First, and foremost, I would like to thank the cast and crew of Evita. This has been the most the amazing theatrical experience I have ever had. All of you are so talented, and it has been an honor to appear on stage with all of you.
That being said, I'm not ready for it to end. We've just finished our second weekend of performances, with two more coming up, and I just want it to keep going. I've only had this feeling once or twice, and they were few and far between; namely, Seussical at Nerinx Hall, How to Succeed, and Bat Boy. Those were some of the best shows I've ever been part of, at least when I look back on them, and Evita has already shaped up to become next on the list. Never have I had so much fun on stage, and it just continues when we get off. I love the friends I made and the shows I did at Truman, but at the end of the night, it always just felt like another class. I never really got a good sense of fulfillment from an audience because, though a lot of my friends came to see me, a good majority of our audiences were people seeing shows to get credit for class. They were enthusiastic, but they didn't seem to want to be there. On the other hand, all of the audiences for Evita have been stupendous. I mean, these people want to see a New Line show (and why wouldn't they?). These are the audiences I've always wanted to perform for. Not just parents and friends; not just students; but real patrons of the arts, real theatre people; more importantly, people just like me, who see a good review, and decide to see a show that night. For this I applaud Scott and the rest of New Line. They have found their place in the Saint Louis theatre scene, and they are basking in it.
Scott mentioned this in his most recent entry (check it out: New Line Theatre), but I have been trying to remember one of the first shows I saw. This may sound crazy, but I know I have memories of seeing Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby at the Fox when I was around two. I know I saw most of the first act, when they are in the Darling home, but after that, I think I fell asleep. This has been confirmed by my mother, who knows I didn't make it past the first act. Sometimes I wonder what this says about me. I mean, I have always found myself identifying with Peter Pan, always afraid to grow up, to enter into the "adult" world. But at the same time, I look back on my childhood, and I try to figure out what I was so afraid of. If I hadn't grown up, I never would have had all the wonderful opportunities that I've had. It took maturity to go to that first audition for Crestwood-Kirkwood, and even more to head to Characters & Company after that. It's as if theatre has made me grow up, in a way. With each passing audition, I matured and got rid of my nerves. Hell, Peter Pan is still in my top 5 musicals...
DESERT ISLAND ALL-TIME TOP FIVE MUSICALS
1. Grease
2. Jersey Boys
3. Peter Pan
4. Seussical
5. South Pacific
Anyway, that's enough for tonight. Everyone go see Evita
Vaya Con Dios, mis amigos. Strawtilla
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
HEY EUGEN(IO)!!!!!
The show opens in two days...HOLY CRAP!!!! This has been one of the best theatrical experiences that I have ever had. Before, I would always look forward to going to rehearsals. But this is the first show that I don't want rehearsals to end each night. I am so drained by the end of each run through, but it is one of the best feelings I've ever had. It's a sense of accomplishment, that I have put forth the best performance I can based on my abilities.
In other news, the cue to cue and sitzprobe this past weekend were a lot of fun. It was a new experience doing the cue to cue, since the only people that had to be there at Truman were the crew for the most part. It was nice being able to see the lights taking shape to form just another layer to this wonderful show. Also, the band is working hard out there. This score is not the easiest thing to play, and they are kicking ass and taking names. This is not your mother's EVITA. This production has an edge to it that just rocks.
This show is also the first time I've really tried to delve into the life of the character that I'm playing. I love the freedom to actually create my character for the show, and not just have to play one that was written originally. This is the freedom that actors dream of.
So, everyone come see Evita. It runs Thursday through Saturday at 8pm, starting July 8, 2010. For more information, see www.newlinetheatre.com/evitapage.html
In other news, the cue to cue and sitzprobe this past weekend were a lot of fun. It was a new experience doing the cue to cue, since the only people that had to be there at Truman were the crew for the most part. It was nice being able to see the lights taking shape to form just another layer to this wonderful show. Also, the band is working hard out there. This score is not the easiest thing to play, and they are kicking ass and taking names. This is not your mother's EVITA. This production has an edge to it that just rocks.
This show is also the first time I've really tried to delve into the life of the character that I'm playing. I love the freedom to actually create my character for the show, and not just have to play one that was written originally. This is the freedom that actors dream of.
So, everyone come see Evita. It runs Thursday through Saturday at 8pm, starting July 8, 2010. For more information, see www.newlinetheatre.com/evitapage.html
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
What Keeps a Man Alive?
( I would like to apologize if I spin off into Spanish at points. Just trying to think Argentinean)
Good evening. I come to the interwebs tonight in an intriguing mood. After tonight's rehearsal, I can honestly say that I have never been so excited for a show to open. I've done a good amount of shows, but I don't think I have ever been so moved or affected by any show as much as I will by Evita. Singing A New Argentina at the end of the show, I was nearly in tears by the energy and conviction coming from the cast, and it's only going to get better as we get closer to opening night. Everyone is absolutely fantastic, and I'm still amazed I even got in the show let alone working with so many talented people. Taylor and John alone are fantastic to watch, but when we hit those chorus numbers, the audience won't know what hit them.
As we rehearsed the second act tonight, it finally hit me as to how human Eva really was. I mean, in the legacy this show has, Eva has covered the spectrum from a manipulative hard-ass to a weepy ingenue. While both depictions hold some truth, they are too far in the extremes. This woman was a wonderful humanitarian who was taken from the world far too early at age 32. Though she never had children of her own, she became a maternal figure to the entire nation of Argentina. She was raised in those slums, and, having experienced this, she knew how much help the people really needed. Even if she just threw money at the problems, it was still a sign that she cared for los descamisados, su gente. Yes, she made mistakes, and yes, she was frowned upon by the upper class, but Eva Peron did her gosh-darn best to make a difference.
In other news, I hurt my knee and ankle dancing the other day. Guess what this means......ACE BANDAGE and KNEE BRACE. Maybe I should explain some of this though. During Jekyll at Truman, I was the Bishop, meaning I was the first to die at the hands of Hyde. Since it is also the end of the first act, it's a pretty important death. However, this meant I was doing fight rehearsals for half an hour before we even started normal runs. During the fight, Hyde knocks me to my knees far too often, and on one occasion, something popped. Nothing broken, but it hurt like the dickens, and I had to brace it for every performance. And it seems like I may have to do this again for Evita. The choreography is fantastic, and Robin is a genius, but in a physical sense, I am not made to move certain ways. There are far too many pops and cracks. So, safety first, and know that when you see the show, I will be armed with a knee brace, ACE Bandages, and gel cushions in my shoes, AKA, a true theatre daredevil:P
And now, for something completely different, SPANISH!
Vaya con dios, mis amigos, y vamos al teatro para la espectacula, EVITA, de Andrew Lloyd Webber y Tim Rice. Presentó con permision del Orginacion de Rodgers y Hammerstein.
Good evening. I come to the interwebs tonight in an intriguing mood. After tonight's rehearsal, I can honestly say that I have never been so excited for a show to open. I've done a good amount of shows, but I don't think I have ever been so moved or affected by any show as much as I will by Evita. Singing A New Argentina at the end of the show, I was nearly in tears by the energy and conviction coming from the cast, and it's only going to get better as we get closer to opening night. Everyone is absolutely fantastic, and I'm still amazed I even got in the show let alone working with so many talented people. Taylor and John alone are fantastic to watch, but when we hit those chorus numbers, the audience won't know what hit them.
As we rehearsed the second act tonight, it finally hit me as to how human Eva really was. I mean, in the legacy this show has, Eva has covered the spectrum from a manipulative hard-ass to a weepy ingenue. While both depictions hold some truth, they are too far in the extremes. This woman was a wonderful humanitarian who was taken from the world far too early at age 32. Though she never had children of her own, she became a maternal figure to the entire nation of Argentina. She was raised in those slums, and, having experienced this, she knew how much help the people really needed. Even if she just threw money at the problems, it was still a sign that she cared for los descamisados, su gente. Yes, she made mistakes, and yes, she was frowned upon by the upper class, but Eva Peron did her gosh-darn best to make a difference.
In other news, I hurt my knee and ankle dancing the other day. Guess what this means......ACE BANDAGE and KNEE BRACE. Maybe I should explain some of this though. During Jekyll at Truman, I was the Bishop, meaning I was the first to die at the hands of Hyde. Since it is also the end of the first act, it's a pretty important death. However, this meant I was doing fight rehearsals for half an hour before we even started normal runs. During the fight, Hyde knocks me to my knees far too often, and on one occasion, something popped. Nothing broken, but it hurt like the dickens, and I had to brace it for every performance. And it seems like I may have to do this again for Evita. The choreography is fantastic, and Robin is a genius, but in a physical sense, I am not made to move certain ways. There are far too many pops and cracks. So, safety first, and know that when you see the show, I will be armed with a knee brace, ACE Bandages, and gel cushions in my shoes, AKA, a true theatre daredevil:P
And now, for something completely different, SPANISH!
Vaya con dios, mis amigos, y vamos al teatro para la espectacula, EVITA, de Andrew Lloyd Webber y Tim Rice. Presentó con permision del Orginacion de Rodgers y Hammerstein.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
What's New
It has been a full week since my first Evita rehearsal, and I am loving the experience so far. It's been a while since I had this much fun with a show. The cast is fantastic, and I can't wait to start blocking rehearsals this week.
At the same time, I've started trying to come up with my character(s) for the show. As an ensemble member, I'm playing everything from Eva's brother to a member of the military, so I've been trying to make a general profile of each character I am in each song. My favorite one that I have come up with is my character for "Buenos Aires". During the dance, we are serving as the populace of Buenos Aires, Argentina. While thinks she is entering this wonderful world of the big city, the rest of the ensemble are the reality of the city: a dirty, hard place of sin and corruption. The character I am, or the mentality I'm trying to maintain, is a member of the underground crime movement. At one point, the majority of the taxi companies in Buenos Aires were under the control of an organized crime syndicate, who would control the access of taxis to major locations in town; typically they would control the people coming and going through los aeropuertos (airports).
Vaya con Dios, everybody
At the same time, I've started trying to come up with my character(s) for the show. As an ensemble member, I'm playing everything from Eva's brother to a member of the military, so I've been trying to make a general profile of each character I am in each song. My favorite one that I have come up with is my character for "Buenos Aires". During the dance, we are serving as the populace of Buenos Aires, Argentina. While thinks she is entering this wonderful world of the big city, the rest of the ensemble are the reality of the city: a dirty, hard place of sin and corruption. The character I am, or the mentality I'm trying to maintain, is a member of the underground crime movement. At one point, the majority of the taxi companies in Buenos Aires were under the control of an organized crime syndicate, who would control the access of taxis to major locations in town; typically they would control the people coming and going through los aeropuertos (airports).
Vaya con Dios, everybody
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
A New Argentina
Tonight was my second rehearsal, and I'm even more excited than I was last week. This music is some of the most difficult show music I've had to sing in a long while, at least since Jekyll, or Bat Boy. Everyone sounds fantastic, and I feel privileged to be part of this company. I can't wait to start the blocking rehearsals now.
Til next time, Vaya Con Dios!
Til next time, Vaya Con Dios!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
And so it begins
This is my first blog, so I'm a little nervous trying to do this. But I will do the best that I can.
Starting next week, I am in rehearsals for New Line Theatre's production of EVITA, and I can barely contain my excitement. Since seeing Grease a few years ago, I have wanted to be involved with a New Line show, and I'm even more excited to be working with them on my first show post-graduation. It's going to be a great experience, and I can't wait to start working with this cast, including some of the best talent I've seen in St. Louis.
My opinion of the show: I didn't know a lot about it before auditioning. I'd heard a portion of the soundtrack, and saw a few scenes from the movie a long time ago. While it didn't rub off on me right away, I loved most of Lloyd Webber's early stuff, mainly when he was with Tim Rice, so I thought auditioning would be a good experience.
A little about myself, for those that don't know me. I just graduated from Truman State University, with a BA in Theatre, along with a minor in English. While there, I had the chance to perform in Bat Boy the Musical, The Threepenny Opera, and Jekyll & Hyde the Musical, along with working on other mainstage productions. In addition to these shows, I performed in the workshop production of the new children's musical Jack vs. Giants. While being involved with the theatre department, I was part of the Truman's co-ed a cappella group, Sweet Nothings, and had the privilege of being on their self-titled CD.
Until the next time, Vaya con dios
Starting next week, I am in rehearsals for New Line Theatre's production of EVITA, and I can barely contain my excitement. Since seeing Grease a few years ago, I have wanted to be involved with a New Line show, and I'm even more excited to be working with them on my first show post-graduation. It's going to be a great experience, and I can't wait to start working with this cast, including some of the best talent I've seen in St. Louis.
My opinion of the show: I didn't know a lot about it before auditioning. I'd heard a portion of the soundtrack, and saw a few scenes from the movie a long time ago. While it didn't rub off on me right away, I loved most of Lloyd Webber's early stuff, mainly when he was with Tim Rice, so I thought auditioning would be a good experience.
A little about myself, for those that don't know me. I just graduated from Truman State University, with a BA in Theatre, along with a minor in English. While there, I had the chance to perform in Bat Boy the Musical, The Threepenny Opera, and Jekyll & Hyde the Musical, along with working on other mainstage productions. In addition to these shows, I performed in the workshop production of the new children's musical Jack vs. Giants. While being involved with the theatre department, I was part of the Truman's co-ed a cappella group, Sweet Nothings, and had the privilege of being on their self-titled CD.
Until the next time, Vaya con dios
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