snippets from a week...

Okay, so I guess some of you have noticed I haven't been blogging recently...to be completely honest, it's been a crazy week of early mornings and late nights, but I also wasn't sure anyone was reading because of the lack of comments (ahem, ahem, hint, hint). But apparently you are...so, to elicit commentary without overwhelming you, I'll give you a snapshot of the last several days.

Last Thursday....
was a bit disappointing because I wasn't seen at "The Coram Boy" call which is the new Broadway play that was looking for legit singers for the ensemble. Alas, I did leave a resume and highlighted all my legit training. We can hope! I met a really nice girl, Kat, who also just moved to NYC from CA. She went to the SF Conservatory of Music for her master's and had done a show at 42nd Street Moon. She recognized me and introduced herself....she is also an EMC and we commiserated together about our plight! That evening I went back to "The Gym"...amazing! I love the class and John and Laura are helping me, and the rest of the girls so much. I worked on my new favorite song, "I wish it so" as well as "Somebody, Somewhere."

Friday morning....
I tried to get seen for "The Molly Maguires" EPA and got really close, 2nd on the EMC list, but they started the call 20 minutes late and that pretty much killed it...luck had me in line with Richard, a singer I lived across the hall from in Aspen in the summer of 2000. He now exclusively does theatre and had some great tips for me! He also got my contact info and was kind enough to call me from his next audition stop to let me know I would defnitely get seen there....I brought my new friend Kat along! We stuck together throughout the day, waiting and hoping, and then moving onto the Papermill Playhouse "Pirates" open call. Over 300 girls showed up so they typed us in groups of 50. I got typed in for the first time (yay!) but then after my 16 bars I was deemed not "sorority-ditsy" enough...alas, it would have been an AMAZING gig. But, as I was waiting in line to sing, who walks through a side-door into the hallway but Sean Hayes of "Will and Grace!" EEEEEEEEEEEEk. He said, "HI, ladies" as he walked into what is certainly the final stages of casting for Mel Brooks' new "Young Frankenstein" musical. So, so, so fun. My friend Dani was in line much later than I and said she spotted not only Sean Hayes, but Megan Mullaly and Eric McCormack!!!! I guess they are all in the running.
Friday night I went away to New Jersey on a large bus with about 50 ladies from Redeemer for a retreat! We stayed at a Salvation Army Lodge which was actually quite nice...definitely not roughing it...at all! I roomed with a wonderful girl and fellow singer, Jenny H, and we have so much in common including an obsession with Splenda! That evening was pretty mellow with a snack and some worship before bed-time.

Saturday and Sunday....
Lauren Winner, a favorite Christian memoirist, was the speaker for our retreat. I loved her realism and academic approach to our faith. I met some really nice girls...other than Jenny I didn't spend much concentrated time with many of them but I know when I see them at church I will have a connection that can grow deeper...which is great! One of the funny aspects of the retreat was how much they fed us...non-stop! Huge meals and then snacks and desserts. So much for Dr. Oz. And the "Seargent" always said, "Dear sisters...." It was great to be away and just to be in a quiet place without the whirl of the city. The lodge looks over a frozen lake that was very inviting for quiet times.
We made it back on Sunday afternoon and just in time for the snow to begin! They scared us with serious snow storm warnings (that nor'easter!) but it really was only about 3 or 4 inches, if that.

Monday, I had great luck getting into sing for a West Side Story EPA...I got in at 10:30 and then enjoyed a lunch with my dear Soon who was in town for literally one day! I spent most of my afternoon waiting at the Equity building without luck.

Tuesday, I was up before the sun to hit the gym before auditions. I was on the arc-climber by 6:20. Whew. It takes a lot of prep-work the night before to get my gym bag together but it may be the only way to fit the gym in! After signing up on a list, I went to a nearby Starbucks where I met up with old friend and opera-diva Erin W. who was in town for an audition. It was so fun to see her, however brief our time. I sang for "Ripper" the musical and then headed to Inwood for a voice lesson. Bible Study was as awesome as usual with the added bonus of friend Chad B, and my Frederick from Dayton's "Pirates" unexpected entrance. Apparently he is long-time friends of Louis and Rosemary and was staying with them while he auditioned for management (which he got! yay!). So crazy! I don't know who was more surprised!
I met new-friend Grace at the Pinkberry in Koreatown. Amazing frozen yoghurt, don't get me wrong, but $6???!!! Eek. It was really nice to spend time with Grace, however!

Wednesday, I went back to the gym, early, early and had a long day of signing up for an open call, going to an opera coaching, killing time in the most productive way, and settling into a room of nearly 400 girls waiting to be typed out. This time we had two options...to sing the last line of the "tonight" quartet with the high C or a belty piece from "Crazy for You." I sang first in front of the 24 other girls in my group...being a girl who really can sing a high C I was really disappointed I didn't make it past the firing squad...but I think I'm going to have to get used to what a look-driven biz this is...more on that, to come! I came home and made myself some pb popcorn and allowed myself a moment to watch last week's Grey's Anatomy...and I had a private cry-fest. That evening I went out to a nearby church for a somewhat "Waiting for Guffman"-like audition experience for their upcoming "Music Man." I was really only interested in Marian, which was pre-cast. The audition process was so scattered and inefficient, I found myself longing for the rigidity of 16 bars and the militaristic herding that reigns in equity calls. I nearly abandoned ship, watching the first group of 10 "dance" after waiting over an hour for my chance. But, I figured, what a great opportunity to practice the art of auditioning and to erase the negativity I was feeling over being typed out after my high C! I sang "If I Loved You" and for the first time in NYC, got applause! They had me read for a bunch of parts and they were really lovely and sweet people, if unorganized. As much as I liked them, I had already decided that no matter what part they might offer, I would not be able to handle doing a show with them, on a volunteer basis. Adrienne had suggested that any sort of NY experience is great, but I think the audition told me otherwise.

Thursday, I joined forces again with Kat, waiting together for two different calls without success. We gave up and went Trader Joes shopping (thinking of Char and his "cat cookies" the whole time, of course) after seeing the alternate list rise above 100. Eek. Earlier Thursday I ran into Annie Petersmeyer, my 1st grade partner!!!, who moved to NYC just a few days ago. She looks great and when she said my name I at first didn't recognize her, so out of context! She knows a bunch of folks from her theatre travels and introduced me to a few...I loved catching up with her and getting some gossip on my favorite "dancelife" characters. (It's a show on MTV...anyone watching???? It's amazing!)
After coming home from Trader Joes, I made sandwiches and brought them to my roomie from last weekend, Jenny, who surprised me with a trip to the zoo!!! So fun! I kind of knew there was a zoo in Central Park but had no idea it contained monkeys, penguins, two polar bears and red pandas!!!! We had so much fun and took some cute pictures. Jenny works at a real-estate investment firm on Madison and 59th, very near the zoo. We're planning on future picnics. It totally made my day and cheered me up so much.
Thursday night I went back to class which was again, so much fun. It was amazing to see, in 3 classes, all the growth in my classmates. Really exciting stuff! I brought in 2 songs from "She Loves Me" and apparently, I'm "quirky." The director said so. It's always interesting to have someone who knows you from only 60 minutes of work define you...I guess I never defined myself that way, but hey, I'd rather be quirky than boring!

Friday...yay...did you make it this far? I finally caught up!
As Adrienne says, perhaps nothing is worse than a rainy day in NYC. Imagine, puddles nearly flooding every subway station...umbrellas waiting to poke your eyes out on every sidewalk...my own "weather-proof" umbrella biting the dust...just like all the tossed, wounded soldiers literally lining the streets...I arrived to my first audition sign-up with a wet backpack and it just got worse from there! I went back and forth to 3 different studios within a few hours and did my first straight-play audition. I didn't get a call-back but I'm glad that I went in and tried it, at least! I lost steam and was feeling sick for the other two EPAs. I had the best of intentions of returning after the lunch break but when I got home I felt like I really was coming down with something so I opted for a quick nap instead. At 4 I had a coaching with Laura from "The Gym." She is helping me learn to mix and was so encouraging. But again, she thinks I'm quirky and ethnic-looking and that we have to work on my "look." She thinks that my presentation is probably the biggest reason I haven't gotten more call-backs. Hmmm...interesting. I told Adrienne about this and she is very excited to help me with the makeover, whateve that will entail. I'm thinking about getting my haircut, just once, at one of these curly-hair specialists, so they can teach me what to do with it.
Oh, by the way, on my way home from the coaching, on 8th Avenue, I walked past Austin and Jay from Project Runway's 1st Season. I snickered when a guy passed them and said "Hi Austin" and left Jay unacknowledged to his offense. These celebrities are everywhere.
I had high hopes that Adrienne and I might see a show tonight or do something fun but the feeling sick thing inspired us to order in and eat some really delicious German chocolate that our sweet Jen Piazza Pick sent us! Sorry Dr. Oz.