorecard.  Let's go:

Audition 1)  This was the chorus call for the California theater that I auditioned for in last week's scorecard update.  I figured it couldn't hurt to go back and sing again since I hadn't been happy the last time.  Plus, I wanted to redeem myself for the, less than focused, R&H performance.  This time I decided to do my Secret Garden number and I nailed it!  I was focused on this one and figured I had nothing to lose so, felt like I knocked this one out.  SUCCESS

Audition 2)  An EPA for a theater in Pennsylvania doing several "big" shows that I, personally, love and would love to be in.  I decided for this one, I wanted to sing my number from Shrek.  It's a belty ballad but, also fun at the same time.  It went great and the people in the room were great!  But like all the others, now we wait and see.  SUCCESS

Audition 3)  A chorus call for another PA theater.  This time, one in Pittsburg.  Their upcoming season runs the genre gamut so, they didn't ask for anything specific just what you do best.  I decided to go with Shrek again because I love the song and it sits really well in my voice.  Again they seemed as though they really liked me but,  I wasn't asked to stay and "move" (theatre dancing that's not really dancing).  I'm choosing to assume that's because they saw that a couple of the shows they're doing are already on my resume.  SUCCESS

Audition 4)  A last minute decision led me to go to this EPA for a national tour of Guys and Dolls.  Outside the door, we were told that the CD (casting director) wanted to hear something comedic.  So, I decided to go with my Triumph of Love number.  The song, itself, went really well but the interesting part came after.  At first she said "thank you" but, as I was getting my book from the piano she stopped me.

"Do you have anything up-tempo that's less angsty?"  And then, she said she basically wanted me to do an up-tempo gangster song.  What I did was "great" but, she wanted to hear something with less angst that was more suitable to the characters I was right for.

"Hmmm, well..."  I think that's literally what I said.  I grabbed my book and started flipping through the pages having no idea what to do.  I didn't help that I didn't exactly know what "angsty" even meant.  I kept flipping through the book and we finally settled on the R&H song but, as a gangster.

It was actually pretty fun doing it differently but, nerve wracking because I wanted to just snap my fingers and immediately have the type of song she wanted.  But when you're put on the spot like that, it's sometimes hard to think quickly.  But still, the first song went great, the second one was fun and that fact that I was EVEN asked for a second one, makes this one a SUCCESS!

So, we update the season's scorecard:

                Audition Scorecard 2010-2011

                    15 Success

                      6 Fail (4 type out)

Four consecutive successes!  It also makes it easier when you're going to so many because it lowers the "big deal" feeling.  Going to several a week is a lot easier than one every few weeks.  There are still plenty more on the calendar so, still gotta cross the fingers.

Until next time...

The Musical Grind: Scorecard #7

With the show done, I've had more time to get back out and hit up the audition circuit.  Today, I've got four to tell you about.  One is from a while back that I just never got to writing about and, the other three, from the last couple of days.

Audition 1:  This was for an Off Broadway showcase that's being done in March.  I went in and did my Rodgers & Hammerstein, Flower Drum Song (from now on I'm calling it R&H).  It was the best I've done it yet!  I was so happy with the way it went.  The people behind the table really seemed to like it too except, it turned out, they were looking for guys who were strong tappers.  Crap!  Well, it's still a SUCCESS because the song was great, if I say so myself!

Audition 2:  For the upcoming Broadway revival of Evita.  I was typed out!  UGH!  No song.  Done.  This is my 4th time in a row at this casting office.  FAIL

Audition 3:  An EPA for a well known theater out in California.  I went in and did my R&H song for them.  I've done the song a good 20 times in auditions and coachings.  But the entire time I was singing, my mind kept saying, "Don't forget the lyrics."  Why would I forget the lyrics?  I've done the song too many times to do that.  Vocally, the song went well but I was in my head too much.  Not being focused on the performance means a FAIL.

Audition 4:  This EPA was for a theater, in North Carolina, that I'd worked at a long time ago.  It always holds a special place for me because it's the place that I decided performing was what I wanted to do.  Anyway so, I decided to do my song from the musical, Triumph of Love.  I went in and I really think this was the best performance of THIS song that I had done at an audition!  I felt great during and after the song.

After he had looked at my resume, he asked if I'd worked at the place before.  My response was, "Yes, I worked there several years back."  And then like word vomit I said, "I LOVE THAT PLACE!"  Did I really just say that?  How cheesy could that be?  I was so shocked at myself for saying it, that I just stood silently.  Don't get me wrong, it was truly sincere but, not the answer I would've given had I had time to think.  Oh well, maybe the casting guy wasn't paying attention and didn't hear it.  Besides, the song was still great so, SUCCESS!

So, we update the season's scorecard:

                Audition Scorecard 2010-2011
                    11 Success
                      6 Fail (4 type out)

So, 2 for 2 this time.  Not so bad.  I've got several more coming up so, I'm hoping to add more to the success side.

Until next time...

Time to Squeak Some Eeek!

After a couple of weeks of uneven rehearsal time, tonight, we'll finally have our first performance of "Eeek! A Mousical".  I must say that the entire experience has me excited AND scared!

It's always exciting to be a part of something new because it could become so many different things by the time you get to opening night.  You never really know how an audience will react to anything since no one has seen it.  None of the songs or jokes are considered a "guaranteed winner" until you hear people, other than the creative team, laughing or applauding them.  It's, kind of, cool to not know how people will respond.

Now the scary part would be that rehearsals have been less than productive, at times.  You see this production is a Showcase which means that there is very little to no pay involved for anyone.  It's basically a way to "audition" the show for the producers and industry people who see it.  This means the people, including myself,  have had to miss rehearsals to go to day jobs and try to get to rehearsal when they can.  We've never actually had everyone at a rehearsal yet.  It's hard to get down timing and choreography when you don't have everyone for the scene or song.

But in a way, I think by writing that, I just realized that it adds a bit to the excitement of the show.  Part of why live theater is so great is the unexpected that can and does happen during performances.  I really think we've got a great cast of people who know what they're doing and know how to "go on" if something messes up.  I also know that we're all going to make the most of it and have fun doing it.  Because, isn't that the most important thing?  We're doing what we love so, we may as well have a blast doing it.

We have one more rehearsal this afternoon (I think everyone will be there for that) and then, tonight's show is considered a preview.  Our opening is tomorrow so, if anyone is in NYC over the next two weekends and would like to see our little family show, check out the info here.  Tickets can also be purchased through TDF for people who are members there.  And as this is an Equity Showcase, AEA members get in free if there is room.

If you have some time, come see our show!  We have no idea how it's going to be.  Who knows?  It could be a hot mess or it could be the cutest little show you've seen in a while.  But one thing's for sure, we're all going to be having a good time doing our best to entertain you!

Until next time...

RIP Bergamo's

As most anyone in or out of the entertainment world knows, most performers spend most of their lives working a survival job.  You know, those jobs you have to work to pay your bills?  But, it's not necessarily the place you want to wind up retiring from.  Most performers, like myself, wind up working in restaurants because, not only does it pay the bills but, it's a relatively easy job to learn and schedules are usually flexible around auditions.

Now let's face it, I've never been a fan of working as a server but, I've been fortunate to work in different places where I did my job well enough and liked everyone I've worked with so I didn't need to be changing jobs every 6 months.  But there is one place, in particular, that holds a special place in my heart.  That place was Bergamo's.

I started working at Bergamo's Italian Restaurant in January of 2004.  What made this place unique was that all of the servers were performers.  Not unusual for a restaurant I know BUT, in addition to our serving duties we would also perform 4 sets of music every night.  And I don't mean in that crappy Ellen's Stardust kind of way, I mean, opera and musical theater songs in a fine dining atmosphere.

It was probably, even still, the best serving job I'd ever had.  Not because we made crazy money or anything like that but, because it was the only place of it's kind, in Orlando, that allowed the servers to actually do what they loved to do while they were waiting tables.  It wasn't unusual for your server to drop off your martini and the head to the piano to sing a Puccini aria or something from Les Miserables.  To those of you who never went, I know it might sound cheesy but, believe me, it wasn't.

Anyway, more important than the music were the wonderful people I got to meet and work with over the course of the 3 1/2 years I was there.  Little did they know when they met me, what a handful I was going to be for all of them as I was in the midst of a, kind of, downward spiral.  But they were beautiful and talented people who came to be some of my best friends.

I left the Berg in June of 2007 when I decided it was time to move to New York.  And even though a lot in my life (and theirs) has changed, I've never forgotten any of the people that I've met over my time there.  I still think of them often and the impact they made on me (I'm starting to hear the musical strains of For Good in my head, oy!).

This whole post was brought on by the fact that I learned yesterday that Bergamo's finally closed its doors.  Apparently, due to financial issues with the owner that finally did the place in.  It's not really that surprising because the place had been having financial issues since before I ever started working there.  But it's still sad, many very talented people have now lost another outlet to perform in Orlando.

So, I wanted to take some time to give a shout out to all those people from my Bergamo's days.  I can't list everyone here because there are too many to name and I'd be constantly editing to add people I'd forgotten.  I miss you all and wish you all the best!  Yes, I too can be sentimental when the mood strikes me.

Anyway, that's enough for now.

Until next time...

Ok so screw it, I decided to be a sappy sentimentalist after all.  It's my blog, I can do what I want.  This is the best clip I could find of Kristin and Idina doing For Good.  According to the summary, it's from Kristin's last performance.  Forgive the quality and the subtitles.  This song gets me every time.  Have a good one.

The Countdown's On

For as long as I can remember, I've been a sucker for a countdown.  As far back as 2nd grade, I can recall being by the radio so that I can hear Casey Kasem countdown the American Top 40 every Sunday afternoon.  I always knew that it was the way to hear my favorite songs and also, to find out which one was the "most important" for that week.  Anytime a countdown was on, I was glued to the radio to find out who was number one.

Fast forward to my first summer living alone out of college.  I was brand new to Orlando, in my own apartment with cable, no money and nowhere to go.  I happened to be flipping through my channels and came across VH1's countdown of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock 'n Roll.  I decided to check it out for a few minutes but, found I couldn't bring myself to change the channel.  I had to know who was next.  It was important to know who these unnamed music "experts" deemed as the most influential women in the history of music.  Monday would start off with nos. 100-81.  And each night, the next 20 would premiere.  But, they would also marathon each episode of 20 that had already aired.  So by Friday, they had five straight hours of countdown heaven!

Each time they would have a new countdown, I was there in front of my TV watching it.  It didn't matter if it was the 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders, 100 Most Shocking Moments in Rock or 100 Greatest Videos I was there watching them because I was hooked into wanting to know what came next on the list.

In some cases, they didn't have 100 so they cut the number down such as 25 Greatest Power Ballads or 40 Greatest Celebrity Divorces.  These were interesting to watch too but, they didn't hook me in quite the way that the 100 countdowns did.  There was something official about the 100 that made them "must see".

This whole nostalgia trip was brought on by the updated version of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.  Now, I actually remember watching the first airing of this several years back and was interested to see if anything had really changed.  Sure, it had its share of "huh?!?" moments but, I still had to see what was said and where everyone landed on the list.  I can't help it.  It's the geek in me who needs to know this useless information.

Now, I dare you to try and watch one of these shows and see if you can tear yourself away.  The countdown will commence in 5, 4, 3...

Until next time...