Got an audition *during* work on Sunday...! o_O

[Outtsyder]

Yes, I've been absent from posting here in a week, and I haven't been able to get around to replying to all the cool and fun stuff that's been going on lately (like the new addition to Razor One's family), but things just got so overly busy in the last week, that I just didn't have any energy to really post anything (especially with work running me into the ground, but at least that's money for BotCon).

And I know that subject line in my post sounds messed up, but it can be explained fairly simply; tomorrow's going to be an even MORE hellaciously overloaded day. :p Not only am I working almost all of tomorrow, but a theater company in my area is holding auditions for a show coming this late-November/early-December. I couldn't make the previous audition times, and Sunday afternoon is the last chance left. So I'll be re-working my hours on that day so that I can go to the audition during my break, and finish off the rest of my hours as soon as I get back to work (which probably means I'll be coming home pretty late-ish, and completely exhausted).

The show will be a British pantomime (or just "Panto" for short) adaptation of Hansel & Gretel, and this is actually my first audition that's outside my church or conventions, and I just know that no one there will know who I am. Now for those not familiar with Panto plays, they're usually over-the-top comedic adaptations of well-known fairy tales, children's stories, and legends (like Goldilocks, Puss In Boots, Sinbad The Sailor, etc.). However, in a Panto, a LOT of creative liberties are taken with the scripts, such as modern-day pop-culture gags, or Goldilocks having an evil twin sister named Shadowlocks (who enters the stage while a trumpeter plays Darth Vader's Theme). Also, throughout the show, the actors intentionally break the fourth wall; and the audience is in fact allowed to cheer the heroes and boo the villains. And one other thing that makes a Panto unique... almost every time, there's a male character played by a female actor... and vice versa.

So when I go to the audition, I'll actually be trying out for almost every character, except Gretel (a REAL woman is more appropriate for the role, anyway). Which means, yes... I'll be trying out for not only Hansel, but The Witch as well! Of course, with this being my first real audition in a while, and knowing that there'll be some prospects with more experience than me, I'm not expecting to get a spot on the show; even if I do get one, I might be part of the chorus section. But it'll still be something to add to the acting resume, instead of just another blank spot just because I didn't get a lead part.

If you're curious about this show, just go here:

http://www.fvgss.org/

Wish me luck, BWInters!

Outtsyder, who's going to have no energy left at ALL at the end of the day....

[fizzybird]

Good Luck! (or is it break a leg... can you
say that too before you get a part? ah well.)
You'l do great, and I'll be rooting for ya!

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

*gasp!* I'd love to be in your shoes, Outty! That's great!!! I wish I could watch ya. Good luck, and let us know what happens with your audition!

[Nurann]

Ooooh that sounds incredible! Good luck/break a leg Outty!!! Tell us all about the audition when it's over, okay?

[Outtsyder]

All right, back from the conclusion of one SUPER-heavy day. Shortly after I returned home, I got the call-back to return to the place at 7pm, and for some reason, while I should have been exhausted from lack of energy, something just inexplicably got me recharged. I made it back there about 10 minutes before 7, and kind of noticed (a) there wasn't anyone I knew, and (b) I was one of very few males there, even though that didn't bug me. The age range was pretty widespread, from young teens to probably close to 40-50, and just about everyone did a hilarious job throughout the whole callback session.

How it started was the casting peeps at the front table had short-lists of people whom they were considering for certain roles. They'd call us up to read certain scenes from the script, which would be used to gauge how we'd fit the roles (including the bunch of additional characters added into this adaptation). After the script-based readings for a character were completed, they'd call them up again one by one, and have us sing (accompanied by a piano) "Happy Birthday" as how we'd interpret the character we were trying out for.

We began with the tryouts for Hansel and Gretel themselves, who look like they'll be played by girls (no young boys were present), which still works; in a Panto, there are at least two characters with the casting gender-bender thing happening. Next came some other major characters added into the story, whom you can probably find out about in that link I posted up earlier in this thread. And I was actually considered for one of the roles that had a gender-bender thing, which was ruddy hilarious. But then, it gets even better.

As I said in my first post in this thread, I was actually planning on trying out for the Witch, a.k.a. Witch Hazel. At first, I wasn't one of the ones among the Witch-players' short-list, but I actually asked to give it a try. Man... I think I scared the unholy heck out of everybody. Including myself! :lol I even came up with this REALLY weird cackle, which was really high-pitched, joyously-evil sounding... which led to a rough cough... and morphed into a really exaggerated Gollum-like hairball-puking noise that echoed all over the hall! During the break, I got so many people raving about my Witch tryout.

Oh, and BTW... when I did my own "Happy Birthday" for my Witch tryout, I asked the pianist a short question before we started.

"What key are you playing?"

"F[-major]," she said.

I replied.... "Gimme an F-minor."

Those of you not familiar with musical theory, it'll probably take too long to explain. Basically, while it's a similar key, instead of the "happy"-sounding version, it's the version that sounds darker and more "somber." At the opening chord, I crumpled myself into an old-hag kind of pose, and changed the words from "Happy Birthday"... to "Happy Deathday." Oh, and in the part in the normal song where you the birthday boy/girl's name? I actually sang... "Happy Deathday, Osama Bin Laden." Don't ask me why; that was actually the first thing that came to my mind, and I honestly don't know why. This was long before I realized tomorrow was September 11...!

Finally, we got through all the character reads (all with expected over-the-top hilarious results), and after about two hours, it was finally time to go. We were notified that we actors ended up making the final casting decisions really hard for them, but they'll still notify us by Tuesday the 12th. Now as I said before, with this being my first audition in a while, and among a bunch of peeps of varying age ranges who probably have more experience than I do, I'm not expecting to actually make it in the casting for this show (I may be fortunate to at least be in the chorus section, even though it's not a "glory" spot in the cast). Still, if I do make it, I certainly won't complain.

Outtsyder

[Safeguard]

I sure hope you get a part. *crosses transistors *

[Sinead]

O.o;;

Dude.

That musta've been one seriously stressful audition, no matter HOW well it went . . . daaaaang.

But best of luck! I'm rootin' fer ya all the way from Boston!!!

Oh, and BTW . . . I should have at least one copy of the Godspell production with me at Botcon. *grins* So if you'd wish to contribute to purchasing one (I highly doubt that it'll be expensive), then it should be able to be arranged. *grinwink*

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

LoL That is awesome, Outty. Sometimes I think the auditions are the best part to watch instead of the show. Like in American Idol. Sounds so fun! I would have loved to have heard your Hazel.

More luck to ya!!!

[Outtsyder]

LoL That is awesome, Outty. Sometimes I think the auditions are the best part to watch instead of the show. Like in American Idol.

*shudders* Gads, I utterly cannot stand that show on any level imaginable.... Although, heck, yeah, everything that happened during the callback was just thoroughly insane. If I had any energy left in me right now, I'd drop a couple other notes on what else went down Sunday night.

Sounds so fun! I would have loved to have heard your Hazel.

One of these, perhaps. We can only hope someday.

Anyway, I got a call earlier tonight, and as I suspected, I didn't make the cast. But I did kind of expect that; this was my first audition in a while -- and the first time I had ever tried out for something as over-the-top as a Panto -- so I didn't get my hopes up too high; I actually would have been surprised if I did make it on my first shot. I also think one factor that probably penalized my chances was my BotCon trip; I would have missed five practices while I was gone, and you pretty much have to commit to all the rehearsals (and of course, the showtimes) if you're chosen. But I'm not really upset about it; I'm pretty sure there'll be other chances.

Like at BotCon.

Outtsyder

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

Awe. That's stinky. But I agree with what you said. Either the show or the BotCon. I wouldn't be able to choose. LoL Probably the BotCon. Still, it's awesome that you tried. Kudos to you, Outty.

On a side note, I'm tired of American Idol also. As funny as Simon is, and the auditions, I'm just sick of all of these reality shows. This time I'm just going to stick with House, Family Guy, CSI: and 24. No more Survivor, American Idol, or Amazing Race. They're old. Always the same thing over and over.