5 Musicals, 1 Staged Reading, 1 Webisode, and 1 Play in 12 Months…

To say that 2013 has been a busy year is redundant. I have spent countless hours in rehearsals and still more in performances. But it was such a wonderful, exhausting and yet fleeting year. There were so many high points and a few low points. I don’t want to bore you with them as I have feel I have already shared them with you. There’s nothing that bothers me more than repetitive blogging. That’s part of the reason that I’ve been a little less productive on the site this year.

Crazy cast of Promises, Promises. (rehearsal)

One thing that never changed throughout was my positive outlook. Life is too short to spend too much time marching in the “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” parade. I always say honor your feelings, so if you feel sad, do it. Feel that sadness, but only stay in the parade for a block or two. Don’t let it drag you down the street! There were a times when I was kicking myself for getting in way over my head. I worried and stressed about it, but once I worked through it, I had to come up with a way to fix my predicament. I don’t like to be a victim of my life. I don’t see how it helps me. So the only thing to do is to remain positive. Except when it comes to a strep test. THEN you wanna be full of negative.

Finale of 9 to 5 with some of the crazy cast. Photo by B. Heninger

In my lows, I will admit that it reached points at the nursery where I didn’t want to care about the place. But again, what good does that do? It just creates a cycle of waking up, grabbing a shower, followed by 8 hours of clock watching to then head to the theatre. At that point, I would have to take a moment to shake off my day’s indifference so that I can commit to my characters. Then I thought of how much more fully involved I could make my characters if I took all the aspect of my life and tried to commit to them. How much more can I experience LIFE and use it in theatre?

I began offering ideas to the management at work, and many of them they loved. It astonishes me that once that line of thinking became vocalized how many other ideas seemed to come out of nowhere. Sadly, it took most of the year to pass before I even had the inclination to do this. Still, it opens a new way of thinking and I cannot wait to see how I can utilize it for future characterizations.

In all honesty, I feel like I have to say that this has been a totally selfish year. My goal, in addition to continuing to perform, is to help promote the arts and to celebrate the people who create it. I have been so wrapped up in only my shows that I have failed in helping. So like my new mindset for work, I would like to throw it out to the wonderful community that I am lucky to be a part of:

How can I help you?

I am all ears. I have some ideas in the planning stages so, maybe you are thinking the same thing I am.

Until next time, (which may even be next year!)

jery

P.S. Have a safe and happy New Year!!

Through the Hardest Parts… {edited}

Are still to come.

The original title I had for this post was called “One More To Go…” I had begun writing the night after our penultimate performance of Zombie Prom. It had a multitude of meanings that were well suited for it at the time. Unfortunately, it got very late and I couldn’t stay awake anymore, so I planned to pick up again in the morning and posting it before the show. As it turns out, I woke up 10 minutes before our call time (the time the actors have to be at the theatre to get ready and what not) and the post went into the draft pile.

I said “See ya soon!” to the Sunnyvale Theatre after 5 months, and I looked forward to the shift of taking on Christmas Mouse. There is no dancing. There is the tiniest bit of singing. I thought a nice calm small role would be the perfect way to finish out this last month of the year. Now, with only one more performance left, I find myself already saddened by the thought that I can’t audition for a few months and there are all these great shows happening the same time I am working on JCS.

*sigh*

I know it sounds completely selfish, but I finally feel like I have some traction under me; and if I stop for any longer than a few weeks, I will have lost all the momentum I have built. I am sure that this new adventure is going to be as incredible as I hope it will. I have an insanely talented cast, truly. The trouble is they have an insane director.

I will begin creating the dances on Monday and reread and organize all the notes I have made for the last 8 months into something more useful. So much to do still, and rehearsals begin in 3 weeks.

Sometimes I don’t know whether to dance with excitement or pull my hair from panic. I suppose I could always make it a modern piece and dance freneticaly and pause during quiet moments to alternately cackle or tear at my hair. Hmmmm… now to just figure out the right choice of song…

So, it is with this mindset that I will end my 2013. I will be sure to laugh and play in between the crazy times to keep my sense of fun, but deep down I shall always be thinking about what I can or need to do next. That makes this the hardest part. To not be completely immersed in the moments of my life while it is happening always makes me just the slightest bit sad. Even so, this is my passion. I enjoy the challenge and I do not regret wanting to do the best that I possibly can for it and for those I am lucky enough to work with.

So until next time, friends…
Thanks for reading the ramblings!

It’s Child’s Play… I Mean A Child’s Play…

My latest project, Christmas Mouse, is a children’s play. I have never actually had the chance to do a show like this. Like the movie, Child’S Play, there is the sense of “awwww, that’s cute” and “OMG, this is terrifying!”

Let me try and explain…
I enjoy working with kids. Before our contract expired, I volunteered with Zohar teaching dances to kindergartners. I loved dancing with these little ones as the first thing I did on Thursday mornings. When I was first brought on board, the kids were shy and some opted to watch from the side of the room. I totally get that. Meeting new people is hard and if you don’t do it often, it is hard to get the hang of. Hell, I still get like that a lot of the time, especially during orientations for new shows.

The terror thing that gets me is that we don’t have weeks to get the children that come to the show to get over shyness. We have minutes. Before each show, I get so nervous for that very reason. What happens if the children don’t join in the participartory sections? What happens if the children get bored and want to go? After the initial wave of panic is done washing over me, I can shake it off and refocus.

Then, after the curtain speech, when the kids actually talk back to me, I feel so much more excited and excitable. Sunday’s audience was outstanding. Lots of people, that are responsive and in good spirits, always make for a better show.

Next, the narrator comes out and begins the show. It never fails that the little ones love being recognized and offered the chance to participate in the show. So all my worrying was completely pointless. Now the “awwww’s” have kicked in. Getting to hear them cheering on our protagonists reminds me of how much fun it is to mix kids and the Arts.

Our first weekend was really fun as we got used to having an audience. I am hopeful that our second weekend of audiences enjoy this adorable show and we are sold out.

So, like I said, it IS like the movie. Just in a very different way.

A Christmas Mouse plays thru Sunday, 12/15 in Santa Clara. You can get you tickets by calling 408.248.7993. Bring the kiddies and enjoy a little holiday fun.

I Have a Cast!! Well, Mostly…

special announcement from us

I feel JUST like this right now!!

I have been chewing my fingernails for the last week trying to work out something to finalize my major players in the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar and finally today, on my lunch break I got a text message that gave us the green light! I just now was pacing for a good 15 minutes because I couldn’t sit down to write this since I am so excited.

Yes, Oprah, honey I am so happpppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyy!

We did have some gentlemen decline our request to join us as apostles, so at the time of print our role for Matthew remains open. But fear not, there are options on the horizon. And there are some confirmations for female ensemble that we are waiting for. I just cannot wait any longer. I am so EXCITED, I have to tell you!!! Keep in mind there are a few more players that will be added.

Here’s the breakdown for my cast:

Welcome

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

CAST LIST

Jesus of Nazareth……………. Mischa Stephens

Judas Iscariot………………… Andy Cooperfauss

Mary Magdalene…………………. Angela Cesena

Caiaphas……………………………. David Murphy

Annas……………………….. Jessica Whittemore

Herod…………………………… Aaron Weisberg

Pontius Pilate…………………… Jeffery Henson

Peter…………………………… Kevin Brownstein

Simone………………………… Jessica Ellithorpe

James the Great…………… George Fernandez

John……………………….. Carmelo Rosado, III

Andrew………………………………….. Jeff Tuttle

Thaddeus……………………………. Ronnie Misra

Thomas………………………….. Robert Summers

Nathanael……………………… Chris Cruz-Collier

James the Less……………….. Samantha Stidham

Matthew…………………………………………………..

Philip……………………………………. Gaby Catipon

Priest #1…………………………………. Ian Douglas

Priest #2………………………………….. David Cori

Priest #3……………………………… Michael Carey

Soul Girl……………………………….. Nique Eagen

Soul Girl……………………………. Jen Wheatenfox

Soul Girl…………………………………….. Lisa Allen

Soul Girl…………………………. Valerie Valenzuela

Soul Girl………………………… Elizabeth Lawrence

Soul Girl…………………………… Maggie Velazquez

Female Ensemble………………………. Amy Wright

Male Ensemble………………….. M. Gerald Crofoot

Male Ensemble………………………. Frank Sherlock

I am so excited to be working with such an amazing group of people. Lots of people. How I am going to get them on that stage will be a challenge. But in the words of the great Barney Stinson “Challenge Accepted!”

GAAAAHHHH!!! I am so excited!!

I Survived Day 1…

Superstar

Disclaimer 1: I wrote this part while having breakfast before auditions.

Even in spite of all the meetings and thoughts and numerous ideas I have committed to my trusty notebook for this, TODAY really feels like the day when I am beginning this brand new adventure in theatre.

In previous meetings, we have discussed the personalities of all the main characters, what their motivations are, what we are listening for, what the set looks like, what the costumes are going to be like, where the orchestra is going to be situated, contingency plans if our audition turn out is less than desirable, and which songs will be “danced.”

Along with the meetings, the numerous spins of those disks in my car and repeated plays in itunes, and the time that I took to make a 30 second dance combination for the people who audition, I cannot wrap my head around the fact that I am going to be responsible for this show.

The thought not only makes me giddy with excitement, but it, in a very small way, terrifies me. People have constantly asked me “What’s your concept for the show?” They stand there waiting, wide eyed and truly interested. And to be honest, I had thought of a number of different ones, but my favorite was having JFK or MLK “as” Jesus and setting everything around that. There are different conspiracy theories surrounding JFK and Dr. King is such a good example for nonviolence and equality of his time; I thought it would make for a very new spin on the show. Feel free to use the idea if you would like.

Then, I thought about the venue. I know the patrons and subscribers and they enjoy the traditional tellings of shows. And I thought, as a new director, would the idea be too big to pull off in a clear way, as in would I get to bogged down in the idea that I lost focus of my true characters. I remember a wonderful man telling me, in a cafe many months ago, keep things clear and simple. So with that in mind, I decided I will keep the traditional look, but let’s play with the way things are being said. Once I began to dig into the lyrics, there are a number of times that if you merely change the person that a lyric gets sung to, new possibilities open up. All you need is a door to walk through to get into a new room.

What worries me is that this particular show, while I have a tremendous fondness, it is not a very popular musical. Many people either A. hate anything that says Andrew Lloyd Webber on it, B. hate the rock music, or C. hate the story. There are so many great parts and some of them I am really willing to cast nontraditionally, again…door.

But if you were to just forget about who is in the story and the why’s and think about it as a story of loyalty, love, and guilt don’t you think it is intriguing? What would you do if someone you love asked you to do something that could cause them physical harm? Could you do it? Why? Or better question, why not? If that person told you it would be a huge benefit to so many people, isn’t your refusal selfish? There are so many questions to ask and so many answers to find. I just hope that people will get their tickets and explore this journey with us.

Disclaimer 2: I am writing this after Zombie Prom performance.

Before we began, I thought about something my director for Pippin said to me about auditions. She told me, “Don’t set an expectation for particular people to show up. Sometimes life gets in the way and they can’t make it. Be open to the people that are there and what they bring to the table.” I tell you, it made all the difference in the world. I felt more relaxed and enjoyed the process a hell of a lot more emotionally. Physically, I feel a little worn down, but so thankful to the many talented people that came to audition. The prospects are looking pretty good even though it was only the first day. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings. Yeah, my body may hurt a little now and I will be stiff as all get out tomorrow, but these first auditionees make it all worth it.

We have another day of auditions tomorrow from 6:30 – 9 at the Saratoga Civic Theater in Saratoga, CA. Come on down, sing us a song, and dance a little bit. It’ll be fun!