You Never Know.

A few days ago, I went to an audition for a play being produced by a theatre for whom I've worked. The script was emailed to me the night before the audition, but as it was for a Sherlock Holmes piece, I felt comfortable with the characters and the play's needs. I decided to read the script quickly the morning of the audition to familiarize myself with some of the secondary characters. Whoops. All of the characters were listed as significantly older than I'd been thinking. By now, it was too late to cancel the audition. I'd requested it in the first place and know and like the people at the theatre. I left the apartment with a vague sense of unease.
Upon arriving, my worst fears were confirmed. Every actor there was significantly older than me. When the director popped out of the audition room at one point, she didn't think I was auditioning for her, I seemed so unlike the other auditionees. I discussed the situation with the theatre's artistic director, who is one of the nicest people in the business I've met. At one point, I even offered to forego my audition in order to save them time. She kindly insisted I audition and they handed me a new set of sides (pages of the script chosen to audition for a particular role).
In I went and auditioned. I had a great time and enjoyed my interaction with the director, the one person in the room I had not previously known. Still, I was fairly certain that I was too young for the role of the Scotland Yard inspector and left with what little dignity I could muster.
Much to my surprise, a few days later I received a call and an offer of the role. I was delighted to have the chance to go back to a beautiful part of New York state to work with people I know and respect on a play, which is much appreciated as musicals are where I normally work on stage. You have to show up to get the job. Once you're in the room...anything can happen.

That photo up top is where I'll be headed. Westport , New York. Elementary!

What a difference a day makes.

Last Thursday, I awoke to head out to an Equity Chorus Call. It was my last planned audition for the week. Before you think that I was looking forward to a long weekend, remember: I'm unemployed at the moment.
At any rate, the phone began ringing, emails arrived, and before it was mid-afternoon, I had three auditions scheduled for the following day. One involved learning music that I wouldn't see until late Thursday night. Amusingly, none of them were very good "fits" for me. Let me explain:

Audition one was for a project that began two days later. They were, to put it mildly, having difficulty filling two roles. I was to audition to play an Orthodox Jew. I'm as Irish as they come.

Audition two was for a project that involved harmony singing. Sounds promising. I read further and discovered that the roles were for ages 20 through 25. Now, I've been told I look young, but...I haven't seen 25 in a while. At least three or seven years.

Audition three was for a workshop of a new show with a team of creators I have worked with in the past. I auditioned for the role of an angel. (No comments.) This one holds the most promise, but the fact that they've called the day before isn't a great sign. Possibly, they were doing a favor for me because they know me and my agent "convinced" them to bring me to the audition.

By now you can see how many variables go into the audition process and how impromptu they can be. We pretty much have to be ready for anything. It's a long slog to Broadway.

I'll most likely never have another day where I audition as a Jew, an adolescent and an angel. Sounds like the set-up for a punch line. Oy, my life.

True Story.

Yesterday I ran into my friend, Ken, at an audition. Ken's a theatre veteran, having survived quite a long time in "the biz" and made a name for himself in some notable productions. He's always good for a story or two...or more. One of my fondest memories of him took place during a cast warm-up prior to a performance. As we all stood in a circle getting ready for the coming curtain, Ken leaped into the center and began a mad jig. In short order his shirt was off on the jig had reached levels of madness never seen before. Ken is all of five feet three inches tall and sometimes crazy as a loon. Needless to say, it was a lively performance that day.
At any rate, I ran into Ken and he shared another of his stories with me. Early in his career, Ken had performed with George C. Scott on stage. This happened at the height of Scott's PATTON success. After the show had closed, Ken found himself in line for one of the Actors' Equity required auditions, meaning he was lined up in a hallway with dozens of other actors. Out of one of the studios comes...George C. Scott, there to direct another project. He spies Ken in line and greets him, then offers to "put in a good word" for him and promptly joins the line. After a few minutes, he turns to Ken and asks if he has to stay in this line until called and Ken replies "yes". Scott apologizes and says he has to get back to his rehearsal and can't wait any longer. Ken said as soon as he left a collective sigh went up from the others in line. For ten minutes, they had wondered why George C. Scott was in line to audition and were sure they could never compete with him. True story. I have no idea if Ken got the job.