Back In It!

 

"I'll never know what made it so exciting!" Actually I know exactly what made it so exciting. Possibly my best day of auditioning yet! After the typical waiting game, I got seen for Mary Poppins/Young Frankenstein and Hello Dolly. Although I spent most of the day out of my comfort zone (tapping and singing) I managed to stick around. Maybe I won't get a callback this time, but this day gave me renewed faith in myself and my choices thus far. Hope I'll remember this feeling when times get tough. 

Underpants

This section entitled Underpants, is where I make my friends and co-conspirators “drop trou” and reveal embarrassing audition experiences, personal triumphs, and their pre-audition rituals. 

This week's featured artist is Kevin Greene. Kevin has performed on Broadway in A Tale of Two Cities, The Vegas Company of Mamma Mia!, and was a Top Five Finalist on the reality television show Grease: You're The One That I Want. Here's a bit of insight into his pre-show ritual, tough audition experiences, and the people who helped him through it all. For more info on Kevin check out his website, http://kevin-greene.com/.

Q: What was your Best/Worst audition experience?

A: I am not sure if you would classify this as an “audition” in the traditional sense of the word, however my best and worst experiences can be filed under this “show”. There was a show a while back- a reality TV show, which aimed to find Danny and Sandy for the Broadway revival of Grease. My agent submitted me to audition for this show (not everyone has to wait in lines outside for hours- some of the cool kids like me got to skip to the front) and after going through a couple of prescreens with the casting director, and then the producers, I was ready for my big moment to step out in front of Kathleen Marshall, David Ian, and Jim Jacobs. There was no paino- it was me in the middle of the stage with lights camera zoomed on my face and 3 shadowy figures sitting in the distance.

Now before I continue let me say, that the holding room was a wreck of nerves, professional and armatures waiting for hours to be seen, all going over their songs over and over again- pacing incessantly. I was there for 4 hours, singing my song over and over again- going back and forth unsure of what the best choice would be. I finally settled on my song and right before I stepped onto the stage the associate producer told me “ don’t be afraid to talk back to the judges- they will respect you”. They needed good TV- not a good audition.

As I stand in the middle of the stage- I introduce myself and say that I will be singing “cant take my eyes off of you” by Frankie Valli and the 4 seasons…. Did I mention there was no piano?? The second I open my mouth to sing, I realized that I had started too high- and as the jump to “I LOVE YOU BABY” got closer and closer all I could think was---- “im fucked, im fucked, im soooo fucked”…. And guess what?? I was fucked.

I cracked so hard- I had to stop the song and just stand there covered in sweat. At this point all I could think about was what the AP told me “don’t be afraid to talk back” so as the judges told me how bad I was- I shouted “I promise you this is not an accurate representation of what I can do, I wouldn’t waste your time if this is what I had”. They paused for a moment- looked to each other and then said “Well come back tomorrow to the dance call and prove it”

I left that audition- and called my agent and said-“ There is no way I am coming back to that audition, they will make me be one of the awful auditions like on IDOL” he told me it was ok and he could inform them I was not coming back. Turns out my decision to quit the audition process played in my favor- I became a STORY LINE!!! I was dubbed 2nd chance Danny- and two weeks later Kathleen Marshall gave me a call on camera, and asked me to come to LA as one of the top 25….

 The process to bring the top 25 down to the top 5 was a tedious one- however the first cut was by far the most stressful.

50 people- men and women spend the first week, reading together, singing together, and dancing together in hopes to win the judge’s approval to make it to the next step. At the end of this first week, we were asked to stand in 10 straight lines ( 5 people in each line) in an old high school gymnasium. We had learned “Tears on my Pillow” all week and were asked to sing this song while standing at attention while David Ian would walk around row by row, person by person. He would listen (or feign listening as their list had already been finalized) and if he tapped you on the shoulder- you had to leave the gym immediately go straight to the hotel collect your things and leave the competition. This went on not for 20 minutes- but for 1 hour, you see with TV epically reality tv, to get the reaction and raw emotion needed you apparently must put every contestant through the emotional ringer. After the hour of tapping and near tapping, Mr. Ian shouted “STOP!!! SOMEWHERE IN THIS ROOM I AM LOOKING AT THE NEXT DANNY AND SANDY ON BROADWAY” I cannot accurately describe the cathartic release that happened- never in my life have I felt such a rush of relief and joy. To this day words cannot do it justice. After he said that “We go together” started playing loudly and the remaining contestants started dancing like rabid dogs…. I will always remember how loud I screamed “a wop bobba loo bop, a wop bam boom” For all of the good and bad of that audition experience- it changed my life, I made it to the final 5 and sang live on national TV every Sunday night. I booked my Broadway show from that contest, and the Las Vegas production of Mamma Mia! However beyond the direct bookings what I gained was a life time of self-belief- If I was able to withstand those pressures, and I was able to sing live in front of 8 million Americans- why would I get nervous to audition in front of Bernie Telsey? 5 people behind a table no longer seemed like a big deal.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received regarding auditioning?   

A: To drink water before I started- I never felt grounded when I auditioned- the text and music seemed to fly by and I didn’t have much control over it. Then a coach told me to take my jug of water in (I carry a gallon with me) this way you can bend over to put it down, touch the piano for a second and breathe. It worked like a charm- not to mention I was known as the guy with the water jug- so they remembered me

Q: Do you have a specific practice/regimen before an audition or performance? or a good luck charm?                                                   
A:I would show up no more than 10 minutes early- If I did my homework and I knew the text, why would I get there 30 minutes before and let myself get into the nervous energy of the audition studio. Practice your stuff- Know it cold- then show up and kick ass. Don’t let Todd from great neck and his nervous chatting throw you off of your game.

Q: Name 2 or 3 people who have been a strong influence on your career.                                                                                            
A:1) Warren Carlyle- He gave me my Broadway show and I will be forever grateful. 2) Joe Cassidy- He does not realize this but during my first professional rehearsal I had to look into his eyes as he rallied the troops and I just remember thinking “Oh shit- so THIS is what being a professional actor is like, I better step up my game” 3) Janine Divita- She is such a talent but she and I did something that all actors should do- get a scene partner. We would rehearse our sides before major auditions and make sure that each of us was ready and prepared to go in and kick ass. Without her I would have been practicing with my bedroom wall- she rocks!

Memphis Audition

             You want me to What?!

             It was all going so well.

             Why can't I just sing?

Words of Wisdom

The constant struggle of living as an artist sometimes overshadows the beauty and ecstasy of my creative endeavors. Every now and then I need to be reminded of why I choose this crazy life.

Underpants

This section entitled Underpants, is where I make my friends and co-conspirators “drop trou” and reveal embarrassing audition experiences, personal triumphs, and their pre-audition rituals. 

This week’s artist is Dan Lawrence, an actor living and working in New York City. He has performed with some of the countries premiere classical theaters including, The Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Check out his bio at www.danlawrence.info.

Q: What was your best audition experience?

A: Shortly after I got my Equity card I went on an EPA with an audition buddy of mine. The contract was for two shows at a well-known regional theater (LORT C). It seemed like a just another “cattle-call” audition: long lines, tired, worn down actors, lots of nervous energy, etc., but for some reason, my friend and I didn’t care about any of these factors; we were in a ridiculous and silly mood. Everything was a joke to us. I remember laughing so hard that by the time I went into the room I had no stress or tension, no concern about whether I got the job or not, I was just having fun. I did two monologues from my rep. and I must have done them well, for the artistic director told me in the room that he’d like to see me the next day for a callback. I returned the following day with that same energy and the director offered me the job on the spot. That gig, those two shows, was my first Equity contract.

Q: What was your worst audition experience?

A: I was dragged to an audition in DC by two friends who happened to be on their way. I didn’t know the company or the shows, but it didn’t matter, I was just out of college and hungry for work. The audition was held in a black box space attached to a bar and the company (which will remain nameless) was concerned with grotesque theatre. I didn’t really understand what this meant until, as part of my audition, I was asked to go out of the room and think of something that would gross-out and shock the casting team, the only stipulation was that I couldn’t touch or harm anyone. So I went out of the room and racked my brain, “What was I going to do?” I thought, “These people must have seen it all, what can I do to top those acts? Do I take to it the extreme, do I defecate, or, well I guess that’s the max. You can’t really beat the kind of shock value that a public pooping can illicit.” I decided to settle for something only a few points lower on the gross scale. At the time I had a pretty bad cold; lots of phlegm readily available. So I hocked a slimy green one into my hand, displayed it for all to see, then proceed to suck it back into my mouth like a clam, and swallow it. Repulsing right? My buddy poured a can of root beer all over his shirtless body and proceeded to lick it off. Neither of us got the job. We left feeling totally disgusted with ourselves. As if auditioning wasn’t debasing enough. Never again.

Q: Do you have a specific practice/regimen before and audition or performance? Or a good luck charm?

A: I have found that I give better auditions after I’ve done a physical and vocal warm-up and after I’ve had a chance to work-through the piece(s) at full volume and with full attention. I don’t do this at the audition space, in the lobby in front of other actors, I walk a couple blocks and rent a studio for a half-hour or an hour. It’s about $10, but it’s a tax right off. Sometimes I split the cost with a friend who is comfortable enough to run his or her pieces in front of me. Regardless, I’ve realized that the minimal fee is worth the reward of a paid contract and health insurance.

Recently I started carrying around an audition book. This is a small, green moleskin, in which I write down my thoughts, goals, fears, etc. shortly before I go into the room. Sometimes I write out mantras or a poem, but most of the time it is just stream of consciousness. It has been a big help in clearing my mind of debris and baggage and focusing it for the task at hand.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve received regarding auditioning?

A: I don’t know if it’s the best piece of advice, but it’s funny, and it stuck with me over the years. An accomplished actor and teacher once told me, “If you’re going to start your audition sitting in a chair, the first line of your monologue better be, ‘I joined the circus after losing both my legs’.”

Q: Name 2 or 3 people who have strongly influenced your career.

A: All the actors that I work with across the country influence my career and help me grow as an actor. But the people that really support me, that have to deal with me in good times and bad, that keep me righted, steady on the horse, are my family. They influence my character and vision and continue to shape me as a person. Thus, they are the first and foremost entries of my artistic bibliography.

The Painted Bird

Very excited to be a part of this unique theater piece, The Painted Bird Trilogy. Created by Pavel Zustiak, director of New York based performance company. The four hour piece will be showcased as part of La Mama Moves Dance Festival. Please join us for an amazing theater experience!    Dates: June 21st-30th.

Celebrating 70.

My childhood dance studio recently celebrated seventy years of dance excellence! I feel it's important to recognize all that they gave me and helped me to become. Though they were tough on me and, at times made me feel like I would never succeed, they did supply me with all of the necessary tools to become a great dancer. I spent a few years bouncing from studio to studio before I finally found my home at Giacobbe Academy. Somehow I must have known that these crazy people had what it took to produce great dancers. I spent countless hours rehearsing and training in those small, sweaty studios and I wouldn't change one second of it. I formed important friendships and found a family among strangers. 

According to the dictionary, dance is moving rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps, but this definition misses the point. It simplifies and categorizes something that cannot be defined. Dance has no boundaries, no limitations.  Dance nourishes the soul and fuels creativity. Choosing dance was the most complicated decision of my life, but there was never any other path.  I owe the Giacobbe’s a great debt. They have given me strong technique, unwavering discipline, and above all, a burning passion to dance. I will always cherish the memories I made with my Giacobbe family. Thank you for a lifetime of dedication to excellence in dance. 

P.S.- That was a knee slapper. 😉