Merrily we go a-Hamleting…
Hamlet as a verb drives John nuts.
John and I have been so busy with the podcast and the other projects we’ve been doing, we have been remiss in getting some actual blog posting done. Here is my attempt to rectify that.
Well, the show is up. It was a very fast and furious rehearsal period, but the first of two initial audiences have seen this adaptation (incarnation?) of Hamlet and I am honored to have been a part of it. I was offered the role less than a month ago and we only rehearsed three times a week and we’ve got the show in front of an audience - not bad! It’s been a long time since I’ve worked in a situation like that, but I have to say it was very refreshing. When I first took the role, there was a bit of anxiety about it seeing as how I hadn’t been on stage in over two years (my last show was a production of Company at WaterTower Theatre in Dallas).
I have made some very good friends in this production and I hope to have the chance to work with all of them again very soon. Mark has been a very gracious director and collaborator and I’m happy to have crossed paths with him. I was floored to find out he had been reading this blog well before our work together on this project! He and I are already talking about future projects (stay tuned for more information)! Brian, Richard, Wesley, Claire, Kyle and Jesse have all been great to work with. Everyone is so present and committed to not only their roles, but to the entire production. It’s been fun and exciting to be on stage with each of them (even if we didn’t mention them by name in the podcast).
So, what did I learn?
Well, first of all, if at all possible don’t take so long of a time off between shows. Granted, I’ve been working, but mostly camera work and it’s a completely different type of acting. I’ve missed being on the stage and I do feel that I was a bit rusty at first and had to have a few rehearsals to shake the cobwebs off before I could really get down to getting the work done.
Secondly, it’s always tough breaking into the “network” of theatre in a new town (especially if you really don’t live immediately in the new town). And, since I live about 30 minutes outside of Nashville, I’m not deep in the heart of the work that’s going on and so it’s been harder to make the auditions and be seen by potential directors and producers.
Third: Since this was my first Equity contract, I have to say that I’m glad I’m union. That having been said, I do suggest that actors who have not yet joined the union to weigh the decision very carefully before doing so, especially if they are not moving immediately to New York or L.A. Being union in any Right-To-Work state makes it a bit harder to get the work until you’ve made somewhat of a name for yourself. Still, I’ve worked very hard to become a member of the union and I’m proud of it.
So what’s next? Well, I’ve got one more performance of Hamlet this afternoon and two performances of our Freshperson’s Showcase early next week at MTSU and then I’m into the final rehearsals for Oklahoma! which will go up on the 9th of November. After a brief trip to Washington D.C. and the holidays with my family, I’m not really sure what’s going to be on tap on the performance front! There are a couple of possibilities on the horizon, but nothing I want to announce just yet.
On the education front, I am chomping at the bit to get into the Spring Semester at MTSU. I’m going to be offering a Shakespeare in Performance class and I can’t wait to get into it. There is a lot of buzz amongst the theatre students about it. There’s never been a class like this one offered at MTSU! I’m putting the finishing touches on the curriculum for the class between now and the holidays.
Oh, and John and I will keep plugging along with The Inexplicable Dumb Show (merchandise available now). We are starting to pick up more and more subscribers which means that people are actually listening to us ramble about the state of theatre in the Southeast.
So, it’s off to a lunch with the producers (and investors) of the show, then the final performance of Hamlet.
At least for now…