I booked two shows and I quit my job. It's been a busy 3 weeks, to say the least! Thank you for being patient (or not so patient, in the case of my brother :P) while waiting for the latest update. So, where to begin?
My mom left NY, and I went back to working and auditioning. In the past few weeks I'd been getting unhappy with my job - maybe because I'd been there for over a year, my career seemed pretty non-existent, and let's face it - I didn't move to NY to clean up after dogs for the rest of my life. I'd decided that once I started painting at the street fairs, and if things were good money-wise, I'd quit on the basis of needing Saturdays and Sundays to do the festivals.
But then on a random facebook browsing, I came across info for an audition a friend of mine was holding. I contacted him and he said to come in. So, Saturday, April 13th, I auditioned for The Holy Cows of Credence, South Dakota. I sang a song, read some sides, and they gave me a callback. Later that afternoon, I went back, read two different parts with other people, and just as I was about to leave, they had me come back into the room to learn the end of a song. The MD and I took a few minutes to go over it, then the production team came back in and, holding the MD's ipad, sang it for them. It was a very fun experience all around :) I went to work at the kennel that night, and I got an email (thanks to my new phone, I can check such things wherever I am - woo!) saying I'd gotten the part of Elizabeth!! Mini freak out moment for Julia. And then I realized this was what I'd needed - I'd come here to be an actor, my bosses knew that, so what better reason for moving on than landing a role in a new musical? (I feel the need to justify my decisions like that - weird, I know, but it makes me feel better about myself).
I remember I was so giddy with excitement and possibilities that night. The power of a secret can be immense. I knew I was going to quit, but no one else did. I felt rather like this:
But then on a random facebook browsing, I came across info for an audition a friend of mine was holding. I contacted him and he said to come in. So, Saturday, April 13th, I auditioned for The Holy Cows of Credence, South Dakota. I sang a song, read some sides, and they gave me a callback. Later that afternoon, I went back, read two different parts with other people, and just as I was about to leave, they had me come back into the room to learn the end of a song. The MD and I took a few minutes to go over it, then the production team came back in and, holding the MD's ipad, sang it for them. It was a very fun experience all around :) I went to work at the kennel that night, and I got an email (thanks to my new phone, I can check such things wherever I am - woo!) saying I'd gotten the part of Elizabeth!! Mini freak out moment for Julia. And then I realized this was what I'd needed - I'd come here to be an actor, my bosses knew that, so what better reason for moving on than landing a role in a new musical? (I feel the need to justify my decisions like that - weird, I know, but it makes me feel better about myself).
I remember I was so giddy with excitement and possibilities that night. The power of a secret can be immense. I knew I was going to quit, but no one else did. I felt rather like this:
What I really ended up doing, however, was write my bosses an email - I waited until Sunday night to do so, just in case they came into the kennel that afternoon and I could tell them in person. But I'm glad it worked out the way it did - I'm much more articulate when I have time to think and re-write, and not stumble over my words based on someone's reactions. Since they were going to be out of town the following weekend, I'd work when they were gone and that next Sunday would be my last day. It all happened so fast. I was still reeling with heady freedom, but when I got the reply email saying that they accepted my resignation and all that, reality hit. I didn't have a job! A steady source of income! I liked working there, I had great bosses, and it was fun working with the dogs. But my mom reassured me I'd done the right thing - I HAD moved here to be an ACTRESS, not a living pooper-scooper. I think I adjusted to things pretty quickly, actually.
Holy Cow! Have you met Elizabeth Brooks? Insisting on going by the name “Lizard”, Elizabeth Brooks (Julia Menn) returns to Credence, South Dakota after spending a bit of time…away. Sporting a new-dark and brooding-look, Elizabeth is still her fiery self and will be making her first appearance, since returning to town, at the Holy Cows VS Sluggers baseball game. Will she sit alongside her mother, Marlys Brooks or is there still some…tension? Either way, here’s Elizabeth Brooks, ahem…Lizard!
A bit about the show - I'm playing Elizabeth "Lizard" Brooks, goth daughter of the main character, Marlys - who is the wife of the town pastor, and chief problem solver of the town. The show takes place at a Sunday baseball game of the Holy Cows vs. Sluggers. The Holy Cows are notorious for never having won a single game in their ten year existence. It's also the 1 year anniversary of the death of Marlys' older daughter, Ruthie. Elizabeth, or Lizard, as I prefer to be called, has just gotten out of rehab and the baseball game is her first appearance back in the little town of Credence. Hilarity, old arguments, and banana bread abound in this fantastic new musical, taking part in the Planet Connections Festival in NYC throughout June. Help us raise the funds for the festival by donating at our Indigogo campaign!
The other show I booked I didn't even need to audition for - which I'm sure are among the best types of jobs :) A guy I met through my Worldstrides job is part of this old time radio drama show where they put on the old classics like you're watching the actual radio production. I've always loved OTR and quite enjoyed their show I'd checked out, on the off chance he'd want me to join the cast. Well, the same Sunday that I decided to quit my job at Instinct, I got an email from my friend saying he'd like me to be a part of the show when he directs it in June! No audition needed :) And while I don't believe I'll be the next Garrison Keillor (according to my brother Paul), I've wanted to do radio shows for the longest time, and this is a step in the right direction. Check out their facebook page: W.W.O.W. Radio Mystery Hour.
My sister visited last week. She lives in South Korea, and I haven't seen her in quite a long time. It was a terrific visit, and we had a blast. I took her around to some of my favorite restaurants and places in the city. Here are just a few pics of our time together :)
My sister visited last week. She lives in South Korea, and I haven't seen her in quite a long time. It was a terrific visit, and we had a blast. I took her around to some of my favorite restaurants and places in the city. Here are just a few pics of our time together :)
When I started writing this, I had booked two shows. But since it took me so long to finish, and I've been swamped with tons of things lately, I booked another show last night! And if I wait until later tonight or tomorrow, I might have booked another. However, for now, this third show is a staged reading of a new work and when I got a monologue for one of the characters I absolutely fell in love with it. I really just seem to enjoy playing cracked and crazy people. We rehearse tonight and do the performance this Friday night, but the writer/director (who is the AD for Holy Cows - which is how I found out about this show and auditioned for her in the first place - it really IS all about who you know...) has plans to get this show into more fully developed workshops and performances, so hopefully this isn't the first and last I see of it!
This afternoon I have a callback for another staged reading - a retelling of Oedipus Rex (also directed by the director of Holy Cows! Geeze - we Holy Cow-ers really get around!). Looking forward to that.
My rm is off in a few minutes to do a tour in Texas for a month. We're still looking for a subletter. Our place is perfect for someone visiting NYC and/or looking for more permanent housing. So, you know, if you know anyone looking...
Whew! A lot has been going on, but it's been a great couple of weeks. Need to find agents with whom I want to work and invite them to my shows - now's the time to strike while I'm actually performing in multiple things here in the city. Sure, I quit my job but I'm more busy than ever - and it's fantastic.
This afternoon I have a callback for another staged reading - a retelling of Oedipus Rex (also directed by the director of Holy Cows! Geeze - we Holy Cow-ers really get around!). Looking forward to that.
My rm is off in a few minutes to do a tour in Texas for a month. We're still looking for a subletter. Our place is perfect for someone visiting NYC and/or looking for more permanent housing. So, you know, if you know anyone looking...
Whew! A lot has been going on, but it's been a great couple of weeks. Need to find agents with whom I want to work and invite them to my shows - now's the time to strike while I'm actually performing in multiple things here in the city. Sure, I quit my job but I'm more busy than ever - and it's fantastic.
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