7:45 pm

Is what time "Watchmen" started at the Crestwood theatre tonight. It is now 11:05 pm and we just got home.

$8.25 for the ticket. $6.25 for a pretzel with cheese. $4.25 for a big ole fat soda. Right around $20 total...for what? Almost 3 hours of my life I'm never getting back.

I'm sure I'm going to catch a lot of flack for this...but this movie SUCKED.

I saw a glowing blue man's penis and ass. More times than I cared to. He couldn't have kept the little loincloth on throughout the movie?? Why bother giving it to him in the first place if, in the next scene, he's not going to be wearing it?? There was one scene in particular where there were FOUR or FIVE glowing blue men's penises and asses. Necessary? I think not.

Costumes - horrible and un-interesting. Except Rorschach's (sp?) mask. That was pretty cool, but after about an hour of the constant shape shifting, I started getting dizzy. Stop the mask, I want to get off!! The actor playing Rorschach looked a bit too much like Danny Bonaduce for comfort. Only minus the muscles and bottles of hard liquor.

Not to mention the chick's boots changed from spiked heels to flats during a fight scene. Really? Did she tell the criminals, "Hold on a sec, guys. I gotta change my boots before I kick your ass. K, I'm ready now." It was a gigantic game of adult dress up.

Acting - TERRIBLE. It was like the directors / casting directors picked random people off the street and said, "Hey! Wanna star in a movie?"

There was also a Showtime-esque softcore porn scene. Boobs and ass, thrusting...all which made for much discomfort when sitting between your husband and 17-year-old sister-in-law.

During the movie I did manage to get in about 1/2 hour nap...bathroom break...cigarette...phone call to my mom...and walk around the ghost town of a mall.

Bottom line? Don't waste your time or money on this movie.

Stray Dog Theatre

As you all know I had an audition with Stray Dog Theatre on March 18th. It was quick, and super organized. After filling out my information sheet, I literally waited 5 minutes before being whisked into the performance space. I met the directors, performed my cold reading piece (from one of the shows in their 2009 - 2010 season), was thanked, and went back to the "lobby" to wait and see if I was needed for anything else. They were done with me, I was told I'd hear something by March 29, and was thanked for auditioning.

I received a call from them tonight.

"Thank you so much for auditioning, but unfortunately we don't have a role / part to use you in. We thank you for coming out to audition with us, and hope to work with you in the future."

So it was a "thanks, but no thanks" kind of thing. Which, honestly, is ok. I mean, I really would have LOVED to work with them, but to be honest I'm proud that I got out there and tried something different. (Which I'm sure I've said a thousand times within the past couple of weeks.) And maybe, just maybe, next time I audition, they'll remember me and think, "You know, she would be perfect for this role..."

:-D

MacBeth Did It...

...auditions were held tonight at DB, for the Summer Alumni Theatre group. There were only 7 of us (3 gals, 4 guys counting Mr. L) that showed up to read, but we had a good time anyway.

The script is absolutely hysterical (VERY much like "Waiting for Guffman"), but was made even funnier as we took turns stepping on stage and into the different characters' shoes.

Auditions again Thursday night...hopefully we'll have a big crowd!!

Please?

Ok, y'all. I'm a SUPER HUMBLE person, and NEVER do this type of thing. But I'm sorry, I'm SUPER. STOKED and just had to share my wonderful news with all of you!!

Go to this link and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page.

Then scroll SLOOOWLY up to the fifth row from the bottom. And tell me what you see...

It was announced last night via live webcast, and Dustin called me at "Dial M" rehearsals to tell me the news.

What a giddy feeling! I'm honored just to be recognized!!

And now, in the news...

1. Oops...
President Barack Obama has apologized to the chairman of the Special Olympics for his late-night talk show quip equating his bowling skills to those of athletes with disabilities. Appearing on "The Tonight Show" Thursday, the president told host Jay Leno he'd been practicing at the White House's bowling alley but wasn't happy with his score of 129. Then he remarked: "It was like the Special Olympics or something."...
On his way back to Washington on Air Force One, Obama called the chairman of the Special Olympics, Tim Shriver, to say he was sorry -- even before the taped program aired late Thursday night. "He expressed his disappointment and he apologized in a way that was very moving..." (Washington - AP)

2. And the bad parent award goes to...
Deputies say they found a toddler wandering alone on a Texas street and methamphetamine and more than a dozen snakes in his mother's home.
...Tamara Jones has been charged with endangerment of a child by criminal neglect and possession of a controlled substance...In her Buna home, (...) the deputy found a small amount of methamphetamine and as many as 16 snakes, one dead. Newman said one snake was about 8 feet long. (Jasper, TX - AP)

3. Um...ya THINK??
Police say a naked 14-year-old boy taking a walk with a large white poodle has assaulted a woman in Michigan.
...the boy walked away from a behavioral treatment facility Monday. He was strolling unclothed in Hart Township with the dog when he encountered a 53-year-old woman in her yard.
[Sheriff's Lt.] Mast says, "The young naked man approached her with this poodle, and she immediately realized something peculiar."... (No shit?? How about the fact that this dude was BUTT NEKKID, walking a POODLE?!?) (Hart Township, Mich. - AP)

4. Hm. Yea. OK...
The remains of a female "vampire", buried with a brick jammed between her jaws, have been found in Venice, Italian researchers say.
(For the entire article, go here.)

Theateritis

"Dial M for Murder"
As you know, I'm Assistant Directing / Stage Managing the show. I've never worked with this group of people before (MASC), and though it has nothing to do with the actual people, I felt out of place in the beginning. It was more an inner conflict - I didn't (and don't) want to say / do too much, step on toes, etc.; however, I also don't want to look or feel as if I'm sitting back doing nothing. So I've been as proactive as possible, searching for and obtaining props / set decorations, researching 1950s London, costumes, etc., and trying to convey to the actors what is still needed. All in all, though, rehearsals are going smoothly - the director and actors all really have their sh*t together. Thursday night is their first "off book" rehearsal, but some of the actors have already started going off book...as of a couple of WEEKS ago. Yea, it's not perfect - when is theatre EVER "perfect"? - but everyone's putting in their all and doing a fabulous job. It's one hell of a cast / place / group, if I do say so myself.

St. Louis Actors Studio
I had my first EVER professional theatre company audition Monday night. My "pop" (John C) suggested a while back that I email the STLAS, and try to get involved. I finally received a reply from them last week. My audition slot was scheduled for 8pm - 9pm Monday night but they were running behind. One of the directors came down to get me around 8:45pm and told me to follow him up to the audition space. (BTW, if you folks have never seen this place, you've got to at least stroll by some afternoon - the audition space was held at 358 North Boyle, and the Gaslight Theatre itself is at 360 North Boyle. The audition space reminded me of what I imagine a fun NYC loft to look like.) Long story short, throughout the night I read 3 sides, auditioning for 2 different directors.
Side 1 - A scene of characters Molly & Beane from the show "Love Song"
BOMBED this one. I was TOTALLY unprepared, no time to go over or meet my scene partner beforehand.
Side 2 - A scene of characters Vinnie & Sammii from the show "Proposals"
Slightly more comfortable, and got to play up the dimwitted mentality of the character. I was paired w/ an easy going 30-something guy named Darren who put me at ease w/ a quick rehearsal and much conversation before the audition itself, which totally helped.
Side 3 - A scene of characters Burt & Josie from the show "Proposals"
My best audition of the night. I actually got matched up with John C...to do a scene of father and daughter. I couldn't help but play it natural - the guy's always been like another father to me, so it went rather smoothly.
Pop told me things were pretty chaotic that night, and there were so many people there that it may be weeks before we hear anything.

Stray Dog Theatre
Auditions are tonight at 7:45pm. I feel a *little* more comfortable auditioning for a professional company, though I'm still nervous as hell. I can't help but wish I had some professional headshots...but I certainly don't have the couple hundred $ that are required. My 8x10, printed at Walgreens, and taken by the ever so wonderful Ms. Teri D, will just have to do for now! I had a choice to do a prepared monologue or cold reading for my audition; I chose the cold reading. I'd much rather do that. And to be honest, I didn't have the time or energy to dig up and memorize a monologue. Maybe next time.

To be honest, I'm really kind of proud of myself. This is really the first time I've taken a huge LEAP outside my comfort zone. I've slowly been edging into auditioning and helping out with theatre groups that are new to me, so why not add professional theatre on to that? What have I got to lose, honestly? They tell me no...they tell me no. On to the next. They tell me yes...I scream like a little girl, probably, then tell everyone I know how damn excited I am!

Where Have I Gone???

Last published: February 5, 2009.

That’s a long time ago for me, folks. So how do I creatively give you one of those boring, "let-me-update-you-on-what's-been-going-on-in-my-life-since-I-last-blogged" lists? Um. Er. Well…
I can’t really think of how to do that creatively. So for now, you’ll just have to read the laundry list of “what I’ve done since February 5”. Read all the way to the end; I promise it’s worth it. ;-)

1. I scan the Arts for Life audition calendar, as well as the StL Auditions blog, on a pretty regular basis, then jot the interesting auditions into my calendar. However, I (more often than not) tend to completely space and don’t follow through. So I’m a little bummed and disappointed with myself on that end.

2. The SAT’s annual dinner club met on the 21st of February for a lovely dinner at Joey B’s on the Hill, then on to see Marcy as Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors” at SLU. (Justin was the Audrey II operator, I mustn’t fail to mention.) Let me tell you what. Marcy ROCKED that part. That girl’s talented as hell, and there were times I literally sat with my mouth agape, in awe. Some of us went on then to the Grey Fox to surprise Joie for his birthday show. Mom even went along - for the 2nd time, I think? - and had a blast.

3. Molly & I enjoyed “Scrap Attack ‘09” – the first of many more to come, I hope – one Sunday afternoon, then were joined by the boys later on for pizza. I managed to get a LOT of pages done for my “Since We’ve Been Married” scrapbook (no, that’s NOT the actual title…just pretty much the entire concept), and so far I’m happy with the way everything’s turned out. Just need a few more materials. (BTW, when you let 4 years of stuff – wedding invites, ticket stubs, pictures, etc. – pile up in a box, instead of actually DOING something with them…well, it becomes quite an overwhelming project to tackle.)

4. “Wizard of Oz” at Lindenwood University. (It is a pretty safe bet that I won’t turn down an opportunity to see this show.) Markison was fabulous, as always, as the Oz Guard. (aka, “Well that’s a horse of a different color!”) They actually had…*gasp*…a FLY system. The Wicked Witch of the West got to really FLY!!! TOOOOO cool. I was INCREDIBLY jealous.

5. Went to a 10 year old’s birthday party at a bowling alley. A small, 4 or 5 lane bowling alley. Attached to a VFW. I had walked right into the gates of hell, and managed to oh-so-quickly point out to my husband:
#1 – NO BOWLING PARTIES. EVER
#2 – NO soda for the kiddos at birthday parties
#3 – Veggie sticks and crackers. Bread instead of cake. NOTHING WITH SUGAR!!!
(Just kidding. I already have the purple and pink, icing overloaded, gifts stacked to the ceiling, princess party for our unborn daughter, TOTALLY planned out.)

6. Met with the director for MASC (Monroe Actors Stage Company) – they are currently rehearsing their production of “Dial M for Murder”. Let me just cut right to the chase:
Say hello to the Assistant Director / Stage Manager for the production!
I am super excited for this opportunity, and eager to learn as much as I can. I haven’t assistant directed since college, but am looking forward to stretching those wings again, and working really hard to show “what I’ve got”. Good news, too – once you’ve AD’ed one show with them, you are eligible to “put your name in the hat”, so to speak, to DIRECT a show. That’s something I have ALWAYS wanted to try, even just once. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

7. I think I’m FINALLY cracking out of my safe little cocoon of the “same ole same ole”. J emailed me about some upcoming auditions at Stray Dog Theatre – a professional theatre company here in St. Louis...so I bit the bullet...and got an audition slot for March 18!!! NERVOUS. AS. HELL!!! But also stoked! I’m not putting my eggs into one basket and thinking I will get a part in any of the shows...but oh BOY am I keeping my fingers crossed! To get paid to act has been my DREAM for as long as I can remember...and if I could do that, even just once, I honestly think I would be satisfied. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to make a flat out career out of it, but just to say, “I got PAID to do what I LOVE” would make me happy as a clam.

Told you it was worth reading to the end! :-)