I had an audition with the artistic director of the Boulevard Theater in Bayview this past weekend. Because I am currently engaged in both my day job and that production of Carousel that I have been selling for the last couple of months, I really did not think I would have time to prep anything for the fellow, but he assured me over the phone that I should still take some time to come in and talk. After all, he repeated, this is an audition for the theater as much as it is for me. I liked that attitude and it certainly seemed to be more than lip service to that sort of ideal.<\/p>\n
I sang a bit of the Soliloquy from Carousel for him, after we chatted for a few minutes. He was not forthcoming with specific feedback, not surprisingly; it is probably unbecoming of directors to be so. But he did ask me a question (one question?) for which I was not fully prepared. It was something along the lines of “Where are you going with this acting thing?”
\n
\nI stammered out something about not really seeing myself as a lead actor necessarily, though I get those roles in community theater because they are often spare of tall men with a strong voice. Still, I don’t know why I said that. Truthfully, I am happy in any role, but I do somewhat see myself as a lead actor. Not only do I think I have the necessary presence, but gauging from what I have seen I also have the leadership that might be missing from some productions.<\/p>\n
Granted, it is not an actor’s role within a production to make decisions for other actors \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and indeed that sort of attitude would actually be a check mark against one \u00e2\u20ac\u201d but some people I have met in just my few shows have had such poor work ethics, I think I could lead by example. I have a good reputation for being reliable, responsible and dependable. Those are not traits always immediately associated with actors.<\/p>\n
By that same token, while I am confident in my ability, I also believe that a competent actor makes any role important. I believe every role has some meat to it and that a strong actor in a smaller role can elevate a production. And I think I can be that actor.<\/p>\n
But, what do I want out of this? How would I gauge success? That is a slippery fish to hang on to. I have surpassed a few of my original goals:<\/p>\n
– Audition for a show
\n– Fight direct \/ fight in shows outside of the Madrigal Feaste
\n– Intern at an SAFD workshop
\n– Work at least two shows a year
\n– Win a lead role
\n– Work with talented people of character
\n– Build a good reputation wherever I work
\n– Get work in theaters in Milwaukee<\/p>\n
In the future, I would count several things as signs of my success:<\/p>\n
– Read a positive review from a reknowned, relatively objective source
\n– Disappear entirely into a role, where I no longer hear my own “notes” in my head
\n– Move an audience to catharsis, tears and\/or thoughtful discussion
\n– Appear on the Conan O’Brien show
\n– Be paid a livable wage
\n– Work with talented people of character (happens all the time, but it is a continuous goal)
\n– Find my imdb page
\n– Give an interview based around my achievements, not just promotion
\n– Hear someone who has never met me say “I love your work” (this has happened to some extent; mainly “I love your voice,” for which I can only take partial credit)
\n– Receive a call for work based on past performance or recommendation (this has happened to some extent) or being told that I need not “audition” for a role, simply come in and read for it<\/p>\n
Would any or all of these mean I “made it?” I do not know. I am fairly critical of myself and my achievements, to the point of projecting that doubt onto other people who have been nothing but supportive (you know who you are; I am sorry and thank you). Maybe my dissatisfaction will amount to drive. Wouldn’t that be something?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I had an audition with the artistic director of the Boulevard Theater in Bayview this past weekend. Because I am currently engaged in both my day job and that production of Carousel that I have been selling for the last couple of months, I really did not think I would have time to prep anything […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p73iP8-c4","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":755,"url":"http:\/\/www.steelbuddha.net\/?p=755","url_meta":{"origin":748,"position":0},"title":"Wet and mild.","date":"6\/9\/2008","format":false,"excerpt":"This weekend, I meant to finish my work on a Fight Scene Database for the Society of American Fight Directors. 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