This Ain't Easy... Street

Round 1: Last Monday I auditioned for the National Tour of the musical Annie. I arrived at 7:30am and was number 80 or so out of approx. 250 women (that's right, it was so crowded that the men were auditioning a different day). Recently I've decided to stop trying to fit the conservative love interest roles, but rather to go for the whacky, out there, nutjob character roles... you know, the fun ones. So, I auditioned for Ms. Hannigan with J's encouragement. She said that I have that whole Carol Burnett thing going for me (awesome).


We were asked to sing 16 bars of our best song. My audition song: "How Lucky You Are" from Seussical. I LOVE this song because I get to be sexy, irritated, and goofy. The "egg" discussed in the song can represent anyone or anything and I can be as selfish, mean, or whiney as I want. This particular audition, of course, the egg represented "little girls." The casting director liked me and asked me to do the same song as Jessica Rabbit.... hmmmmmm. okay, maybe he sees me as Lilly (Rooster's girlfriend). I did what he asked and LO AND BEHOLD!! He asked me to come back. YAY! but...... what role am I called back for?


Round 2: 100 people (men and women) have made it through to this round. The Director is here this time. I wore the same outfit as the original audition, did my hair the same way, and had a very similar morning routine sort of for good luck and sort of because the casting team might recognize me better. We were asked to sing the same 16 bars that got us the callback in the first place. I wasn't sure which role to mold my song to fit... do I sing it like Jessica Rabbit? or did he just ask me to do that to see if I could think on my feet?? So, I sang it like Hannigan sticking to the "Carol Burnett" thought. The director looks at me quizzically before saying "good, but do you have a headvoice?" Oh, so maybe he's considering me for Grace! So I sing my Soprano-eist song and he asks me to come back for the dance call. And tells me he likes my haircut (uh oh, maybe time for new headshots... UGH!). YAY! but...... what role am I called back for?

Round 3: I'm back to dance with approx 50 people who have been invited back. FYI~ 8:30 is a terribly early time to be stuffed in a leotard and stretching with 30 other girls. We are "happily" stretching away when the Casting Director walked in and told us "if it were his audition.... he would wear the same clothes as the first audition/callback."

Shit.

Luckily I had just decided that morning that I should keep a dress at work just in case I feel the need to run to an audition last minute. I was going to bring the shoes the next work day, but I could fudge through that. The entire room went crazy and almost every woman was changed and applying more make-up in 5 minutes flat. The combination is easy enough. and very fun. We danced to "Easy Street" and it was more about showing personality than mastering the moves. After that was over they split us into 3 groups and had us sing our BEST 8 bars.... which we were informed very late that it should be from the same audition song we had been using. After that..... another round of cutting.

Round 4: I MADE IT THROUGH! YAY! but...... what role am I called back for?
Finally it's time for the part I've been waiting for- scene work. I'm paired up with 2 really fun and easy-going actors and we prepare a Hannigan, Rooster, Lilly scene. I was given the role of *trumpet call* LILLY St. Regis (named after the hotel). We had a blast and the scene was different and fun every time we went through it. We did a group cheer before and after we did the scene for the table. And then..... we waited. and waited. and waited.

Around 4pm (remember: we'd been there since 9am). They called out names and told us that it didn't mean anything that they were sending us home, they just saw everything they need from us, we're all fabulous, he's in love with every one of us, etc. (which is incredibly nice of the monitor to say) they let about 15-20 of us leave. Including yours truly- who went straight to work.

It was a WONDERFUL experience to be called back. It could be days or months before they call me- or they may not call at all. Regardless of what happens with this tour I am more sure than ever that this is where I belong and what I am supposed to be doing. This Tuesday is the audition for the Nat'l Tour of the Drowsy Chaperone (produced by the same company as Annie) and there are many more auditions to look forward to in the coming weeks. So as our dear friend little orphan Annie instructs, I will continue in this bustling metropolis to "pick up my chin, and grin, and say- Oh, the sun'll come out tomorrow... it's only a day away"

~B