The Hotel California
I am out here in sunny California, and while I wouldn't go so far as to say I am in love, I certainly have quite the crush on the area. On the plus side, it is nice and sunny here, and compared to most of the places I've been this past year, Santa Maria seems like a sprawling metropolis. On the negative side, it is too cold for my tastes. When that sea breeze gets a-blowning, you really need a jacket, which I find UNACCEPTABLE in June. I thought once I got out of Canada this kind of shit would be over. I'm probably the only person in the world who wishes I was back in the South where its been in the 90s for a solid month. Well, one of two people; the woman playing our Sarah is from Florida and agrees with me that it's too cold here.
Oh, I guess I should reiterate for those of you who don't know (or have forgotten), that the reason I'm out here in the first place is to do "Ragtime" with PCPA. I thought of that because I mentioned "our Sarah," who is one of the characters in the show. I could have called her by her actual name of Mekia, but that would just be meaningless to those of you reading this. Just know she's talent, nice, and gorgeous! ...And has a boyfriend. :'-(
Anyway, I am really impressed with the talent they have assembled for this show. We had our first read-thru the other day (after a week of music rehearsals), and I was jealous that I'll never get to just sit out in the audience and just watch the show. It's already that good, and we have three weeks of rehearsals left! Working on this show has also raised my already high level of respect for this show and this score. It really is one of the best musicals I've had the priviledge to work on, as the music is consistantly gorgeous, the story is solidly written and scripted, and it deals with important social issues (mainly, racism and generally discrimination) in a thought-provoking way. I think our director said it best: "you literally cannot fathom this show; no matter how deep you dig, there will always be more." And it's true. There is so much potential in the acting of these characters (and there are tons of them), that you could play them for a year and still be able to discover new nuances.
Speaking of our director, I love him. He gets a tad long-winded at times, but it is always fascinating to listen to his views on things. He clearly loves this show, and he has a gift of making everyone in the room (even little chorus members like me) feel important and needed. He's great at guiding and shaping a performance without giving the dreaded "line readings," and makes you feel like your imput is important. I also agree with his whole philosophy on theatre, which is that you are never at the top of your craft (you always have more to learn), and that the truth of the story is paramount.
I'm really enjoying the company here, too, although if we're being honest I only hang out with about a third of the cast on a regular basis. Not because I'm elitist, but because there are 47(!) people in our cast, and the show is structured in such a way that you have your little ethnic group and that's who you see most often. So "Harlem" (as we and the show has dubbed us) has been hanging out a lot, playing cards and such. I am also wholly amused by the fact that almost everyone in the group has the same viewpoint of "thank God, more black people!"
My only regret is that I wasn't able to audition in person. Most of the people in the cast have been given some kind of featured role or understudy position, but I have not, and I'm 99% sure that's because they don't really know what I can do. Yeah, I sent in an audition video, but that's not everything I can do, and they didn't have the chance to ask me to read something from the show or test me out in any other way. HOWEVER, our Coalhouse currently has no understudy, the idea being they'll pick one at some point in the future (as we have a two month run and the show can't really happen without him). So I'm hoping they might pick me, although I really doubt it. Our Coalhouse is a large, imposing black man with a very deep, commanding voice, and I am...well, not those things (except black). So if they're casting along those lines, things don't look so good for me, although they don't really have anyone else like that either (except for our Booker T. Washington, but he's Booker T. Washington). So we'll see. If it happens, great. If not, I still believe that I will get to play the role some day.
Well, I guess I should go. Harlem is supposed to get together and play cards soon. Know that I miss you all dearly and hope that I will have time to visit you after this contract is done (although I of course hope to have another job soon after this one is over).
Speaking of which, anyone going to fall SETC? Wanna split a hotel room or something? Just curious.
-Jared W. Wietbrock
Oh, I guess I should reiterate for those of you who don't know (or have forgotten), that the reason I'm out here in the first place is to do "Ragtime" with PCPA. I thought of that because I mentioned "our Sarah," who is one of the characters in the show. I could have called her by her actual name of Mekia, but that would just be meaningless to those of you reading this. Just know she's talent, nice, and gorgeous! ...And has a boyfriend. :'-(
Anyway, I am really impressed with the talent they have assembled for this show. We had our first read-thru the other day (after a week of music rehearsals), and I was jealous that I'll never get to just sit out in the audience and just watch the show. It's already that good, and we have three weeks of rehearsals left! Working on this show has also raised my already high level of respect for this show and this score. It really is one of the best musicals I've had the priviledge to work on, as the music is consistantly gorgeous, the story is solidly written and scripted, and it deals with important social issues (mainly, racism and generally discrimination) in a thought-provoking way. I think our director said it best: "you literally cannot fathom this show; no matter how deep you dig, there will always be more." And it's true. There is so much potential in the acting of these characters (and there are tons of them), that you could play them for a year and still be able to discover new nuances.
Speaking of our director, I love him. He gets a tad long-winded at times, but it is always fascinating to listen to his views on things. He clearly loves this show, and he has a gift of making everyone in the room (even little chorus members like me) feel important and needed. He's great at guiding and shaping a performance without giving the dreaded "line readings," and makes you feel like your imput is important. I also agree with his whole philosophy on theatre, which is that you are never at the top of your craft (you always have more to learn), and that the truth of the story is paramount.
I'm really enjoying the company here, too, although if we're being honest I only hang out with about a third of the cast on a regular basis. Not because I'm elitist, but because there are 47(!) people in our cast, and the show is structured in such a way that you have your little ethnic group and that's who you see most often. So "Harlem" (as we and the show has dubbed us) has been hanging out a lot, playing cards and such. I am also wholly amused by the fact that almost everyone in the group has the same viewpoint of "thank God, more black people!"
My only regret is that I wasn't able to audition in person. Most of the people in the cast have been given some kind of featured role or understudy position, but I have not, and I'm 99% sure that's because they don't really know what I can do. Yeah, I sent in an audition video, but that's not everything I can do, and they didn't have the chance to ask me to read something from the show or test me out in any other way. HOWEVER, our Coalhouse currently has no understudy, the idea being they'll pick one at some point in the future (as we have a two month run and the show can't really happen without him). So I'm hoping they might pick me, although I really doubt it. Our Coalhouse is a large, imposing black man with a very deep, commanding voice, and I am...well, not those things (except black). So if they're casting along those lines, things don't look so good for me, although they don't really have anyone else like that either (except for our Booker T. Washington, but he's Booker T. Washington). So we'll see. If it happens, great. If not, I still believe that I will get to play the role some day.
Well, I guess I should go. Harlem is supposed to get together and play cards soon. Know that I miss you all dearly and hope that I will have time to visit you after this contract is done (although I of course hope to have another job soon after this one is over).
Speaking of which, anyone going to fall SETC? Wanna split a hotel room or something? Just curious.
-Jared W. Wietbrock