It's February! Already?

Where did month number 1 of this year go? I swear it hasn’t been a full 4 weeks yet.

What I wanted to accomplish in January and what actually came into fruition are two very different things. Inside my warped mind o’ mine, I had figured that I would already have the site up and running on a better schedule, WVLO would have already signed on to allow me access to additional resources for marketing, I would have been cast in RENT, I would once again be employed, and the cast would have perfected the numbers Rich Man’s Frug, There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This, Big Spender, and If My Friends Could See Me Now.

Here’s my reality thus far, I have some blog entries done for the site. I suppose that is a good thing because it’s a step in the right direction. Although one would think that being currently unemployed, I would have been more on the ball with this, wouldn’t it. Well, ha ha…the joke’s on, wait…there really isn’t a joke. I have been working on the choreography with anyone who asks for extra help. Don’t get me wrong, I am delighted to do it, because it means that the cast member cares that much more to have a great show. In a way, I wish that I worked with more performers with this mentality. Heck, sometimes I wish that I always had that state of mind. This is going to sound awful, and don’t follow my example, but I generally don’t start to stress about not being fully knowledgeable with the steps until about three weeks before we open. I just know that my body has to get used to the movements, then after that I am good to go. But sometimes, like with the Prologue from West Side Story that I performed last year, I just could not put the choreography for that piece together. I felt like my limb were always flailing about during that number. Just a hot mess in general. I guess maybe I was too old to try to do that show again. – It’s a long story, but I’ll tell it to you another time maybe. But back to my acknowledgement of time defeating my January dreams. So as far as the dance numbers being perfected there’s clean up that needs to be done on all of them. Shucks. On top of that, I still have to finish Frug. Note to all of my fellow choreographers and those who aspire to move into a staff position for a show: Set guidelines!!! I would have gotten through Frug, but talking is a big issue. I’d say that there are really only 3 rules that need to be addressed and stuck to. 1.) If someone is asking a question, stop talking to be sure you hear it because chances are it’s the same question that everyone else has. 2.) Even with the most well-intentioned this is a biggie: If you are not the Director or the Choreographer or the Vocal Director, do NOT tell a cast mate that they are doing something wrong. If it is an issue that is causing an issue for you, bring it up with the staff. And lastly, 3.) You may have ideas, but during rehearsal is not the time to discuss them, when there is work to be done. Wait until after everyone is dismissed and talk about it after. So that’s all I shall say about dancing for the moment. As for my meeting with the company, that is happening on February 18th. I guess I can’t be to disheartened about that aspect of things because they only meet once a month and I was in rehearsals during their last one. I didn’t get cast in RENT, and it could have been for any number of reasons, but I think it’s because I shouldn’t have waited until the day before to ask for help with the callback music. That’s something else that we will discuss at a later time. I was laid off from my job shortly after New Year’s Day, and was told that its only for a couple of weeks. Cool, right? I could use the vacation. So far it’s been more weeks than I prefer, but what can I do? So I focus on what I can try to control. My dances. This blog, and my sanity. If I begin to go crazy, can you step in and say something? Thanks. That would really help me out.

For all of you auditioning or performing somewhere, break a leg.

Are you kidding me?

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this yet, but I really like to take my time when creating a dance. So, back in August, when I got this gig, I requested the sheet music for the songs I was choreographing. Well, I finally got the sheet music about two weeks ago, and have had to make cuts because I didn’t have anything to work with other than the original recordings. I have come to find out that almost all of the songs have some sort of cut that needs to be made. I am super bummed.

Here, I thought I was keeping all of the music intact and then I get this news. But, you know what they say…The show…

Yeah, you know what I was going to say. Well I am going to print up my notes and head over to rehearsal. Tonight, I am finishing Rich Man’s Frug!

Talk to ya later!

What if…

Big Spender (Fosse Original Broadway Cast Recording) Click to listen to the song.

When I startled myself awake this morning, my alarm clock’s red glow said 6:49. Bleh, its so early, I think to myself. I have a few hours more that I can sleep. I close my eyes, and that’s when the thoughts come flooding into my head. What if I forget everything? What if the dancers hate the concept? What if the director or producer hate it? What if I forget to bring all of my notes?

SHUT UP!!!!

I can’t turn my brain off. I try meditative breathing and focusing on the hum of the sounds outside. I try to focus on one little dot on my ceiling. Nothing helps, and I can’t get back to sleep. I don’t want to get out of bed, because it’s freakin’ cold out there! I know that’s supposed to be the best thing to do, but I just couldn’t tear myself away from the warmth and cuddliness of my bed. Then, finally at around 8:00, the sleep returns. It’s short-lived because when the alarm actually goes off at 8:50, I am more tired than if I were just to have gotten out of bed when I first opened my eyes. But the first dance rehearsal is today at 10:00 so I gotta start my day.

I finish my daily ablutions, grab a banana, my script, my notes, my video camera, and my keys, and head out the door. It was a little drizzly, but ten minutes after arriving at the rehearsal hall, the sun was shining as if to say, this is going to be a great day.

The dancers are trickling in as we are warming up and I am explaining my concept. I can’t say exactly what that is just yet, but once the show opens, I will be happy to let you all know. However, I will say that it is not your typical version of Big Spender. Nowhere near typical. I have to admit that I was worried about how the women would take this news, but when I told them how we would start the number, there was a collective gasp, followed by excited chatter. Big smiles from me as you can imagine!

We got everyone into place, and began learning the number, there was a lot of giggling at the awkwardness of it all, but in the end, I have a number that I am very excited to share with the audience! The women look great, and they said that it was an incredibly fun number to do. I think that sometimes, I am too much of a self critic. Some of the ladies, knew that I was nervous because it’s a taste of what’s to come, and if they didn’t like this number, how would they feel about the rest. After rehearsal, they said, “You were nervous for no reason. This is a great number!”

I am lucky to have such a great group of people to work with. They are honest and if it was bad, they’d have no problem saying so. As would the co-producer. But he was “very impressed.”

Tomorrow, it’s parts 1 and 2 of Rich Man’s Frug. Oh, you better believe that we are performing all three parts. I can’t wait!!!

35 Minutes and we begin…

By the time this post hits, I should be on my way out the door to the rehearsal hall. I can’t tell you how excited I am, and nervous, that the time has come to begin working on this show. I have been working on the show in pieces since July of ’09! So needless to say, it’s been a long time coming. What I hope for most is that the cast enjoys this choreography. There’s something wonderful that happens when a dancer loves or enjoys a particular piece, and usually it ends up looking like a completely inspired piece. So I have my fingers crossed. I want 7 inspired pieces!!

Something that I discovered about myself while working on some of these songs is that I am most productive if I hit points in the song that can have a dark interpretation. Take Big Spender for instance, its supposed to be a sexy song, but I wanted that darker element of this place. This piece is a bit off the Fosse map, but I feel like it fits, and it’s dancey, and it still maintains that sexiness without being crude. I just wanted a little uncomfortable thrown into the mix to put my stamp on it.

More to follow soon…

Woo hoo! Got some details on my RENT callback…

Last Saturday, I had the scary enjoyment of auditioning for one of my favorite shows, RENT.

I am always such a mess when it comes to auditioning. It’s something that I really have to work on. I get so nervous that just thinking about an audition, and what I have to work on that it makes me have to catch my breath and wait a moment while my heart stops pounding away in my chest. I don’t know if I have the right look for any of the major parts, which is always what an actor wants. However for this show, I would be happy to just be part of the cast. It’s with a different company than I usually work with, but the director, Joe Duffy, was incredibly kind which made the audition process easier. I worked with him when he choreographed PIPPIN for Foothill Music Theatre. and he was a blast.

But back to the audition…I walked into the room, and Mr. Duffy was out so I used this time to go over the song with the accompanist who had really scrutinized my resumé. Now that I think about it, he could be the Vocal Director. It was a simple little room that had a raised stage inside. When Mr. Duffy came back it there were only the four of us inside. I love auditions like that. While I love to cheer on my fellow auditionees, I have a hard time auditioning in front of them. Weird, huh? I was really surprised because the stage had two couches, a desk style table, and a few other odds and ends, and Mr. Duffy said “Feel free to use the stage”, but I didn’t feel like it would have suited the song. I wonder if that was a mistake. I sang “Pinball Wizard” from The Who’s TOMMY. I had asked the accompanist/Vocal Director to make a big cut so that I can sing the end of the song that has a key change. After the first half of the first stanza, he made the jump, and I wasn’t expecting it and just continued to sing what my original plan was. Luckily, the he was able to jump back into the song with minimal confusion. I was a wee bit worried because Mr. Duffy stopped the song before I could get there. He didn’t say anything at first while he wrote some notes. He had the Stage Manager give me a couple of songs to memorize and work on this week, so that on Saturday, I would be ready to go for the callback.

Well I got my phone call today and I got my times for my callback roles and what they are expecting of me there, so I have to do some research. My first call back is at 2:15. That’ll give me plenty of time to get there. I forgot to mention to you that I wasn’t too sure where the place was when I first auditioned, so I arrived right at 12:00 which was my audition time, so I didn’t really have too much time to get the shakes. Now, I have three days to get over a panic attack. So I am off to prepare! Wish me luck, and to all of you who have auditions and or performances going on in your careers…Break A Leg!!

Are you preparing for an audition? Are you currently rehearsing a production? Let me know how things are progressing. Email me at Jery@theactorvist.com.