2ndcareeractor.com

Benefits of Casting 3-5 Deep - Take 1

One of the things that I like about doing theater at Musical Theater Village in Irvine is that most parts are cast at least 4 deep.  Actually, that is both the good and bad.  If too many people are cast for a part, your shows are limited and if you have 3 or less shows, you barely have the opportunity to polish your part.  Myself, I prefer about 8 shows over a 6 week period.

Multiple casting allows each actor the opportunity to watch and learn from the other actors and it seems that no matter how good or bad the other actors are, they always seem to do at least one thing different or better than anyone else and there is always something to learn from them.  You might like the way that they cock their head on one of their lines or an expression.

1st Blocking Rehearsal for Annie

Last night was our first blocking rehearsal for Warbucks, for scenes 6 & 7.  Scene 6 is Warbuck's first scene when he returns home from 6 weeks away and first meets Annie.  Scene 7 is when we first see Warbucks speaking to Roosevelt on the phone and he gives Annie a new locket.

I have been going over my lines for a few weeks now and reviewed my lines for these scenes for about 1 1/2 hours before the rehearsal and blocking.  I couldn't have known my lines better and I was really looking forward to impressing the director and everyone else, how well prepared I was.

No sooner do I get on stage and start my lines, I begin forgetting them.  Actually and more accuratly, I was not focused on my lines and was somewhat distracted by the blocking and the direction.  It seems that no matter how well I know my lines, I never know them well enough until after I get on stage and can walk through the lines, blocking and better understand the scene.

Now when I go over my lines in my head, I will envision what I will be doing and what is happening on the stage.  The next time I am on stage, I expect to do the blocking and my lines flawlessly.

Focus Benefits From Acting

I and my family have had the acting bug now for about 3 years.  My 12 year old daughter actually started first about 5 years ago and then I got involved 3 years ago doing my Avram in Fiddler on the Roof, followed by a second production of Fiddler as Lazer Wolfe.  Soon after, my wife and two other children started doing community theater with me in Oliver, Scrooge, King & I, Music Man, Promised Land, Little Shop of Horrors, Sound of Music and now Annie.

While I can probably go on forever about the absolute blessing of doing theater with my whole family, one of the surprising benefits that I have noticed, in both my children and myself is our improved focus and memory.  I am not sure exactly why this has happened, but it seems almost as if I have been exercising my brain and I and my children are that much sharper for it.  Mind you, it doesn't seem to just happen but appears born from considerable hard work, learning my lines and focusing on two or three things at the same time.

Besides being an absolute hoot, I whole heartedly recommend doing community theater for anyone who has been concerned that they have been slipping a bit as they get older.

Got Daddy Warbucks

Well, I got the part of Daddy Warbucks and some other parts on off shows.  Now the work begins

Annie Auditions

Two days of auditions last week and one call back.  My first day of auditioning for Warbucks did not go as well as planned.  I followed Ray, who has done the part part numerous times before.  He was so relaxed and was soooo Daddy Warbucks.  I went on the stage, and although I did not feel nervous I was clearly uncomfortable as compared to Ray. The director had previously said that she loved the way Albert Finney had done the part in the movie, so I tried to mimmick him when I did my audition.  I should have tried to be more myself.

In any event, the second night was more singing, including "Something was Missing."  I knew the lyrics and music well and was more confident and showed it.  Cast list will come out tonight.  Since we looked a little thin in men, I also offered to do on my off shows, Roosevelt's Cabinet and Bert Healy, which would give me the added advantage of singing with my daughter.

Annie

Lauren and I start our auditions for Annie and Musical Theater Village tonight.  Without overstating the obvious, Lauren is auditioning for Annie and I, for Daddy Warbucks.  I have been rehearsing for a couple of weeks and go into this better prepared than I ever have been for a part. I will be close to "off-script," by the audition.