Audition Log 2/27/10

I don't know if this happens to you, but this is what typically happens to me: I'll have like two or three weeks where it seems like nothing is going right. I can't get a job, I can't get a role, there are no auditions, I lose my MetroCard, etc.

And then, one good thing will happen, and then like twenty good things will happen, and I'll have two or three weeks of awesome times. It's like my career is bi-polar.

Well we're in a good stretch, I think.

I got inspired the other day, and went on Backstage and NYCastings and submitted for a whole mess of things, and booked a whole bunch of auditions for the upcoming week, the first of which happened yesterday.

It was for a new original comedy called "Poppycock." It was advertised as a "screwball comedy" and from the scenes that I read it has a very old Hollywood, Clue, Noises-Off kind of feel to it. I got the sides on Thursday for two characters, Poppy (the play's namesake) and Bianca (the ingenue).

It's really well-written, which is the most exciting part. A lot of times when you get your hands on an original play, it's no secret why it hasn't been published yet. But this one was really funny, and I was really excited about the audition.

When I went in they seemed really nice and they were really receptive to me. After I read the two scenes that they'd given me, they also gave me a couple more scenes to read, and I did those as well.

It was, in short, a really good audition, and I left for work that day feeling like things were looking up. One good audition would lead to another good audition, and another, and maybe eventually to a job.

It was a busy Saturday night, so though I got a call on my cell phone at 6:30, I couldn't actually check my voicemail until about 9:30, when I finally took my break. It was Lindsay, the producer asking me to call her.

And remember when I said that one good thing happens, and then a whole bunch of good things happen?

I GOT THE PART!

I'm going to play Poppy! The show is in April, and rehearsals start immediately. We're having out first rehearsal on Tuesday. This is really exciting, because I've been focusing so much on film lately, I haven't actually been in a full-length play in almost two years. Not since "Cherry Smoke" and that was only a staged reading.

It's running three weekends in April and it is going to ROCK.

Stay tuned.

Sitting on my couch watching "Band of Brothers" is looking like the ideal activity for today.

Now the only thing I have to decide is sushi or pizza?

I just got an email from someone who clearly thought I was a man, asking me to audition for the role of "Frank."

Nice.

It Hurts...

So funny story: There are 28 days in February.

That means that February is exactly four weeks long.

That means that the days in March are the same as the days in February.

That means when they told me my stand-up show would be on "Sunday the 28th," they actually meant Sunday, March 28th.

That means I'm an idiot.

My bad.

Laugh Until it Hurts Part Three

Well...

I got the job. Or, I booked the gig, or whatever the lingo is now that I'm a Big-Time Stand Up Comedian.

This whole thing is happening in a whirlwind. I found out at the audition that I got into the show, and the show is on Sunday. THIS Sunday. Meep.

I get to do seven to ten minutes of material, whatever I want. I don't have to include the material I used for my audition. Basically, they trust me to be funny. I have to get ten people to come, but that shouldn't be too much of a trouble. I already told a few people about it and they seem very excited to see me make an ass out of myself.

Speaking of being excited, I totally am! But I'm also really, really freaked out. I'm glad it's only on Sunday and not in like, a month or something. I can't imagine having to lie in bed picturing my failure for the next four weeks. Which I have been doing, because apparently Stand Up comedy scares the goop out of me.

I worked last night and I'm working tonight, so Wednesday is my day to sit down with a pen and paper and put together an act.

I'm thinking there will be much watching of old SNL skits on hulu in order to get me in the mood to be funny.

Balls to the wall.

Laugh Until it Hurts part two

The stand-up comedy audition is tomorrow, and I think I've come to a place where I'm comfortable with what I'm doing.

It's just like another monologue, except this time the monologue is as a stand up comedian.

No reason to panic.

But... it did yield some positive results, because I have a new video in honor of my burgeoning stand-up career.

Enjoy

Laugh Until it Hurts...

If I were to try and count the number of resumes I've sent out in the past month, whether for acting or for a new job, I'd estimate it at about seven million.

But I've gotten a few bites. On Saturday February 20th I apparently have an audition for something called "Laugh Until it Hurts." I read the email very carefully, and no matter how many times I read it, it always seems like they want my to do stand-up for my audition.

After I got the email I went back and checked the audition notice, and the call is for stand-up and improvisers. I apparently only payed attention to the "improvisers" part.

I don't do stand-up. I've never done stand-up. Stand-up frightens me.

So. Saturday, February 20th. I have 9 days to learn how to become a Stand-Up Comedian.

Am I to understand that it's going to snow for the next two days? Like, for real? Not like that last time they said it was going to snow?

Hey, remember that time I said I'd work a double shift tomorrow? And remember that time I made three appointments on Thursday at different times and all different areas of New York City?

And remember that time I left my snow boots in the coat room at work and they disappeared?

Meep.

Oh Joss Whedon, why did I ever doubt you?

Having grown up on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I think it's kind of funny that it took me so long to get into Joss Whedon's latest projects.

I heard for years that I "had" to watch Firefly, and when the series was canceled, I did watch the movie, "Serenity," but I didn't actually watch the series until this past December. Needless to say, I LOVED it, and I asked for the DVD set for Christmas, which I received.

But now, I just Netflixed season one of Dollhouse and I frigging LOVED it too.

So now I'm all pissed that it just got canceled.

The next time Joss Whedon has a show, I need to start watching before it gets canceled.