Back in Action!

Remember in my last entry how I said that I really miss performing??

Well, I think Providence heard me complaining and decided to do something about it.

Last Thursday my oh-so-friendly-tango-teach pulled me aside in class for what I was anticipating would be a terribly uncomfortable chat, when he told me about a musical theatre audition that he'd heard about and thought I'd be interested in. Oh! Well... now he just went and did something really cool and while I want to not like the guy I gotta say......GAAAAH! THANK YOU!!

The show is Dracula el musical written by Angel Mahler and directed by Pepito Cibrian, two pretty big deals down here aparently. Think Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackinosh of South America... YEAH! And all I know is the address of the theatre and to show up sometime between 12:00pm and 8:00pm this Monday thru Thursday. So basically, this is a total absolute shot in the dark. I mean, I haven't had a voice lesson or a gym membership in 4 months, I don't have any of my audition materials, repertoire, or wardrobe, and I have like 2 days to prepare but no clue what I'm preparing for! OH, and did I mention its obviously all in Spanish???

...Thus went all my initial fears and doubts scurring about my brain in sudden reckless anxiety.

Then I said to myself, "Kelly?"
"Yes?" I answered.
"If you could describe your dream job, what would it be?"
"Pssh! That's easy Kelly! It would be performing in musical theatre all around the world!"
"You're crazy! Where's the money in that??"
"Um, excuse me, it's all about artistic fulfillment..."
"Oh please..."
"You shut up! Don't get me started..."

But I digress.

Basically I realized that the reason I'd come all this way was staring me in the face and there was no ignoring or walking away from it. I mean, it's not like I have anything to lose. I have no reputation to uphold or face to save. I have a plethora of audition songs I've memorized by way of busting them out in my car in LA traffic. And I now own a pair of genuine Argentine leather tango shoes perfect for onstage dancing. I can find a way to make this work.
So, I collected my headshots, translated my resume, downloaded some sheet music for an old go-to favorite, and dusted off the vocal chords while the family was out (our walls are very thin... if the neighbors heard of me as much as I can hear of them... we may start receiving hate mail).

Today was the big day! It was Dia del Estudiante, Student's Day, so we all had the day off of classes, which pretty much the entire city took advantage of because also it was the first day of Spring, Dia de la Primavera, where everyone buys each other fresh flowers and hangs out in the Palermo parks to drink mate and cerveza with friends (ps. I love this country's social life!). I, however, like a well honed Bachelor's-of-Theatre-Arts-holding LA actor spent the day trekking around my barrio printing out photos and sheet music, doing my yoga and vocal excercizes, and picking out the perfect audition outfit (a feat only made more difficult by the reduced selection in my closet). I even treated myself to a cab ride downtown so I could arrive in style.
OOOOOOOOooooooooh even if I tried, I couldn't describe just how legitimate I felt chattin with the cabby as we weaved thru the traffic, I becoming more exhilarated and nervous with every second. It was the perfect my-life-in-the-big-city-movie-moment.

When we got to the theatre, I thanked the cabby for his well wishes and donned my game face, only to be told that they just wanted my headshot and audition form and to give me an appointment time to come back next week for the actual audition.

Oh.

Well, I give myself props for being TOO prepared on TWO days notice at least. The actual audition itself doesn't even require us to come with a song prepared. We'll be given a peice from the show to learn and rehearse briefly before singing it one at a time. And did I mention that we'll be singing for Cibrian and Mahler themselves? Personally?? Even Sofi and Ana were like "Wha!? You're gonna meet Pepito Cibrian in person???" Well.... aparently. It will probably go down in the books as the ballsyiest/coolest thing I've ever done. : /

Honestly, even though I didn't even DO any audition today, just the getting prepared and psyching myself out and downing tea and cough drops and practicing slating in Spanish was SO REFRESHING! I just love acting like an actor again!