February Calendar Auditions

Some of you have asked how many auditions we go to in a week. This number of course varies, but on average it's like 3 or 4 a week. Here is a picture of our Feb. calendar... now these are just auditions that we put in ourselves that we are right for. Meaning, every single one of these auditions - we think, we could be cast in according to our age, voice type, etc. We find auditions on free websites. There are a few that cost money to use, but we don't use them.

99% of these in Feb. were auditions for Equity Regional Theatres. The only Broadway audition was for the show Aladdin. Yes, the Disney movie Aladdin we all know and love is coming to Broadway in 2014. Now, they pretty much have their cast already because they did a sit down in Utah kind of like a showcase, very much like the Boston "Bombshell" part at the end of Season 1 in Smash for those of you who watch that show. So, it's kind of pointless to audition for Aladdin, but then again, you never know what might happen and apparently they were calling some females back for the role of Jasmine... I did audition but heard nothing:(

Examples: Feb. 7th Westchester Broadway - now this isn't a Broadway show called Westchester.. it's an Equity Theatre doing a season of shows in Westchester, NY and their theatre is called Westchester Broadway Theatre. Or... WBT. The more we've been in the business the more we learn about these theatres. It's crazy because this is where the majority of actors get work. It's not on Broadway or even Off-Broadway, it's Regional Theatre all around the country. They book gigs and travel to and from location doing different shows. For instance, many many Broadway veterans who can't get work on Broadway go to these auditions for Regional Theatres and hope to book out, not only to build their resume but to earn income and keep their health insurance. Being an actor is HARD! If, for instance Whitney or myself get on Broadway, it doesn't mean our careers are set and finally taking off forever. It means, finally, we have ONE GREAT credit on our resume and if the show or contract ends, than we'd be right back on our feet auditioning again like every other person. 

It's very true when so many people even our mentors have said, "If you're good at anything else, choose that as your career." Can you believe that advice? I remember hearing this from teachers. Well, I actually can't recall if I personally heard this from a teacher or if someone else told me they heard this from a teacher. Regardless though, it's an intense statement. 

I remember in high school when I heard about 2 people much older than me who had given up Musical Theatre and decided to teach. I thought, "How can they quit? They were sooo incredible? I looked up to their talent and their ambitions... that will never be me!" Now, that I'm in the middle of everything, I can totally give those 2 people grace. Because so much rejection in a week, a month, a few months... it takes a toll on your spirit. But, there is still a fire within me that is not completely blown out and as long as I have a fight in me - I gotta keep going. No regrets right? 

You know when you play Club Cranium and you get the answer wrong and then your team moves on the slow track? That's how it feels. Every rejection is like we are back on the slow track and all we want is an offer so that for awhile we can be on the fast track.  

Living the Dream............

Being an actor is not easy. Sometimes our life can seem glamorous or, "all fun and no work." But to be honest... it sucks.

Let me rephrase, it sucks when you're not working. Because when you're not working, it means you're busting your butt in Manhattan auditioning for as many shows as humanly possible. Sometimes you feel like a robot, a machine, an emotional rollercoaster - constantly and anxiously waiting... waiting for your 60 seconds of glory when you get to sing a 16 bar cut of a song you have no idea if it'll even come out right because your vocal chords haven't properly been warmed up. You get to sing 16 measures of a song you have no idea if they hate or not, or if it's way overdone, or if it's even right for the role they might be picturing you in. After your 60 seconds of glory, you get a "thank you" or if you're lucky, a question... "are you currently living in the city?" or "do you have anything uptempo?" or "do you consider yourself a dancer?" or my favorite, "do the song again, but this time really focus on one point in the room."

This is what we get to do. Audition. I have wished so many times that I could have a discreet video camera recording what our lives are like. I mean it's just ridiculous. There are THOUSANDS of VERY TALENTED people doing and striving for the same dream that we possess. The competition is FIERCE and it's shoved in our faces 100% full throttle every single day. There are women strewn about the audition holding room, curling or straightening their hair, putting on make-up, catching up with friends, or stretching for a dance call. There are monitors yelling out people's names who are next in line.  It's never quiet. It's never peaceful. You are sizing people up around you, judging what they're wearing, what you yourself is wearing. Should I be here? Am I wasting my time? What the heck am I going to sing? Their headshots are incredible... mine are terrible! Or... wow... I don't have any resumes with me... I came all this way and forgot to print out more resumes, crap, I guess I have to leave. OR... what? They're typing? Which means... if a LOAD of people are there - the casting director may decide to do a typing, which refers to, gathering everyone's headshot and resumes and picking the ones they think they want to hear. All the rest are rejected and don't get to audition. So after waiting for hours - you get told that they don't want to see you. This mainly only happens to Non-Equity but still it happens and it has happened to Whit and me numerous times. It truly feels so rewarding when you get typed in, you think, "Yes! My headshot IS good and my resume ISN'T all THAT terrible.." and then when you get typed out, you think, "Wow, I need to find a different passion." Haha, oh my, the constant rollercoaster of thoughts.

Whenever Whitney and I feel down or depressed, we'll say that we have the blues. And it's the immediate challenge to uplift each other by saying positive things... and if that doesn't work.... we go get donuts or sushi.

Walt Disney World

As many of you already know, Whitney and I took a vacation to Walt Disney World! Since my show Singin in the Rain ended in Jupiter, FL. We rented a car and drove 2.5 hours to Orlando on Sunday evening Jan. 27th. We found a groupon online for a resort and spent 4 nights there. It offered free shuttle service to and from each of the parks! We were fortunate enough to connect with some friends who work in the parks to give us free comp tickets! It saved us so much money. We got to go to 6 different parks for FREE. Thank you LORD!!!

We started our adventure with Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure!

 Harry Potter world we were sooo excited about it because we had heard so many wonderful things. It truly is magical! The simulation ride was incredible!

 The butter beer = superb! Now, for people who don't know Harry Potter. This is not an alcoholic beverage. It tastes like gingerbread cream soda with butterscotch foam. Our sweet tooth was completely satisfied!

The Hulk is always so terrifying because it starts by bringing your up higher and then shoots you from 0 to 60. 

RECAP OF MONDAY RIDES

Harry Potter Forbidden Journey - so amazing

Harry Potter Wiffenpuff - so stupid

Spider-Man 3D ride - always great

Hulk - great

The Mummy Revenge - SHOCKING, soo fun

Twister - meh

Despicable Me - cute

Shrek - stupid

The Rock It Roller Coaster - gave us headaches, but was cool cause you could pick your own music

River Adventure Jurassic Park - pretty lame but still fun

Harry Potter Forbidden Journey - the best!

TUESDAY

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS and MAGIC KINGDOM

Our friend Kaylin works in Animal Kingdom, so she picked up on Tuesday morning and scanned us in at Hollywood Studios and told we had to check out the Toy Story ride. 

 This ride was a blast! It's a 3D ride where you compete with the person who is sitting next to you on shooting these characters.. it's really hard to explain but it's sooo entertaining!

 One of the best rides - Tower of Terror.

We were getting so lucky. We never waited for more than 30 minutes for any ride. The weather was perfect our whole vacation. Sooo tremendously thankful!

MAGIC KINGDOM

Notice the crane? Yeah, we were like... umm... are you kidding? HAHAH.

The first thing we did in Magic Kingdom, was going to the Fantasy Land. They have this restaurant called Be Our Guest and it was so beautiful and the food was fantastic!

Haha.. so this Mermaid experience... every second we were just finding the next best ride to go on, so we saw this line for this Ariel ride... we waited for about 15 minutes and then we got around the corner and there is Ariel... and a photographer... we were sooo embarrassed! We thought it was an actual ride. So Whitney sat next to her and I awkwardly took their pic. HAHA.

New panoramic view from Whit's 4S. Notice they moved the crane!

It's just so breathtaking at night with all the lights!

RECAP FOR TUESDAY RIDES
Hollywood Studios

Toy Story - so fun

Tower of Terror - so terrifying

Little Mermaid Show - TERRIBLE

Beauty and the Beast Show - better than Little Mermaid but still kind of a struggle

Rockin Roller Coaster - blacklight... so fun

Magic Kingdom

Ate lunch at Be Our Guest - fantabulous

Rode Ariel's under the sea - dumb

Met Ariel at Ariel's grotto - terrible, haha... because we didn't know it wasn't a ride

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad rollercoaster - fun

Pirates of the Caribbean - lame but very impressive

Walked thru Robinson tree house - fun

Space Mountain - duh... always the best

People Mover - relax and sit time

Train around park - reminded me of my childhood at Adventureland:)

WEDNESDAY

ANIMAL KINGDOM and EPCOT

 First thing on our list was to see our friend Kaylin in The Festival of the Lion King.

Finding Nemo - absolutely worthy to be on Broadway!!

The African Safari was stellar!

One of our favorite rides was Mt. Everest. It was so unexpected - we had rode it twice in a row!

EPCOT

We only spent about 2.5 hours at Epcot but it's amazing how many different Countries they have represented. It was pretty windy this night. We ate our dinner in Mexico. Empanadas and tacos!

 We finished our 2nd Honeymoon with a big BANG with the Firework show called Illuminations!

RECAP FOR WEDNESDAY RIDES

Animal Kingdom 

Safari - COOL

Lion King show - awesome

Mt. Everest twice - so incredible

Finding Nemo show - Broadway!

BBQ lunch - yummy

Dino ride - pretty cool 

Primeval whirl - cute

Epcot

Soarin - pretty impressive

Test Track - kinda lame

Illuminations Show - awesome

I think you could say we had an enjoyable time in Orlando. This was the entrance to our resort. Pretty fancy!

Pictures from our Shows!

It's about time we post some sweet candid performance shots from our previous work in PA.

These are obviously from Singin in the Rain. Me singing "Beautiful Girl."

 Our 3 very talented leads! Cosmo, Kathy and Don.

And while I was singing and dancing in the rain, Whitney was dancing with Santa Claus in her Christmas review show!!

Now, we're all back and settled into our apartment in Queens, NY and hitting audition season. Hopefully we'll book another gig soon and together.. fingers crossed!!