Labor Day Reminds Me I Need to Work More…

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SOOOOoooo… how ya been? How ya doin’?

August has come and gone and I didn’t even see it fly by.

Today is the first day of September, first time I got to meet with the JCS team, and is going to be the first time the Pippin cast sings with the orchestra. If it is a sign of things to come for this month, it may be that I spend another month way from writing. The sad thing is that I have 5 posts that have been started but by the time I sit down to finish them I had forgotten the point I was trying to get across. Maybe I will still post them just so that way I don’t get into the habit of leaving things undone. There’s just not enough time in the day! Gah!

Pippin has been a wild ride of fun, hard work, and happiness. I have been intimidated by these amazing people. When they sing, I can only watch in envy. But envy in a good way. It makes me want to work harder at getting this music down. I am sure I have mentioned a million times before that music is the hardest element for me. I am so thankful that I have the great Aaron Weisberg and Kevin Brownstein helping me with this. This cast is filled with not only fun and talented people but they are so giving. The show is all blocked and we have it run-thru ready and we have two weeks before we open. I am very excited that we are at this point and can only hope that JCS is in such a place when the time comes.

As for Jesus Christ Superstar, we got some things solidified. I got to empty out my brain and talk about my ideas. I was so nervous and uncomfortable through the whole thing. I was kind of waiting for people to tell my flat out “no” to some things and no one did! Color me shocked!! There were definitely some raised eyebrows when I spoke about some of the things. Along, with those eyebrows, there were some “ooh’s” and to me they sounded like good ones, so I think I am on the right track.

Oh, hahhahaa “On the Right Track,” its a Pippin reference!

I am excited to announce that auditions for Jesus Christ Superstar will be held on November 16th and 17th with callbacks on the 18th and 19th. We (the staff and I) think that having a Saturday and Sunday audition would allow more people the opportunity to attend. Saturday will be during the early afternoon and on Sunday will be the evening. Expect email and facebook announcements to be forthcoming. Those announcements will have more detailed information so keep your eyes peeled for it!

It has been a long first day of September. Our sitzprobe for Pippin was insane fun. INSANE! Come out and see the show which opens on Friday the 13th!!! Get your tickets by clicking this link! Come see the joyful number “No Time At All” and to hear the glorious “Morning Glow.” Join us for a super fun show!

Don’t forget, JCS auditions in November and Pippin opens on Friday the 13th! Until next time…

♫ Opportunity Is NOT A Lengthy Visitor ♬♩

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For anyone that loves fairy tales, Disney-esque stories, or just Sondheim’s music, this is a MUST SEE!!!!

Theatre In The Mountains presents INTO THE WOODS

“Into the Woods,” for those not familiar, is a brilliant weaving of several fairy tales into one complex narrative about what it takes to get what you want and the consequences that follow. Act 1 is a light, positive and funny chapter, for lack of a better word, that shows the main characters struggling to make their dreams a reality. From the childless Baker to the poverty stricken Jack, each character wishes that their situations could be fixed. Then, thanks to some magic beans from the Witch’s garden, opportunity strikes. Act 2 is the chapter when the lessons are learned. The songs are a little less jovial, but much more touching and still just as clever.

In this production, director Ian Leonard, has created not just another show, but an experience that is brilliant.

The use of this space and the space around this space and the atmosphere lend themselves fully to the characters who traverse the woods in search of their wishes. The actors stayed in character as they walked from behind the set and into the actual woods around the audience. To watch them as they explored the woods just added that extra layer of complexity. Not only do you get the main focal point of the story which is happening on stage, but you get some of the side story as you watch the actors that are off stage.

The usual way that the show begins is with an older gentleman, known as The Narrator. As I said, that is the usual way. Mr. Leonard changed the dynamic of the story by placing the Narrator position in the hands of a child. The show now becomes a product of imagination rather than a series of events, which I feel draws the audience in even more. It also makes songs like “Witch’s Lament” and “Children Will Listen” that much more moving. Let me tell you, there were several tears to be shed by the end.

But the good things about this show aren’t only the direction and the set, no. They are also the actors themselves. This is one of the strongest casts I’ve seen recently. And that’s including the Faustus cast at the SJRep. But “that’s another story. Never mind – Anyway,” yes, the cast was great! The Princes in their smug yet charming demeanor. The feisty little granny who can skin a wolf.

But let’s break this down a little further. Jeremy Goel, as the Narrator made it so believable that this was just him playing with his toys. At first he was wide eyed and excited as he unpacked his backpack with the toy representation of the characters, but later realizing that even in make believe there are consequences.

Alison Koch, as Cinderella, was wonderful! Her voice just soars in that open space and our hearts break with hers as she realizes that her Prince isn’t as charming as she had hoped.

The naive lad, Jack, played by Stefan Montana had line delivery that was perfection. So hopeful, yet so clueless.

Shawn Bender makes you laugh, hope, cry, then hope again in his turn as the Baker. Fantastic role for him!

Cindy Powell, as the Baker’s Wife, has one of my favorite songs in the show “Moments In The Woods.” She added little subtleties in the delivery and facial expressions that I LOVE to see actors do especially if it hasn’t been done by other people.

Speaking of… That leads me to The Witch. She was amazing! Kristen Hermosillo delivers in this role! As I was saying with Ms. Powell, Ms. Hermosillo interpreted her role uniquely as well. My favorite moment of the play, and there were a lot of them, but absolute fave is when she sings “And then bang! Crash! And the lightning flash! And – Well, that’s another story. Never mind – Anyway,” most people I’ve seen sing this song with fear about the flashes and the noise, but it looked like Ms. Hermosillo, was reveling in it. And then she laughed off the never mind, get back to business – anyway. Sheer magic!

Samantha Stidham and Elizabeth McClelland as Florinda and Lucinda were hilarious!! They combine sass, conceit, haughty into a single diva-licious element and work that stage!

Not to be outdone, as the Stepmother, Kimberly Kay is just as haughty and sassy, but add a gallon of conniving and you have the Mutha of all divas! Just watching her get the shoe onto her daughters’ feet is worth the price of the ticket! Just saying!

Then, there is Brett Carlson that pulls double duty as the Wolf and the Steward. I cannot describe this in a way that doesn’t sound weird. But here goes. Ya know how people get sympathy pains or feel empathy for others? Well, his wolf is SO focused on the deliciousness that will be Little Red Riding Hood that my mouth started to water. Think of it was a mind meld. I know I am weird. Then to see him take the Steward into what I think of as an over-exaggeration of an over-exaggeration of himself. It was brilliant! I hope he doesn’t get mad that I say that.

The plucky sarcasm and attitude that is Little Red Riding Hood was not lost by Lisa Meehan. She had the audience laughing throughout the show and cheering for her after “I Know Things Now.”

I could go on with this for the entire cast, but alas the entry would be too long and I would rather you click the link below to get tickets and see for yourself this fantastic show. It only has 3 more performances: Thursday 7/18, Friday 7/19 and Saturday 7/20 all shows begin at 7PM. Get your tickets here: Theatre In The Mountains

Congrats to Jillian Cummings, the cast and staff of Into The Woods!! You have yourself a true gem!

As Stephen Sondheim says: “Opportunity is NOT a lengthy visitor” Get your tickets now. You only have 3 chances to see the show.

WHAT? The Year Is Halfway Done??…

Last October, at my BFF Sarah’s birthday/dance party, I got a tarot card reading.

For those of you that have never had one, I would equate it with getting unbiased advice from a deck of cards.

I was given a deck of cards to shuffle and as I did so I was asked to think to myself a question that I would like help with. So as shuffled, my mind raced because there are a million questions that I would like help with. My guess is that my subconscious knew the real question that was in my heart.

Here’s the draw that I got

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The bottom row (what I remember anyway, after all it was nearly a year ago) is my foundation. The first card, Chariot, I was told means that I am really good at controlling things that I have control over. Just as in a chariot you have to control the horses and which roads you take all the while you have to make sure you don’t fall off the cart yourself. The second card, Illumination, means that I have a good grasp of the knowledge that I need in my “field of work,” if you will. The third, Trust, means that I am secure in what “path” is.

Here’s where I freaked the hell out.

The second level of this is about your passion. The first card is who you are. And this, THIS is what I drew…

She said this is what you are at the core of your being. And out loud I have never proclaimed or embraced or spouted it to people that I meet. I say I enjoy doing it, but never outright say I am an actor. But to draw this card from on top of a pile of 50 other cards and for it to land where it did, tells me that I need to follow my path. The card after, Guardian, describes the will I “have” to fulfill my need to become the “I AM” card.

The top and final card that was drawn was Compassion. I was told this is the missing piece to what I need to make it all come together. I need compassion for myself. Like most creative types, I am Über-Critical of myself and anything that I am involved with. I drill it into myself that I am not as good as so and so, or not as talented as so and so. What I forget is that I am NOT so and so. And as such can only do what I can do and to know that I am potentially someone else’s “so and so” to which I say, “You, my friend, ARE better than So and So! Now go and show them how good YOU are!”

As my astrological sign begins its rule over the heavens, I look back on these last 9 months and I smile. And to be honest, I have cried in gratitude as well. I feel like I have accomplished a lot! I can feel it in my body. I wake up tired and achy, but in my heart, I am so happy.

The funny thing of it is, as I look back at the last half of the year, I am thinking to myself “You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet, folks!”

The Dragon And The Killing Jar…

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At first, I hadn’t planned on auditioning for the New Play Development Factory. I was too much of a chicken.

It was totally last minute that I found myself hopping into my car and driving over to the Pear Theatre.

I had NO idea what to expect, let alone who I would be auditioning for. But SOMETHING in my thought jelly kept saying “ya gotta do this.”

So I waited in the lobby. I think I was that last one there.

The Factory producer, Jeffery came out to collect the headshot/resume and only gave me one side to read after looking at me. A side, just in case you are unfamiliar with the term is just another word for a scene or section of a scene. At first, my head told me the usual, “oh, he only gave you one side and other people got multiples. You are a courtesy audition.”

Finally, when it was my turn to read, I took a deep breath and said “Welp, let’s see what kind of wacky choices you can make with these pages.” I didn’t care if it was going to make sense.

I was told to look at Mr. De La Cruz for the play The Killing Jar by Jennifer Lynne Roberts. So that’s what I focused my peepers on. At first, in the pages that I had, I could see the good nature of the guy. There was no information about where the scene took place, so I placed it in a large building, in the lobby, and the majority of the chatting was happening while the characters were walking down a long empty hallway. After my first read, they asked me to make it a little more serious. I was happy do do so. So I started off upbeat, but then shifted gears after a third of the way through. I thought I was done after the second read, but then, much to my surprise, they asked me to read one of the other sides.

I didn’t have much time with it, but I feel I made some strong choices that may not have been what they wanted, (I even turned my back to them at one point) but I figured maybe I’ll be weird enough that they would remember me.

After the audition, I went home and continued work on my role as Daphne for “Sugar.” I didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. So I began rehearsals for “9 to 5” and I almost completely forgot about the whole thing.

Then, I got an email.

It was from the director, Heather Noelle Robinson, offering me the part of the guy that I read for the first time. Well! I’ll be a monkey’s uncle! I didn’t think I’d made the cut.

I have been so excited to to participate in the NPDF because it was another new experience. The idea behind the event was to allow Bay Area Playwrights have their work read to the public three times with the chance for feedback and to adjust the script to fix anything that’s unclear or simply didn’t work. So we have one rehearsal during the week. Then we performed the show for an audience. After, the playwright went and worked on suggestions and would come back during the next week and give us any new scenes or pages or cuts to the script. Then we’d rehearse the play. Then repeat the process twice more.

This play is very well constructed and, I feel, clearly shaped with new things being discovered throughout. Some of the feedback that people have is “feeling like there was no closure with (insert character name here)” I know it’s just because I have lived with the script for a month, but I know the closures are there. They are written out. We spoke the words aloud. I honestly ~~felt that~~ feel like this play is ready for production. I believe in it so much that I find myself wishing I had a theatre company of my own to mount this play. Hmmmmmmmm….THAT is something to think about….

For now, I have decided to keep all of my pages and all the new ones to see how much it changed during the event. I cannot wait to see what the finished script looks like.

Congrats on an awesome play, Jennifer!

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Working on this production at the Dragon Theatre was wonderful. We had a number of helping hands, and I got to see my buddy, Jason more times in those 3 weeks than I have in a year or even two! Artistic Director, Meredith Hagedorn, said one of the things that she hoped the actors got out of this project was that the Dragon was a great place to work. Mission Accomplished! I had fun and I can only hope that one day, I’ll make it into one of their main productions!

I think I was so lucky to work with such an amazing cast. It was only 5 people but I had so many laughs and was amazed so many times by these incredible people. If you are curious about who these people are, here’s the list – Michelle Cabinian, Brian Flegel, Chris Gaoiran and Amber Somerfield.

Here’s to more wonderful projects with more wonderful people just like this.

Thank you, Dragon Theatre for the New Play Development Factory!

Join Us… ♫♪We’ve Got Magic To Do! ♫♬

I am not sure what it is about Sunnyvale Community Players, but for each of the shows I’ve done there have been super important, maybe even life altering events.

Little Mary Sunshine

The first show I had ever done with the Sunnyvale Players was this campy little show called “Little Mary Sunshine.” It was directed by Ben Canter and it was kind of a free for all. At least that’s how it seemed to me. It was fun and funny, but the cast was madness. The significant thing for that show was that’s where I met my munster! Looking back to those 17 years ago and being in the parking lot of Braley Park after rehearsal with the whole cast leaving just the two of us to meet them at Jakes was so shady, but I am forever thankful that it happened.

jesus-christ-superstar

The second show I was lucky enough to take part in was one of my three favorite shows of all time. Jesus Christ Superstar. Not being a religious person, it was mostly the story and music that made me love this show. It was also the very first musical that I was exposed to once I was old enough to understand what a musical was. My best friend at the time had showed it to me one night during a sleepover and I became obsessed with it. We would sing the songs when we hung out so it only seemed right to dedicate my performance as Judas to her. That is for sure, my absolute favorite role to perform.

And now we come to 2013.

Bob Fosse has been a source of inspiration for me for over the past two decades.

My friend, Rachel, used to say, with a roll of the eyes, “he’s only the best choreographer in this life and the next.”

As a man, yeah, he left a little to be desired. He abused drugs and was a womanizer. As a creator, he, I believe, was amazing. He took everything that was a weakness, like his bowed legs and pigeon toes, and created a style! The shows that he’s created have amazing characters that I would one day LOVE to play.

And now I have the chance!