I did it! My first legit NYC cattle call and Broadway audition! This past Sunday I auditioned for the new musical
Spring Awakening in NYC. It was so much fun, a great experience. I went up with my friend
Lauren Ciandella on Saturday evening at around 5. After printing our headshots at Kinkos and getting dinner from Noodles, we began our roadtrip up the interstate. After about two hours driving, we reached Hamilton station in New Jersey where we parked the car and took the train into Manhattan. Another hour into our adventure we arrived at Penn Station and took the subway down to Washington Sq. Park where we would split up to meet our friends who were housing us for the night. I stayed with my dear friend
Meghan Kennedy who is as beautiful and kind as ever. I always love to see her and hear of her NYU adventure. What a life! And she's such a talented actress. I'm so blessed to know such wonderful people. After I met her, around 11 that evening, we went to McDougal Street and stopped in a lovely cafe where we chatted over drinks, catching up and reliving the past. The two of us from little Southwest Virginia now studying at prestigious universities in theatre and working in the industry! Where are we from again? I love to think of that, how far I really have come but how much further I have yet to go. It's the thrill of the chase. That's why I love this industry. So after we had our fill of the downtown nightlife (which I never really get my fill and end up craving it more) we headed to her dorm room making a quick stop in CVS for preparation for the next day. Did I say her dorm room? I should instead say apartment! It was gorgeous! University House is her dorm and it is anything but traditional. She has a suite which she shares with three other wonderful girls. They have a private bath, small kitchen and a living room. With a/c! AND THE VIEW! An amazing view! Several stories up looking straight down an avenue at the Chrysler Building, which was beautifully lit up in the gre Gotham sky! I LOVE THIS CITY! After notebooking my music and crashing on her couch, I got to "sleep" at around 2 a.m. But it really wasn't sleep. The anticipation and worry about the oncoming audition kept me quite awake until my alarm sounded at 3 a.m. I then proceeded to get ready for the day, suiting up in my dress clothes and tie, ready to face the toughest casting agent. Once I had myself together, I hugged Meghan goodbye, thanking her for her hospitality, and heading out the door. I met Lauren in Washington Square Park and we walked up to the metro, taking the A line to Penn Station and walking up four blocks to the audition locale. We then arrived at the New Dance Group on 38th and 8th at just around 4:30 a.m., having caught the metro right on time. By this time, there were already about 20-some people in line, a few having been there since 2 a.m.! It seemed a bit ridiculous, but who am I to judge since we arrived at 4:30. But I'm glad we did! As we played the waiting game, the line grew to 1000 by the time auditions started. And Lauren and I were number 23 and 24, respectively. Of course, that was at 9:45 a.m. During the meantime between arriving and auditioning we passed time by walking to Starbucks for tea or chatting with some new friends we met from Tulsa, OK. They had flown in just for the audition. Intense. At 9:45 the C.A.'s handed out fliers to all in line explaining the breakdown of the day and what to expect. We were told that there would be two parts to the audition. The first would be a "type-out" session. They would bring us into a room 10 at a time and line us up. Then, based on our headshot, resume, and physical appearance, they would allow us to continue on to round two or tell us "no" and we would be done for the day. Lauren and I got placed in the 10 am time slot, which actually ended up being a 9:50ish time slot. When this was found out, the first thirty people began frantically changing out of their pajamas, into what they wished to be seen ing. Sneakers became dress shoes, plastic curlers became full locks of hair. Then the line started moving! Panic! Everyone grabbed their stuff and rant to catch up with the line, walking up three flights of steps into the core of the New Dance Group. We then had a couple of minutes outside of the type casting room to turn in out headshots and resumes and do any final touches to our appearance. Then we went in. The guy, a young recent college grad looked us over and decided our fate. Lauren and I passed! One we went to round two, the round where we actually sang our piece for consideration! We hurried up another flight of steps into another line. Once our turn had come we were ushered to a door (A,B,C, etc.) where we waited "on deck" for the person in front of us to finish. When it was my turn I went in, did my "moo" and left. Nothing abnormal about it. Just like every other musical audition I've ever been to at that point, but much more stressful leading up to it. I sang Teddy Geiger's "These Walls," in case you were curious. Afterwards, Lauren and I met the Tulsa kids outside the studio and we all headed out to lunch, eventually parting ways and Lauren and I leaving for College Park, MD. The overall experience was amazing. I loved it. This is part of the reason I do theatre. The adrenline pumping, ther nervousness of being "typed-out," and the thrill and triumph when you go on through. It's all wonderful and I need to do it more. Long live auditions! Good or bad! For they are all learning experiences.
