a ridiculously long story about a ridiculously long (and amazing) day

Okay. For starters, as you read this awesomely amazing story, you have to imagine me telling you with a big goofy grin on my face...since that's how the "live" version tends to go!

I've sort of created a new mantra for myself...."You never achieve what you never try." Having this mindset really makes everything seem so much more exciting. Being free from fear to try new things is an amazing feeling!!

In that spirit, last Tuesday I decided to take a trip to NYC....and audition for the My Fair Lady national tour!! Now, this may not seem like a big deal to those who are old hats at auditioning for shows and the like, but for me, it was truly an adventure! And I LOVED it!

The day started dark and early at 4:15 am, before the birds and the sun. I was out the door by 4:45 and on the train by 5:20....in NYC a little after 6. Then the fun begins!

I went wearing my dress for the audition. I wasn't sure if you take your audition clothes with you and change (turns out, you can!)  I've had problems in the past with the seams on this dress. It's very delicate and they separate easy...too easy in my opinion. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that two of the seams had separated about two thirds down the back of the dress!! It had gone through our new washer which I forgot is more than rough on the clothes. So I realize that I'm apparently at risk of flashing the commuting population of NYC.....

This adventure is really getting off to great start, isn't it??? Luckily, it gets infinitely better.

By a stroke of genius the night before, I had packed a change of clothes. So I walk....carefully...to a bathroom in Penn Station and change. Then, I went out towards 8th avenue and traipsed across the street to the drugstore and bought a sewing kit. Back into Penn Station to find a spot to chill out while I stitch up the dress. Now, you should know that I do not consider myself "Suzy homemaker" at all and I've no idea how to sew a button let alone two seams on the back of a beautiful dress. I got it so that the dress didn't come apart....and we'll leave it at that.

Back to the bathroom to change back into the dress. Try #2 to leave Penn Station was a success! I headed towards the studio on 54th....all the while looking for a place to hop on the internet and print my resume which I hadn't been able to get the night before. I know that there are at least two Staples within walking distance, and I head to one. Closed. Darn. Next Staples. Open. Yay! But, of course they don't have the capability to print from the internet. What to do...what to do........

In a moment of desperation, I went into a Hilton off of Broadway. I ask the woman at the desk if she knows where I can print.....she says, right upstairs!! Awesome!! I'm nearly giddy at this point. I paid $11 to spend 10 minutes on the internet and print one sheet of paper...ridiculous...but worth it!

So at this point, it is about 7:30. I've ridden into the city, sewed a dress, walked and searched, printed, and used the gorgeous Hilton bathroom......and now I'm ready to go to the studio!

At this point, I wasn't far from 54th. It took about 5 minutes or so to get to the studio. I knew exactly where it was...there were about 30-40 people lined up outside. Trying to hide my utter joy and excitement at even making it to the right place, I jumped in line. This was my fatal flaw. I didn't notice that there was a sign up sheet at the head of the line. Dun dun dun.

In my blissful ignorance, I stood outside for about an hour before we were let in the studio. I got a seat in the waiting room and then noticed that sign up sheet sitting on a table. By the time I got to it, I was #210...out of what would become almost 300.......... oh well. I'm still there!

The moderator comes in and says that they are honoring the list. The casting team will hear about 30-40 people per hour and if you are after #150, to come back after lunch. Free pass to walk around midtown? Okay!!!!!!

I went and changed into jeans (noticed that I'd have to restitch one of the seams of the dress a bit......) and headed out! I had the most wonderful time! I wandered around Times Square and Broadway, just exploring! It can be really fun to go somewhere like this by yourself because you can do whatever you want, when you want! I went to a cafe and had an omelet for breakfast, did the customary Starbucks run for Earl Gray (delicious!), and generally had a marvelous time. I sent pictures to my Mom and Dad of the sights...apparently I'd even forgotten to tell them that I was going. Surprise : )

After awhile, it started to rain a bit heavier (it had been spritzing a bit) so I saw a great spot inside a Micky D's and sat on a stool by the window and just read. It was wonderful!

I love people watching (no..not in the creepy I'm going to stalk you kind of way) It's amazing the kinds of things you can see. I was truly touched. Towards the corner of the street I was looking at, I saw a homeless man sitting and asking for money. I watched many people walk by and not give him a glance. I'm not saying that I would be any better, but it was such a different perspective. At one point, a man and woman came by and gave him a package. It looked like a food package. He thanked them and it was only after they had walked a distance away that he opened it. The smile on his face. It will be hard to forget.

After getting a grilled chicken sandwich for lunch, I meandered my way back to the studio. Once I got there, I took my time stitching the dress. I had done it so hastily earlier, I realized I hadn't properly knotted both ends and it was pulling apart. After about 2 hours of sewing, reading, chatting, and what not, I put on make-up, starting doing some quiet vocal things to get warmed up and got ready to audition!!! After a bit, the moderator announced that the team wanted to make sure they were able to hear everyone that day, so the audition was being cut to only 8 bars. I grabbed my music and mentally got ready to start at the climax of a phrase, bring it to the end, and make it actually mean something!

A little after 4, the guy announced that numbers 200-210 could line up outside the room. I was about to audition. In NYC. For a casting team of a real production. Seriously?!?! I'M doing this???

I went in and was greeted with very cheery smiles. After a long day like they must have had, I'm very impressed and grateful. Before I sang, the woman wanted to let me know that in my haste, I had stapled my resume and head shot backwards....of course I did! HaHaHa! She didn't seem to care; in fact, I'm sure it was incredibly amusing. I sang my 8 bars of "I can cook, too", thanked them, and walked out more elated that I could have ever imagined. I had just done something I never thought I could ever do! It was amazing and thrilling!!!!

I went and changed and then practically ran out of the studio and danced down the street! I headed over the Gershwin to see if I could get into the lottery for Wicked tickets, but I was about 20 minutes too late. So, without nothing else to do, I went back to Penn Station and got a train home. I was back in time for bible study at 8. Still smiley. Still giddy. Still amazed at what I'd just done. The sky is the limit!!!

I left for NYC around 5 and was back around 7:30. 14 and a half hours of pure joy. Getting a role wasn't ever the goal. I wanted to first prove to myself that I could even attempt the impossible. Me, a music education major who always plays piano and colors in the lines, auditioned in New York for a major casting and production team. It's literally a dream in the making. And I'll tell you one thing...I'm doing it again!

Any news?

I wish I could tell you that I've been doing super amazing things and I have super exciting news to tell you...but alas, I don't. The most interesting news? With a splint, I've been able to walk all week. Wow. Stop the presses. Seriously, that should go on the front page!

What else has been going on in my glamorous life? In the past week, I've also been turned down for a few summer jobs, reminded of a project and a test coming up that I hadn't done anything for yet, and realized that I have 6 weeks to prepare for a jury that I'm not nearly ready for. (insert panic here) Some people might take this opportunity to go a little crazy and take on more than your average amount of stress similar to a boat taking on water and then subsequently sinking into the ocean.  That doesn't sound too pleasant.


Instead, I have chosen to accept that whatever happens these next few weeks and months will happen and that no matter what happens, I will still have family, friends, and a life to live and enjoy. I won't let anything hold me back! Life not going your way isn't a reason to stop living.




On that note, I have another audition tonight around 8. It's for summer theater and the shows that are being staged are some of my favorites. Here we go again!

Un-Predictable

It's days like today when I can really affirm my faith in the human race! If you recall the blog post that took the lifespan of a biblical character to read, my last audition wasn't too friendly, to say the least. Today's experience was 180 degrees in the opposite direction! What joy it is to talk to people with actual conversational skills, smiles, and without the secret desire to see you fall headfirst into a pile of worm guts.

I had an excellent time today, although my performance certainly wasn't 100%. Does anybody have any advice on making sure you are warmed up before singing at an audition? I warm up, drive for awhile, and then pop out of the car, open my mouth, and hope some squawking, reminiscent of an annoying bird at 5 AM doesn't come out! I try moving my voice around in the car, but it certainly isn't the same being strapped in, and actually having to pay attention to the road in front of you rather than where your voice placement is.

Today's audition wasn't about me getting anywhere with anything. I hold no expectations in this new adventure of mine. Instead, it was about being something completely opposite myself. People who know me always expect me to be the same, predictable girl, never really reaching outside and exploring. Well, I think I proved them wrong today. Hmmmm...singing a song as a passionate lesbian lover (Take Me or Leave Me) and then performing a monologue of a hopeful Chicago actress who will sleep with anyone to get ahead. Who knew Lauren would even come close to doing that??

I even got the comment that my piece was a bold or brave choice or something like that. Plus, props to me, the monologue I chose was something the director hadn't heard before! And I didn't stutter, forget, or otherwise tongue twist my way into a failed performance. Go me!

Plus, I was totally honest upfront on my inability to, in any way, dance. I want to learn how to in the worst way though! No one wants to see a re-enactment of the previous dancing extravaganza. We'll see what happens next!!

Much Love,
Lauren

4th time's a something.

This weekend I have audition #4 (the first 3 occurred before this super-special-extraordinary blog was created). Each time an audition came up, it felt like a cliff was being placed in front of me and a cloud with big puffy cheeks was going to come and blow me off the edge! Now, on #4, I feel I'm starting to get in the groove of things. I'm amazed that I've now been rejected 3 times, and I'm still truckin' along (I think I can, I think I can!) without being discouraged! Want a recap? (Too bad, you're getting one anyway)

Audition #1: Steel Magnolias
So, after I kinda-sort-of made the decision that I wanted to audition for a show, I went looking for upcoming auditions. The first was way back in January, the weekend before school started. I had to prepare a monologue (never done it before....) and had to prepare to read sides from the show (what are sides.....) Even though I pretty much had no clue what I was doing, I was jumping in with both feet! Luckily, the site provided the monologues, so I didn't have to find one myself. I'd sit there, read it, memorize it, and speak it. What else to do???? I really had no clue!

So I went to the audition, not in my Sunday best, but looking very nice. I got to the theater 30 minutes early. The auditors were having lunch. I sat in the lobby and read a book. Wow. Interesting. And how, you may ask, did the audition go? Well, not really knowing how to do a Southern accent, I'm sure it was comical to say the least. I messed up a few lines of the monologue and had to stop while reading the sides (a scene from the show, in which there is a reader and you are a single character) because it was blurry and I couldn't read the text. Then, as I was leaving, I tripped over my own two feet walking out the door. Beautiful. Needless to say, I wasn't called back. But I had a blast!

Audition #2: Steel Magnolias
Nope. Not kidding. I went to another audition for Steel Magnolias. It was another production being staged about 30 minutes in the other direction. This audition DEFINITELY went better. First off, the people were much more likable and generally nicer. I was much more comfortable with the material. In the mean time, I had researched different strategies to use while acting and preparing for an audition. I didn't have to do a monologue this time around (thank goodness!!) , but I had to do a different scene during the audition. This actually went really well. The auditors even laughed! I honestly felt like I might have been given a callback. Unfortunately, one of the performance dates conflicted with a choir performance (boo...). I knew that going in, but decided to go in anyway, just in case they had understudies for the run. They either didn't like me, or didn't call me back because of the scheduling conflict. I'll never know because they never called to let me know either way. That was a bit annoying.

Audition #3: Drowsy Chaperone
Again, not kidding. Our school is about to put on their production of this. Last Fall I didn't know that this Spring I'd have all of this wonderful time (and desire to go on this crazy adventure!) so I never auditioned for the show. Another production was being staged about 40 minutes away, so I decided to take a shot. From the get-go I wasn't too excited about it. Not because I didn't want to do the show, but because of the people there in general! Do you ever walk into a room and sense, at first glance, that you aren't wanted? Well, that was definitely what it felt like. College students (the "uber-cool" community college theater people) were running the auditions and it was so poorly run. My type-2, super-organized brain couldn't stand this one bit. When you sit there for 20 minutes, twiddling your thumbs and someone just calls out, "So, um, does anyone feel like going next?" There were numbers on the form to fill out, so I assumed that there was some kind of order. Nope. It was whoever wanted to go. So at this point, I had warmed up about 2 hours ago, and then drove for an hour, and then had sat and not talked for about 15-20 minutes. This seems like the perfect time to go and sing right??? Well, the singing went okay. Certainly not anywhere near my best, but okay. I was pleasantly surprised when I got asked to come back tomorrow for a call-back. How excited was I?? I decided that even if I felt a little uncomfortable in the environment, I should try. After all, it was a musical, and I was given a call back!

So, I had to cancel going to a seminar that I was supposed to attend in order to drive the approximately hour and a half round trip again and audition. I get there and everyone is, I have no other way of putting this, in little anti-social pods. I try and initiate conversation. Doesn't work. Doesn't anyone know simple conversational skills here? I'll even take a "hello"! Finally, after trying, giving up, sitting alone, and reading a book...I swear I'm not anti-social...this nice, albeit "a little out there", girl comes and talks to me. Okay, so I have a friend it seems...cool! Then I discover.

The callback is a dance audition.

Gasp. Oh no! Run away, as fast as you can! Hide! Lauren is going to dance???? Escape now, or forever hold your peace!

This, by the way, they did not tell me, so I showed up in fitted jeans and a nice shirt, make-up actually on... So I "learn" the dance. I can say that much. I knew the proper order of movements and tried to make some logical sense about how to perform it. It may not have been pretty, but I did it anyway. Go me! At first, I had that better-hide-under-a-rock NOW response. Then I thought, I'm doing this because I want to, not because anyone else is making me, or because I honestly care about what anyone else thinks. I'm doing it for ME, dancing and all. (Although, I'm super glad that there is no video footage of that event.)

After everyone danced the combination, we all were asked to leave and come back when they called us. For 45 minutes I sat in the hallway, trying to do any homework possible...all the while fielding questions from my earlier friend and trying not to choke on the penetrating cigarette smell that fills the area. FINALLY, someone calls us all back together. Taking their good old time, they start handing lines to certain people (and clearly not others). After about 15 minutes of this, they call me and four other souls back to another room. The girl who comes in (the same one who was such a peach during the audition) has a piece of paper, on which is written "Thank You" with my name written below it. She says that we are not needed for the rest of today, but we might be called back for ANOTHER audition on Monday night.

At this point, I've had enough. Actually, I'm glad I wasn't given a part. If I had been given one, I honestly was going to turn it down anyway. This definitely wasn't the foundation of the fun, free-spirited, loving life experience that I was looking for. I was actually called about a week later and offered a chorus role, which I turned down. I wasn't spending almost an hour and a half a few nights of week in the car just to drive somewhere and be with people who honestly weren't nice or enjoyable to be around (and to be in a place that reeks of smoke...) Doesn't that sound like something you'd want to do????

Fast forward to February 23!!

I have another audition coming up on Saturday. And 2:50 pm to be exact! I'm auditioning for Cabaret. Now, for anyone who knows me, this is definitely not the kind of show that I'd normally do, but I've decided to give it a shot anyway! I'm preparing a monologue (Roxie Hart giving her "one woman show") and a song ("Take Me or Leave Me" from Rent) and I'm going to have a grand old time! I have a knock-out dress, courtesy of Mama and a thrift store. I'm really excited! I do have to memorize both the song and monologue before then, but I can do it!

Since the last audition, I've read a few books, on auditioning, fully preparing monologues, and I've been singing about an hour a day. I don't have a vocal coach, but I'm using recordings to match the quality of my voice. I've also been good throughout the years in working out how to place my voice in different ways and how to diagnose issues of strain. I'm very aware of what I feel and I think I'm doing okay. In reality, who knows, but whatever. I gotta work with what I have!!

Wow, that was long, but this is what you get when I write a blog post during my 2:45-4:15 class!

Happy Wednesday!!


Love,
Lauren