and for my next mood swing
It felt good to get that out.
Back in the non-bitter but still neurotic world of my acting life...
Recently I got an email from "The OpenStage Repertory Theater", in SF, about 2 productions they're putting up in '04.
Now mind you I've been in a lot of stage productions, and a crappy movie here and there.
But why don't I just let the email they sent me do the talking?
Hi,
We saw your resume on Theatre Bay Area's website and thought you might
be interested in our upcoming auditions. We will be holding auditions
for our two musical productions this year, which will be performed at
the Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter Street (home of the long-running "Are We
Almost There?"), in the heart of the theater district in San Francisco.
The two productions are both small musicals: Nunsense A-Men! and
Tomfoolery. Nunsense A-Men! is the same script and music (except for vocal
range) as Dan Goggin's original hilarious off-Broadway hit Nunsense
except in our production, all the nuns are men (in habits!) If this sounds
like shades of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, you're right and we
have already been told by Sister Dana who writes for the Bay Reporter
that (s)he is going to go all out for us on publicity for this show!
There are five (fe)male roles in this show. Nunsense A-Men opens on
Saturday, June 26, and runs through Sunday, August 1.
Tomfoolery is yet another encore production of this favorite of ours,
based on the classical satirical songs of Tom Lehrer. Our production at
Goat Hall last year was well received, and we are confident that
placing the show in the heart of theater in San Francisco will make this show
a sell-out, especially around election time. Jan Wahl, the "hat" lady
who reviews entertainment for the Examiner and several broadcast
stations, missed us last year and is dying to see the show this time around.
This show has three male and two female roles. The production will
open Saturday, October 2, and run through Sunday, November 7.
Christ. I've never been in a musical in my life. Avoided them like the scourges they are. Nevertheless, I've thought infrequently about being in one, because I'm not tone deaf and I can carry a tune, my voice carries like nothing else, and, well, the right musical would kinda kick ass. And Tom Lehrer kicks ass. Although I think my wife just wants to see me in really bad drag.
Back to the email:
A short version of audition requirements: please prepare an upbeat show
tune, with either sheet music or music-only CD/cassette tape (we do not
prefer a cappella auditions unless there is no other choice). Bring
something comfortable to dance in (per usual musical requirements, you
will be taught a step and be expected to demonstrate it). Also be
prepared to read cold from script cuttings (do not prepare a monologue).
Auditions will be semi-private (only performers for your group will be
admitted into the room).
Fuck. I've never sung for an audition before. The last time I sang for anything was when I was in the chorus for Beethoven's Ninth (at least it was in Germany), when I was an obnoxious nerdy teenager.
Since I'm so intrigued by the whole thing that I'm actually auditioning for both of them, I have to prepare a piece to sing in roughly a week and a half. Comic pieces, comic pieces....
I have to admit that I've always been drawn to Gilbert and Sullivan, but I have this sneaking suspicion that most musical professionals regard G&S as the inbred stepchildren of the musical world. I'm tempted to say fuck it and go all-out singing the Lord High Executioner's Song from The Mikado.
Mer suggested something from Little Shop of Horrors -- the Steve Martin dentist role -- which I have to admit would be a nice audition piece.
Or something from Urinetown.
Any suggestions to get me into the singing frame of mind? The things I'm willing to do to be in something with Tom Lehrer songs...