"Sex, Relationships and Sometimes Love"

Well, that sounds like the title to a very depressing blog entry, but actually this is going to be a very happy one, because "Sex, Relationships and Sometimes Love" is the title of the play that I just got into.

The audition was like a Pizza Hut express. I did my sassy black woman monologue yesterday and was immediately given a callback, and then today I got there and chose a different piece to do, since I wanted to show them some range. When I got in the room I got exactly one line out before the casting director stopped me.

He gave me a different monologue which he described as "over the top." And of this monologue I did three lines. And then I was cast in the show.

I'm guessing it's a very large cast, since it appears to be a collection of monologues, which would explain the speedy audition procedures. Rehearsals start this Thursday at 9am (yikes) and they're only during the day, which is actually perfect for me since I work at night.

So yeah. I'm going to go get a bagel. And then probably take a nap.

Audition Log 5/10/10

By the time I got to the audition, all the good sides had been taken. The only one left was clearly written for a sassy black woman, with plenty of "Honey"s and "oh no you don't"s.

And for a second, I actually hesitated.

I was like, I'm going to look like an asshole if I go in there and do this like a sassy black woman. It would be different if these people knew me, or had ever met me before. But out of context they're going to think I'm a racist.

And then I said "Fuck that, I'll never see these people again in my life," and went in there and did my best sassy black lady.

And I got a callback tomorrow morning!

The director even said, "Perfect, that's exactly how that's supposed to be performed."

I even capped it off with a finger snap at the end.

Balls out.

Hopefully the post-show depression that set in as soon as Poppycock closed will be alleviated by the rockin' cast party we're going to have tomorrow night.

I've already had my few days of sleeping until 3pm to recuperate from the constant stress of work, performing in a show and taking my Improv class with UCB, and now that all but one of those things are over, I find myself extremely bored pretty much all of the time.

I'm trying to get a second job, not just to keep me busy, but also because I had to cut down my hours at work while I was doing Poppycock, ans completely spent all the money I had saved for my potential move to L.A.

So there goes THAT plan.

But in the wake of a successful show, plus my new-found love of stand-up comedy, I'm thinking it might behoove me to stay in New York for a while.

I don't know how to spell behoove.

I think that much is obvious.

How about the Poppy Stop?

Week Two of Poppycock has kicked off with a bang!

We've already gotten one review, extremely positive.

This show has been incredible as far as my growth as an actor. I've always been pretty horrible at keeping a straight face, and this show requires quite the deadpan. I do crack occasionally, but I always feel really bad about it afterwards.

Ultimately though, the thing I'm happiest about is forming a relationship with the company. I hope I get to work with them again.

In the meantime though, all my friends appear to be waiting for the final weekend to come and see my show. Which means it;s going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight for tickets. Silly friends.

On the agenda now: A shower, a massive cup of coffee, and on to continue the second weekend of Poppycock!

Opening Night!

Hooray! Poppycock opened last night to an almost full house and a great reaction!

The audience was really great and receptive, it was so strange to hear people actually laughing at the jokes. I was reminded of jokes that I'd forgotten about.

But I've got to say, having an audience react to my character completely changed my entire perception of what I'm doing onstage. I'm just not used to being the straight-man I guess. I'm a ham, I like to get the laughs. But the places I thought were going to be funny kind of fell flat, whereas the lines I delivered more simply were well-received. It just really drove home that I need to stop looking for the laughs and just let them happen.

There are some pictures up on No Tea's website, so check them out!

And tickets are still available for the rest of the run!

In other words I've finally started looking at new auditions. I'm not the kind of person who never stops looking for stuff. Now that the show is actually running and the end is in sight, I'm starting to think, "hmm...now what?"

I have an audition tomorrow for a sketch comedy show. And I have one minute to bring "my comedy A-game." Still not quite sure what that entails, but I'll figure it out.

Probably.