Theatre in the Emerald City

Oh gross, Wicked title.
Anyway, so I got to work as an audition monitor for a new Stephen Schwartz show, called Snapshots. They're producing it at Village Originals. It's really a Schwartz revue, with a stronger plotline than say, a Sondheim revue. Basically, I was paid ten bucks an hour for marking off names on a list, stapling, and knitting. Well, the first day anyway. It was fun seeing everyone they called in to audition, since I knew, or had heard of/seen on stage the good majority of them. It was fun chatting up those I hadn't seen in a while, and getting the scoop on some other things. All in all, a good time. It crossed my mind briefly that I could have snuck in and auditioned. I had the required Stephen Schwartz song, but they also wanted something funny and belty, which I didn't have, nor did I have music, headshot or resume on me. So, had I been better prepared, I might've. I'm getting better at being gutsy.

The second day was callbacks, which was even more awesome. The story is, there is one couple, and you see them at different ages, so six people play two characters at different ages. The oldest are Dan and Sue. At the time, they had only called back one woman for Sue, and she couldn't make it to callbacks. So instead of just sitting on my butt, I actually got to get up and read with the three men called back for Dan. One of them was Eric Englund, who just finished up playing Harold Hill in the show I worked on. I still don't quite know how it all happened. Even better, the artistic director was watching the auditions, and he said that I did a really good job! It sounded like he meant it, as well. Super fun. There was actually another Dan called back, but it was much later, and by that time, the middle couples had arrived, and they kept Beth (Marian) to read against him, because I think they decided she wasn't quite the right age for the middle couple. We'll see what happens, but I'm very excited. The reading was seriously the best part though. I mean, at first I thought they would just have me sit in a chair and read the lines, but they actually had me stand and move with the guys. Well, I didn't move a whole lot, they (the actors) ended up dictating a lot of the blocking, but it was a really nice opportunity to get to do a callback, knowing full well that I'm not in any position to get the part. So, no stress, just fun, and a neat opportunity to work with three older actors whom I would never be cast against.
I do get to do it all again next weekend, for On Golden Pond callbacks, but I highly doubt that they'll have me read for anybody in that show.

Once On This Island production meeting next Tuesday. But tonight starts a veritable theatre marathon. First, Tempest in the Park, then Joseph at Kidstage, then Fairystories at the Festival and maybe the Fabulist, then Heaven's Balcony and hopefully Blankety-Blank (Festival). After that, Princesses (5th), Night of The Iguana (ACT) and finally Godspell at Kidstage. Ye gods.

I've never been to a workshop of a new musical before, so when given the opportunity to see Bryan Yorkey and Tom Kitt's new musical in development, I wasn't going to say no. I wasn't disappointed. Feeling Electric is the story of a severely depressed woman and her family, and the numerous treatments, from pills to ECT, otherwise known as electric shock therapy, set to rock music. It's electric all around, and Tom Kitt's score is fabulous and varied in many different forms of rock. The cast of this workshop was just as phenomenal, with Broadway and Off-Broadway notable, Amy Spanger (Kiss Me Kate, tick...tick... Boom!) as Diana Brown, the woman who see her dead son; Jason Collins as her husband Dan; Benjamin Schrader as The Son; Mary Faber as the daughter Natalie; and Deven May of Bat Boy fame in the role of shock doc, Doctor Madden. All of them rock their songs, but especially the ladies and May.

The real star of the show are the songs, though, probably to be expected with a workshop like this. The show is almost entirely sung thru, with bits of dialouge here and there to keep the songs together, but amazingly easy to follow, considering that many of the songs, taken out of context could pass as the next big hit. Bryan Yorkey's lyrics shine in his comic songs, especially the one's concerning Diana's treatment, "My Pyschopharmacologist and I", "Up The Dose" (a cowboy rock song that is really truly hilarious), "Feeling Strangely Fine" (the most showtuney song in the score). Also awesome and hilarious is Natalie's teenage frustration song "Growing Up Unstable". Besides the comic songs, The Son's song "I'm Alive" is one of my favorites, upbeat, slightly sinister at first, and very powerful. That's the one I came out of the theatre singing. Of course, Deven May's rendition of the title song is truly awe-inspiring.

Of course, there are problems. The show runs too long, almost three hours. Many of Dan's songs concerning his relationship with Diana are redundant, "I've Been", the song sung after Diana's attempted suicide, has exactly the same message as another song before it, only slightly modified to detail his feelings about Diana's actions. The second act is half reprises, which makes sense as Diana is regaining her memory, but in a few cases I didn't want to hear the songs in the first place, much less the second time around. Especially annoying is the music box tune "I Dreamed A Dance" which feels a lot like "Blue Eagle Ballroom" from Play It By Heart. Does it truly need to be reprised twice? Also confusing is drug dealer Tweak (Benjamin Schrader), not in terms of his relationship with Natalie, but the fact that he looks like The Son, which somehow Natalie knew he looked like? Also, if we're going to make a big deal about the son's name, I advise not plastering it all over the program, it was an anti-climatic moment, since the audience knew from perusing the notes.

So, I'm having a grand old time on Mu sick Man. Understudies going on, dancers getting hurt, now this is real theatre, my friends. And yet, it's all the same, and it has returned back to the normal show, for now. I supoose the only thing that's keeping thing interesting, for me at least, is I'm still trying to figure out group dynamics. And how I fit in. I recently read a Book of Birthdays, and the one on my birthday very much hit the nail on the head. It actually said that people born on my birthday do that. Now, I'm not saying that I always buy into that stuff, but sometimes, it can be quite accurate. But that's something else all together.

Anyway, I spend too much time analyzing everything, especially when it comes to theatre folk. I'm desperate for approval, and acceptance. There, I admit it. I'm a needy attention-whore, are we happy now? But I have to remind myself that it doesn't happen overnight. Relax, dahlinks, enjoy the ride, wherever it may take you.

I had lots of fun recently, at the 5th Avenue Theatre, first at the High School Musical Awards, and then at the Spotlight Night for Princesses. The former, I volunteered, and ending up sitting next to a high school girl who played Evelyn in CLO's Ragtime. We entertained ourselves by making snarky comments about the divas, and gushing over the really talented high school students. The latter, I spent with Kelsey, which was a fun, free evening with my best friend. It was really interesting to hear about a brand new musical, but I think we had more fun in the beginning when they brought out the locals to sing David Zippel songs. And Caymen performed! I've only seen her occasionally since Mucus Man 4 years ago, and every time she's doing something bigger and better. She's awesome.

I'm ready to try out performing again, but I need to bone up on my skills before I try anything. Otherwise... ewww..

Oh, so in other news, I was bumped off the crew for Once On This Island. I was angry, sort of, but not entirely surprised. I knew that they wouldn't need a large crew. But the whole idea of leaving after a month of rehersal seemed like a waste, and not what I really wanted. Then I talked to Korby and Jeffrey, two of the dressers, about one of the other dressers, the third one that was hired, then fired before we went into previews. Apparently, there's a shortage, and you don't necessarily have to be any good at sewing, just smart and helpful. That, I can do. But I thought, well, I'll wait until I have some claim at dressing skills before I suggest that to the production manager. Besides, they definitely have the dressers they need for Once On This Island. But what about Spot Ops? I've done that before. So I emailed Jan, and said that I could do that, if she still needed another Spot Op. Surprisingly enough, she did. I still get to work on the show, which means I don't have to find a real job, yet. I'd rather be crew or dresser, because then I'd get to be backstage and hang out with actors and crew and everybody. At least I won't be going in as a Spot Op at the beginning of tech, not knowing anyone, since I still have the internship. I wouldn't do it otherwise. It's too hard to be a part of the show, especially since I won't have worked with anyone, except for some of the crew, and the light and sound guys. The director, stage manager, asm, actors, musical director, all new to me. but after spending the rehearsal time with them, I can't be entirely invisible.

Okay, enough self-indulgence for one night. I'm such a whiny bitch, it's pretty sickening. But, I do look forward to next year, I've got plans.

Wow... I really haven't updated either of my journals recently, which I suppose indicates how busy I've been. Since the last post, I've seen Patti Lupone in Concert (I gave her a hug afterward!), Miss Saigon at the 5th Avenue (twice, thanks to the magic of student tickets) and Othello at Seattle Shakespeare Company. I've also teched Haroun and the Sea of Stories at the UW and am currently in production with The Music Man at Village Theatre. *phew* Oh yes, I also auditioned for two school shows, Glengarry Glen Ross and (M)Alice. I don't know if I'll get called back or not, but at this point I don't care. More on why not later.

I'm not actually going to post reviews on any of the shows I saw. Some of them are written, but they're all over, so it doesn't matter. But I will say that I loved Miss Saigon. Why, you may ask? After all, sooo not my type of musical. Have you ever stood outside the stage door to get autographs, and at the same time that you're getting autographs, the actors are effusively greeting their friends? And you think "I want to be one of those people, who actors are happy to see." Guess what. I am. Sort of. The show was fabulous, well designed and performed, but the best part was afterward, and seeing people I knew come out, and look excited to see me. I actually had a conversation at the stage door with one of them, Cassidy, and it's been at least four years since I've done a show with him. The first time I went, Beth Devries was also there, waiting to see Kari Lee, which was awesome. Of course, now I get to see her all the time, but at that point I hadn't seen her since the show closed. Ahhh...

Lots has happened, and my new show, The Music Man is a delight. It's truly a fun group of people and lots of kick ass talent onstage. The backstage crew, also a blast to work with, since the majority of them like to dance backstage, which I have NO problems with. Paulette, the ASM is one of my new favorite people. Actually, the stage managment intern/kid wrangler is one of my other favorite people, she's one of the coolest 16 year olds I know. I will say that I miss The Secret Garden group quite a bit, that was something pretty special. Opening Night for Mucus Man, Connie came backstage, and gave me the biggest hug. Later too, at the party, we chatted, not nearly long enough, but I love her, and it made me feel special when she told me that she missed me. Heaven knows I had been bugging her husband for a week asking after her.

As for the shows I auditioned for, I don't think I did very well. I'm rusty as all get out, and I didn't bother to work at getting myself ready for this. But you know, that's OKAY. I can't do the shows anyway. Why? Because, I took it upon myself to email the Production Stage Manager at Village and tell her that I'm interested in a stage management internship. And do you know, she said I could, for the show that I wanted to work on, Once On This Island! And then she asked me if I wanted to transition to crew after the internship! HELL YES! I didn't want to hope for that, since I've heard that the crew would be fairly limited on those shows, but she offered it! The best part is that I'll get to be involved with the pre-production stuff as well, before the rehearsals even start, Jenna didn't even get to do that. Now, I don't know, I still want to work on acting and lighting design and everything, but right now, I will do anything in professional theatre.

I saw these two teen/high school shows, both of which were very good, very powerful pieces. After watching rehearsals for the latter, I realize that even though they are very talented singers, and many are also talented actors, they are still high school actors and actresses, which means lots of drama, and little work ethic. Which is fine, because that's just the way it is, it's the way it was at Studio East, and that only cost me 300 dollars to do a show there, rather than the 400 they charge at Village Kidstage. Not that I'm knocking it, but for $400, you'd kind of expect more learning than what I saw. And some of us just can't afford to do show after show at those type of places.

The former was at my old high school. There are elements that are signatures of the drama teacher, both good and bad. I was super proud of them, since the author had actually come to see the show. And they got double superiors when they took it to the Thespian State Conference. They deserve it, I only wish that I had gotten to do those type of things when I was in high school. But I'm pleased with what I did, so I don't really regret anything.

I have actual reviews for these shows as well, but I'm keeping them to myself, since I don't think it's fair to review high school students. Not that they can't do it, but I'm biased for and against these shows, so there you are. I will say that I enjoyed both of them, and sometimes I enjoyed them more than I expected to.