Industrial Audition + Extras

Yesterday afternoon I made my way into Philly for another audition for an industrial. My agent sent me in on it, so I knew that I had to say yes if I want her to keep sending me in for other auditions. (Note: I want her to keep sending me in for other auditions.) Unlike my previous audition, this one was more of a scene with real dialogue, and I was reading it with a casting assistant at the office. I knew that I had to go in and be very natural, not try to "act" the script at all but just let the words come out. I struggled with that style in my audition a few weeks ago, so it was part of my preparation for this one. I thought I did a good job with it yesterday, and the CA said that I gave a good read. That was encouraging, even if nothing comes from this specific audition. I don't expect to hit the ball out the park my first time up, but I do hope I continue to get better the more I try.

After the audition, I checked around in some local bookstores, and then found a sports bar where I could watch the Phillies in Game 2 of the NLCS. And watch them I did, having two back-to-back 4-run innings. The bar was cheering, I was cheering, the entire city of Philadelphia was cheering. I didn't get to see the end of the game, but I saw enough to have hope in my heart as I drove over to West Philly to see a production of "The Trial" by Franz Kafka. I know all the founders of CTC, having worked with them before, and it was really great to see them all agan. I was also there as a reviewer, and I'll be posting my review here on my blog as soon as I submit it to the paper.

I liked the show. I really did. The show was very heavily stylized in terms of everything: performance, lighting, set. I'm usually not one who enjoys that type of theatre; I like my plays a little more traditional. But I'm also a theatrical professional, so I can see what the production was trying to do, and I can see that they accomplished in successfully. So the play is a good one. It gets a good review, because I think it's fundamentally a strong production. It's not the kind of production that really connects with me, but it's still a good production.

Ports in Storms

Last week, I auditioned for a production of "Last Night of Ballyhoo," and I was not called back for the role I wanted. However, I got a call from the artistic director this week, asking me if I wanted to understudy two of the roles in the show. The offer wasn't to understudy one of the roles that I really wanted to play, but I felt like I shouldn't be choosy. I've auditioned for him a few times, for a few different shows, but he has never been able to offer me a role yet. So while this is still not a proper role in a mainstage show, I'll get a chance to have him see my work. I have wanted to work at this theatre for a few years now, so this is a good way to get my foot in the proverbial door. I don't really hold any of those understudy-type hopes that I'll have to go on and play the role one night (but let's face it. That would be cool.) But rather I see it as an opportunity to work with the theatre, and hopefully this opportunity will translate into a role in another show down the line.

Plus, I've never been an understudy before. When I was at the 'Row doing my internship, I had roles that I had to know in case I needed to go on. I also had roles in which I only had minimal time to prepare for a performance. Many of them were children shows or school tours, but very few of them were evening mainstage shows. This is much more of a professional setup for an understudy position, a much smaller time commitment, but much higher expectations. It'll be an interesting way to spend November.