Tag: Chris Cole Harris

Adult Acting tought by Chris Cole Harris

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Acting Class with Pat Hurley

Pat’s class is very similar to Chris’s class. He does a lot of the very same things Chris always did: throw out directions by repeating the line. At one point, a classmate was reading a monologue and Pat had him make eye contact with each classmate not on stage, even pointing to the next student. Chris did the same thing with her students.

The teaching method is almost identical to Chris’s. I feel I have been very well prepared for this class.

Although I did not do any readings in class last night, I still learned a lot by observation.

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The Interview

I have a small role in a short film being shot locally called The Interview. Three lines actually (well, more if you count the mumbling, etc.), but it is a funny part. The film is being done by Matt and Jeff McGahren who I had acting classes with.

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A Christmas Story, the Preview

We had a Preview Night last night, where friends and family were invited to view the play. We had a dozen or so people. Not many, but still this was a non-stop run through of the play. So having done the play in front of an audience, and having made only a few small mistakes boosted my confidence.

I have not counted the paragraphs, line, words or otherwise that RALPH/NARRATOR has, but there are a lot lines if not half the play. And all memorized. I am still a little nervous about opening night but I do feel better about my capabilities.

There are extremes like Keanu Reaves memorizing every single line of Hamlet or Shirley Temple who knew everybody’s lines in any of her movies. And then there are the countless complaints about those who just can’t remember any of there lines.

I would hope that I would be remembered as one who can, or rather I would not like to be remembered as one who cannot remember his lines.

But on the other hand, it was suggested to me by my acting coach, Chris Cole Harris, that I should memorize everybody’s lines because of the role I had in this play. It is possible and even during rehearsals, you do hear the lines over and over to the point of memorization.

I suppose, maybe I should have, but I am satisfied.

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Update for Octorber 2007

Since August 14th: Ramona Quimby has started and we are actually approaching our last weekend; I started a new job; And landed a lead role in A Christmas Story.

Ramona Quimby opened in Kudzu Playhouse’s old location but moved to Kudzu’s Stage 2 on September 22nd. I spent every night, and all of Friday the week before and around Saturday’s two shows building out the set and dressing room. I was exhausted after that week and skipped acting class that Monday night, more on that in a minute.

I also picked up another role in Ramona Quimby, that of MR FROST. Paul Komorner who was MR FROST always had a conflict on Sundays and Saturday nights. He was also in Bermuda Avenue Triangle on Kudzu’s Stage 1. MR FROST was being played by Jerry Harlow in the old theatre where he could escape from the tech booth for just long to do the 30 second part.

I purchased from a Halloween shop, a hat, Elvis glasses and beard to alter my appearance. With an overcoat I look completely different. One cast member said I looked like Hank Williams, Jr. I also use a Texas twang for a voice.

I started taking an acting class again with Chris Cole Harris. She called and said she was trying to get a class together and at the time I was not doing anything other than Ramona Quimby, so I said why not. The class started on September 17th and after a very long week, decided to skip the night of the 24th.

I also started a new job on September 4th.

Every year, Kudzu does A Christmas Carol for the Holiday Season. Last year, I was light and sound tech and had such fun with the 120+ light and sound queues that I wanted to do it again this year. I went as far as telling Wally and Jenny that I wanted to be tech again.

Well, it turns out that Act 1 Theatre in Alpharetta did not fill the roles of RALPH (Narrator) or THE OLD MAN (RALPHIE/RALPH’s dad) in A Christmas Story. I was recommended by several people to Rebecca Coffee who is directing the show. Working with Rebecca I scheduled an audition on Thursday, September 26th for ether role. Rebecca decided to cast me as RALPH.

If you remember from the movie by the same name, there is a narration all throughout the movie. The Narrator is the grown up RALPHIE. For the play, the narrator (RALPH) is on stage for most of the play.

I have finally landed a lead and I am very excited about the play. And a little nervous, there are a bunch of lines. Oh and this play is also being reviewed for the Metro Atlanta Theatre Awards.

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Audition for Play On

Play On by Rick Abbot

Auditioned for Play On last night. Directed by Lane Teilhaber (who directed me in Beau Jest) with Browyn Glantzberg (who I have known from acting classes with Chris Cole Harris) as the Assistant Director. Lane has called back David Campion to do Light & Sound and Karen Rooker as Stage Manager. So I know all these people. I enjoyed working with them on Beau Jest and in acting classes.

My personality type is ISFP (Myers-Briggs typology) or Amiable (Berrett-Koehler). This I have learned from my master’s thesis in college and management training for work. My personality type is to take things personally and to be self-critical.

So, if I did not get a part in this play where I know the entire crew, then I must not be a good actor and they don?t like my ability. Maybe I am not cut out for acting and should give up on this hobby.

That may or may not be true. Most of the time the Director and crew are selecting the best group of people for the play. My style or presents may not be conducive to what the director has in mind. This has nothing to do with my ability or acting style being bad or that I simply am not any good. The Director and crew have an obligation to the playhouse to put on the best play possible with the best cast possible. There were a lot of good male actors on the night I attended auditions that I thought would be very good for the 3 male parts.

I just knew when I was dismissed with other people still reading, that I was not going to get a part. I could not sleep for worrying over not getting a part. See my personality type above.

At 10:40, my cell phone range and instantly my adrenalin began pumping. It was Lane, not offering me a part but at least having me return for callbacks. This still does not mean I have a part in the play, but does alleviate the self-critical part of my personality.

Last night I read for the part of HENRY, a 50+ year old (another 60 year old part), is the mature experienced actor who plays the Lord of the manor (LORD DUDLEY). This is a play-within-a-play.

I will read HENRY again tonight.

I suppose, they could have me just show up because the like me, but not because they want me for….