24 November 2012

March 2009


2-6, 9-13, 16-20: Many performances of The Further Adventures of Louie the Lightning Bug.
20: Finished reading August: Osage County by Tracy Letts.  Fantastic!  After seeing it on Broadway, I'm glad that was a Christmas gift.
20-23: After the last shows, of course, we had to drive (from Ohio) back to Minneapolis, check in our car, set and gear and do some debriefing.  And thus completed our 8000-mile, 10-state tour, with 112 shows at 84 schools in IN, MI & OH.  Then, for me, it was off to L.A. for some visiting and . . .
27: The premeire of Quantum Leap: A Leap to Di for in North Hollywood at The Leap Back 2009 Quantum Leap Convention.  Even with small parts in this film (two for me and one for him), it was great for myself and Peter Gaffney to be able to attend a Hollywood premiere.  There were lots of Leap fans in attendance - I'm pretty sure this is the only Quantum Leap fan film - and they were not disappointed as we had Deborah Pratt to reprise her voice role as Ziggy.  Signed lots of autographs.
30: Finished reading Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh.
31: Among the sites I visited while in California was the Walt Disney Concert Hall/Music Center/Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County.  While checking out the venue, I listened to an audio tour narrated by John Lithgow.

21 November 2012

February 2009


2-6: More performances of The Further Adventures of Louie the Lightning Bug.
4: After a morning show, off to Chicago to do a whirlwind of graduate school auditions.  Each was similar in a way, 3 minutes of 2 contrasting monologues (classical/contemporary) (I used the same two pieces to fulfill this); and then a short interview.  Fortunately got in to the first - The Cleveland Play House/Case Western Reserve University - early, so I wasn't as rushed for the next appointment, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, which also had me sing a few bars a capella.  While waiting for the third, National Theatre Conservatory, I remet a woman who had also been at the Hilberry audition.  It turns out she is the Casting Director for Festival 56, so I asked if I could audition for her as well.  So we found a quiet hallway and I did my package.  She then asked for another contemporary piece and asked me to present it conversationally.  After my song, she complemented my voice, saying I was a crooner ala Sinatra.  Then finished up the night with Old Globe/University of San Diego.
5: The next evening, auditioned for Notre Dame Shakespeare Festval's Twelfth Night.  [Actually, it's in my notes as "auditions/callbacks" - not sure if I recall why.  Perhaps a callback for students, plus others, such as myself, for the first time?]
8: NTC allowed us the time (Monday off) and mileage to drive down to Memphis for UPTA.  My slot was late afternoon Sunday, so callbacks stretched into the evening.  Started off with Hampstead Stage Company - I had not realized that my college friend Meagan worked for them, and would be in the room for the callback.  Next up, Tecumseh!-Outdoor Drama.  The artistic director, who of course remembered me from last year, had me present a different piece than my package, and filmed that.  Rolled on to Poetry Alive!, where I did some cold reads, then CLIMB Theatre, where they filmed some improvisation.  Both long contracts.  I asked to interview with Theater at Monmouth, since I'd had some previous contact with them.  After seeing a different Shakespeare piece, the artistic director said he didn't think I was the right type for Laertes, which was the only non-intern, non-Eqity role he was looking to cast.  But he said I should follow-up later if I thought I really did want to do another internship.  I decided not to go to a callback for Missoula Children's Theatre, based on previous interactions with them, and dropped off a resume/headshot with Texas Shakespeare Festival.  Then went and hung out at the bar for the rest of the night with NTC and Hampstead folks (and everyone else).
10-13: Even more performances of The Further Adventures ...
14: We traveled up to Madison to visit with another NTC troupe and attend the Wisconsin Theatre Auditions.  Odd format, as they have a separate appointment included (for those who desire) for American Players Theatre, which preceded (at least for me) the group audition.  Then they have two different rooms/groups for non-singing and singing actors.  I ended up performing five different pieces, with only one overlapping, to maximize the different situations.  It worked out well, except that the accompanist played way too fast, and I got another callback from each room; Great River Shakespeare Festival, although I think they do their main auditions in the summer a year prior; and Prairie Fire Children's Theatre, which just asked for my resume/headshot.
17-20, 23-27: And yet more performances of The Further Adventures ...
28: We were in or near Indianapolis, so I took the opportunity to attend a casting call there for an indie feature, Bloomington.  After my audition, I noticed they were pretty short-handed, so I offered to assist, signing people in and leading them into the audition room, etc. for the next couple hours.

19 November 2012

January 2009


6: Drove to audition for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis' The Merry Wives of Windsor.  The artistic director asked how I had heard of the company, and where I was from, then said it was worth the trip.  I got down there early enough to lunch with Mary Woll beforehand.
10-16: Rehearsals for The Further Adventures of Louie the Lightning Bug at The National Theatre for Children, with Vanessa Miller.  Vanessa ended up with laryngitis by the end of the week, so we left town without a school preview, though this was after we got to share a run with the company (and see everyone else's varied takes on same and similar (and one different) shows).
14: Earlier, I left the company picnic midway to catch buses over to St. Paul and audition for Park Square's Othello.  The director/artistic director asked about my favorite Shakespeare experience and also the locations of Riverside & Bridgework.
20-23, 26-30: Many performances of The Further Adventures ... at many schools.  We spent some time near South Bend, so I was able to work on graduate school applications as well as a few other things.
22: Brigid & her kindergarten class saw the show when we were at her school in Elkhart.  That night was the 20th Annual Notre Dame Student Film Festival, which included the premiere of Prologue, one of whose directors bought my ticket.  First time seeing the completed film.  Also enjoyed seeing another short by the creators of Through the Window, and one by Joe Gleason with several folks I know.  Mary Claire, two Lauras, Jeremy, and a bunch others were also in attendance.
23: My parents, younger sisters, and my niece Abby (16 months) saw another local performance of The Further Adventures ...  Abby seemed to pay attention well for her age.  Of course, she had already seen one of my Bridgework shows nine months earlier, didn't cry or fuss then either.
29: Being in the area also meant I was able to usher for an Actors from the London Stage production of Much Ado about Nothing at Notre Dame.  I like the format (five actors, no director, little cutting, minimal props/costume) of their shows.
31: I attended the first graduate school audition, for Hilberry Repertory Theatre/Wayne State University.  The panel found my resume "impressive" and interviewed me regarding what I want out of the program.  I did well enough to be invited to the callbacks not a half hour later, which included a lot of snippets of instruction/play in movement, voice, rhythm and improvisation, then a cold read from Waiting for Godot.

13 November 2012

December 2008


3: Had another voiceover & ADR session for Prologue.  That evening watched The Dark Knight at the dollar theatre with Daniel.  Still awesome!
4: Long day.  Crashed Utah Shakespearean Festival's auditions and finally seen after a long wait.  Union members got to present contrasting monologues, but only one for non-Equity.  I finished reading Scapino (zany!) before my next audition, an appointment this time, for Remy Bumppo.  The notices said that one monologue should "show skill with language".  The director appreciated my choice for that, said Plenty was a favorite play.  And then back that night to complete the Back to the Future trilogy, with Sheila, Liz, Justin, Dan, the Sarah's & Jon.
6: I had car trouble, and was running behind all day.  Auditioned for Crossroads Repertory Theatre, and had to tell them I was unavailable for dance or acting callbacks the next day.  And then barely in time to be a blackjack dealer for a corporate charity event.  Weird gig, pushy guests, really wanted to win the meaningless chips.
7: I had submitted my materials before crashing Illinois Shakespeare Festival's Equity auditions, and subsequently received an appointment for this non-Equity date.  They taped this one.
11: Watched The Day the Earth Stood Still and ate cookies with Sarah, Daniel, Allesha, Justin, Dan & Jon.  [I think this was the classic b/w version, not the recent remake.  But eventually I saw both, so this could be either.]
15: Finished reading House of Blue Leaves.  Bells on!
17: An audition for a nearby college's radio spot at a local ad agency.
18: I attended a screening for the Intermediate Film Production class, and the professor noted and thanked those of us who were in multiple shorts (4 for me).
19: I had a voice audition for a re-dubbing of a cartoon.  They didn't say what it was, but from context it must have been Numberjacks, an English educational show.  No appointments and the producer was late.  That night watched my high school's production of Twelfth Night.  My friend Tom Noe (text coach) stepped in for someone who couldn't perform (ill?).
20: Went to Justin's family's cabin on Crooked Lake, did some tobogganing, ate lots of food and watched Home Alone with the family, Jon, Ricky and others
21: Drove down to Indianapolis to work the strike/load-out for Actors Theatre of Indiana's A Year with Frog and Toad.  They weren't paying much more than the expense, but I got them to throw in a comp for the show too.  Kyra Jeanne Kenyon, who was in The Selfish Giant with me a few years back, played a Bird and Turtle and did an excellent job.  The whole show was fun, and I met a few people during the strike that I had only known online previously.

November 2008

[Note that future posts will be titled simply as the month and year, and should have updates for that entire month.]

1: Took in a midnight performance at South Bend Civic Theatre of Dracula by Steven Dietz.  Not as good as I hoped it might be -- the script struck me as overly narrative, especially near the climax.
2: Filmed a scene (6) for Prologue with Mark Weber.  Screeching tires, fake blood and simulated violence attracted a lot of attention from the parking lot adjacent, so we dealt with cops.  Cops.  And more cops.  Apparently even when they know what's the deal they still have to check out each call.
6: More scenes (3, 4) for Prologue, with Charlie Buhler and Mark Weber.
8: Shot a car chase and fight scene (58) for TOW, with Adam Newell, Emily Wood & Christopher Hunt.
13: Watched Back to the Future with Justin, Jon, Emily, both Sarahs, David, Allesha, maybe more?
15: In the morning, shot the final scene (7) of Prologue, with Charlie Buhler.  That evening, watched Quantum of Solace with Sarah, Liz, Kyle, Ricky and Allesha.  Since it starts briefly after Casino Royale, wished I had rewatched that recently.  Nowhere near as good, but solid overall.
16: Finished shooting my scenes (28, 30, 32) in TOW with Adam Newell, Emily Wood, Christopher Hunt, Michelle Shea Walker, Marcy Shwegman and Marti Rams.  A fight scene, drama, some intentional and some unplanned comedy.  The bits I liked the best were the accidental straw bit (a close watch on the finished scene reveals each actor losing it a little there), and a non-verbal bit I asked to add (and had to remind to include, as I cleared the frame just before (to allow for a cut if needed)).
19: A photo shoot with Lucy Lavely to include in the credits of Through the Window (added per a suggestion from the class after an initial viewing), then caught Burn after Reading with Ricky.
20: In the morning, shot some of Nice to Meet You with Nicola Menchetti (this is a color version/further development of Thanks, I Owe You One).  Then Back to the Future Part II for Jon's birthday that night, with also Justin, Ricky, Liz, Dan, Allesha, Sarah & Sheila.
21: Waited half the day to audition for Illinois Shakespeare Festival - glad they remembered me.
22: A voiceover & ADR session for Prologue, which I also utilized to do ten takes of a line for Quantum Leap: A Leap to Di for.
24: Shot the end of another student short, The Thrifty Gentleman, with Lauren Bergstrand.
25: In the morning, shot more of Nice To Meet You; then in the afternoon, The Thrifty Gentleman, scenes with Laura Mooreshay (although mostly alternating scenes with her, as we didn't share the screen much).
26: Watched Batman Begins at Mike's with Justin, as I was hoping to rewatch The Dark Knight soon at the dollar theatre.