Archival Arrival

Did you enjoy the cute title?

What does it refer to?

Earlier this week, (I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, as I have not had much of a chance to get back here to the blog during this holiday week), a friend of mine from college sent me a video. A dvd transfer of a VHS recording I had never seen...me in my first lead role ever!

In the fall of 2000, I played Leon Trotsky, in David Ives' Variations on the Death of Trotsky.

This dvd was a taping of that performance.

In fact it was a taping of three out of the four performances that that show gave.

I did quite well, I have to say.My projection could have been stronger in some places, and I spoke a bit faster than I do now...but otherwise not a bad job at all. I remembered having, fun with the show, remembered many people laughing most of the nights, and I remember the very obvious light error halfway through the one performance. (The best one, naturally.) And though I was proud of myself at the time, and have remained so, not until now, over 7 years later did I have the privilege of actually watching myself in the show.

Archival footage is a tricky business. In some ways I like to look at it. In other ways, I loath it. But in this case, the play was a particularly special experience for me, and I am joyed to have it saved for posterity.

Thanks to Lauren, the friend who sent it to me this week, and who directed me in the piece 7 years ago. =)

More Options..aka. THE Option...

I do not recall any other point in my acting life where so many options presented themselves at the same time.

I recently got an email from one of the producers of "All in the Timing", one of the founders of the Full Circle Theatre Company that I was involved in earlier in the fall. They have decided to make their next production..."The Lion in Winter"!!

This is fantastic news! If you know me, or have read this blog, you will know that it is one of my favorite scripts of all time..with Geoffrey being one of my non-Shakespeare dream roles. (Though I would be happy with just about any role in that show..well, maybe not John.)

Anyway, this was a change from what the company had originally planned to do next year. Also, it would seem they have a new venue for that production...a local college stage. So, it was inevitable that I would eventually make the choice to at least try out for it. They said auditions will be held sometime during the first week of the year.

This means, however, that I had to totally opt out of auditions for "Rumors" over at the Opera House. If I had gotten into that, there was no practical way to be in both that, and in "Lion in Winter", if I ended up getting into both. Not wanting to give up the chance to be in "Lion", I skipped "Rumors". Kind of sad, but, getting into "Lion" would probably makeup for it totally.

And my options are still not dried up, after "Lion". If I do not get into that, there are still the two auditions that the Apollo Civic Theatre is putting on in January, as mentioned in previous posts.

So my hope is between three auditions in January, I should be lucky enough to get into at least one of them.

And such are my theatre adventures this last week before Christmas.

Third Option...

Or, I can try out for the Apollo's first show next year..."Play ON!" A comedy about actors trying to put on a bad show. Sounds right up my ally...any actor loves to make fun of being an actor.

I know the director...and though the have auditions a few weeks before Andersonville Trial, I could perhaps try out for both, and in case I do not get into the first, try to be in the second.

More things to ponder...

Decisions, Decisions

Well, loyal blog readers, it is that time again. Time to decide between two shows that I could potentially audition for.

Actually, the decision is coming earlier than I expected. I figured the rest of the year would be free of auditions, but not so.

The Old Opera House will be auditioning for Neil Simon's "Rumors" a week from today. Now, I have not read Rumors but I am familiar with other Simon works, and I like them. Plus, I am usually in comedies, and I am of course familiar with the Opera House. Plus, I have never worked with, or even met, as far as I know, the director. I have been meaning to try to branch out to do new things with new people in theatre in the coming year.

However, the Apollo Civic Theatre will, in January, be having auditions for "The Andersonville Trial", and that has appealed to me for several reasons. I have not read it, but i know it is a drama, and better still, a court room drama. Not to mention it would also be a director I have never worked with, as well as a theatre that I have never acted in. (Though I song there once for a talent show.)

So, the uncertainties of getting into either play aside, both would offer their advantages and disadvantages. And though it may be mathematically possible to try out for and be in both, if cast, I do not think it is a good idea. There would be some rehearsal overlap, and that probably would work against me for either show. Though the Andersonville play would take place several months later, even though auditions would only be a few weeks after those at the Opera House.

So, that is where I am now. Maybe I should try to read one or both before I make a decision. That is usually how I do it, but it is hard to obtain scripts from either location these days.