XANADU!
So at the last minute last night I decided to go to the open call for the upcoming production of Xanadu, directed by Christopher Ashley.
Not one funny remark, please.
I figured it was time to get my feet wet and get used to the process so I can become numb to it and not be as nervous.
The morning started out swimmingly as I went to the the AEA building on 146 instead of the Chelsea Studios on 26. Yeah….
So my plan to get there by 9 was waylaid and I got there by 9:30. No problem, I thought, I can still wait in line.
Much to my surprise, there were 6 people in the room and I was the only non-member. I was in the right place though. So I signed in and sat down and waited for an empty slot thinking I don’t have to worry, I can do some work on my laptop and then go home and say I waited in line all day.
Imagine my surprise and abject fear when I was told to audition in the 10:30 slot. FUCK!!!!
I was not expecting to be seen at all. So I definitely got more nervous than I needed to. Only the casting assistant and the accompanist were in the room. I sang my song, and for the first time I was completely aware of what I was doing and what I did instead of leaving my body and not even realizing that I just auditioned.
Now for the bad part. And I should know better than this. But waiting till the night before to prep a song I never sang before or practiced was stupid stupid stupid. And while I did not suck, I know I did not do as well as I should and could have. I was phlegmy, which I can’t really control, but it did not help that I did not warm up. For some reason I went flat a couple of places, but I added in a run to try and cover that up. I started singing (Ribbon in the Sky, FYI) looking at the assistant and caught myself and looked away. And when I was done, he said, ” Very nice. Thank you very much.” And I was off.
So not the greatest audition, not the worst audition, but at least I got to audition and get it out of my system and get over whatever initial fears I may have had. There really is no diff between the auditions here and back home, so I worked myself up for nothing. And it was a good lesson to make sure I go in there with my A game. I have definitely been spoiled and I can’t go in there without knowing my shit considering the odds.
Now, I would love to work with the director as I have heard great things about him from several people, and while the show leaves something to be desired, I think it would be great fun to trudge through it. At least I know this is something that is doable and I just need to keep attending and getting better and more comfortable.
That’s all…
Oh except for the fact that it took me twice as long to get back home because I forgot about the subway schedule changes for the weekend and was surprised when I got off in the Bronx instead of Hamilton Heights. Um….yeah….first subway FUBAR since I got here. Not bad.