Maryland, My Maryland?

I tried out for a string of shows right here in my home county here in Maryland, about 8 years ago.

I didn't get into any of them.

About a year and a half ago I auditioned for a show in a neighboring county. But due to sudden schedule changes, I had to withdraw from consideration before I even got word of it.

This March, there is an audition in yet another neighboring Maryland County. A bit of a commute. But I am giving it serious consideration for several reasons.

First, I have been meaning to expose myself to new theatres and groups of actors. It's just a good idea not to get too stagnant when it comes to your associations. (When you are in a clique, this works, but I have always been way too much of a free thinker to ensconce myself into any of the local theatre cliques.) So wading in a wider talent pool will be of benefit to me. Hopefully.

Secondly, it's a cast of 13 men. (Heaven Can Wait.) So, usually it's a safe bet that a person is more likely to get into a show when there is a larger cast. It will depend on how open minded this theatre is to casting totally new people. But more slots makes a difference, I would say. I'm not worried about having a huge role. I am interested in appearing on a new stage in front of a new audience.

And finally, excerpt for a stage reading, I have never performed in my native state. I became a semi-fixture in West Virginia community theatres years ago and have been bouncing back and forth there ever since. To be an actor this long and not perform in one's own state is amusing.

Ironically, this part of Maryland may take just as long to drive to as the parts of West Virginia that I go to. So it wouldn't be closer. It would just be Maryland.

Not that I am assuming I would get in. History indicates in fact that it takes a few attempts to get into a company with which one has no worked before. But still, everything from cast size to my feelings on the play (not overly attached) to the timing and the amount of time I would have to prepare for it seem to be conspiring to make it a good idea to try out.

Plus, it would end just as the summer production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, (which I am thinking of trying out for) would be starting.

So stay tuned.

"It's A Wonderful Recording"

Happy New year, loyal blog readers! I hope yours was a fantastic holiday season, and that the upcoming year brings you good fortune on all fronts.

I recently was lucky enough to hear the master recording of our production of "It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play." For the first time. The one that went out over the air. I have to say it sounds great. I knew it would sound different than it did when hearing it live, but the sound effects were even more well timed than I could have imagined. The foot falls were great, the crowd scenes were just perfect, and all of the actors came in loud and clear.

You don't hear the audience as much as I thought you might, but you do hear them during some key moments of laughter or applause.

As for my own performance, I am mostly satisfied. A few times it sounded to me like I was reading from a sheet, but I think that may be just because I knew damn well that is exactly what I was doing, as I listened to the recording. But basically I am happy with how I sounded. At least I was clear and easy to understand.

And the Mr. Welch punch sounded really good.

So deep thanks to those who made it possible for me to hear that, should they happen to be reading this.

One side note, the Apollo Civic Theater is holding auditions this weekend for "The Odd Couple". I MIGHT go. Depends on a few things, not least of which is me shaking this flu I have contracted. The ACT is very closed shop, and not usually very willing to let new faces into their clique. But I suppose it does happen once in a while.

That's quite a commute though. Not as bad as Winchester, but farther than I'd like. I will take that one a day at a time.