To Faux or Not to Pas

What is an audition faux pas that you commonly see?

“Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.” – Shakespeare
“Be Prepared” – Tim Rice & Elton John

LINDSAY NANTZ
Make sure you know the accompaniment to your piece of music. I’m guilty of this sometimes, but not often. It’s a bad idea to go into the audition room with a piece you have never heard played before…because more likely than not, it is completely different than the cast recording. Have an understanding of what happened before and after your piece in the show. This way you can bring the correct acting choices to your piece.

MATTHEW MCGEE
Let’s say you’re not on the same page with the accompanist and maybe your song doesn’t work out. Never look incredulous at the accompanist and don’t make excuses. Nine times out of ten you chose a song that was too hard to sight read or that you didn’t know as well as you should.

BRIDGETTE KARL
Have your sheet music. Don’t sing a song that you kind of know because it is more right for the show. Sing a song that you KNOW you know, even if it doesn’t fit the show as well. Dress for the part but…you’re not in the show yet. Don’t wear a costume. Just don’t. Be yourself and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Where to Work?

What do you look for in a regional theatre company?

Our Expert Panel gives their opinions on what makes a regional theatre company or contract desirable in this week’s HonesThespian blog post.

LINDSAY NANTZ
In all honesty, a job is a job, so any theatre I can submit to or audition for is one I want to work for. I do read the Gig&Tell post on Audition Update’s website beforehand if I know I’m being considered, but usually that is just one person’s experience and mine ends up being completely different. The opinions I trust most are those of my friends. If I know they have worked at a specific theatre, I’ll ask “What is the artistic staff like? What the pay scale was like? Did you enjoy your experience?” I believe you “choose” a company to work for when you decide to go back to work there again.

MATTHEW MCGEE
Being a working actor in Florida is tough. Being a member of AEA, I have to look for companies that use Equity contracts. There are always a limited number of contracts for each show. Add limited housing to that and you are looking at an uphill climb. It’s worth the trouble as Florida has some of the most well-respected professional companies in the nation.

BRIDGETTE KARL
I generally look for what shows a company is doing and when the rehearsals and shows would take place. If I am interested, I look to see if they accept video submissions. If not, I try to see if they have an open call or an audition that I could potentially attend. Another thing I take into heavy consideration is housing. If I am looking at doing a show in the middle of Missouri (where I do not have family), I need to know that they will provide me with housing. I also consider pay and how long I will be on the contract. Generally, I try to work at theaters that I know are reputable and other friends/colleagues have worked at. Oh! I also love submitting videos, I honestly have gotten a lot of gigs from video submissions, they are great.

March 2018 News

The Spring Equinox is fast approaching and for many of you, that means you will soon be able to sit outside and read a good book while enjoying the fresh spring breeze and sipping on your favorite cold brew coffee. For that reason, I have assembled a HonesThespian Reading List. I hope to add a book recommendation or two from our Expert Panelists in the April News post.

Editor’s Reading List
1. An Acrobat of the Heart by Stephen Wangh
2. The Actor’s Field Guide by Ed Hooks
3. The Viewpoints Book by Anne Bogart & Tina Landau
4. Theatre of the Unimpressed by Jordan Tannahill
5. The Stanislavsky Secret by Irina & Igor Levin

Click here to read our HonesThespian editor’s top pick.

Are you in need of a new website? Are you a recent graduate looking for some guidance in creating your first website? Does your current website need some spring cleaning? Look no further! When not on stage or writing for the HonesThespian, Bridgette Karl creates wonderful, highly-personalized websites for regional theatre artists. Bridgette keeps up with current website trends and is even giving her Brand Bee business website a facelift. You can browse her portfolio by clicking the link below.

Brand Bee Designs by Bridgette Karl
https://www.brandbeedesigns.com

Our team of Expert Panelists will be back in action this spring, giving honest answers to your burning questions. Please continue to spread the word about this resource and happy reading to you!

HonesThespian Blog Schedule
March 26th – What do you look for in a desirable regional theatre company?
April 9th – What is an audition faux pas that you commonly see?
April 23rd – How do you get into character before an audition or performance?

SETC Recap – Find Your Fit

Every year over 4,000 members of the national theatre community attend the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) to participate in workshops, keynotes, performance festivals, auditions, college recruiting, and job interviews.

This was my fourth year attending SETC as a workshop presenter and hiring company rep for the Patel Conservatory. In addition to presenting clowning and theatre education workshops and looking for summer theatre interns, I make an effort to attend various workshops that might provide me with new information that I can pass on to my students or co-workers.

After setting up my job fair table, I decided to check out Find Your Fit: How to Find the Right College Program for You. This was presented on the first night of the conference and I had a feeling it would be a great way to dive into SETC. The workshop was presented by Marcus Lane, Michael Walker (U of Montevallo), and Steven House (Western Illinois U). I have summarized some of the fantastic points that were made during their interactive lecture in this blog post.

Powerful Pondering
Marcus Lane encouraged the consideration of the following three questions when searching for any college program.
1. What is your style of learning? 
     a. What do you need to learn?
2. Who do you learn best from and with?
3. How do you connect to where you are?
     a. How do you serve the other parts of you (hobbies, leisure time, faith, etc.)?

Overlooked Questions
Steven House and Michael Walker presented a list of often overlooked, but necessary practices when searching for the perfect college or university program. 
• Look at the specific tracks of study for each program. For example, they explained that movement can mean several things depending on the program, ranging from an emphasis on stage combat to yoga to Grotowski exercises. Investigate the course catalog.
• Look at the past 3-6 seasons. Are they doing the style of theatre and types of productions that interest you?
• Find out if you are promised anything based on the program you enter. Do MFA students get dibs on the productions over BFA actors? Are BFA students guaranteed a production per semester or do they have to wait until their third or fourth year to perform?
• Find out where the alumni are working, and not just the one or two that are touted on a school’s website.
• Don’t go for the reputation, go for what you need.

Marcus Lane closed the conversation by reminding everyone to, “Be selfish in your education and collaborative in your art.”

Thank you for reading the HonesThespian and I hope that you have a productive week.

– Matthew Belopavlovich (HonesThespian Editor)

Your Orange > Their Blue

Guest Blogger – Michael Rawls

Chicago actor and Columbia College graduate, Michael Rawls, joins us as a guest blogger this week to speak about colorblind or non-traditional casting and diversity in theatre communities around the country. Join in on the conversation by leaving a message in the comment box at the bottom of this post.

 

Q. When does colorblind casting become inappropriate?
A. Colorblind casting is appropriate for most productions. Everyone can be in the production whether they are white, black, Latino, or Chinese. The only time it is inappropriate is if the production calls for a character to be a specific race or ethnicity because it is intertwined with the storyline. Some examples are, in Avenue Q, Christmas Eve should be Asian American, and in West Side Story, Tony should be Caucasian.

Non-traditional casting, integrated casting, or sometimes colorblind casting is the practice of casting without considering the actor’s ethnicity or skin color.

Q. What should an actor do if they find themselves in a culturally offensive situation or production?
A. If you ever find yourself in a culturally offensive situation with a production always, always, always go and talk to the artistic director or artistic team. Have a sit down with them and express your concern. Don’t be afraid to let your voice be heard. Whether it is a paid gig or not, don’t just sit there and take it.

Q. What is a theatre organization’s responsibility in choosing to produce historically significant work?
A. Referring to historically significant shows, they should be done in a respectful manner. I’ve seen plenty of these [historical] productions that haven’t been presented in a tasteful manner. An example of this can be drawn when looking at the play Choir Boy by Tarell Alvin McCraney. He wrote the script for Choir Boy before writing In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue (inspiration for the 2016 film Moonlight). It speaks on historical reference of an all-boys school. In order to tell this story effectively, I believe the director should look outside the box and challenge themselves to not be so closed-minded because of the themes this story explores. If you can’t challenge yourself, then don’t do the project. That should go for casting a more diverse cast as well. It shouldn’t be about color necessarily. It should be about talent. It is true that when you audition for a production, casting directors sometimes already have something in mind. They may want a blue color, but you give them orange. They may like that orange, or they might want to stick to blue. It’s up to you to convince them that your orange is better than their blue.

 

Michael Rawls is a queer, regional theatre actor living in Chicago. He graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance. After graduation, he worked with several reputable theatre production companies and regional theatres in the Chicagoland area. Some credits include Madagascar with Chicago Shakespeare, The Wiz with Kokandy Productions, A Girl in the Train and Madame Pompadour with Chicago Folks Operetta and many more.

Assorted Color Index Cards

An HonesThespian reader recently asked, “What are some pro tips for memorizing lines?” This week we are getting colorful with our answer!

JOSH HAYES
The Association of Psychological Science has reported that writing things down gives you a memory boost. I buy my favorite color cardstock paper or index cards and write my dialogue/lines out in pencil. I write the act, scene, and page number that I am working on at the top of each card. I then write the line before mine, my line, and the line that follows. This process helps me to remember my lines and can also work as a cheat sheet when you’re trying to get off-book (memorized).

Check back often for more tips and tricks from our Expert Panel.

Riding the Wave

We have the extreme pleasure of sharing the positive thoughts of Crystin Gilmore on the HonesThespian blog this week. Crystin’s faith-based approach to her theatrical work and life is inspiring. Pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee and enjoy some motivation from the elegant and dedicated, Crystin Gilmore.

Riding the Wave: How to have consistent peace while you’re looking for work.

It’s audition season. You are prepared with a capital P. You have your song book marked with every genre possible, 32, 16 and 8 bar cuts. Your monologues are memorized and practiced. You have a classic, contemporary, dramatic and comedic monologue on deck. You’re ready. You’re excited. Happy to get your 60 to 120 seconds to shine bright like a diamond. You do your part. You show up EARLY or when you can, but you show up. Depending on your union affiliations, you may be able to make an appointment. What a blessed place to be! One day I will wear those appointment shoes, but for now, I’m with the rest of you all, early and when I can. Every day is 100% effort, but No, you don’t always get seen. Some days you’re 0-3. Even though each day carries different obstacles, your desire to be in the room where it happens will never change. How do I handle this? Well, with all the things I can’t control, I hold on tight and contently to those I can.

What can I control? My preparedness when that opportunity comes. I do vocal warm-ups in my shower. I make sure I’m very comfortable with my monologues and music. I wear clothes that I’m most comfortable in and character influenced. I say YES! Yes to flexibility in character choices. Yes to vulnerability, Yes to sharing and receiving. I say yes to my dreams and yes to my gift, but if anything has kept me grounded, rooted and peaceful, it’s my faith. I’m reminded through my relationship with the Lord, that what God has for me, is for me and what someone else has isn’t meant to be mine. This is freedom to me. It takes the edge off. I go to auditions cheering everyone on because I don’t know whose day it is to reap the reward of hard work. I go available and ready to share. This doesn’t mean I talk to everyone while I’m there, because I’m very quiet in my preparation process. This means I’m open and aware of my surroundings. I offer a smile and or warmth. Everyone in that room is just as vulnerable as I am. We are all there with the same hopes and dreams. Confidence is what changes your interaction with people and it’s what grounds you.

What helps while you’re waiting? Affirmations. Keep a list of positive affirmations in your phone or in your audition binder. Remind yourself of who you are. A few of mine are- “I am imperfectly perfect. I’m built for this. I’m talented beyond measure. I have what it takes to make my dreams come true.” See it- Visualize your dreams and dream bigger. See yourself walking up to receive your Tony or Golden Globe. Envision yourself signing your first Broadway contract. This gives you a clear path to focus on. Write it down and make it plain- Habakkuk 2:2 “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” Write down with specificity what you want. Write down your most desired things and watch God move.

Faith and Fear may start with the same letter, but they can’t be farther from friends. F.E.A.R. is False Evidence Appearing Real. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrew 11:1. Being in this business already requires a faith in one’s own talents, gifts and abilities. It must continue to exist in your climb. The journey is where the growth occurs. Your challenges will merit the best testimonies. Keep going. Persistence- can’t stop, won’t stop. Your gift is meant to be shared. It’s supposed to motivate others. If you don’t keep going until your empty, your dreams will die with you. No one else gets them. Remember that. Your purpose on this earth can’t be fulfilled by anyone else.

What do I want you to take from this? What God has for you is for you. God is patiently waiting on you to go for it. He’s waiting on you to show up and show out. You can never run out of time because you will not leave this earth until your purpose is fulfilled. That is, if you don’t give up. Be prepared. Roman philosopher Seneca said that luck/success happens when opportunity meets preparation. And please remember you define your own success. So, go out there. Do your best and forget the rest. Live a life of no “shoulda, coulda, wouldas.” Show up for yourself and remember, hard work pays off. Live each day like you’re dying and be unstoppable. Enjoy the journey, for that’s where you will find the tools, lessons and the ability to relate to the characters that you will one day portray. Yep, you’ve got what it takes to ride the wave. Surfs up!

 

Crystin Gilmore
Born in West Tennessee to a preacher and an educator, I discovered my love for performing in school talent shows at an early age. My true passion soon evolved into acting. I currently live in New York and plan to keep doing what feeds my soul and challenges me to grow. Performance Credits: Brenda in Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Shug in The Color Purple at Playhouse on the Square & Speakeasy Stage Company-Ostrander, IRNE and Arts Impulse Award, Motormouth Maybelle (Hairspray), Evilene (The Wiz), Matron Momma Morton (Chicago) with CSC. Jesus & Family First. Be Unstoppable. http://www.crystingilmore.com

Be Noticed @ Auditions

This week, Lindsay and Bridgette answer a question submitted by one of our HonesThespian readers. Hathaway asks, “How can you make yourself stand out at an audition?”

LINDSAY NANTZ
Standing out at an audition is all about being comfortable in your own skin and confident with your material. Wear an outfit you feel completely yourself in. I usually wear a dress with a pattern on it, whether it be floral or have a big bow on it (or both), but I have friends who show up in dress pants and nice tops. Showcasing your personal style is important rather than wearing what you think is required of you to book a job. Being confident in your material means you have practiced it more than once, you know a 32, 16 and 8-bar cut of the song, you have heard the accompaniment and can sing it at any time of day. Practice your audition material as much as you can. Perform it for your teachers, peers and family to gain confidence. Do your research. You should know who is singing the song, what is happening before and after the song, if the character is age appropriate to you and is this character one that you could play. Have fun, breathe, relax and just enjoy your audition. As long as you do your best….then you have stood out at that audition.

BRIDGETTE KARL
I try to put as much of my personality into my acting choices as possible. They want to see the character, yes, but if we all just played the character, Broadway would not have some of the incredible stars that it has today. Casting personnel want to see what you would bring to the character. How would you do it over the next person – that’s how you get cast. Stand out by being bold and yourself (at least that’s my opinion). Also, I wear an outfit that I feel comfortable and confident in! Confidence is key to standing out. Even if you’re faking it, commit to faking it. I promise it will work!

February 2018 News

Hello HonesThespians,

I thought that I’d share our upcoming content schedule with you as we move into our second month of existence. Our Expert Panel will be answering two reader-submitted questions this month. We hope that you are as excited as we are about the compelling topics and inspiring messages coming to the HonesThespian blog during the month of February.

February 5th – February News
February 12th – Reader Question: How can you make yourself stand out at an audition?
February 19th – Guest Blogger: Crystin Gilmore – “Riding the Wave”
February 26th – Reader Question: What are some pro tips for memorizing lines?
March 12th – Josh Hayes (Expert Panelist) and Michael Rawls (Guest Blogger) on Color-blind Casting & Diversity in the Professional Theatre Industry

Guest Blogger Alert!
Don’t miss our second guest blog on February 19th. Crystin Gilmore will be writing about finding and maintaining consistent peace while looking for performance work.

 

Expert Panel Performances & News
Check out where members of our Expert Panel are performing this month.

Catch Matthew McGee in Rhinoceros, February 7-April 14, at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, FL. http://www.asolorep.org/

Congratulations to Bridgette Karl for booking a summer contract with Show Palace Dinner Theatre! She will be playing the role of Katie Lane Murphy in their production of Honky Tonk Laundry.

Josh Hayes has been busy in the recording studio working on his new R&B single, “So Hot.” The song will be available on iTunes soon.

Matthew Belopavlovich (HonesThespian Editor) and his work with the Patel Conservatory will be featured on And Scene Theater’s February 12th podcast.

 

New Blog Spotlight
The HonesThespian is a new blog and we certainly like to support other new blogs and podcasts out there. This month, we are highlighting a blog that would be useful for high school juniors starting their college-bound journey. Be sure to check out the College Audition Guide blog. This blog is written from the perspective of a parent as her daughter auditions for performing arts programs around the country. I found the most exciting resource to be the Timeline, easily found by using the Tips dropdown menu.

College Audition Guide Link – https://suzannelivesay.wixsite.com/mtguide

 

Have a great week,
Matthew Belopavlovich
HonesThespian Editor

Thank You Readers

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