Hello all!
Right now I'm in New York City relaxing at my friend Chrissy's house until my meet-up with an agent tonight at Ripley-Grier. Yesterday I met with Peter Rofe of PDR Voice Coaching in New York. We met because I wanted to get assessed for his class that he's having in a few weeks. It's an all day class. 10am-6pm. So the price was up there but actually incredibly reasonable for the location, the teaching, and the length of the class.
First of all: HE ACCEPTED ME! Secondly....
That means I'm broke.
Until Friday when I get paid. But yeah I mean broke. Haven't-been-this-broke-since-college broke. Thank-God-I-bought-my-bus-ticket-before-I-came-here broke. Didn't-eat-more-than-a-bagel-and-granola broke. BROKE.
A thought: How do we fund these lives of ours? I always want to take classes, but the prices, while they are usually reasonable, are still out of my reach. So what gives?
Maybe I'm not working hard enough. Perhaps if I had more survival jobs. What I do know is this: I need to get better at managing my money.
Yesterday was a wake-up call that I needed. When I talked to Peter about this life he said that to get started in this business takes money. It's true. It's true that it takes money to make money. But you invest in your career. It's like starting a restaurant or opening a shop. You invest. And hopefully you'll get that money back ten-fold. That's what I'm hoping for. Not hoping. That's what I'm going for. That's what I'm going to do.
I am humbled. I applied for a part-time job at Starbucks. We are amping up our eBay store. I re-applied for my Macy's Villager job (which I LOVED last year). I am still doing SP work and baby sitting. Clearly, however, I need more money to fund my life and dreams. Thank GOD I met with Peter yesterday. I truly felt that I was in the right place at the right time.
Today I sat down and wrote out a budget for shared expenses and personal expenses. I have minor debt to pay off and I'm gonna do it goddammit. I am going to get myself out of this rut. Just like Irina said I WANT TO WORK. (Was it Irina? Or Masha or Olga? I can't remember).
So November will be my month to figure this all out. And I will figure this out. One day at a time.
-Cindy
p.s.: Anyone looking for help? (:
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Constantly Looking For The Next Thing...
So much news!
First of all, my show Luckiest Kid with White Pines was a wonderful success. We close today at 2pm (which is why I'm trying to squeeze writing this in before doing yoga and heading to the theatre). At first the audiences were tiny. I honestly haven't performed for such small houses since college. But it was humbling and I believe that everyone who came to see it got a great performance. There were times I was bummed out that there weren't a lot of people there, but the cast and everyone else involved was so amazing that we all went out there and put out a fantastic show each and every time. Luckily this past week has been picking up with almost full houses.
I also got my final Voice Over Demo! I'll be posting it on my website soon once I have time to update it. It sounds really great and I'm really excited to take this next step in my journey as an actor. It'll take time to build up but I'm happy to have this new focus, considering I've felt like I've been floating around, not really sure what I'm doing in my theatre career. So to have something like this that's almost like having tunnel vision is actually welcome in my life.
Recently, I think because it's been nearly a year since my friend Reuben passed away, I've been thinking a lot about him. At times it's all consuming and other times it's fleeting. So I'm writing a show. I need to get this out of my body and share this with the world. It's no use keeping it to myself. I'll go mad. So I've been writing a piece in my head and a bit on paper about grief. In February I did a piece with Brat. Shit. Crazy. II and this piece is influenced by that. I actually wrote a proposal recently to a theatre company here in town to get some help with development so we'll see how that goes. I should be hearing this week. More on that later.
While I don't have anything official lined up in theatre, life is busy busy. Our eBay store is going well and we have SO MANY ITEMS to add. Now with the show closing I'll be spending a lot more time in the apartment doing just that. Add add add. It takes a while but once people start buying your items and you can pay your rent doing that, it's worth the time. We're getting better at it. Click the link below to see our store.
Tomorrow I'm meeting with my acting coach Peter Schmitz to go over monologues and some sides for an upcoming audition that I have. I'm also going to talk to him about my direction in theatre. Applying to schools and summer programs and whatnot. I am also meeting with an agent in two weeks and going to an EPA in NYC to get seen by a Shakespeare Theatre.
The going has been tough with getting work in theatre recently but you know I have a great community here and wonderful friends. I've been actively attempting to not feel sorry for myself but use the rejections as a motivator (working out, looking for more work, reaching out to people, etc.). I've also been better about trying to keep working while waiting to hear back from a job so that when that rejection does come (not that it always does but you get my point) I can say to myself "I have so many other things going on, I'm doing this and that. And while I would have liked that job and it hurts to not get the job, I gave it my best shot and it wasn't meant to be". Though getting three rejections in one week hurt (not gonna lie) but I had my cast of Luckiest Kid to hold me up and give me love. That's just the best.
Also this week I went to a workshop with Tassos Stevens of Coney (a theatre and game company in England). **SIDE NOTE** I was really tired after having a long day before the workshop but I went because I said I'd be there and I read up on the company and I promised myself I'd try to get out there and do more things. I had a tendency to just bail on parties and theatre because I was "tired", but who isn't? And seriously what else am I gonna do stay home and do...what? But I am also trying to monitor when I am actually tired. **END SIDE NOTE**
Here is a bio for Tassos: Tassos Stevens is an England-based thought leader in the field of game design, audience engagement, and innovation and the founder and co-director of Coney. Stevens specializes in delivering play to people in all kinds of spaces, wherever they are.
YOU HAVE FOUND CONEY
The workshop was great fun! We played games! And I met new people. Tassos is a lovely, talented man who ran the workshop with grace. I wrote down all the games we played because of our theatre camp and the kids that we have in the camp are getting older and can handle some more challenges. This past summer I really focused on ensemble and I think it worked. Certainly having more of a focus helped lift the performances past what they have been in the past.
The next day New Paradise Laboratories (who hosted Tassos and Coney) had a party and Tassos did a beautiful piece called Jimmy Stewart, An Anthropologist From Mars, Analyses Love And Happiness In Humans (And Rabbits). Coney's work is guided by three principles of adventure, curiosity, and loveliness and this performance was just that. All of that. I hope I can use the ideals and games I learned in my upcoming work and teaching.
Alright. I must work out and get ready for the last show of Luckiest Kid.
You rock.
-Cindy
First of all, my show Luckiest Kid with White Pines was a wonderful success. We close today at 2pm (which is why I'm trying to squeeze writing this in before doing yoga and heading to the theatre). At first the audiences were tiny. I honestly haven't performed for such small houses since college. But it was humbling and I believe that everyone who came to see it got a great performance. There were times I was bummed out that there weren't a lot of people there, but the cast and everyone else involved was so amazing that we all went out there and put out a fantastic show each and every time. Luckily this past week has been picking up with almost full houses.
 |
| The Cast of Luckiest Kid |
I also got my final Voice Over Demo! I'll be posting it on my website soon once I have time to update it. It sounds really great and I'm really excited to take this next step in my journey as an actor. It'll take time to build up but I'm happy to have this new focus, considering I've felt like I've been floating around, not really sure what I'm doing in my theatre career. So to have something like this that's almost like having tunnel vision is actually welcome in my life.
Recently, I think because it's been nearly a year since my friend Reuben passed away, I've been thinking a lot about him. At times it's all consuming and other times it's fleeting. So I'm writing a show. I need to get this out of my body and share this with the world. It's no use keeping it to myself. I'll go mad. So I've been writing a piece in my head and a bit on paper about grief. In February I did a piece with Brat. Shit. Crazy. II and this piece is influenced by that. I actually wrote a proposal recently to a theatre company here in town to get some help with development so we'll see how that goes. I should be hearing this week. More on that later.
While I don't have anything official lined up in theatre, life is busy busy. Our eBay store is going well and we have SO MANY ITEMS to add. Now with the show closing I'll be spending a lot more time in the apartment doing just that. Add add add. It takes a while but once people start buying your items and you can pay your rent doing that, it's worth the time. We're getting better at it. Click the link below to see our store.
 |
| Alfies Nook |
The going has been tough with getting work in theatre recently but you know I have a great community here and wonderful friends. I've been actively attempting to not feel sorry for myself but use the rejections as a motivator (working out, looking for more work, reaching out to people, etc.). I've also been better about trying to keep working while waiting to hear back from a job so that when that rejection does come (not that it always does but you get my point) I can say to myself "I have so many other things going on, I'm doing this and that. And while I would have liked that job and it hurts to not get the job, I gave it my best shot and it wasn't meant to be". Though getting three rejections in one week hurt (not gonna lie) but I had my cast of Luckiest Kid to hold me up and give me love. That's just the best.
Also this week I went to a workshop with Tassos Stevens of Coney (a theatre and game company in England). **SIDE NOTE** I was really tired after having a long day before the workshop but I went because I said I'd be there and I read up on the company and I promised myself I'd try to get out there and do more things. I had a tendency to just bail on parties and theatre because I was "tired", but who isn't? And seriously what else am I gonna do stay home and do...what? But I am also trying to monitor when I am actually tired. **END SIDE NOTE**
Here is a bio for Tassos: Tassos Stevens is an England-based thought leader in the field of game design, audience engagement, and innovation and the founder and co-director of Coney. Stevens specializes in delivering play to people in all kinds of spaces, wherever they are.
YOU HAVE FOUND CONEY
The workshop was great fun! We played games! And I met new people. Tassos is a lovely, talented man who ran the workshop with grace. I wrote down all the games we played because of our theatre camp and the kids that we have in the camp are getting older and can handle some more challenges. This past summer I really focused on ensemble and I think it worked. Certainly having more of a focus helped lift the performances past what they have been in the past.
The next day New Paradise Laboratories (who hosted Tassos and Coney) had a party and Tassos did a beautiful piece called Jimmy Stewart, An Anthropologist From Mars, Analyses Love And Happiness In Humans (And Rabbits). Coney's work is guided by three principles of adventure, curiosity, and loveliness and this performance was just that. All of that. I hope I can use the ideals and games I learned in my upcoming work and teaching.
Alright. I must work out and get ready for the last show of Luckiest Kid.
You rock.
-Cindy
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Live!
Yesterday evening, I deleted the Facebook app from my phone. It's my first step towards trying to "re-find" myself.
When I was younger, I had so many interests. I read and re-read books, plays. I wrote poetry, I took time to draw and paint. It may have been partial boredom, but I worked my butt off.
Then I went to college and I was focused on my acting work, but other things in my life took over too, not the best influences, I should say. It's almost become like beginning to fight off demons. One by one.
There are times that I wish the internet had never happened. Or that I wish it wasn't nearly as advanced. Too often I find myself glued to my computer to do every day tasks. When I'm listening to music I put it on my computer. When I'm watching TV I put it on my computer. When I'm writing I do it on my computer. When I'm reading I do it on my computer. When I'm researching I do it on my computer.
Everything. And I'm going to break my habit.
Last night before I came home I went to pick up Chinese food. And while I was waiting, I sat. And simply waited. Didn't take out my smart phone. I took the place in. Because to me, that's what's real. That's reality. Life in a virtual sense doesn't completely make sense to me. And I don't want to make complete sense of it.
After I got my Chinese food I went home and my neighbors were chilling outside. My neighbors are all about 50, 60 years old. They were drinking wine. And they offered me some. And I had some and connected with people I hadn't really connected with. It was amazing. We didn't talk about theatre, we talked about the neighborhood, the community events coming up, making good food, and working out. I stayed out there with them for the better part of an hour. Then I got hungry and said my goodbyes. But it was this incredible connection that happened. And I don't know how open I would have been to it a few months ago.
I know this post doesn't have to do with theatre, but it has to do with me reconnecting with myself and my interests. Finding time again to read, write, and be outside in the world. Creating is something I have wanted to do and I haven't been doing it. Why?
Because I believe the internet made me lazy. It's easy to scan through Facebook all the time and feel really shitty about not doing anything. Because it seems like everyone else is doing the thing you want to do. So then what's the point?
What do I want to contribute to the world? What do I want to remember about my life? Certainly not sitting at my computer not doing anything. That would be a disservice to myself. I like myself too much to not allow myself to fall into that again.
So I'm creating and writing. I'm doing the Sunday Best again with the Berserker Residents, I'm working on Luckiest Kid with White Pines, I'm beginning to pick up where I left off on my children's musical (that's right, complete with songs as well!), I'm going to read, I'm going to continue seeing theatre, I'm going to travel, and I'm going to love. My life will be important. To me and perhaps eventually to the world. Or at least a small part of the world.
I'm off to Quig's to have fun with the Berserker Residents and also my dear friend's show The Playdaters.
Until next time.
-Cindy
When I was younger, I had so many interests. I read and re-read books, plays. I wrote poetry, I took time to draw and paint. It may have been partial boredom, but I worked my butt off.
Then I went to college and I was focused on my acting work, but other things in my life took over too, not the best influences, I should say. It's almost become like beginning to fight off demons. One by one.
There are times that I wish the internet had never happened. Or that I wish it wasn't nearly as advanced. Too often I find myself glued to my computer to do every day tasks. When I'm listening to music I put it on my computer. When I'm watching TV I put it on my computer. When I'm writing I do it on my computer. When I'm reading I do it on my computer. When I'm researching I do it on my computer.
Everything. And I'm going to break my habit.
Last night before I came home I went to pick up Chinese food. And while I was waiting, I sat. And simply waited. Didn't take out my smart phone. I took the place in. Because to me, that's what's real. That's reality. Life in a virtual sense doesn't completely make sense to me. And I don't want to make complete sense of it.
After I got my Chinese food I went home and my neighbors were chilling outside. My neighbors are all about 50, 60 years old. They were drinking wine. And they offered me some. And I had some and connected with people I hadn't really connected with. It was amazing. We didn't talk about theatre, we talked about the neighborhood, the community events coming up, making good food, and working out. I stayed out there with them for the better part of an hour. Then I got hungry and said my goodbyes. But it was this incredible connection that happened. And I don't know how open I would have been to it a few months ago.
I know this post doesn't have to do with theatre, but it has to do with me reconnecting with myself and my interests. Finding time again to read, write, and be outside in the world. Creating is something I have wanted to do and I haven't been doing it. Why?
Because I believe the internet made me lazy. It's easy to scan through Facebook all the time and feel really shitty about not doing anything. Because it seems like everyone else is doing the thing you want to do. So then what's the point?
What do I want to contribute to the world? What do I want to remember about my life? Certainly not sitting at my computer not doing anything. That would be a disservice to myself. I like myself too much to not allow myself to fall into that again.
So I'm creating and writing. I'm doing the Sunday Best again with the Berserker Residents, I'm working on Luckiest Kid with White Pines, I'm beginning to pick up where I left off on my children's musical (that's right, complete with songs as well!), I'm going to read, I'm going to continue seeing theatre, I'm going to travel, and I'm going to love. My life will be important. To me and perhaps eventually to the world. Or at least a small part of the world.
I'm off to Quig's to have fun with the Berserker Residents and also my dear friend's show The Playdaters.
Until next time.
-Cindy
Sunday, September 15, 2013
My first *true* marathon theatre experience...
I can't make this post too long because I have to clean my apartment and go over materials for Luckiest Kid (which starts up again tomorrow) and exercise before going to The Adrienne and seeing Ego Po's A Doll's House (I know I haven't seen it yet and I should be ashamed. Being an artistic advisory board member and everything but...you know...I've been busy).
In any case, yesterday I saw The Nature Theatre of Oklahoma's Life & Times parts 1-5. That equals 12 hours of theatre. I've never experienced anything like this. For several reasons...
First off, the show was freaking 12 hours long. With intermissions so they could transition (they fed us multiple times...including a delicious BBQ! With organic ketchup!). That's the longest I've ever sat in a theatre and been emotionally invested in something. Ever. The longest shows I've seen before was Elevator Repair Service's The Sun Also Rises, and Operetta by the Capitol Theatre (Wroclaw) in Poland, both of which were 3.5 hours long.
That's how long the first episode of Life and Times is. 3.5 hours.
Secondly, the entire concept behind the piece is unlike anything I've ever seen. Over the course of 10 phone conversations, artistic director Pavol Liska asked their sound designer Kristen Worrell to tell the story of her life. And she did. And they recorded 16 hours of dialogue. And they use that dialogue verbatim. Each episode is a different "style". So the first episode was live music and dance. And it encompassed birth to about kindergarten. The styles change drastically over each episode. The next "styles" were 80's dance-themed, murder mystery style, an animation, and a book. A freaking book. While an organ played wildly live in the background.
The woman in the recordings is only speaking on the seemingly mundane. Memories, flashes of thought, remembrances, feelings. But the entire "style" of the piece, making each and every "episode" EPIC. Well. That was what touched me. Truly.
Life is precious.
Listening to her talking about Fisher Price toys, the differing smells of her friend's houses growing up, Judy Bloom novels, having her first friend fight. All these details brought up SO MUCH FOR ME. So many memories washed over me. Moments I was proud of, moments I was ashamed of, moments I had forgotten about. What the woman was going through when she first recorded this dialogue (which is now being retold by the company members on stage, including herself) I was going through in the theatre. Laughing, relating, crying.
It got to be a little overwhelming for me.
I had a hard time keeping it together in the theatre during the animation segment, because she talked about her family cat Bentley. And after watching about 10.5 hours of theatre by that point, I couldn't hold in my emotions anymore. It was too much for me to handle. Even writing this now I'm misting up. I kind of quietly exploded in the theatre.
The piece is oddly universal. It's a celebration of life. It's realizing that while you think what you have to say isn't worthwhile, but in fact it's important. You are important. We are important.
It seems as though they tour often and all over the world. So if you get a chance take some time and go see it. My favorite episode was Episode 1, but all of them are thoroughly enjoyable, if not a bit off-putting and odd. Well not a bit. In fact there were a lot of off-putting moments. But really it didn't feel as though I was sitting there for hours on end. It flies by.
Go see it. Experience life. This beautiful life.
Until next time.
-Cindy
In any case, yesterday I saw The Nature Theatre of Oklahoma's Life & Times parts 1-5. That equals 12 hours of theatre. I've never experienced anything like this. For several reasons...
First off, the show was freaking 12 hours long. With intermissions so they could transition (they fed us multiple times...including a delicious BBQ! With organic ketchup!). That's the longest I've ever sat in a theatre and been emotionally invested in something. Ever. The longest shows I've seen before was Elevator Repair Service's The Sun Also Rises, and Operetta by the Capitol Theatre (Wroclaw) in Poland, both of which were 3.5 hours long.
That's how long the first episode of Life and Times is. 3.5 hours.
Secondly, the entire concept behind the piece is unlike anything I've ever seen. Over the course of 10 phone conversations, artistic director Pavol Liska asked their sound designer Kristen Worrell to tell the story of her life. And she did. And they recorded 16 hours of dialogue. And they use that dialogue verbatim. Each episode is a different "style". So the first episode was live music and dance. And it encompassed birth to about kindergarten. The styles change drastically over each episode. The next "styles" were 80's dance-themed, murder mystery style, an animation, and a book. A freaking book. While an organ played wildly live in the background.
The woman in the recordings is only speaking on the seemingly mundane. Memories, flashes of thought, remembrances, feelings. But the entire "style" of the piece, making each and every "episode" EPIC. Well. That was what touched me. Truly.
Life is precious.
Listening to her talking about Fisher Price toys, the differing smells of her friend's houses growing up, Judy Bloom novels, having her first friend fight. All these details brought up SO MUCH FOR ME. So many memories washed over me. Moments I was proud of, moments I was ashamed of, moments I had forgotten about. What the woman was going through when she first recorded this dialogue (which is now being retold by the company members on stage, including herself) I was going through in the theatre. Laughing, relating, crying.
It got to be a little overwhelming for me.
I had a hard time keeping it together in the theatre during the animation segment, because she talked about her family cat Bentley. And after watching about 10.5 hours of theatre by that point, I couldn't hold in my emotions anymore. It was too much for me to handle. Even writing this now I'm misting up. I kind of quietly exploded in the theatre.
The piece is oddly universal. It's a celebration of life. It's realizing that while you think what you have to say isn't worthwhile, but in fact it's important. You are important. We are important.
It seems as though they tour often and all over the world. So if you get a chance take some time and go see it. My favorite episode was Episode 1, but all of them are thoroughly enjoyable, if not a bit off-putting and odd. Well not a bit. In fact there were a lot of off-putting moments. But really it didn't feel as though I was sitting there for hours on end. It flies by.
Go see it. Experience life. This beautiful life.
Until next time.
-Cindy
Friday, September 13, 2013
*Peeks around corner*
Oh. Hey. Yeah. I know. Yeah I know I promised to keep it updated and...well would you look at that I didn't. Again. But you know I'm not going to put myself down about it, nor will I apologize. I will just update.
SO HI. Hello world, welcome back. It's good to be here. Many things have of course happened since I last posted.
Ed and I had our most successful summer of Summer On Stage yet. It was incredible. Our dear friends Ross and Brenna were up there with us this summer directing and teaching. That meant that Ed was able to really run the camp and focus on administrative stuff and we all got to focus on truly teaching and directing. We noticed a difference and the kids noticed a difference as well.
We pow-wowed before hand all three of us and really pin pointed on what we were going to focus on in classes. I focused on movement. Straight up Greek chorus style. We worked on building an ensemble and working together. The older kids totally locked into choral movement and I had them write stories. This one incredibly talented and wiser-than-her-years camper named Julia wrote a story filled with wolf imagery and journeys. So we stuck with that and I read the story to them while they, along with the help of the teen apprentices, wrote a choral ode. It was outstanding and beautiful and moving. We were each able to establish a language with them so that when we got into rehearsals I could use words that they normally wouldn't understand. Our camp moved up a level and I couldn't have been more proud.
The piece I directed was full of choral movement and flashlight use and puppetry and character development and music and call and response. It was beautiful and the kids were fantastic! The play was short and sweet but precise and told a great story. I pushed kids. I had one moment where were improv-ing a scene and this one boy did this great movement where he jumped up in the air with legs and arms spread out. And later while we were rehearsing a scene he didn't use it so all I had to say was "Hey you did this great thing in the improv where-" and he burst right into what I was talking about. I felt so connected to them this year it was wonderful.
So we did a little bit of traveling and relaxing and then Ed had to get back to town to start rehearsals for Bathtub Moby Dick with The Renegade Company for the Philadelphia Fringe Arts Festival. So August was an interesting month because I had some work lines up but not much. So, being inspired by Ed's sister, we started an eBay store!
Alfie's Nook
We are still working on adding products and such. My mom and I were talking last night about the store and she was asking me various questions about it. And I mentioned that we were getting items from yard sales and the like. And my mom just said, "Wow! My daughter the entrepreneur!" and it made me feel amazing. It made me feel important. And relieved a little.
August was good. I made a lot of decisions last month. I'm recording a demo for voice over in two weeks and I'm going to go forth with that. I have worked out really hard and for the first time I'm really REALLY seeing a difference. And I've been sticking with it and eating better. I'm going to start taking Meisner classes at a studio in NYC. I've been submitting myself to more projects. Oh yeah and I've done some stand-up comedy...
This particular evening was hosted by The Beserker Residents. Great guys, hilarious and really talented, and I'm looking forward to the next time.
Video streaming by Ustream
I start at around 27 minutes, but the rest of the comedians that night were really fantastic. It's definitely worth taking a look at the entire show. The rest of the show is linked in the bar next to the video on the USTREAM page. I performed again at the Late Night Cabaret a few days later. After Fringe is finished up I'm going to be trolling about, looking for more open mics. There is one down the street from me and at Fergie's. If you know of any more let me know.
I can't tell you how much of a dream it is to be up there and making people laugh. It's a dream. And I know I'll fail eventually and I'll get heckled, but something happens to me up there. I feel really powerful. And I am looking forward to doing it again.
So fringe is happening and I've seen some really great stuff. I saw Ed's amazing show: Bathtub Moby Dick . It's so good. I couldn't be more proud him. The press has been great and so have the audiences.
So far this Fringe I've seen Ajax: The Madness, Pay Up, and Completeness. Tonight I'm seeing BASEMENT and this weekend I'm seeing Holly's Dead Soldiers, Life & Times, and A Doll's House. Next week it's The Talk Back and I'm actually going back into rehearsals for White Pine's production of Luckiest Kid, which is a world premier opening in October. You should come see it because it's going to be BEAUTIFUL.
You can get tickets here. It's directed by Ben Lloyd (who founded the company in 2009) and written by the incredible Martha Kember.
Featuring: Martha Kemper, Joshua L. Browns, Cindy Spitko, Eva Hall, Fleece, Andrew Carroll, Dan Ison
So that's about it for now. I know I'll be thinking of more things to update you all on. But life is good, we are getting into Autumn, changes are happening and there will be more to update I'm sure.
Be good to one another.
-Cindy
SO HI. Hello world, welcome back. It's good to be here. Many things have of course happened since I last posted.
Ed and I had our most successful summer of Summer On Stage yet. It was incredible. Our dear friends Ross and Brenna were up there with us this summer directing and teaching. That meant that Ed was able to really run the camp and focus on administrative stuff and we all got to focus on truly teaching and directing. We noticed a difference and the kids noticed a difference as well.
We pow-wowed before hand all three of us and really pin pointed on what we were going to focus on in classes. I focused on movement. Straight up Greek chorus style. We worked on building an ensemble and working together. The older kids totally locked into choral movement and I had them write stories. This one incredibly talented and wiser-than-her-years camper named Julia wrote a story filled with wolf imagery and journeys. So we stuck with that and I read the story to them while they, along with the help of the teen apprentices, wrote a choral ode. It was outstanding and beautiful and moving. We were each able to establish a language with them so that when we got into rehearsals I could use words that they normally wouldn't understand. Our camp moved up a level and I couldn't have been more proud.
The piece I directed was full of choral movement and flashlight use and puppetry and character development and music and call and response. It was beautiful and the kids were fantastic! The play was short and sweet but precise and told a great story. I pushed kids. I had one moment where were improv-ing a scene and this one boy did this great movement where he jumped up in the air with legs and arms spread out. And later while we were rehearsing a scene he didn't use it so all I had to say was "Hey you did this great thing in the improv where-" and he burst right into what I was talking about. I felt so connected to them this year it was wonderful.
So we did a little bit of traveling and relaxing and then Ed had to get back to town to start rehearsals for Bathtub Moby Dick with The Renegade Company for the Philadelphia Fringe Arts Festival. So August was an interesting month because I had some work lines up but not much. So, being inspired by Ed's sister, we started an eBay store!
Alfie's Nook
We are still working on adding products and such. My mom and I were talking last night about the store and she was asking me various questions about it. And I mentioned that we were getting items from yard sales and the like. And my mom just said, "Wow! My daughter the entrepreneur!" and it made me feel amazing. It made me feel important. And relieved a little.
August was good. I made a lot of decisions last month. I'm recording a demo for voice over in two weeks and I'm going to go forth with that. I have worked out really hard and for the first time I'm really REALLY seeing a difference. And I've been sticking with it and eating better. I'm going to start taking Meisner classes at a studio in NYC. I've been submitting myself to more projects. Oh yeah and I've done some stand-up comedy...
This particular evening was hosted by The Beserker Residents. Great guys, hilarious and really talented, and I'm looking forward to the next time.
Video streaming by Ustream
I start at around 27 minutes, but the rest of the comedians that night were really fantastic. It's definitely worth taking a look at the entire show. The rest of the show is linked in the bar next to the video on the USTREAM page. I performed again at the Late Night Cabaret a few days later. After Fringe is finished up I'm going to be trolling about, looking for more open mics. There is one down the street from me and at Fergie's. If you know of any more let me know.
I can't tell you how much of a dream it is to be up there and making people laugh. It's a dream. And I know I'll fail eventually and I'll get heckled, but something happens to me up there. I feel really powerful. And I am looking forward to doing it again.
So fringe is happening and I've seen some really great stuff. I saw Ed's amazing show: Bathtub Moby Dick . It's so good. I couldn't be more proud him. The press has been great and so have the audiences.
So far this Fringe I've seen Ajax: The Madness, Pay Up, and Completeness. Tonight I'm seeing BASEMENT and this weekend I'm seeing Holly's Dead Soldiers, Life & Times, and A Doll's House. Next week it's The Talk Back and I'm actually going back into rehearsals for White Pine's production of Luckiest Kid, which is a world premier opening in October. You should come see it because it's going to be BEAUTIFUL.
You can get tickets here. It's directed by Ben Lloyd (who founded the company in 2009) and written by the incredible Martha Kember.
Featuring: Martha Kemper, Joshua L. Browns, Cindy Spitko, Eva Hall, Fleece, Andrew Carroll, Dan Ison
So that's about it for now. I know I'll be thinking of more things to update you all on. But life is good, we are getting into Autumn, changes are happening and there will be more to update I'm sure.
Be good to one another.
-Cindy
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Embrace the funny...
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| Officially EMC! |
So yeah that pic is from the other day when I received my EMC card in the mail! Very exciting for me. Depending on what type of audition I go to and how they decide to run it, I can get seen before Non-Equity actors. I've spent the past several years being Non-Eq at EPA calls and it is not fun. So I'm on my way.
A Little Night Music is about to close in about a week and I'm sad to see it go. I saw it again on Thursday with my friend Dana and it was of course so good. I've seen it I think about 8 or 9 times since watching that first run through of Act I which feels like so many months ago. I'm sad that I won't be going back on, but it really has been a joy watching Karen in that role. There's so much I can learn from watching her!
These weeks where there is "downtime" are hard. I've tried to fill it with workshops and other types of work (chores!) and it's hard to get moving sometimes. I find it's easier to get going when I'm busy busy busy rather than having one or two things to do in a day. It makes me want to sit around and eat bon bons all day. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but wanting to do that all the time can be troublesome.
So today I'm meeting with my friend Alex Bechtel to help me with a song. And then I'm working out. Then I'm definitely doing chores (i.e. cleaning the bedroom I had no time to clean for all of May and most of June...or so I told myself). And then I'm seeing my friend Josh Hitchens' show: Guilty But Insane. It's a part of the SoLow festival here in Philadelphia. SoLow Festival 2013. This is it's fourth year and it's grown SO MUCH since they started. My good friend Johnny Smith is doing this piece: My Last Trip to Nowhere Land. I saw my friend Kevin Meehan's piece Last Meals From Death Row where we ate a conglomeration of different people's last meals. Yes it was in some ways disturbing but also thought provoking and I feel inspired by my friends and colleagues to explore what I can contribute to this world of art.
I was feeling down the other day and I talked to Peter Schmitz, who is an actor here and he was my monologue coach for grad schools (See: Multiple Focuses at Once...). He gave me sage advice about creating what I want to and just going ahead and doing it. So I have ideas for next year's SoLow festival and also just for characters to create. I find that I don't give myself and my ideas enough credit. Often I'll have a creative thought and I'll shut it down in my head because I don't think it's "good enough". But now looking at it through that lens I have to say that that's completely unfair to myself.
I had a someone tell me once, "You're afraid of your own power" and at the time I didn't know what that meant. But I'm ready. I feel like I'm ready to take those risks. For the first time in my adult life I feel secure in myself in who I am. And I'm ready to try new things.
For example I went to NYC the other day for a Musical Theatre Intensive. It wasn't really, well I guess you could say it was intense. It's what they call a "one-on-one" session and the session I attended was with a casting director and a talent agent.
It was scary. And hard to hear what they had to say, simply because in that world of musical theatre I don't know what I want. There I said it. And when they asked me where I think I fit in I didn't know how to answer. I told them that I was in a transitional spot where I'm not super young but I'm not all that old. So I feel confused sometimes. And they said well that's something you need to figure out. As I sat and thought and watched other people sing their selections I thought....
I'M FUNNY! I'm a funny woman. I make people laugh. And I do it well.
After the sessions were done I went up to the casting director and mentioned that and he said he understood my issue with the age. "But if you embrace the funny, the roles will come to you".
So this past week after that I've been going for it. Enough of this wishy washy nonsense, I've been looking specifically at roles on Backstage and Equity and if I think I'm right for it, I submit myself. I don't try to over think it, I don't try to wonder what they are looking for. If I think I'm right for it, I submit. End of story. So far nothing has come out of that save for an email that said they would pass my information along (success!) but I think it's best for me to fire on all cylinders and tell them, "Hey, I'm this, that, and the other thing. This is my awesome credit that makes me think I can do this. I'm available and interested. Hope we can keep in touch".
One last thought before I throw on clothes and run out the door: If other people can do it, why can't I?
Until next time,
-Cindy
P.S. For another good read from another awesome woman (which is going viral) read my friend Katherine Fritz's blog: i am begging my mother not to read this blog. Profanity laden wisdom.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Getting ready for the summer...
Acting is a weird profession sometimes.
I remember my father saying to me a few weeks ago, "Your life is so different from mine." My dad's a semi-retired environmental engineer. I'd say our lives are very different in many many ways.
First of all, I can't do a 9-5. Tried. Won't do it ever again. When I look at my calendar, every day is different. Sure, there are times when I have weeks of a standardized patient job, but that's usually 4 days a week and for a limited time. To look at my calendar now and see that in about 6 months I don't have work scheduled yet, doesn't bother me. Something always comes up, which is dangerous to rely on at times but that's the way it is.
It's taken me 5 years to get comfortable with all of this. I feel like I just now am getting a grip on my work scheduling, planning the actual work, and my finances. Getting older has been good to me.
As my friend and mentor Jess Conda once said to me, "It's a very calico lifestyle". We take work from everywhere and assemble a life out of that. I'd rather that than a 9-5 any day. And honestly a full-time job really exhausts me. I have mad respect for people who can do a full-time gig but also do more on the side. When I'm working those hours I have a hard time doing what I love (like seeing theatre or even reading) let alone going to the gym and having more work and responsibilities at home. I turn into a bit of a blob.
This summer, Ed and I are going up to Massachusetts again for our third year of Summer On Stage. So for work right now, since my Temple SP job just ended for the season, I'm focusing on this as well as doing a few odds and ends (including UPenn SP work and constantly working on A Little Night Music).
We love our summer camp. The kids are great, the families are fun, and I learn so much. This year because of schedules we unfortunately cannot be in Massachusetts for 6 weeks like the previous two years. So this year we pared it down to 3 weeks in total and we are bringing our friends and colleagues Brenna Geffers and Ross Beschler to teach with us. This is exactly the kind of growth we wanted to move towards. I think that because we have a shorter amount of time, we won't feel so tired by the end and we can give the kids an even better experience. And since we have more people, Ed can really focus on his responsibilities as Camp Director and run the camp, instead of having to deal with a bajillion other responsibilities. That way Ross, Brenna, and I (as well as our Stagecraft teacher, Sam, who's been with us all three years and is amazing) will be able to focus on our classes and rehearsals. We've learned so much from the past two years that I think this year we'll be able to run it like a well oiled machine (or at least a machine in need of a little WD-40).
Here's our website: www.summeronstage.com
Summer can sometimes be a lonely ghost town for actors. If you don't book acting summer stock work or a camp gig it can be deadly. Please tell me if I'm wrong on that because those are really the two jobs I've been able to get in the summer, one of which I had to create in order to get. Maybe I'm picky...
Anyway, I am off to run some errands. It's a beautiful day here in Philadelphia. Hope it's beautiful where you are.
-Cindy
I remember my father saying to me a few weeks ago, "Your life is so different from mine." My dad's a semi-retired environmental engineer. I'd say our lives are very different in many many ways.
First of all, I can't do a 9-5. Tried. Won't do it ever again. When I look at my calendar, every day is different. Sure, there are times when I have weeks of a standardized patient job, but that's usually 4 days a week and for a limited time. To look at my calendar now and see that in about 6 months I don't have work scheduled yet, doesn't bother me. Something always comes up, which is dangerous to rely on at times but that's the way it is.
It's taken me 5 years to get comfortable with all of this. I feel like I just now am getting a grip on my work scheduling, planning the actual work, and my finances. Getting older has been good to me.
As my friend and mentor Jess Conda once said to me, "It's a very calico lifestyle". We take work from everywhere and assemble a life out of that. I'd rather that than a 9-5 any day. And honestly a full-time job really exhausts me. I have mad respect for people who can do a full-time gig but also do more on the side. When I'm working those hours I have a hard time doing what I love (like seeing theatre or even reading) let alone going to the gym and having more work and responsibilities at home. I turn into a bit of a blob.
This summer, Ed and I are going up to Massachusetts again for our third year of Summer On Stage. So for work right now, since my Temple SP job just ended for the season, I'm focusing on this as well as doing a few odds and ends (including UPenn SP work and constantly working on A Little Night Music).
We love our summer camp. The kids are great, the families are fun, and I learn so much. This year because of schedules we unfortunately cannot be in Massachusetts for 6 weeks like the previous two years. So this year we pared it down to 3 weeks in total and we are bringing our friends and colleagues Brenna Geffers and Ross Beschler to teach with us. This is exactly the kind of growth we wanted to move towards. I think that because we have a shorter amount of time, we won't feel so tired by the end and we can give the kids an even better experience. And since we have more people, Ed can really focus on his responsibilities as Camp Director and run the camp, instead of having to deal with a bajillion other responsibilities. That way Ross, Brenna, and I (as well as our Stagecraft teacher, Sam, who's been with us all three years and is amazing) will be able to focus on our classes and rehearsals. We've learned so much from the past two years that I think this year we'll be able to run it like a well oiled machine (or at least a machine in need of a little WD-40).
Here's our website: www.summeronstage.com
Summer can sometimes be a lonely ghost town for actors. If you don't book acting summer stock work or a camp gig it can be deadly. Please tell me if I'm wrong on that because those are really the two jobs I've been able to get in the summer, one of which I had to create in order to get. Maybe I'm picky...
Anyway, I am off to run some errands. It's a beautiful day here in Philadelphia. Hope it's beautiful where you are.
-Cindy
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