Hello All,
I apologize for the massive delay for this most recent post. Yesterday and this morning have been my first days off in two weeks. Needless to say, I haven't had much time for blogging; though I have been making mental notes about what to write for two weeks now.
Rumors has been going well. The actors in the production are incredibly talented and all very nice, so it has been fun and beneficial to watch them play around every day. It is turning out to be "a good little skit," as one of the actors, Mark Chambers, likes to say. We have our first preview performance tonight with a sold out house, so it will be nice to see how it plays with a full audience. It is getting to the point that we are struggling to remember what the real jokes are because we've become to used to all of them. There was a company run through on Sunday night after tech, so we got a little bit of an idea how the show will run with an audience. Let it be known that I got three laughs with only two lines ;). Though I spoke to a few people from the company, and they said by the time the cops come in at the end, the audience is relieved to have some new characters to laugh at. So while my laughs come mostly from Neil Simon, I'll take them nonetheless. The only downside to this rehearsal process has been the lopsidedness of the interns' work ethics. While most of us show up ready to take on whatever task we are needed for, one intern, I'll call him intern X for the time being, still thinks it is acceptable to sit and play on his iphone or knit. (With the prop knitting, I might add.) The other night at tech rehearsal, the director needed Lenny's understudy, Intern X, to fill in for Lenny for a few lines while they worked something out. Imagine his surprise when he was LOST. He had no idea where to stand, when to cross, who his lines should be delivered to. It was infuriating. When the stage manager got worried that he didn't know anything about the role he should be understudying, he denied and denied and justified and justified until the cows came home. The next day, he walked in with his knitting. I may have to kick some faces soon. At least the powers that be got to see his laziness in action, so that was delightful for the rest of us.
Outside of that, I have been steering clear of spending too much time with the interns, as I can sense that I may say something that will be bad this early in the season. So I've been spending time with my roommate Tyler and the company manager Daniel. It is nice that they are content just watching a movie and sitting around instead of going out to the bars every blessed day. Tyler has convinced me to dress up for Halloween, though I so didn't want to. I agreed on the terms that it can't be stupid, gory, or slutty; therefore, we are going as Cheri Oteri and Will Ferrell as the Spartan Cheerleaders. Tyler wants to rehearse this week. Should be a thing.
Speaking of dressing up, there was a GIANT convention here last weekend called Zombiecon. Apparently Fort Myers has an event every year in which people dress up like zombies and drink and listen to bands and do other crazy things. They were trying to beat the Guiness world record of biggest gathering of zombies, so there were requirements of makeup that you had to wear in order to be considered a "registered zombie." I agreed to go through with the minimum requirement at the last minute. The convention was actually quite fun, though some people looked legitimately disturbing. There was a local band there called Strange Arrangement that was incredibly good, so I stayed at their concert for two hours and then went home. Others were out all night, but that sounded a little too intense for me. But apparently they beat the record: there were approximately 20,000 people there, with about 75% dressed as zombies. So there's that.
Back on the theatre front, I have a callback audition tomorrow for Mary in It's a Wonderful Life. I have to try to look the period as best I can, apparently. That won't be too hard. (Ugh.) I'm feeling all right about this one, because they want Mary to read a little older, and I just naturally read older than Hallie does. Though Hallie has a more classic look. Who knows. We'll see what happens tomorrow.
Also, our casting director person told the interns that we are doing an intern show. It will most likely be "Title of Show," if they can get the rights. The other three interns were thrilled about it, being hardcore musical theatre people. I was less excited. It will be a good credit to have, I suppose, but I would have rather worked on a play. I just have to get my voice back in shape, seeing as I do not really sing anymore. Apparently Florida Rep is under the impression that I do. So this should be interesting. Rehearsals will start in March and there will be two performances in April. Meh.
I JUST REALIZED WHAT TIME IT IS! Ok, folks, I have to jump in the shower and head out to rehearsal before our preview tonight. I promise to blog more often so they aren't so long and babbling.
I love you all and think about you all every day. I miss you guys a lot.
Julianne
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Now is when the craziness begins.
Hello dear friends and family!
I still miss you all so much it hurts.
In other news, Rumors rehearsals have started. It has been a long first week of 8 hour rehearsals, especially since my character has two lines in the last five pages of the show. Needless to say, I haven't gotten up on my feet yet. Even though I haven't been doing anything with my actual role, I have been taking notes and tracking blocking for two of the other actors. We have a really good cast of very talented actors, so it has been fun and interesting to watch them at work all week. I am first and foremost understudying the role of Chris, which has been really helpful. The actress playing Chris is super tiny, really funny, and has a great method of working. It has been quite beneficial to observe an actress of a similar type as myself. She knows how to work honestly with what her best skills are instead of trying to sell herself as someone else: an ability that, while I am usually somewhat comfortable with what I have, I am still working hard to perfect. The other role I am understudying, Cookie, is also pretty fun. The actress is the sweetest woman in the world, and one of the funniest to boot. In general, sitting in on rehearsals, though it makes my butt fall asleep, has been a useful experience. Let's hope I don't mess up my two lines when we come to them this week...
Tomorrow starts the craziness of the acting interns' schedules that apparently won't let up until we leave in June. We start rehearsing for The Imaginators, the other kids' show, at the same time that we are rehearsing and observing Rumors rehearsals. An average day now will be from 10am-11pm give or take, depending on the day. Once we get The Imaginators put together, we start to tech both that show and the Edison show so that they are ready to take out on tour in November. In the middle of all of that, Rumors will be in tech and will open the week of October 25th. And then in the middle of all THAT, rehearsals for It's a Wonderful Life will start. I don't know in what capacity I'll be working on that show, but I'll at least be sitting in on rehearsals every day. Then the basic schedule is touring, rehearsals, working the evening shows if we aren't in them, hanging and focusing lights, and I also start teaching my class in November! I have no idea if I'll survive this. At least I won't have much time to spend money and get fat.
Speaking of getting fat, I need to stop that. I had a huge revelation this week while watching rehearsals. The woman playing Chris is in her mid forties and is in incredible shape. I, at the age of 21, am not in incredible shape. If I want to continue to work in this profession, I need to lose weight and take control of how I care for my body. I am tired of being a seemingly tiny person, but not being able to do the things a tiny person should be able to do. Now, I am well aware that I am not dangerously overweight, nor disgusting to look at, but I want to give my body a break from feeling tired and bogged down. If I want to be like Michelle (this particular actress) then I need to give myself a chance. I am not, and never will be, tall or blonde or outrageously beautiful, so I need to work on what I actually am. I am an attractive, short, funny actress. Being chubby isn't doing me any favors, especially when I know I have lost roles because of it. So this week I've been trying to eat better, but today I have started an actual plan. I did research on recommended calorie intake based on my body's statistics and how much weight I want to lose; I dusted off my yoga mat this morning and found an online pilates workout; and I went to the pool and did a few laps across the length of it. Later tonight I am going to map out my meals for the week so I don't have to worry about counting calories every blessed day, but instead it will be all planned ahead of time. So there we go. Hopefully I will stick to this and change my ways. One of the other acting interns keeps saying, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." He's a tool. Of course there are things that taste that good. I just need not to let them take over my life.
On the social front, things are somewhat better. I decided to go up to our Scenic Charge, Erin, and just ask her to be my friend. Second grade style. Thank goodness she is hilarious enough to handle my bizarre question. She has been a small breath of fresh air in between the people I am forced to see every day. She lives right next door, so we have planned nights to watch certain shows and other things of that nature. Now I can say I have a friend here! Tyler is still pretty fun, but he has his people that he usually spends a lot of time with. Tables have turned within the acting interns, interestingly enough. One of them doesn't seem to be doing even a fraction of the work that the rest of us are, but instead sits on his iPhone all the livelong day during rehearsals when the rest of us are taking notes and watching the actors and learning lines and doing a million other things. The girl who carpools with him seems to be at her limit. He just insists on making fun of people all the time and doesn't seem to be here to work, but instead to socialize and get paid. Not to be rude, but Bob said on the first day, "If you're here for the paycheck, there's the f***ing door." (Edited for the appeasement of my Mom (: ) As I predicted, this girl said the carpooling is getting to be too much, but now she's stuck in it. Why doesn't anyone listen to me? Did I not say this would happen? Ugh. Oh well. I am just trying to stay as far away from the drama as I possibly can. I cannot afford to waste my time here worrying about lazy actors who are mean to their peers. I told her that we have to keep our heads in our scripts and trust that those who matter will see that we are here to work, and others are not. And if it doesn't work out that way... well... life's a bitch.
In response to my last blog post, I still think palm trees are ugly, but I'm trying to spend more time in the sun so I can learn to love the hot Florida days. This transition is still in the works. I still check craigslist almost every day for places to live when I get back. John must be getting really tired of receiving links in his email that say, "LOOK AT THIS PLACE!" Oh well. It's what I've got. ;)
Here's a link to a video of our first Rumors rehearsal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o37DsF0V7uE
Good night and good luck.
I still miss you all so much it hurts.
In other news, Rumors rehearsals have started. It has been a long first week of 8 hour rehearsals, especially since my character has two lines in the last five pages of the show. Needless to say, I haven't gotten up on my feet yet. Even though I haven't been doing anything with my actual role, I have been taking notes and tracking blocking for two of the other actors. We have a really good cast of very talented actors, so it has been fun and interesting to watch them at work all week. I am first and foremost understudying the role of Chris, which has been really helpful. The actress playing Chris is super tiny, really funny, and has a great method of working. It has been quite beneficial to observe an actress of a similar type as myself. She knows how to work honestly with what her best skills are instead of trying to sell herself as someone else: an ability that, while I am usually somewhat comfortable with what I have, I am still working hard to perfect. The other role I am understudying, Cookie, is also pretty fun. The actress is the sweetest woman in the world, and one of the funniest to boot. In general, sitting in on rehearsals, though it makes my butt fall asleep, has been a useful experience. Let's hope I don't mess up my two lines when we come to them this week...
Tomorrow starts the craziness of the acting interns' schedules that apparently won't let up until we leave in June. We start rehearsing for The Imaginators, the other kids' show, at the same time that we are rehearsing and observing Rumors rehearsals. An average day now will be from 10am-11pm give or take, depending on the day. Once we get The Imaginators put together, we start to tech both that show and the Edison show so that they are ready to take out on tour in November. In the middle of all of that, Rumors will be in tech and will open the week of October 25th. And then in the middle of all THAT, rehearsals for It's a Wonderful Life will start. I don't know in what capacity I'll be working on that show, but I'll at least be sitting in on rehearsals every day. Then the basic schedule is touring, rehearsals, working the evening shows if we aren't in them, hanging and focusing lights, and I also start teaching my class in November! I have no idea if I'll survive this. At least I won't have much time to spend money and get fat.
Speaking of getting fat, I need to stop that. I had a huge revelation this week while watching rehearsals. The woman playing Chris is in her mid forties and is in incredible shape. I, at the age of 21, am not in incredible shape. If I want to continue to work in this profession, I need to lose weight and take control of how I care for my body. I am tired of being a seemingly tiny person, but not being able to do the things a tiny person should be able to do. Now, I am well aware that I am not dangerously overweight, nor disgusting to look at, but I want to give my body a break from feeling tired and bogged down. If I want to be like Michelle (this particular actress) then I need to give myself a chance. I am not, and never will be, tall or blonde or outrageously beautiful, so I need to work on what I actually am. I am an attractive, short, funny actress. Being chubby isn't doing me any favors, especially when I know I have lost roles because of it. So this week I've been trying to eat better, but today I have started an actual plan. I did research on recommended calorie intake based on my body's statistics and how much weight I want to lose; I dusted off my yoga mat this morning and found an online pilates workout; and I went to the pool and did a few laps across the length of it. Later tonight I am going to map out my meals for the week so I don't have to worry about counting calories every blessed day, but instead it will be all planned ahead of time. So there we go. Hopefully I will stick to this and change my ways. One of the other acting interns keeps saying, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." He's a tool. Of course there are things that taste that good. I just need not to let them take over my life.
On the social front, things are somewhat better. I decided to go up to our Scenic Charge, Erin, and just ask her to be my friend. Second grade style. Thank goodness she is hilarious enough to handle my bizarre question. She has been a small breath of fresh air in between the people I am forced to see every day. She lives right next door, so we have planned nights to watch certain shows and other things of that nature. Now I can say I have a friend here! Tyler is still pretty fun, but he has his people that he usually spends a lot of time with. Tables have turned within the acting interns, interestingly enough. One of them doesn't seem to be doing even a fraction of the work that the rest of us are, but instead sits on his iPhone all the livelong day during rehearsals when the rest of us are taking notes and watching the actors and learning lines and doing a million other things. The girl who carpools with him seems to be at her limit. He just insists on making fun of people all the time and doesn't seem to be here to work, but instead to socialize and get paid. Not to be rude, but Bob said on the first day, "If you're here for the paycheck, there's the f***ing door." (Edited for the appeasement of my Mom (: ) As I predicted, this girl said the carpooling is getting to be too much, but now she's stuck in it. Why doesn't anyone listen to me? Did I not say this would happen? Ugh. Oh well. I am just trying to stay as far away from the drama as I possibly can. I cannot afford to waste my time here worrying about lazy actors who are mean to their peers. I told her that we have to keep our heads in our scripts and trust that those who matter will see that we are here to work, and others are not. And if it doesn't work out that way... well... life's a bitch.
In response to my last blog post, I still think palm trees are ugly, but I'm trying to spend more time in the sun so I can learn to love the hot Florida days. This transition is still in the works. I still check craigslist almost every day for places to live when I get back. John must be getting really tired of receiving links in his email that say, "LOOK AT THIS PLACE!" Oh well. It's what I've got. ;)
Here's a link to a video of our first Rumors rehearsal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o37DsF0V7uE
Good night and good luck.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The Verdict is In (Well, the first one...)
So our costume lady was right in telling me that I'll be playing Pudney, the cop at the end of Rumors. I at least get full EMC points for it instead of just understudy credit. I'll also be understudying the role of Chris, which is who I would likely be cast as in the real world, so that will be a useful credit on my resume. Rehearsals begin on Tuesday, so I'm excited to watch the rest of the actors and to work with the artistic director. Hopefully if he likes me enough during this, he will cast me in one of the other shows.
Tonight we have a designer run through for Thomas Edison, so hopefully whoever comes to watch the rehearsal will be pleased with our work. It's turning out to be a good show, in spite of the fact that I'm not a huge fan of the script. We still haven't added all the props or the million costume changes we have, so my brain has not completely exploded yet. Give it time.
The interns and I are slowly starting to figure out our working relationships. They have said a few times that I remind them of having a Mom around. I think they meant that in a positive way? I can work with that title, I suppose. I seem to be the one who brings everyone back to focus when we digress or spend too much time on a problem that needn't exist. We are getting to the point that we are figuring out what each other's "thing" is, and learning to take it for what it is. I guess they are learning that I am "the mom." I'm not sure why I let things bother me so much, but I do. I am working on letting things roll off me, but it's certainly a challenge on which I will have to continue to work.
I went to the pool yesterday with Tyler (my roommate) and he kinda called me out on the carpet about me not fitting in well. We had a good talk about it, and I feel a little better. He said that he can tell that I don't thrive with peers my own age, and he has always been the same way. He helped me realize that I can't hold my own lifestyle choices against the other interns. I think part of me just wants very much not to like anyone here, so I can make a clean break back to Pittsburgh, where I want to be. I know that is a really stupid way to think, but sometimes I'm really stupid when it comes to these things. I am learning to remind myself that having a positive experience here doesn't mean I have to stop missing home. I can still cry to John on Skype every night if I want to. (Though I promise to try to stop that, babe.) The experience I gain here and the people I meet here will help my career in Pittsburgh and in other places. That has become the sentence I tell myself every morning when I wake up to help me get through the day. It may not get easier, but maybe it will at least be a little more enjoyable.
In the meantime, I will still miss getting bundled up and walking around Pittsburgh in the fall and winter, but I will try to find a little more beauty in these bizarre looking palm trees.
Julianne
Tonight we have a designer run through for Thomas Edison, so hopefully whoever comes to watch the rehearsal will be pleased with our work. It's turning out to be a good show, in spite of the fact that I'm not a huge fan of the script. We still haven't added all the props or the million costume changes we have, so my brain has not completely exploded yet. Give it time.
The interns and I are slowly starting to figure out our working relationships. They have said a few times that I remind them of having a Mom around. I think they meant that in a positive way? I can work with that title, I suppose. I seem to be the one who brings everyone back to focus when we digress or spend too much time on a problem that needn't exist. We are getting to the point that we are figuring out what each other's "thing" is, and learning to take it for what it is. I guess they are learning that I am "the mom." I'm not sure why I let things bother me so much, but I do. I am working on letting things roll off me, but it's certainly a challenge on which I will have to continue to work.
I went to the pool yesterday with Tyler (my roommate) and he kinda called me out on the carpet about me not fitting in well. We had a good talk about it, and I feel a little better. He said that he can tell that I don't thrive with peers my own age, and he has always been the same way. He helped me realize that I can't hold my own lifestyle choices against the other interns. I think part of me just wants very much not to like anyone here, so I can make a clean break back to Pittsburgh, where I want to be. I know that is a really stupid way to think, but sometimes I'm really stupid when it comes to these things. I am learning to remind myself that having a positive experience here doesn't mean I have to stop missing home. I can still cry to John on Skype every night if I want to. (Though I promise to try to stop that, babe.) The experience I gain here and the people I meet here will help my career in Pittsburgh and in other places. That has become the sentence I tell myself every morning when I wake up to help me get through the day. It may not get easier, but maybe it will at least be a little more enjoyable.
In the meantime, I will still miss getting bundled up and walking around Pittsburgh in the fall and winter, but I will try to find a little more beauty in these bizarre looking palm trees.
Julianne
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