Up Next: punkplay

Talk about a complete 180. From "The Fantasticks" to "punkplay" in one season. I'm so excited to be a part of this upcoming project produced by The Pavement Group at the Steppenwolf Garage Theatre. It's a great script; I'm going to play a twisted, yet visionary 15-year old (Asian girl) in the Reagan-era. Oh, and there's something about a bikini and a Ronald Reagan mask. And rollerskates. !! "punkplay" runs from February to April of 2010.

I had a great time auditioning for this show. Auditions are sometimes nerve-wrecking experiences, but the Pavement Group members were fantastic and I look forward to working with them. Also - the character description was "bad skin, wears too much make-up, greasy, yet deeply sexy." I love auditions where I can just slop on some eyeliner and not wash my hair. I did shower though.

Here's some brief info about the project. Happy Sunday!

http://www.pavementgroup.org/?page_id=27

http://www.steppenwolf.org/boxoffice/theatres/garage.aspx

Iced Black-Eyes

I'm drinking an iced black-eye right now.

What is this? It's an iced coffee with two shots of expresso. Yumm-O. Why WHY do I need this? I've worked my ass off this week, and was finally able to sleep for nine hours last night, then had to get up early to prep for an audition this morning, so after the audition, when I felt the head-ache creeping on, I doused myself in yoga and caffeine. The yin and the yang.

I laugh whenever I'm at work and somebody says, "Thank god it's Friday." Being a performer means that I don't get weekends off. After a week of teaching during the day, running to auditions, night-shifts at the bar and the restaurant, my Friday night is blissful not because it's party-time, but because it's sleep-time. Sleep to rest up, to get ready for three shows, to get ready for more auditions, and maybe I can eek in some time to clean the bathroom (last night I replaced my shower liners and it gave me untold joy.)

I was dead to the world by 11PM last night, and was up at 9 AM to prep for an audition with a tricky, text-heavy script. Sometimes it only takes me a half-hour to look over the script and prep, but this script deserved an hour and a half. By 11:45AM I was out of the house, to audition at 12:45. To spend five minutes showing complete strangers what I worked on all morning. It payed off, and I have a call-back next Saturday.

I feel lucky this morning, because this city has so many strong theatre companies made up of amazingly creative and interesting people. I love working hard when it means that my skills are challenged and I'm putting my energy toward unique stories on the stage. This morning the director looked over my resume and said, "Wow. You've worked your ass off." This city has given me the opportunity to work my ass off, with each experience being completely different. Not every experience is equally rewarding, and there are pitfalls, but overall I appreciate this community which allows me to keep on chugging.

On a side-note, my cat with two eyes (Spencer) has a chronic eye-disease. My cat with one eye (Maevie) is perfectly healthy. There is a pox upon cat eyes in my house. God doesn't want my cats to see.

Fantastick Update

Yay! Hard work in a role that is so often unacknowledged, so thank you Chicago Trib for acknowledging! Here's a pic from the production (I'm in the back, scattering petals), and a picture of me with Don Sprague, Operations Manager of Porchlight Music Theatre (yes, I am wearing a shirt with a duck on it, but I didn't know pictures were going to be taken that day. I was in my warm-up clothes!). This pic is from Broadwayworld.com. http://broadwayworld.com/printcolumn.cfm?id=69746.

Here is a link to the review: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/stage/chi-0915-fantasticks-porchlight-sep16,0,5930713.column.

Now, back to work!