The Importance of Being Earnest
The Counting Squares Theatre
Counting Squares is a relatively new company that was formed by three graduates from the University of Central Florida. Now I've had plenty of experience with theatre companies formed by people who met in college (Hi Clockwork guys), but unlike Clockwork, I thought I might have a chance of getting cast in one of their shows.
Just kidding.
Kind of.
It was for the Importance of Being Earnest, which I was in in college. And do you ever look at pictures of yourself from shows in college and think, "Gee, I wonder how different that scene would have been if I'd had an objective"? I do.
The audition was on St. Mark's, on the same street where I shot that Hair Growth Shampoo commercial last summer. The rehearsal space was a bar, so that was cool and kind of chill. I did two monologues, one from "An Ideal Husband," to demonstrate my handle of the style, and the other was "The Altruists" by Nicky Silver, for pure comedy.
I was the last one to do my monologue, but I got there so early that there were about six people in front of me. They laughed a lot more at my monologues than I thought they would. When people are sitting in a room listening to a bunch of monologues that are supposed to be funny, making them laugh is a hard job. But they seemed willing to laugh, which is cool.
I didn't get a callback, but I think I did a pretty good job, my contemporary monologue especially.
Next audition:
"The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek"
Tuesday, 8pm
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Audition Log: 8/25/09
Up once again at 6:15am, which is the earliest I can recall actually hearing my alarm, which means I must have hit the snooze button twice in total unconsiousness.
Came very, VERY close to not going, since I was so exhausted from the day before, but I knew I'd regret it, so I dragged my butt out of bed and into the shower.
Got to the studio around 8, once again surprised there weren't more people there. Number nine on the sign-in sheet yet again. Booyah.
The auditioners arrive at 9, but they aren't honoring the unofficial sign-in sheet so we have to get signed in again. By then there are more people there so my number gets bumped from 9 to 21. Awesome.
Run into Lauren Lucksavage, fellow New Paltzer. Haven't seen her since sophmore year when she transfered to another school. She remarked that I am the first person from our class in New Paltz that she has seen out on an audition. Struck me as kind of odd, but I'm just getting back into auditioning after a long hiatus, so I'm not one to judge.
Sang "Stars and the Moon" and "Tell Me on a Sunday." Both sounded good but I still didn't have a clear enough focus during either song. I walked out and didn't really remember what i did, which is never a good sign.
I think it's because I'm so out of practice with musical auditions. I've been doing mainly film and some straight play stuff for the past year. It's easy for me to sleepwalk through a song because how it's SUPPOSED to sound is so finely mapped by notes and beats and so on. Whereas a monologue is just words on a page. Tone, rhythm and inflection all depend on what I'm doing with it. So singing a song is almost like going through my monologue ahead of time and deciding exactly how I'm going to say each word.
I think I just need to get back in the habit, like Sister Act Two. And I'm definitely going to keep my eye out for more cruise line auditions, because it sounds like a pretty sweet deal.
Next audition:
"The Importance of Being Earnest" by the Counting Squares Theatre.
Friday at 11:30am
I have an actual appointment for this one.
V. exciting.
Came very, VERY close to not going, since I was so exhausted from the day before, but I knew I'd regret it, so I dragged my butt out of bed and into the shower.
Got to the studio around 8, once again surprised there weren't more people there. Number nine on the sign-in sheet yet again. Booyah.
The auditioners arrive at 9, but they aren't honoring the unofficial sign-in sheet so we have to get signed in again. By then there are more people there so my number gets bumped from 9 to 21. Awesome.
Run into Lauren Lucksavage, fellow New Paltzer. Haven't seen her since sophmore year when she transfered to another school. She remarked that I am the first person from our class in New Paltz that she has seen out on an audition. Struck me as kind of odd, but I'm just getting back into auditioning after a long hiatus, so I'm not one to judge.
Sang "Stars and the Moon" and "Tell Me on a Sunday." Both sounded good but I still didn't have a clear enough focus during either song. I walked out and didn't really remember what i did, which is never a good sign.
I think it's because I'm so out of practice with musical auditions. I've been doing mainly film and some straight play stuff for the past year. It's easy for me to sleepwalk through a song because how it's SUPPOSED to sound is so finely mapped by notes and beats and so on. Whereas a monologue is just words on a page. Tone, rhythm and inflection all depend on what I'm doing with it. So singing a song is almost like going through my monologue ahead of time and deciding exactly how I'm going to say each word.
I think I just need to get back in the habit, like Sister Act Two. And I'm definitely going to keep my eye out for more cruise line auditions, because it sounds like a pretty sweet deal.
Next audition:
"The Importance of Being Earnest" by the Counting Squares Theatre.
Friday at 11:30am
I have an actual appointment for this one.
V. exciting.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Audition Log: 8/24/09
Open call for "In the Mood"
Got home from work last night at 12:30am, wide awake and still wired. But I poured myself a glass of wine and settled down to watch the new episode of True Blood in bed. (Okay, it was a rum and coke, but "glass of wine" make my impending alcoholism seem less serious)
Fell asleep somewhere past 2am, up at 6:15. Managed to get out of the house by 7:20 and was in the city by 8. Realized halfway between Queens and Manhattan that in my haste to curl my hair this morning, I forgot to brush my teeth.
Ew.
8:15 am I arrive at the studio and put my name on the unofficial sign-up sheet. I am number 9. Unfortunately, Ripley Grier does not open until 9am, so I sit on the floor outside the doors, do my make-up, and when the doors open I immediately buy gum.
Am the only girl who came already dressed in heels and a dress, rather than in sweats and flip-flops with a dress and heels in my bag, and thus feel like somewhat of a chode.
9:15am
Am surprised there aren't more girls here. Things are looking good.
9:30am
My friend Sarah arrives. Huzzah!
10:00am
Overhear some girls talking about a friend who is at another audition studio putting them on the list for Footloose. I didn't even know Footloose was having an audition today, and make a note to be more vigilant about finding out what auditions are happening when.
10:45am
Actually get to sing, which is a fine change from getting typed out or turned away. And we're doing BOTH songs. I am singing "With Every Breath I Take" from City of Angels, and "I Get a Kick Out of You" from Anything Goes.
With Every Breath went well. Intro was a little shaky, I haven't sung it with a piano for a while and the recording is a bit lower, so my first note was off but I fixed myself. "I Get a Kick" was fun, and they seemed to really like that one, but I didn't breathe right, and by the end of the first phrase I was about ready to pass out.
Other than that I think it went well. I was back on the train by 11:15am.
Next Audition:
Open Call for Gary Musick Productions
Casting Singers and Dancers for Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceana Cruises
Tomorrow, 9am
Shetler Studios
Balls to the wall.
Got home from work last night at 12:30am, wide awake and still wired. But I poured myself a glass of wine and settled down to watch the new episode of True Blood in bed. (Okay, it was a rum and coke, but "glass of wine" make my impending alcoholism seem less serious)
Fell asleep somewhere past 2am, up at 6:15. Managed to get out of the house by 7:20 and was in the city by 8. Realized halfway between Queens and Manhattan that in my haste to curl my hair this morning, I forgot to brush my teeth.
Ew.
8:15 am I arrive at the studio and put my name on the unofficial sign-up sheet. I am number 9. Unfortunately, Ripley Grier does not open until 9am, so I sit on the floor outside the doors, do my make-up, and when the doors open I immediately buy gum.
Am the only girl who came already dressed in heels and a dress, rather than in sweats and flip-flops with a dress and heels in my bag, and thus feel like somewhat of a chode.
9:15am
Am surprised there aren't more girls here. Things are looking good.
9:30am
My friend Sarah arrives. Huzzah!
10:00am
Overhear some girls talking about a friend who is at another audition studio putting them on the list for Footloose. I didn't even know Footloose was having an audition today, and make a note to be more vigilant about finding out what auditions are happening when.
10:45am
Actually get to sing, which is a fine change from getting typed out or turned away. And we're doing BOTH songs. I am singing "With Every Breath I Take" from City of Angels, and "I Get a Kick Out of You" from Anything Goes.
With Every Breath went well. Intro was a little shaky, I haven't sung it with a piano for a while and the recording is a bit lower, so my first note was off but I fixed myself. "I Get a Kick" was fun, and they seemed to really like that one, but I didn't breathe right, and by the end of the first phrase I was about ready to pass out.
Other than that I think it went well. I was back on the train by 11:15am.
Next Audition:
Open Call for Gary Musick Productions
Casting Singers and Dancers for Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceana Cruises
Tomorrow, 9am
Shetler Studios
Balls to the wall.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Random thought for the morning...
As much as I enjoy the band 3OH!3, I always feel like they're yelling at me.
And a little misogynistic.
And a little misogynistic.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Countdown Begins...
I have three hundred and fifty-five days until I turn twenty-five. Therefore I have three hundred and fifty-five days to become successful, or get into one of the unions, or become incredibly famous. And if I don't, I move to LA, where I will spend all of my days away from everything that makes me feel comfortable.
I made an important stride in my career today.
My parents paid for my subscription to Backstage and Backstage.com as a graduation present two years ago. At the end of the year, it was automatically renewed. I didn't notice, since it wasn't my credit card statement. All I know is I kept getting the paper every week, so I didn't complain. They never said anything, so I just let it go.
This year my parents got a new credit card, and so on August 1st I received an email that the credit card number I had on file was no longer good and my subscription would not be renewed.
So now I am proud to say that I am officially paying for my own subscription to Backstage. Which I hope means that I will use it more.
It was a lovely gift from my parents who have always supported me in this crazy dream of mine, but after the first year I should have taken up the mantle myself. The more I allow things like that to happen, the more laxidasical my life will become.
Laxidasical is definitely the word I want to use there. But I have no idea how to spell it.
Lack-si-daiz-i-cal. You'll figure it out. You're smart peoples.
Now that I'm paying out of pocket for this subscription, I had better utilize it more fully than I have for the past two years. I just set up my whole online resume on the website so that I can submit for job postings directly, instead of having to attach my headshot and resume to an email, which is truly a pain in the ass.
Very excited about the next audition lined up on my calendar. It's an open call for "In The Mood" which is a tour of a 1930s-1940s musical review.
Several things are looking like they are in my favor:
Also, my new headshots were finally delivered. It's the same picture that's on my business card, but looking at them so much bigger makes a world of difference. This has got to be the most favorite picture of myself I have ever taken. I think I look beautiful. I literally stared at it for a good ten minutes when I took them out of the box yesterday.
God I'm hot.
I made an important stride in my career today.
My parents paid for my subscription to Backstage and Backstage.com as a graduation present two years ago. At the end of the year, it was automatically renewed. I didn't notice, since it wasn't my credit card statement. All I know is I kept getting the paper every week, so I didn't complain. They never said anything, so I just let it go.
This year my parents got a new credit card, and so on August 1st I received an email that the credit card number I had on file was no longer good and my subscription would not be renewed.
So now I am proud to say that I am officially paying for my own subscription to Backstage. Which I hope means that I will use it more.
It was a lovely gift from my parents who have always supported me in this crazy dream of mine, but after the first year I should have taken up the mantle myself. The more I allow things like that to happen, the more laxidasical my life will become.
Laxidasical is definitely the word I want to use there. But I have no idea how to spell it.
Lack-si-daiz-i-cal. You'll figure it out. You're smart peoples.
Now that I'm paying out of pocket for this subscription, I had better utilize it more fully than I have for the past two years. I just set up my whole online resume on the website so that I can submit for job postings directly, instead of having to attach my headshot and resume to an email, which is truly a pain in the ass.
Very excited about the next audition lined up on my calendar. It's an open call for "In The Mood" which is a tour of a 1930s-1940s musical review.
Several things are looking like they are in my favor:
- It is an open call, which means the sign up sheet is the sign up sheet, regardless of Union affiliations. Therefore, I have as much of a chance at being seen as any Equity girl (in theory)
- They only want altos, not sopranos, so that's a whole bunch of girls out already
- I have the perfect audition song, which my voice teacher gave me because he was "so excited to finally teach someone with a low enough voice to sing it."
- They want girls with a 1940s look, which I definitely have.
Also, my new headshots were finally delivered. It's the same picture that's on my business card, but looking at them so much bigger makes a world of difference. This has got to be the most favorite picture of myself I have ever taken. I think I look beautiful. I literally stared at it for a good ten minutes when I took them out of the box yesterday.
God I'm hot.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Audition Log: 8/13/09
"Hair" Equity Chorus Call.
Ah, now I remember why I stopped doing Equity calls.
My audition buddy Harmony was set to arrive at Chelsea studios at 7am to put our names on the list. Received a text from her at 8:53am: "Not doing list until 1pm and I can't put your name right after mine..."
Apparently a few weeks ago some girl showed up with a pre-made list of about 25 people that had been written the night before, so now they weren't allowing anyone to put any names down aside from there own. Why does there always have to be some bitch who ruins it for everyone?
So I got there around 11:30 and met Harmony. They started the sign-up sheet at 12:30 but it was a madhouse. We were numbers 49 and 50.
Messed around for a while, checked back at 3:30 and were told that they weren't going to see any Non-Equity because they're going to be having an open call in the next couple of weeks.
So I rode the loser train home and then fell asleep.
Next audition: Monday, August 24th. National Tour of "In The Mood," a 1940s musical revue. It's an Open Call, so hopefully I'll get seen.
Onward ho.
Ah, now I remember why I stopped doing Equity calls.
My audition buddy Harmony was set to arrive at Chelsea studios at 7am to put our names on the list. Received a text from her at 8:53am: "Not doing list until 1pm and I can't put your name right after mine..."
Apparently a few weeks ago some girl showed up with a pre-made list of about 25 people that had been written the night before, so now they weren't allowing anyone to put any names down aside from there own. Why does there always have to be some bitch who ruins it for everyone?
So I got there around 11:30 and met Harmony. They started the sign-up sheet at 12:30 but it was a madhouse. We were numbers 49 and 50.
Messed around for a while, checked back at 3:30 and were told that they weren't going to see any Non-Equity because they're going to be having an open call in the next couple of weeks.
So I rode the loser train home and then fell asleep.
Next audition: Monday, August 24th. National Tour of "In The Mood," a 1940s musical revue. It's an Open Call, so hopefully I'll get seen.
Onward ho.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Coffee good...
Well it's 5:30 in the morning and I just ripped my jeans.
Ironically, they were the jeans I bought with the holes already ripped into the front of the legs in order to make them look hip and worn-in. (It's also the reason they cost more than a whole pair of pants)
And I ripped them right in the back of the leg, right under the butt cheek. Not a tragedy, but changes the entire tone of the pants. What were once just a casual pair of jeans to throw on to go to the store now require a spicy pair of heels and a lot of confidence.
Yes America, this is my upper thigh.
Enjoy.
Ironically, they were the jeans I bought with the holes already ripped into the front of the legs in order to make them look hip and worn-in. (It's also the reason they cost more than a whole pair of pants)
And I ripped them right in the back of the leg, right under the butt cheek. Not a tragedy, but changes the entire tone of the pants. What were once just a casual pair of jeans to throw on to go to the store now require a spicy pair of heels and a lot of confidence.
Yes America, this is my upper thigh.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Make Me a SuperStar
The time has come in the night where one must choose between bed and coffee. I have chosen coffee.
First thought of the night: It amuses me that in the scene in Atonement in which Kiera Knightly's little sister comes to visit her first thing in the morning, Kiera Knightly answers the door in a bathrobe, but with her hair and make-up done.
Secondly, after nearly a month since I first received the email, I've gotten my act together and recorded my video audition tape for "Make Me a Super Star."
The scene is chosen from ones that they provide on the website. It sounds like it's straight out of 90210, and since I am currently obsessed with 90210 (huzzah Netflix) I'm a happy bunny.
Although it's not the scene I would have chosen for my audition, but there wasn't a comedic choice for women among the scene choices, sad face. Anyway, the video is posted on Facebook, and I'll probably put it up on the YouTube page as well. It's kind of Soap Opera-y, which has never been my greatest strength as an actor. You have to be just right to read those kinds of lines and not sound like a jackass.
I remember I took a Soap Opera Acting workshop in college, and one of my lines was, "You are the worst human being I've ever met in my life," and for some reason I just couldn't deliver it without getting a laugh.
But alas, I think the more interesting part of the video is the beginning in which I talk about myself, and my natural personality is all up in that biznitch.
My motivation in this is about equal parts wanting to be a superstar, and wanting to be on a reality tv show. Oxygen was showing its daily America's Next Top Model marathon and I got sucked in, yet again. God I wish I was thin enough to be on that show. I would rock the shit out of that show. I would send that show home crying to it's mama.
I mean, don't get me wrong, the goal of my life is going to be a long-running quest toward becoming the greatest actor on the planet, but the way I see it, I could become the greatest actor on the planet, and THEN become famous, or I could become famous, and THEN become the greatest actor on the planet. Meh.
When I was younger I wanted to be famous. I wanted photos of me buying toothpaste to appear in US Weekly. And then I got to college and I learned that in order to have a fulfilling life as an actor, your priority should be the quality of your work, and not the degree of your fame. I realized there was something noble about spending those character-building years paying your Student Loans late and eating dry Rice-a-Roni out of the box with a plastic spoon. As long as you maintained your integrity.
Two years post-graduation: Fuck integrity, I'd like a personal shopper.
First thought of the night: It amuses me that in the scene in Atonement in which Kiera Knightly's little sister comes to visit her first thing in the morning, Kiera Knightly answers the door in a bathrobe, but with her hair and make-up done.
Secondly, after nearly a month since I first received the email, I've gotten my act together and recorded my video audition tape for "Make Me a Super Star."
The scene is chosen from ones that they provide on the website. It sounds like it's straight out of 90210, and since I am currently obsessed with 90210 (huzzah Netflix) I'm a happy bunny.
Although it's not the scene I would have chosen for my audition, but there wasn't a comedic choice for women among the scene choices, sad face. Anyway, the video is posted on Facebook, and I'll probably put it up on the YouTube page as well. It's kind of Soap Opera-y, which has never been my greatest strength as an actor. You have to be just right to read those kinds of lines and not sound like a jackass.
I remember I took a Soap Opera Acting workshop in college, and one of my lines was, "You are the worst human being I've ever met in my life," and for some reason I just couldn't deliver it without getting a laugh.
But alas, I think the more interesting part of the video is the beginning in which I talk about myself, and my natural personality is all up in that biznitch.
My motivation in this is about equal parts wanting to be a superstar, and wanting to be on a reality tv show. Oxygen was showing its daily America's Next Top Model marathon and I got sucked in, yet again. God I wish I was thin enough to be on that show. I would rock the shit out of that show. I would send that show home crying to it's mama.
I mean, don't get me wrong, the goal of my life is going to be a long-running quest toward becoming the greatest actor on the planet, but the way I see it, I could become the greatest actor on the planet, and THEN become famous, or I could become famous, and THEN become the greatest actor on the planet. Meh.
When I was younger I wanted to be famous. I wanted photos of me buying toothpaste to appear in US Weekly. And then I got to college and I learned that in order to have a fulfilling life as an actor, your priority should be the quality of your work, and not the degree of your fame. I realized there was something noble about spending those character-building years paying your Student Loans late and eating dry Rice-a-Roni out of the box with a plastic spoon. As long as you maintained your integrity.
Two years post-graduation: Fuck integrity, I'd like a personal shopper.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Happy Birthday to Me
I turned twenty-four on Saturday.
So I obviously had the obligatory "Oh my God, I'm twenty-four and I haven't accomplished anything in my life" Freak Out.
But I've figured out a way to deal with it.
Obviously, I haven't accomplished as much as I would like. In fact, this past year has kind of just been a giant ball of Nothing wrapped in a crispy crust of You're a Lazy Bitch.
I have decided that this year I have to step up my game. And in order to make sure that this happens, I am giving myself a deadline. I have decided to set a specific, attainable goal for myself. And if that goal is not reached by the time I turn twenty-five, I have decided that I am moving to LA.
Because once I'm in LA, I won't have my family or my neighborhood to fall back on. I won't feel safe and comfortable and therefore it will not be as acceptable to me to go back to sleep instead of getting up to make it to that audition at 6:30 in the morning. I'll be 3,000 miles away from everything I've ever known, and most likely scared shitless.
So there you go.
As for what my goal for the year will be, I'm still not sure. I was thinking maybe soap opera, or maybe giving myself like, a certain amount of money, and if I'm not making that much money per month on pure acting gigs, then I'm off to LA.
Further review is needed.
I'll tell you one thing I'm sure of though: Alexander Skarsgard looks damn hot in the tank top that he was wearing in the last two episodes of "True Blood"
So I obviously had the obligatory "Oh my God, I'm twenty-four and I haven't accomplished anything in my life" Freak Out.
But I've figured out a way to deal with it.
Obviously, I haven't accomplished as much as I would like. In fact, this past year has kind of just been a giant ball of Nothing wrapped in a crispy crust of You're a Lazy Bitch.
I have decided that this year I have to step up my game. And in order to make sure that this happens, I am giving myself a deadline. I have decided to set a specific, attainable goal for myself. And if that goal is not reached by the time I turn twenty-five, I have decided that I am moving to LA.
Because once I'm in LA, I won't have my family or my neighborhood to fall back on. I won't feel safe and comfortable and therefore it will not be as acceptable to me to go back to sleep instead of getting up to make it to that audition at 6:30 in the morning. I'll be 3,000 miles away from everything I've ever known, and most likely scared shitless.
So there you go.
As for what my goal for the year will be, I'm still not sure. I was thinking maybe soap opera, or maybe giving myself like, a certain amount of money, and if I'm not making that much money per month on pure acting gigs, then I'm off to LA.
Further review is needed.
I'll tell you one thing I'm sure of though: Alexander Skarsgard looks damn hot in the tank top that he was wearing in the last two episodes of "True Blood"
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Up all night...
Things i Currently Hate:
Coming soon:
This is going to be the Jack Bauer of all years.
- Long train rides
- Cheap headphones that break after a week and a half
- People
- Teenagers especially
- My job
- Expired milk
- Not being a famous movie star
- Not knowing how to drive
- My passport photo
- Not using my passport for anything other than buying beer
- Tyra Banks
- Chase bank
- Sarah Palin
- My computer
- Vanessa Hudgens
- Coffee
- Peanut Butter M&Ms
- "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus
Coming soon:
- Hair audition on Thursday
- Awesome b-day party
- Clockwork theatre weekly scene workshops
- Improv 301 at UCB
This is going to be the Jack Bauer of all years.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Fail...
Why do I feel like everything I do is mediocre?
Headshots have been shipped. They are on their way. Hopefully they will arrive before the 13th so that I can rock the socks off of the Hair audition.
Saturday is my 24th birthday.
I have been out of school for two years.
And I have Jack to show for it.
As my birthday present, my parents are allowing me to charge a class at the Upright Citizen's Brigade on their credit card, since I can no longer afford it. I am immensely happy about this, since it's been over six months since I took my 201 class, and if I don't hurry up and take 301, I'm going to forget everything I learned.
This past year has been shit. I got into two shows and quit them both.
And let's see... what else has happened.
Hmm... nothing...
Way to go, McNally.
Headshots have been shipped. They are on their way. Hopefully they will arrive before the 13th so that I can rock the socks off of the Hair audition.
Saturday is my 24th birthday.
I have been out of school for two years.
And I have Jack to show for it.
As my birthday present, my parents are allowing me to charge a class at the Upright Citizen's Brigade on their credit card, since I can no longer afford it. I am immensely happy about this, since it's been over six months since I took my 201 class, and if I don't hurry up and take 301, I'm going to forget everything I learned.
This past year has been shit. I got into two shows and quit them both.
And let's see... what else has happened.
Hmm... nothing...
Way to go, McNally.
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