The neon lights are indeed bright on Broadway....

Greetings!  I hope that your new year has been fabulous for you.  It's been pretty darn good for me so far. 

About two weeks ago I went to NYC for an audition for the Off-Broadway production of Coming, a show in which I was involved for about two years.  I was in the original reading, and January of 2011 I was in the first full production of it here in Philadelphia.  

With Reichen Lehmkuhl (from The Amazing Race...consequently he also dated Lance Bass), Erik Ransom (His brainchild IS Coming, also creator of his alter ego Damian Salt), and Adam Hostler (Played the Coming derivation of Joshua Crenshaw) at the opening of Coming.

I was thrilled to go up there, not just because it was an NYC audition, but I was going to get seen!  By a New York casting director.  Also, it's always good to see my Philly peeps (Madi Distefano, the director of this version of Coming, she is also the founder and co-artistic director of Brat Productions, and also Erik, an honorary Philadelphian).

Looking at my calendar around that time I realized I had a few days off before and after the audition, so I decided to spend a few days up there.  There were so many friends I hadn't seen in months and it was time.  The start had aligned and I was meant to spend time there.

After setting up my sleeping arrangements, on my friend Chrissy's couch, I got in touch with my closest friends and set on times to meet up.  I also allowed myself time to simply walk around.  Honestly, I always had a hard time understanding the layout of New York, couldn't ever say "Oh I know what you're talking about" when someone said they lived at 110th and 7th.  "Wha?" I would I always wonder.

Turns out, Paula Vogel would be speaking and signing at The Drama Book Shop about a half hour after I was to get to NYC, and right around the corner from where I was supposed to be dropped off from the bus.  Coincidentally, my friend Matteo Scammel (A very talented actor here in Philly) had signed up to take the same bus up there to attend the same event.  Eerie, but ultimately exciting to have a friend there.

We were a little late getting in, but we rushed over and she still had about 20 minutes to speak.  Because everyone was crammed into the back of the little tiny black box they have in their downstairs, the woman running the event paused Paula and asked if people could sit on the little ledge behind her that ran across the back panel of the stage area she was on.  She turned around and asked if anyone was interested in sitting there and Matteo and I jumped on the opportunity.  I walked past her, with my bags and little suitcase, and nervously nodded and smiled when she put her hand on my back and pointed at the first little seat for me to sit on.

She was lovely, by the way.  I think it may have just been the stage lighting, but from where I was sitting, it looked like she was glowing.  One thing she said to me rang so important.  It was heading towards the end of the Q & A.  A young woman playwright in the audience asked her what the best advice she ever got was.  Paula went on the tell a story about how she was rejected horribly by an agent, which led her to create her own work, and to be honest and heartfelt.  She basically felt that that experience helped her to realize that what's most important are the people that you surround yourself with.  That you should have people around you that respect you and are honest with you.  "A circle stays afloat, one person doesn't".

I had her sign my book, and to my surprise she knew what I was talking about when I mentioned The Wilma Theatre's Our Class, which I know she went to see.  She also knew about Azuka Theater's production of her play The Long Christmas Ride Home.  I was completely start struck.

Just the beginning of my journey...

This post is to be continued....so many cool things to report.  I must go to the gym!

xo

-Cindy

Living permanently in actor housing...

Greetings y'all!  Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day!  I know I sure did, seeing a hilarious Valentine's play called The Playdaters at my usual Philly haunt Quig's pub with my boyfriend.  It was splendid (so was the red rose he got me, but I digress...).

So, I'll fill you in on a little something.  I live in Center City Philadelphia and I live in The Wilma Theater's actor housing.  You say, "How Cindy?  You haven't been cast there before!".  Well, Ed sure has (twice!) and this year because they've begun hiring more people in town, Ed asked if he could stay until he found a more permanent place.  Look no further than a signed lease for a year living in their actor housing in Center City.  I joined officially in December and we've been living here happily ever since.

Living in actor housing permanently is actually quite interesting, simply because everyone around you is constantly shifting.  I've met several professional designers, actors, and directors just from wandering the halls and coming up the stairs.  Last night for instance Ed and I were coming in from a little bit of a late night at Quig's.  As we walk up the stairs our neighbor's door is open and he arrives with a spatula in his hand, saying that he was making leftovers and we should come in and join him.  One of the other actors that is living downstairs came up too.  We talked and ate and listened to music for about 45 minutes and it was lovely.  I'm forging these tiny relationships and connections with people I never would have met unless I was living here.

They leave just as quickly as they arrive, especially the designers and directors.  I don't get to know them as well, but once a show opens an actor's day is pretty much open for anything to happen.  So sometimes I find myself on little adventures with an actor from Canada or LA or Brooklyn...

These little tiny relationships I cherish so much.  It's just nice to know that if I ever venture to their part of the country, I have a friend I can call and get coffee with.

Once I get a new cord for my camera, I'll upload pictures from my impromptu vacation in NYC and tell you all about the amazing self discoveries I had.

Until next time...

-Cindy

Simply the best

First of all, I have to say that having a good audition is a good feeling.

Having a great one, however, is like a natural high: uncontrollable smile, lightness in your step, the occasional "yes!" elbow/arm pump gesture.  Not outwards, but inwards towards myself.  Exciting, warm, almost incoherent to the outside world.

That happened to me yesterday.

I realized recently I've been, dare I say it, afraid to take risks.  For a silly fear of feeling vulnerable.  Sometimes I find myself wondering about why I do this, and recollecting that it's because I want to tell a story, and I want people to remember that they are not alone.  I've felt like I've had a wall up.  Not just towards my career, but also what I watched.

It is time to say good-bye to that.  Because honestly yesterday I had a good audition, then I had a GREAT audition.

So, I went in for a local theater company and when I was towards the end of the side I knew the exact moment that I started to push, and they knew it too.  But I was given some really great direction, it was playable, you know?  After I got their direction, I took a moment.  In that moment something allowed me to relax and just DO the scene.

There's a quote from the movie American Beauty that goes: "It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself."  During that read I really felt the emotions, for the first time in a long time, and it was exhilarating.  Dare I say, that was a good audition.

After that, I transported myself to another local theater company to sing and maybe read some sides.  Feeling really good about the other audition I strapped on my heels, tossed on some blush, and looked over my lyrics.  The elderly man who was wise-cracking the whole time (it was adorable....and comforting) was impressed by how early I was.  He took me upstairs and I saw the two people in there and I remember in my head saying "I'm going to nail this".  With that confidence I had one of the best auditions of my life.  I don't want to go into too much detail, but they seemed surprised and pleased.

Not knowing whether or not it will come through is difficult about having knock-out auditions.  They could have seen someone much more suited for the role before me, or I may not have been what they were looking for in this particular show.  What I do know is that they will remember me, especially after I send them a "Thank You" in the mail.  All I can do at this point is use that connection to the best of my ability.

Love and all that jazz,
-Cindy