Where are we? What day is it?

You guys, I'm gonna be frank.

I'm am going batshit crazy.

I have had a string of several auditions for various summer and year round theatres lately and every audition has required something just a little bit different. As my voice teacher's 6 year old daughter says, "Well. That. Is. Just. SILLY."

I get it. They need to find the right people and they want to see something that will let them know if you will fit into their season or not. I get that. I do. But it's made preparation hard because I can't prepare the same song or monologue for every audition. I guess this is actually the truth about most auditions, but most auditions don't come one right after the other and leave you no time to prepare in between. And that makes for some very half-assed auditions and a very frustrated me.

I must admit, I'm getting nervous about this project. Our deadline is rapidly approaching, I feel like I have no time to put the work in and I'm starting to wonder if we're in over our heads. And then two seconds later, I kick myself and think, "This is your career, you have to make the time." And then I feel lazy and remember that this project is all about not being a lazy actor and the circle just goes round and round....

Once Midwest Theatre Auditions are over this weekend, I'll be able to breathe a bit before the next auditions. Then I'm going to try to AM going to commit some serious time to working on this project. 25 monologues don't find, edit, learn and memorize themselves.

Deep cleansing breathes....and.....GO.

--Kristi

PS: I got cast in a TV pilot at Columbia College here in Chicago! They have a crack team of kids over there in the film school and I'm excited to get started. More info when I have it....

Well?

I'm sure you've all been waiting with baited (bated?) breath to find out how my audition went.

Overall, I felt it went well. My monologue was awesome. If I didn't love it before, I love it now. TV monologues are just SO PERFECT for this situation. They are short, sweet and to the point. I think with a little KK work, I can take it to the next level for Midwest Theatre auditions in two weeks. Judge away, but I'm sticking with it.

My song is another story. I just didn't feel good about it. Specifically, I didn't feel good about one note. (For those of you who are musically inclined, it's D4) It's hard to explain what makes that section of the song difficult without using a bunch of music jargon, but I'll say this. In a performance situation where I would be adequately warmed up and singing throughout the show, it wouldn't be a problem. In an audition situation where I warm up before I go, but then sit around for an hour and don't have anywhere to sing and keep myself warm, it's not ideal.

I still haven't decided if I'm going to change my song or not. I have another audition this weekend and I'm going to give it one more go. If it doesn't work out, I'll change it. I've got some songs on reserve, just in case.

In completely unrelated news, how are you all dealing with the the blizzard aftermath? Have you dug yourself out yet? Chicago got walloped with snow and now we've got no where to put it. Some of the cars in my neighborhood haven't even tried to dig out. My coworker said she'll just take the train until spring. I don't have a car, but it would be really nice if people would plow their sidewalks!

In news that is more related, I think I'm going to begin a program called The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron in the coming weeks. I won't say too much about it now, but I'm hoping that putting it out there publicly will give me the motivation to actually do it. :)

With love and gratitude,
Kristi

You want me to read for who?

I learned something at my audition last night.

I need to stop typecasting myself.

type·cast

 [tahyp-kast, -kahst]

–verb (used with object), -cast, -cast·ing. Theater .

1. to cast (a performer) in a role that requires characteristics of physique, manner, personality, etc., similar to those possessed by the performer.

2. to cast (a performer) repeatedly in a kind of role closely patterned after that of the actor's previous successes.

3. to stereotype: He realizes now he's been typecast as an executive errand boy.

At my callback, they asked me to read for the “dumb blonde” character. I have never in my life been called back for the dumb blonde, Valley girl, head cheerleader character. Ever. They didn’t tell me who I was being called back for in advance and when I found out, I was so shocked I basically blew the audition.

But why was I shocked?

Just because I’ve never been cast or asked to audition for that type of role before doesn’t mean I can’t do it. Shouldn’t an actor be able to play all types of roles? Why am I pigeonholing myself?

I’m noticing that I’m choosing the same types of monologues too. They all tend to be kind of quirky or funny; characters that I usually get cast as and identify with.

At my first audition, those directors saw something in me that told them I could be right for this character. I should take that as a compliment. They saw abilities in me that I don’t see in myself and had confidence that I could perform in that role. (Too bad I blew it…) Funnily enough, I've actually been told by more than one person recently that I have a look and a personality that could go either way; ingenue or character.

I think the problem is that when you are in high school and college, you tend to get typecast as one role. Mostly because directors need someone who can fill that part and they have a limited pool to choose from. So you don't always get to flex your acting muscles and work outside the box. The trouble starts when you break out into the real acting world and all of a sudden discover (like me) that if you only audition for a certain role or with material that leans toward a certain type, you have seriously limited the amount of opportunities that you are going to have.

So what do I do about this?

Well first, I need a little self confidence boost. I am a strong, smart, well rounded, capable actor. As long as I can tell the story, I can play the role. (Maybe I'll start saying this to myself in the mirror every day. Jessica, anyone?)

Second I’m resolving to pick more monologues that are out of my comfort zone. Let’s say the next 3 monologues I chose must be against "type" for me.'

But……

……hold me to that, would ya?

*thanks www.dictionary.com for the definition of "typecast"!

PS: While the video blog was fun times, don't get spoiled! Do you think free time grows on trees?

I'm alive...barely...I promise

Hello readers-

I swear I haven't abandoned poor Kristi. Its been a whirlwind of activity in my life, and I'm seeing a slowdown here just in a bit (I go on vacation!!!! HOORAY!) where hopefully, you'll hear much more from the Eastern-end of the Midwestern pair.

The Farm Animal themed audition package went well. I think the pieces were strong (they might end up in the final 50)...but my nerves, alack, alack, alack...were not. As my supervisor says, "Pieces are more effective when there is focused energy, not sideways."

Let me tell you: I felt sideways, backways, upways, downways, allways during that audition. Ah well. There are 3 shows, three separate callbacks. As of now, I'm 0 for 1. We'll see about the others.

I wasn't planning on many more auditions until this spring, but I'm going to spread out a bit- see what I can find in the way of smaller theatres, maybe some things at the university near me. I LOVE a good independent project, and I can't wait to see what my city is hiding.

My next attempt will be looking at what I've missed-the good man's monologue that can be transformed, the monologue from the plays we all studied in school but were too afraid to (over)use, monologues made from chunks of a conversation, heck, monologues within the pages of a newspaper. I've also been listening to quite a few books on CD while driving too and from work, and I just recently finished "The Penelopiad" by Margaret Atwood. Boy, if she can't write a wonderfully decent 1st person story, I don't know who can. And her stories are good. Darn, good.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend everyone, and enjoy the fall weather...atleast for today. :)

All Best-

Whitney