Journal

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Class Notice: Meisner One with Lynwoodt Jenkins

Meisner One with Lynwoodt Jenkins
Tuesdays, Sept. 28 – Oct. 19, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
at Actor’s Express

The Meisner Technique is a unique system of actor training which focuses on releasing the individual’s inner emotional life, while creating a high degree of spontaneity in performance. A series of improvisations train the actor to work moment-to- moment off of the behavior of the other actors.

Lyndwoodt Jenkins’ credits range from film actor (THE FAN), to stage actor (venues throughout the Southeast), to playwright–AT THE CROSSROADS, BLACKBERRIES and FAGGOT, which received national attention when reviewed by American Theatre Magazine in 2002. Lynwoodt trained under Founding Artistic Director Chris Coleman to instruct the Meisner Technique. Other teaching credits include: Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Spelman College, Clark-Atlanta University, South Fulton and West End Performing Arts Centers.

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Audition #5: Home for the Holidays

Tonight I auditioned at Stage Door Players for a part in Home for the Holidays. And I had to sing. I have not sung in 20 years, since my high school days. In high school, I sang for the local church youth choir tour for three years (solo and duets). I also sang in quartet and solo for my school in regional competitions even winning first place.

A lot can happen to a voice in 20 years. The old cliche “If you don’t use it you’ll lose it” does apply. I did OK, but being nervous and my voice not being in shape, I could feel and hear that I did poorly. My voice was shaking.

This was the second audition I have done for Robert Egizio. The first was for Over the River and Through the Woods. And the second time I did the same monologue for him (Lesbian Spanking Inferno).

How to NOT land a role:
1. Do the same monologue for the same director
2. Stumble so badly on the monologue that you have to start over
3. If you are going to tryout for musicals, get your voice in shape.

If I am going to have directors/artistic directors, etc. take me seriously, I need to be serious. I need to get off my lazy ass and memorize and have prepared half-a-dozen monologues. And if I want to do musicals, I will need to get a voice coach and practice. Needless to say, I am very disappointed in myself. Chris thinks I have lots of talent, but I will not land anything if I don’t practice, practice, practice.

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Audition Notice: Home for the Holidays

Stage Door Players will hold auditions for it’s upcoming holiday presentation, Home for the Holidays, on September 26th and 27th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Appointments not necessary. Stipend paid. Casting 3 men and 3 women. All ethnicities encouraged to audition. Please bring headshot and resume, prepare 16 bars, and a contemporary 30 second monologue. The show will begin rehearsals October 11, and the show runs November 18th through December 19th. Show will be directed by Robert Egizio, with Musical Direction by Linda Uzelac. For directions or more information, please visit http://www.stagedoorplayers.net

Thanks, and we’ll see you at the Stage Door!

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Audition #4

Yesterday I attended an audition for Auntie Mame at the Neighborhood Playhouse in Decatur. While waiting who did I see, none other than Cynthia Cobb from the June-July class. Hope you did well!

We were setup in groups of 2 to 5 people for various scenes. The first scene I read was for Badcock. Badcock is in his 50’s and a rather belligerent character. In the second scene, I read Mr. Upson, also in his 50’s and socially inept.

Each audition I do I learn something else. This time it was in how I performed. I think I did well on reading, but that was just reading. The director is watching all aspects of your performance. For instance, when I read Claude Upson?s lines, I read them well, but I did not maintain body posture or facial expressions during the scene. I read and went back to my blank face till my next line. Nor did I approach the director with enthusiasm as I stated in Audition #3. It is a leaning process.

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Headshot: Color vs. B&W

Finally I had some headshots taken by Brian Dougherty of Dougherty Photographics. Brian was very easy to work with and very good. He uses a digital camera so can take the images and make them B&W on the computer. Getting there was an adventure though: Used mapquest to give me directions, but as I was getting close, one of the roads I was on was blocked off with no detour information. So I turned into this neighborhood, drove around for a while and was, luckily, able to get back on the road I needed to be on. When I turned onto the last street, or so I thought, I was told the 5th house on the right? well there were only four. After circling the block a few times I realized that I turned a street early, I turned onto Celtic something-or-other instead of Celtic Circle. Finally found it. Brian works out of his basement. I should have my contact sheet in a few days.

In discussing with Brian the type of photos I wanted, dramatic vs. traditional (you know, the smile), color vs. B&W. For commercial, it is best to have a color photo and for Stage and Film a B&W photo. I will opt to get a color headshot to send to everyone. There was some discussion recently on [ATML] Yahoo Group on color vs. B&W, with a trend towards color for Stage and Film. I will post an image as soon as I can. But let me know what you think: Color vs. B&W.