Friday, October 24, 2008

In the Spirit

This is how we do it in Jersey...



We're creepy like that.

~B

Friday, October 17, 2008

Words of Wisdom

I couldn't have said it better myself.
CALIFORNIA!! Absolutely Vote NO on Prop 8...

I know I'm not big on expressing my political belief, but this is important, so I'm speaking out... It's very disappointing that Proposition 8 is even in existance especially in a Liberal State like CA. This sort of discrimination is unacceptable and exactly what is tearing America apart today. Why do people continue to try to see the world in Black and White when there is SO MUCH COLOR all around us? They are missing a very important piece of life. True diversity. Diversity in religion is recognized. Diversity in ethnicity is still a stuggle for minorities. Diversity in lifestyle is still struggling to identify itself as an option. WHY can't we embrace our differences and the differences of others? WHY can't we stop exploiting people's lifestyles and using the media to incriminate and scandalize fellow citizens? WHY is the act of allowing two people who love each other to make a vow even a question in our society? This is the time to unite. This is the time to look at the world in technicolor.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to vote on this proposition because I just registered in NJ. Now I'm disappointed that I didn't register absentee. Please help spread the word and express your belief to any friends, family, or stranger who is voting on the CA Ballot. Be Smart. Think before you give your rights away.

~B
Proud supporter of the Obama/Biden Ticket. Yes, We Can.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

NEW WEBSITE!!!

Hellooooooo!!!

The time has come. I have created my first professional website. Please let me know what you think! Comments and Criticisms are ABSOLUTELY encouraged!!

www.BriannGagnon.com

Thanks! I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you!

Love and Many Happy Thoughts,
Briann

Monday, September 22, 2008

Briann says I have to

Ahoy.
That was left over from Briann's blog.
She says that I should write something here and so I shall...
Very soon.
Thank you and goodnight!

A Pirate's Life for Me

Last Friday, September 19th, was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. If you don't know about this holiday..... you should.




In an effort to bring fun into the office I created the TLAPD scavenger hunt. I hid 5 pirate items around the office (a parrot, a sword, a skull, a treasure map, and a hook). My pirate colleagues were supposed to find the items- 1 item per pirate- and hold onto them for the rest of the day. Looting and trickery was encouraged to keep the items switching hands throughout the day. At COB the Manager drew the name of the winning item out of a captain's hat and the winner got the treasure of Bootstrap Phil which consisted of some Mardi Gras beads, chocolate coins and a $50 American Express Gift Certificate.





In addition to this looting madness, everyone in the office had pirate names which were typed out and written on nametags (mine was Encephalitic Helga Scarr) and they were to salute each other with a hearty "YARR!" or "Yo-ho-ho!" or other various pirate terms whenever they spoke.

I work in an IT office, so obviously I didn't think my colleagues would go all out for this festive holiday.......


....






Guess I underestimated them.... YARRRRR!!!!


~B

Monday, September 15, 2008

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

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The need for speed....

Do you ever have those days?? You know. The "cartoony" days.

Well, today I feel like Roadrunner. I'm running around the city with imaginary earplugs in my ears going from one place to another with a confident smile on my face. My adrenaline is sky high. I'm speedwalking around, through, and over people. Flying off of the cliff, straight over clouds and birds, to another piece of solid ground 25 feet away. Outrunning dynamite explosions, cayotes on rockets, and rolling boulders. Today my consistant thought is "eat my dust."

"Meep meep"

Maybe I should lay off the coffee.....

~B