Oh, What a Feeling!

Hello all!! Sorry for the absence this week! I went a little crazy with getting ready for my solo recital, helping with weddings, and callbacks at Hale Center Theatre.

        
               So.....I've NEVER been called back for anything quite like THAT before!  I had no idea what to expect....let alone that i would even get them!! One thing that you have to understand about Hale...they are EXTREMELY hard to get into.  It can take many times auditioning just to get a callback.  I went in for the audition last Saturday not expecting anything.  I was going in simply to let them hear me, and get used to my style...make a good impression.  The next day, i went to see which of my friends had gotten called back...and to my great surprise, MY NAME WAS ON THE LIST!  Major day of celebration at my house!  This doesn't happen very often that a rookie even gets called back! I went on monday to be greeted by over 100 people there also being called back....it turned out i was one of 5 people who had never been in a show there before.....WOW.  As i looked around...i seemed to get smaller, and my resume seemed to get shorter as i saw all of these experienced actors that i had been lumped in with.  Needless to say....i didn't make it in to the show...but, again....WOW!!!
            The feeling of actually being acknowledged for something you thought that you were only average for is an amazing feeling.  So...I'll keep auditioning....I'll keep on trying, and I'll keep working to get better.  Whether i ever get in, or not, it is just fabulous to have been considered for such an amazing company of people.  And...who knows! MAYBE I will make it someday!

The Ultimate Anti-Depressant

  One thing about theatrical addiction.....it is not detramental!  I was reminded of that today as i went to my psychiatrist appointment today.  He was asking what i did to make my depression better.  And the answer.....theater.  Well, technically theater and music, but still! I am probably THE HAPPIEST version of myself when i am in a production.  It got me to wondering why...and i have actually come to some conclusions.....

    When you are acting in a play/musical, you are removing yourself from yourself.  Meaning, by pretending to be someone else, you are not thinking about the different problems and stresses in our lives.  We are given the opportunity to be someone else for two to two and a half hours.  Besides the fact that, no matter what part you have, you are getting some MAJOR excersize.  Excersize has been proven to improve mood.....you are healthier, you look better, so you feel better.  The other thing....who DOESN'T love applause. The feeling i get during final bows is one of the best feelings i think i've ever felt.  All those people are clapping FOR YOU.  For all the hard work you put into this, for the performance they so enjoyed. For you.  Some of us i don't think recieve the recognition that they deserve, so to feel so apprieciated by someone simply putting their hands together just for you....it's special.

   Even if it is just an illusion, in a play, you can win the guy in the end, can dream the impossible dream, can defy gravity, can feel pretty, can be popular, you can be successful....
All these reasons are why theater has been such a blessing to me.  I truly believe that it is one of the reasons I am alive today.  It has saved me. It has given me wonderful friends, it has given me confidence, but, most improtantly, it has taught me to believe in myself.  So, this addiction is one of the best addictions I, or anyone else for that matter, a can have.

Creating a "Masterpiece"

   I've been in SO much theater over the past couple of years and i love the whole experience.  Yet, I had never tried and/or thought about the other side of it before.....the people who REALLY make it happen: the writers, the composers, the directors, the tech crew, the set designers......there is SO much more then just the actors!!!  I have recently been given the opportunity to dabble in these areas. Yes, it is only for a my singles ward christmas musical, but, even so, it's a TOTALLY different experience! I'm currently helping to write the script, the music directer, and will be co-directing....oh, and I'm the lead.

  We have named our show "A Very Single Christmas".  It's set in 1953 at a malt shop called Frank's. It's you're typical..."chick-flick" if you will?  We started out with the idea of combining so many of our singles ward experiences, and also some fun puns off of the 1950's and dating in general.  So, here's how it goes:
              Gary is in love Linda, his best friend.  But he doesn't know how to express his feelings to her.  Molly, (a nosy "adelaide" type of character, a waitress at Frank's who is waiting for her missionary, her "hippopotamus" to come home from his mission to marry her) is determined to set up all of her friends with dates for the ward christmas sock hop...where everyone MUST have a date to get in.  In doing so, she confuses who likes who, sets them up with the wrong people, and everything's a mess.  But, with the return of her Hippopotamus, she sets everything to right, and christmas is saved.  Everyone has a date, and they all live happily ever after.....  The show will be featuring music of that time, or similar to it such as Mr. Sandman (mister santa), Don't be cruel, Oh, baby it's cold outside, Blue Christmas, and I can't help falling in love with you.

 

 

 

  A relatively simple plot, that's sure to be corny, but has a lot of heart, and some touching moments along the way.  We are currently in pre-production, but it has surprised me at how much fun it is to help to create an original production, and then act it out.  Besides the fact that i'm working with some of my favorite people on the planet!
        What this has REALLY done for me so far is a greater apprieciation for everyone behind the scenes.  The unsung hero's of every production.  If you are, or have been one of them; You rock, my friend! Thank you for all the work that you do!
      I will post updates and developments on this silly little production as we work, because it has been, and will be, so much fun.  I also believe that others, as well as myself, will grow from this wonderful experience!
     If you have never been in a production before, try it! You never know just how much it might change you for the better....(oh, jeez, now i'm almost quoting Wicked....)  This is one theater addict who won't be going through "rehab" anytime soon!
  


 



What Musicals Have Taught me.......

Stage Fright!!!

 

I'm sure all of us, at one point or another, have all experienced the shaky knees, the racing heart, and the increased sweat that comes from stage fright.  For awhile, I lived with the idea in my head that it didn't exsist for me. Boy was I wrong!  I can get up in front of a large audience and do practically anything without being afraid.  When it comes to small audiences....(namely auditions), I'm toast.  I REALLY don't understand this.  I go into auditions, even for the smallest things, shaking like a leaf.  It's really the last place that one would want to have stage fright.  If you screw up because you're too nervous, you don't get cast......thats it, end of story. Now comes the real delema...finding a way past it.  None of the typical tricks have worked for me.  And I'm not real sure what fool came up with the idea of picturing your audience naked.....cause that's almost more traumatizing than the actual audition!

 



Like i said.....EW! 
I guess the only thing to do is to practice, do the best that you can, and except your fate.  My policy in life has always been to "fake it till you make it".  I guess it definately applies here!!

REVIEWED!! For the very first time!!!!

Recently i was in a great produciton of Rogers and Hammerstien's Cinderella playing the part I've always wanted to play.....an ugly stepsister!  It's been done for a little while now, but I was just thinking back to that wonderful experience today, and decided to share with you the very first review i've recieved in my entire life!

"Other standout performances included Cinderella’s stepfamily and her Fairy Godmother. Cinderella’s stepsisters Joy and Grace (Amanda Jewell and Katie Larson) were annoying and inherently rude in the loving way only sisters can be. From Joy’s infectious laugh/snort to Grace’s soaring complaints in “The Stepsisters’ Lament,” both the physically awkward and the emotionally shallow personas were well portrayed and very entertaining."
       If you want to read this full review by Zach Archuletta it's at http://utahtheaterbloggers.com/12257/cottonwood-heights-cinderella-is-a-lovely-magical-night

This production is one i had been dreaming about ever since i first watched it when i was little.  I grew up on the Whitney Houston-Brandy-Bernadette Peters version, and still to this day, it has remained my favorite!  I had always loved it for the fun, but, i really had no idea what kind of an effect it would have on people.  I guess i just regarded it as an old fairytale, and nothing more.  How wrong i was.   It amazed me the amount of emotion that flew up at us from the audience.  They were with Cinderella (played by the gorgeous April Joy Tritchler) in her plight in not being happy in her situation in life.  Little girls came from all over the valley in their princess dresses, just to catch a glimpse of their hero.  And when the shoe fit Cinderella, I looked done into the audience to see tears in their eyes.  When the prince, (played by the ever talented Rohit Raghavan) declares, "I have found her!" The audience lit up like a christmas tree and applauded!  I was astonished.   It goes to show that you never quite know what effect your actions will have on others.

  
       As for my part, I had a blast doing what i do best in life....being an absolute geek! The director gave me free reign to go as crazy as i wanted, so that's just what i did! I made some amazing new friends who are now, in many ways like family to me. I blasted my voice out of wack, creeped on a prince, whined, cried, got injured, danced very badly, and enjoyed every minute of it!!! Another example of great community theater!   To the cast/crew;  I love you and miss you greatly!  You are amazing! Much love to you all!

      
 If you haven't seen this show yet, i would encourage you all to catch it when you can, in a video, live, or by any means possible!  With a little folderall and fiddle dee dee, anything is possible, as long as you believe in yourself!   There's a message to take with you, my friends......believe in yourself, and nothing is "Impossible".

Just Trooping in the Rain!

A new level of epic has OFFICIALLY been achieved in this picture!! Now, can you only imagine what kind of a musical it would be.........I'd be slightly afraid to find out!!! Haha

An Upper

    There are some shows out there that just make you happy.  (an upper, in drug speech lol) I have many, but i would have to say one of them that is sure to improve my mood on a bad day is All Shook Up.

   

          This is a musical based on the life and career of Elvis Presley, also on Shakespeare's 12th Night, if you can believe that combination. It also has to be one of the funnest musicals i've ever been involved with! It is, by far, not the best musical i've ever seen, and it doesn't try to be, but if you're looking for a good laugh, and a rocking good time, this is the show for you!

       The show starts out as roustabout Chad comes to a sad, segregated town who's mayor has banned all upbeat music and dancing.  Not for long as Chad comes in and puts new life into their juke box and, in turn, the entire town. Not to mention winning the heart of Natalie the machanic.  Soon everything goes wacky as Chad doesn't love Natalie, he loves Sandra, the beautiful museum manager, who is also loved by Natalie's dad.....Who is loved by Sylvia, his best friend. And it gets even more complicated as Natalie decides to dress as a guy, (who she names Edd) to become close to Chad! Soon, Sandra is in love with Edd, Natalie's friend Dennis is in love with her, and Sylvias daughter and the mayor's son are in love too!!  Phew.....crazy crazy crazy! But crazy awesome! Everything turns out right in the end, and they all live happily ever after!

      
Favorite Part: It's nearly impossible to choose my favorite part of this show! The arrangements of the music were wonderful and fit in wonderfully with the story line. The script was fairly well written with the right amount of funnies and a lot of heart. For the production i did, the choreography was fantastic.  There are plenty of opportunities in this musical for the ensemble to shine, as well as the leads, which is something that is very impressive to me.  Just an all around fun show!

Before this production, I had developed a bad attitude about theater from some bad expiriences i had had in the past couple of years. You could say that like Chad in the musical, this show walked into my life and reignited my love and convicitions about theater.  It tore down my bad views about myself as a performer, and gave me a new view about myself, as well as the world around me.  Is it a musical Les Mis in proportions, no.  Did it change me, give me some wonderful friendships, as well as give lots of enjoyment to others? Most definately.  And for that, I will be forever greatful!

                        Needless to say, if this musical is playing near you, it's not one to miss!!!

Not Your Typical "12 Step" Program

    I would assume that since you're here, you have the same problem that I do......you have a serious addiction to theatre.  I would like to be positive, but I will tell you my friends, there is no hope of ever being free of this addiction! I would say I was sorry, but....it wouldn't be true! Because of anything in this would you could be addicted to, theatre is actually not the worst you could do, and one of the happiest addictions you could have!! Me, I have a peticular addiction to musical theatre.  Having studied music most of my life, it makes sense, but, come on.  Have any of you EVER SEEN a musical????  It has to be one of the single most happy feelings you could ever have watching one, live, or on a tv/computer screen!  The only thing that could top that feeling is actually being in one! That's a high that you can't get with a drug, not to mention the fact that it's a lot healthier.
         I myself am an actor.....amateur at that, but hey, ya take what you can get! I take pride in the fact that I feed my addiction with what I can do with it, and enjoy the laughter I get at others seeing me try.

        
              Alright, so lately I've been trying to expand my knowledge of musical theatre by checking out, listening, and watching shows I haven't ever seen or been interested in before.  My most recent on is one that friends have been trying to get me into for years; Jekyll and Hyde.

             Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see this one live :( but luckily they have the full dvd version of it on youtube. (oh, praise the lord for youtube!) The sad part is that the only full version available that i could find to watch was the one with David Hasselhoff starring.....eep.  BUT, it didn't prevent me from liking and loving most of what i saw!

The Best Part: I would say, whole-heartedly, THE MUSIC!!! There are moments where your heart just soars from some melodies....this musical had many of those moments! From the most well known This is the Moment, Someone Like You, and In His Eyes, to the less popular Facade, His Work and Nothing More, and Alive.....I was floating high as a kite! These are only some of my favorites, but there was pretty much not a song in the show that i didn't enjoy. Needless to say, i got done watching and imediately ordered the cd. The music really helped carry the story, an amplified the the mood/tone of the whole show.  Absolutely wonderful music!

My Least Favorite: Really, this show didn't have much that I didn't like.....(unless you count the Hoffman) but, if i had to name one, i feel that the ending could have had a bigger bang to it.  He stabs himself, Emma sings a phrase, and it's done. To me, there almost needed to be something like a bigger musical number, or more of a problem at the end.  The other thing was the sexuality....i would have toned it down just a notch. A notch. I guess it's just the mormon coming out of me, but, there you go!

Overview: A wonderful study of human nature from all angles, well written and relateable. With music to touch your heart. What a great show!

Anyway friends, i will write later. Because i have been writting all this about J&H, the craving is coming for the music! My addiction calls!!!  Stay awesome, my friends!!! Elephant Shoes!