A Bitter-Sweet Week

Let's start with the Bitter:
       On Monday of this week, there was an audition that was very exciting to me (Whitney) and that was the WICKED - EPA Call. (Equity Principal Call) This audition was for the 2nd National Broadway Tour of Wicked the Musical. Since this was a Principal call this means that they would be looking for Glinda's. Well, I was determined to go! Nathan was very sick so I had to find another audition buddy who was willing to face the awful cold weather and sit outside in it like a homeless person for hours in order to get in line. After a lot of searching, I finally found this girl who I met at a few auditions, Jessica, who was more than willing to be my audition buddy. (She was also going for Glinda! - no competition for us though..us non-equity kids stick together is this unfair business) We met up at 4:30 am and got in line outside of the building at 5:15. WE WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE THERE!!! YAY!! I got out my blanket and we cuddled for the next three hours. :) More and more people starting lining up behind us and we finally were let into the building at 8am.
       Jessica and I waited for the monitor to come so we would be the first to write our names on the non-equity OFFICIAL list. (We didn't wait in the cold for three hours just to be numbers 3 and 4 on the list...we earned being numbers 1 and 2 on that list!) We pushed our way through the huge crowd of people and got to sign our names on the list. I then pushed my way through people again in order to sign Nathan up on that list as well. (just in case) So then....we waited.
        The production staff wouldn't be there until 10am...so until then we wouldn't know if they would be seeing non-equity for sure or not. Every minute that passed more and more Equity people arrived. The room was PACKED with people! I knew it wasn't looking good. (The more equity people show up...the more likely it is that the audition will mostly consist of the production staff seeing equity talent all day...therefore they won't even bother with non-equity) Then at 9:45, the sad news came. The monitor told us that due to all the equity talent showing up...they wouldn't be seeing non-equity.               
           Another audition failed. I was extremely discouraged after this audition because I was the FIRST person there. And in this business it doesn't matter if you got up first and got in line first, and waited in the cold for three hours like a homeless person, and have your dress and heels and music book and make up in your backpack...as well as food for the day, and books and knitting to keep you busy while you wait = it does not matter how prepared you are when you are NON-EQUITY. Equity women and men were showing up at 9:30 and even 10:00 and they were getting time slots to be seen.  I can't even tell you how many awful comments were thrown my way from equity actors. There was one woman who said "Aww...that poor girl, she probably was out waiting all night in order to get here....Ha! I just woke up thirty minutes ago! and will be done with my audition in an hour!" There was also one guy who I guess knew that I was the first girl in line for non-equity and he said to the guy standing next to him as I walked by "Doesn't she know that they aren't going to see non-equity! They would never hire a non-equity actor!" ...then when I was in the elevator headed back down to the streets of New York...one guy said "All these non-equity Elphaba and Glinda wannabe's just need to get out of here" And I guess that's how this business goes in an Equity Call. Most non-equity actors don't even bother going to equity calls in the city...and now I understand why.
           But, you know what? I still want it really bad. I still am going to keep trying, and I'm still going to get up early and I'm still going to be prepared because I know the Lord has placed Nathan and me here and we're going to keep fighting for it until we get it! I don't want to miss my opportunity, so until then I will be prepared. My Dad has always said. "Preparation + Opportunity = Success" and  I'm just waiting for the opportunity. And honestly, all the prayers and support we have been getting from our families and friends has helped TREMENDOUSLY. This city can be so wonderful at times, and very hard at times, and having those words of encouragement help lift our spirits when we don't have the energy to do it ourselves.

I took a few pictures on my phone this week of the audition 'holding' rooms, so you can see what I do everyday. There is usually a holding room and then an audition room. The holding rooms can get pretty crowded, people talking, sleeping, eating, getting dressed, warming up, sizing up others around you, meeting new people, etc...

 

 

This is the line of people about to go into the room for their audition. Notice how the girl is listening at the door before she goes in. And the girl behind her is facing the wall because she is most likely practicing her song before she goes in. :)

 

On a Sweeter Note:

      Nathan performed in his first New York performance which was a reading of a new musical called 'Speargrove Presents'!!!!  He rehearsed all this week and then did the reading on Thurdsay. He says it went well and was recwived very well. He only wishes that he wasn't sick throughout the whole process, but the good news is that he made it through!! I made celebratory Funfetti Cupcakes in honor of the reading!! They were so delicious!

To end on a good note: I had a wonderful audition this week. I sent in my reel, headshot and resume in hopes of getting an audition appointment for a new concert that would be aired on PBS! It is a concert that would be celebrating Italian-American music. It is tentatively called, "Bellaria". Well, Nathan and I both got an audition appointment to come sing in their office. Nathan unfortunately couldn't go (since he was so sick). They asked me to prepare two new songs that they gave me for this audition. I sang, 'You don't have to say you love me' - an old Elvis Presley and Dusty Springfield song, and also an Italian Aria called "O Mio Babbino Caro". One is belty radio and the other is legit classical. I had three days to learn the song, and hopefully do my best. Well, I walked to the building and told the doorman I was there to audition for a lady named Stefani. He told me what floor to go to...and when I got off the elevator, this is what I saw:

  

     Yes, I had just walked into the offices of Virgin Records in New York City. WOW! I immediately was thinking " Oh My! This is a big deal! I'm not just in a dance studio! I'm at virgin records!!!!" This lady came out and told me that they were just setting up and that they'd be ready for me in a few seconds. I then ran to the bathroom and made sure I looked good and took a sip of water, and then there I was walking into this huge conference room with windows that looked over New York. There were about 8 people in the room all wearing mostly black, and two who were british. There was also a lovely grand piano in the corner with an accompanist. They told me to spend all the time I needed with the accompanist and whenever I felt ready...I could go for it. Well, to make a long story short. The songs went well, they asked me a lot of questions about my musical background, they seemed to really enjoy me and I really enjoyed them. They said the callback would be Thursday and that they would contact me. I left the room thinking WOW! Who did I just sing for??? What an opportunity! 

        Well, the next morning, I got an email from 'Stefani' saying that they wanted me to come in for a callback. This time it was at a dance studio (something I was a little more used to), and there were about 12 people in the room and also a large camera and microphone. They asked me to sing my two songs again and after each of my songs they applauded. I found out by other girls that were auditioning that they are looking for three girls and two guys, this would be a CD recording, a PBS concert that also came with a DVD recording and possibly a tour. In my callback they asked me if I was willing to tour and if I was under any sort of contracts already. So, that was a good sign! They asked me to come back into the room, this time to sing with a few other people who were auditioning, to see how we blended. We had to sight sing! and not just sight sing....but sight sing...JAZZ...and in ITALIAN! It was VERY challenging. (The man that was standing next to me looked like he had just stepped out of the classical italian male group 'il divo' ...he was phenomenal) 

    Anyway...I think it went well, I got to the very last cut and my gut is telling me that I didn't get the job because they let me go home while some other singers were still in the audition room working on blend. But lets be honest...i'm also NOT ITALIAN! So, I'm not exaclty right for the gig! :)

   But none the less, I had the opportunity to share my voice with some HUGE names in the business. These men have worked with Sarah Brightman! (a brilliant classical soprano) and they are EMI who is the parent company to many record labels including 'Virgin Records'! 

What a blessing!!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers. It is a bumpy ride here in NEW YORK, and I hope you enjoy hearing about it! :)