It's been too long....

Well there goes my New Years Resolution of staying on top of this blog thing.

In any case, I'll update from here on out.

Monday (May 7th 2012) was a really exciting evening for me.  I was able to be a part of Dustin Lance Black's new play "8", which is about the Proposition 8 hearings from 2010.  Once the Wilma announced that they were doing a reading with Gavin Creel, I needed to find a way to be a part of it.

WORK.

I scoured the internet looking for a cast list and all I could find at the time was a list of actors from the NY reading.  I became disheartened because all of the female roles were for older women.  But finally I saw a picture of a woman who looked about 32 years old.  She played the role of the Clerk.  I quickly emailed the director of the Wilma reading and said Hey, you know, I'd love to be a part of this, even just reading the stage directions or maybe even possibly the clerk.

Walter emailed me several days later offering me the part.  And as Ed said, I was popping my "Wilma cherry".  He so graciously bought me a daisy for the occasion.

We rehearsed for 5 hours that same day of the reading and while I only had 5 lines I didn't lose faith in the fact that my character was written and kept in the play for a reason.  Without the Clerk you wouldn't have people swearing an oath to tell the truth.  Without the Clerk, nobody could officially call the case.  So I felt really confident about being there and wanted to make the most of the role.

A lot of my friends were there.  Like I've said before, Philadelphia is a hell of a theater town.  But I was so thrilled to see their work in front of me, as well as the actors from out of town.  I sat in the rehearsal and watched.  I said my lines of course, but I simply watched.  I wanted to take as much away from the experience as I could.

There was a distinct difference in the NY actors and the Philly actors.  I won't go into detail but it was interesting to see the weaknesses and triumphs of each of the groups of actors in how they worked and how they got into the parts.

That's me, second in from the right side, with Gavin Creel in the green doin his thang.

The house was sold out so being on stage with the tense energy of the play and the truth behind it along with the energy from the crowd was overwhelming.  I could see everyone, into the back row.  We felt very connected to them.  The emotional responses from the text was palpable.  It was a beautiful evening.

Moving on from that, a brief update in general, I've had some ups and some downs.  Auditions in Philly are few and far between.  I nearly had to beg for one audition and apparently I'm not alone.  It's difficult also when you don't know if you're going to hear anything at all.  I think that's the worst part about it.  But big time reality check, usually people don't get the part.  It's one out of hundreds and I need to keep that in perspective.  My good friend Ross was telling me I should be seriously "backstaging and actor's accessing" and I think that's a brilliant suggestion.  I went through a brief period of feeling really horrible about myself.  But what it comes down to is, how can I really HELP myself?.  That's the big question.

Grad school.  I'm applying next fall.  To everywhere.  I'm saving my pennies so I can afford to pay the application fees.  But I'm doing it.  Who knows where it will take me!  I have a lot more research to do but I'm happy that I've made the decision to make this jump.  I really feel that it is time.  I WANT MORE.

In other news, Ed and I are getting ready to go up to Massachusetts for the weekend to do a production of MEEP with the kids and some professional actors.  When Ed suggested the idea to me back in January, I immediately backed him on it, saying that it was a brilliant idea and it would be a great experience not just for the kids but also the professionals.  He's been working hard but the weekend is finally here and it's looking like it's going to be a huge success.  We'll take pictures that I can post on here.

Oh yeah and that other little resolution that I made?  The whole losing weight thing?  I've lost 11 pounds since the summer.  My clothing fits so well.  I'm eating better and eating less.  I'm more active and I feel really confident when I walk into an audition room.  I'm so proud.

I must go off, I have errands I must do, but I promise to update more.

Until then.

-Cindy

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

January Update!

Hello all!

I know I promised to update more, but I've just been so darn busy!  So here's what's been going on with me...

As some of you may know, I performed in a short run of a show with Simpatico Theatre Project rightfully called "The Meep Project".  We performed at the Walnut St. Theatre in their 5th floor performance space.  The show was initially conceptualized by my boyfriend Ed Swidey when he was working with theatre camps with young kids.  While working with the kids he wanted to create a movement piece for their final presentations and the kids begged him for lines.  He said alright you get one word: meep.  That's all they could say throughout.  And it turns out the piece was wildly successful with those kids.  The show was also successful this past summer when we did the piece with our summer camp kids.

 

 

 

Meep set and meep kids!

Ed had the idea of proposing it to a theatre company in Philly to see how the show would go with adult actors, since he had never tried it.  After getting together a seriously sick cast of adult actors in Philadelphia to do it we jumped into a short term rehearsal process and before we knew it we were in tech!  And then we opened!  Lo and behold we were a hit, receiving stellar reviews and overselling our last weekend, people getting turned away at the door!  And to boot some of our original meepers made the journey from Westport Mass. to Philadelphia to come and see the show.  I've never felt more honored.

Read our fantastic review!

With Sara Howard in The Meep Project

Well, I can't say too much more in detail but since that extraordinary experience we've been asked about what the next step is for Meep.  There might be a remount...or some other things are in the works.  Once I get the go ahead on disclosure, I'll make sure to keep you posted.

So that brings us to a little update about my movie.  First off let me just say that making this movie was an incredible experience.  I just fell in love with everyone on set, I was able to work with remarkable actors, and the director and I were like two peas in a pod.  When we wrapped this Sunday, I cried saying goodbye to everyone, especially Steve, the director.  Sitting here at my desk in my apartment I'm reminiscing about the experience and I find myself speechless.  There are no words for how joyous I was when I reached set, and how excited I was to try new things with the actors.

I believe I've stated on here that I haven't ever done film work before.  Working on this has been a true testament to how adaptable you have to be as an actor.  Film work is a complete 180 from on stage work.  It's compressed, it's focused in a different way.  The fundamentals are the same, in a "what-I-want-and-how-I'm-going-to-get-it" sort of way, but film is not shot in a linear fashion.  Meaning you film different parts of the movie while on set. 

For example, if there is a bedroom set that shows up 4 times in the script, most likely you are going to shoot those scenes in one day, or in several days in a row.  The editor takes all of the shots and pieces together the story the way it is in the script.  Not going to lie, when I realized this I felt like I went through an existential crisis: "So does that mean that's how they shoot The Office?", and "That feels disingenuous!", and "Theatre just makes more SENSE to me!?". 

The experience of acting on screen was most enjoyable because it was just so different to me.  There were times that I did feel nervous because I simply felt like I didn't know what the hell I was doing.  But I confided in the director and other people on set and I felt sated.  Honestly, if you're doing a film for the first time don't fret, just take a deep breath, remind yourself why you're there, and just do it fully. 

As far as the timeline for when it premiers, I'll let you know.  Steve is hoping to have it ready for a premier in September.  And yeah, I'm going to let the world know.

In terms of trying to further my career, all I can say is never stop submitting.  I went from ZERO auditions to FOUR in two days.  Also, I bit the bullet and signed up for a personal trainer at LA Fitness, just a few blocks from me and let me tell you I'm already seeing results (there was some turmoil with the guy who signed me up got reassigned and they had to reorganize and blah blah blah...I won't go into it).  What's nice is...it's a tax write-off.  Seriously!  It's a business expense.  I am a business.  I get all types of advice and it's good to have a support system there while I work out. 

My advice: it's a good investment if you invest in yourself.

The brings us up to date.  I actually should get going because I need to start looking over my audition materials and get it in my skin. 

Here's hopin'

-Cindy