My first professional, cattle-call audition
For those of you who didn't get the play-by-play by text:
I knew I was going to be standby, since I didn't get an audition slot. The doors opened at 9 AM, I walked in at 9:15. I put my name on the standby list. I was number 29. Took myself to Starbucks and parked in a plush chair with a coffee for a couple of hours. Worked on orgo and waited for the call. I browsed the street fair for a bit, then checked in to see what the wait was looking like. Numbers 21-25 were on deck. At that point, I figured I'd get in, I just wasn't sure when.
I wandered over to the museum to say hi and fix my hair in the mirror in the break room. I figured it was quiet and air conditioned, so I hung out in the break room and did homework for a while. At 12:30 I got the call. I was on deck, so I headed back to the theatre.
I sat on the lobby floor and did more homework. Orgo is great at keeping one from getting nervous. I watched group after group go in, thankfully with a few standbys as well. Around 2:45 I was called to the table to turn in my 25 headshots and resumes. They were sending in a group of 4 standbys right before the auditors got an afternoon break. I was first in the lineup. At 3:15 I finally got to go in.
The format was that you get 90 seconds to do your piece, then one of the auditors gives you a note or direction, and you get another 90 seconds to do it again. I did Prudence from Beyond Therapy, by Christoper Durang. I was actually fairly relaxed when I went in, and I think the piece went well. It felt good and I actually got laughter. Laughter! And these are not the kind of people to throw you a pity laugh. At at 3:15, the second saturday in a row for them, laughter is a BIG win.
I got my note from the casting director for Arena Stage. He's actually seen the piece before, for my final in Gail's class. But I cut half the piece and have worked in it since then, so hopefully he can tell it's better. He said I had a good take on it, but told me to try it more aggressive. I did it again, and I think I took the note well. Everything got bigger and more pointed. I still got laughs.
So that was my first cattle-call audition. I've now been seen by a large number of casting directors. I think I made a good impression. And even if I don't get called in to audition by any of them, at least they've seen me, which is always a step in the right direction. And who knows.
Now it's time for food and rest before I tackle my orgo lab reports. Maybe I'll even go out tonight, seeing as I missed a few gatherings last night in prep for my long day today.