Skills Section on your Resume

As my dad says, it's okay to be down in the dumps. The upside of feeling down is that you'll be right back up again when you least expect it. Life has a way of working things out with you. This week (as well as my entire post college experience) have certainly proven mi padre right in so many ways.


Skills section on your resume: keep it up to date, be honest too... you never know when or what they'll ask.

At a recent audition, everyone in the room who had violin on their resume was asked how well they played. The majority of girls said they were beginnners... and then they got to me. And here I was thinking that those years of playing second and third chair violin to Paul N would never amount to anything! Got me extra conversation time in the audition room, and that is nothing to shake one's head at.

Also, one of my kids got a 104 out of 100 on his physics test! I get some healthy shrieks of happiness and pride in my student, he gets a new I-phone, and all is right with the world.

Silver Lining

Anyy day now...

RigolettNO

Haha. Choreography was beautifully understated. Didn't get a callback, but my friend Liz did. Hooray!

The roommate said something brilliant today, that I should think about auditions like I suggest she thinks about men, if they don't call you back, then they weren't a good fit anyway. It's all about compatibility, hmm?

Here's to La Cage and Catch Me If You Can this week.

Yay Dance.

Calm Before the Storm

It's lovely that Spring is here. Today gets to be a technique and workout day, because there are really no auditions going on (shocker!)

Probably for the best, I want to be as fresh and energized (and fit) as possible for Rigoletto at the Met tomorrow. It's crazy what happens to me internally when I want something SO much. It becomes a struggle to balance enthusiasm and calm, so that my technique doesn't go out the window because my nerves are vibrating against my skin.

I've been thinking a lot about this song by Gotye, "Somebody That I Used to Know." It's having a bit of social media renaissance since I was first introduced to it, but in a weird way, this kooky song has become  therapy for me. As much as I'd love to steamroll through the let downs and the occasional sadness, every now and then I have to manage my disappointments, especially with the performing arts industry and in my romantic relationships.

Nice to know that others have experienced a similar struggle trying to actualize what (or who) they love. It's also nice to know that - apparently - it gets easier to make love work! Thanks to my dancer friend Jamie, of the gorgeous red lip, who's been married for a bit and is incredibly comforting in her advice.

(Incidentally, this video makes me hope that I get to be painted at one of my next photo shoots!! Here's crossing fingers)

Rehearsal for Showcase

Coming along now. Probably the quirkiest Fosse work I've ever done, but I'm game for anything at this point! (Loving Sammy Davis Jr in this)

New Headshots!

Coming soon...

I think I needed some rebranding to boost my auditioning confidence, so I'm incredibly fortunate to have won a Headshot photoshoot at a model party for the School of Visual Arts models. I LOVE these people.

This husband and wife duo was WONDERFUL to work with and I highly recommend Kent Meister's photography to anyone needing portraits, headshots, engagement wedding photos, anything!

http://www.kentmeisterphotography.com/

Auditions, Auditions, Auditions!!

Here I go! I took an educated risk and slept in a bit instead of waking up at 7am to get to the Chicago National Tour audition... Turns out it was a good risk to take, because to keep with recent trends, the casting directors decided to type all of non-equity by headshot at like 10:30am. That basically means that it doesn't really matter when you show up. In other types of auditions, they may only see the first twenty five girls or something, so then it's really important to be early!

With my obnoxiously smoldery, dark headshot (I really do need to get one that better reflects my actual personality), height/body type, and experience with the show material, I was both surprised and disappointed that I didn't get typed in! I could have decided to be in a funk the rest of the morning, but I chose productivity over angst (works every time). I signed up at the afternoon Sister Act dance call at Pearl,  and even hustled down ten blocks to Chelsea and signed up at an EPA (Equity Principal Audition) for Maine State Musical Theatre (yay Maine! yay Olympia Snowe!).

Still, I wanted to make sure that I got something out of my day. Some heavy sense of foreboding made me think that my recent, month-long trend of not being seen at auditions would continue unabated. Sooo I took another risk, and rushed back to Broadway Dance Center to take Vocal Technique class from 2-3pm and begged the teacher to let me go first and sing the new song I had prepped for the Vocal Performance/Audition Technique class at 3pm. 

(Channeling this lady for vocal/performance inspiration)

It could have ended badly, but I was lucky! Luckily Bettina Sheppard was feeling generous, and none of the other students had schedule conflicts, so I was able to have a WONDERFUL class experience  AND get back to the Sister Act audition in just enough time to be in the last non-equity group! (I even remembered to record the warm up from Vocal Tech class on my phone this time so that I could have it to listen to before singing auditions!)The Sister Act choreography was SO fun, and surprisingly intense physically (!), considering that we actually moved very little. They weren't doing any cuts in the room (so we were pretty sure it was a required call), but I'm definitely planning to sing for them at the posted audition tomorrow!

After Sister Act, I hauled booty down to Chelsea again, and made it just in the nick of time to sing with the last group at the Maine State Musical Theater audition. If that weren't wonderful enough to completely make my day, I got to have a roommates date at Costco to round out my evening!

(Score!!!)

Cannot believe it, but I'm actually going to bed now!  It's not even 10pm... Wowza! 

View from My Office...

Farewell!

(Hopefully not for forever).

Last night's final performance for Don Giovanni of the 2011-2012 season was unlike any other. Absolutely no holds barred; the boys were being completely absurd (I've never seen wigs so intentionally heinous-looking), the girl peasants were upping the sexy-time ante like never before.

Bryn Terfel was in fine form with his guffaw-inducing portrayal of Leporello, the rest of the principal singers were as inventive as ever in their staging choices. During the party scenes, my professionalism may or may not have slipped... I was enjoying myself so much so that I was having difficulty keeping laughter down! (I'm not ashamed to admit that some bizarre and hideous sounds came out of my nose, since I was trying so hard to restrain laughter from bursting out of my mouth). At one point I even had to turn my back to the audience and take a beat to restore what little was left of my composure!

After my favorite scene (Il Commendatore) and the final curtain call, the audience burst out into rapturous applause. Of course by that point, the support staff (as I like to think of us) are all back in the dressing rooms getting out of costume & corset. Nevertheless, it is a lovely moment to hear applause that sustained and genuine, and to know that you played some small part in facilitating it.

Crossing my fingers, toes, and eyes for the Rigoletto audition in the end of this month!!!

Second to Last Don Giovanni Performance

Last night, and I can't believe it's almost over.

Of all the lovely things to do, my best friend from college came with her roommate to see us! And suffered four hours in standing room only to do so. What a champion!

I'm seriously loving this cast. They're so spontaneous, and it's wonderful to hear the audience enjoy them so much.

Le sigh!

Now off to ballet class and some more auditions.

So I'll hustle and bustle and hopefully rustle up some new dance jobs!!

Cheers,
A Broadway Baby

What do Rock of Ages, 72 Degrees, and Dorit Koppel have in common?

These three things managed to balance out the scales of what could have been a crappy day, but was actually pretty wonderful.

I'm shocked and gleeful to state that New York City was a balmy 72 degrees and sunny today. It's like I never left Los Angeles! I must admit I was a bit confused by the weather (is it Spring already? We haven't had an actual WINTER!!) I sucked it up though... WOW it is so much easier to dress appropriately for a high of 72 and a low of 60.

Anyway, I was not seen at Honeymoon in Vegas (but did I really want to go to Canada?) or Rock of Ages today, but I'll just chalk it up to part of the business.

Luckily, I got to spend my morning and afternoon with this woman instead:

I've said it once, and I'll say it again: I LOVE Dorit Koppel. For me, and for many of her hundreds of students, she is the best thing that has happened to ballet in a long time.

Sometimes a picture can speak a thousand words, but nothing short of a real life experience taking ballet from Dorit can fully express how much joy and artistry she is capable of evoking from dance. Who knew that you could do a ron de jamb combination to "Girl from Ipanema" played on a classical piano?

New goal: take ballet class from Dorit AT LEAST two times a week.

This is A Broadway Baby, over and out.

Turning Over A New Leaf

Today was the open (aka non union) audition for a new headed-to-Broadway workshop about the life of Liberace, aptly named "All That Glitters." I was SO excited! I had done my research, I had an equity insider friend who told me all about the union dancer's audition that she had gone to last week, I prepped a (sexy showgirly) dance outfit, I knew what I would sing if asked, and I even brushed up on period hair dos by checking out youtube videos.

Every performer, and I think perhaps every person, can make an equitable estimation of their skills. Along those lines, I felt confident that I was definitely cast-able for this show (one of the singer roles is a Catholic brunette, the other is a boozy lounge waitress... I have experience as both...)

I get in the room (the actual dance combination was remarkably easy), I strut my stuff, take in all character notes and acting suggestions that the choreographer makes. Then they line us up in the usual groups of four dancers, staggered in two windows (two in front, two in back), and I realize that I'm standing in an area of almost no visibility to the casting crew.

They don't even see me; I know it. I'm not surprised, but certainly still disappointed when I am not asked to stay and sing.

It's been a rough few weeks, and I had started to withdraw, feel restless, feel frustrated, and want to give up. First time in months that I've had such strong, palpable doubts.

After feeling so unwanted, feeling so untalented that I could not make myself stand out, the last thing I wanted to do was go and take class. Because that's what I didn't WANT to do, that's exactly what I DID. And I loved every minute of both classes I took.

Discipline pays off. Rest and allowing one's natural emotions to have a healthy outlet also pays off, but I've been doing that enough lately.

So, I'm turning over a new leaf and I think I like the way the flip side looks. Back to discipline for my future!

Oh Disney...

Got to the Tokyo Disney call yesterday. Rocked it out, then they measured us at the end.

Consensus? I'm TOO TALL for Asia.

Grrrrrr.

In other news (and this is a shout out to my gorgeous, red headed former tap teacher) I am loving this clip, because Jack on caffeine is not unlike me on caffeine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaYV6t94aMg

God forbid I ever meet a barrista!!

Four Pack by June

Because of my best friend's wedding, I've a few days rest from working out. It's been wonderful, and probably much needed. It's go time though. Started off tonight with a 7:30 mile, which I have not done since I was fourteen. It felt so GOOD to figure out how to stabilize my lower back enough to run (constantly thinking about isolating lower abs and hamstrings did the trick).

Off to audition for a gorgeous looking contract in Tokyo Disney tomorrow. Cross fingers!

Cheers,
Laura

Bummer...

Feeling the old adage about going to every audition because you never know if they'll see non union, and you never know what the creative team wants.

That said, I was up at 8am with an ambitious day planned, but no one is seeing non union today.

I'm too awake to go back to sleep and now have nothing to do. Whomp whomp.

Belle is Back!

Spent all day on an airplane and made it into the city just in time for my Met Opera call.

It's been a bit of a whirlwind day, and I seem too wired to fall asleep.

In other exciting news, the Met Opera has plans to set a new Rigolletto in a modern day Las Vegas setting, and the choreographer they've hired to cast and choreograph this new show has quite the resume. The audition is in the end of March, and after all the wedding feasting and lack of class-taking, I have some work to do to get into shape for it!

Excited to have another clear, short term goal!

Cheers,
Laura