Trailers and Auditions and Shakespeare Bare..Oh my!

This week has been jam packed with action. That's right. Action. There are so many shows auditioning right now with Fringe, summer Shakespeare Festivals and pieces for this fall, it's a busy time. Not to mention commercials and student films. Celluloid aside, It's been a good week of auditions and such for a stage actor. It started, well, a week ago. Sunday to Sunday.

Maybe I should think about doing a weekly re-cap as a blog entry. Cause I know you're all hungry for more words strung together by me. I'll think about it.

Anyway. Last Sunday I started out by filming my section for the trailer for Getting Even with Shakespeare. Which is here if you'd like to take a gander. And then spread it among all your friends. Enjoy!!!!

Nice, no? It was really easy and fast right in my Neighborhood. Hopefully the outtakes will be up soon. I quite enjoy the side story, 'Macbeth buys blueberries.'

After that it was off downtown for two auditions. Both of which I was pretty sure I blew. As in, when I came in and said hello I could tell they had no intention of calling me back. Well apparently I sucked way less than I thought I did. One called me in to read a monologue from the piece as well as read a scene with another actor auditioning. To the best of my knowledge not everyone was asked to read scenes. Now Fringe will conflict with the rehearsals of this piece. Even though we don't know the dates yet, I know we're going to conflict which I'm pretty sure puts me at the bottom of that headshot pile, but who cares. They called me back!

Aside from callbacks, the initial auditions for Getting Even with Shakespeare were this past weekend. I am so curious to see how it goes and who will be joining this cast. That's right. Anyone who has found this blog looking to see a cast list, I have no say in the casting. But you're welcome to send gifts anyway.

Moving on...This evening I spent downtown at Fontana's Bar with the wonderful family of actors all somehow connected to BareShakespeare for another one of their rumbles. Last one was Hamlet, this one Macbeth! Just in time for the summer...or something like that. It's a great opportunity to just play. Take it seriously, or not. Try a character. Whatever, just play and have fun. And drink a beer or two. The plays get read and heard and on their feet, and you get to play multiple characters. So far they have both been big successes and a lot of fun. As we get closer to the next I'll be sure to advertise more. I think I dropped the ball this last time. Oops.

And now tomorrow I'm going to be working on a reading of a friend's play. A play where there are two characters written with me in mind. I love my family. I really do. My extended family. So talented and just awe inspiring.

And as a side note, I saw a production of Taming of the Shrew this weekend which...was barely funny. This is the second piece I've seen with this company and I think they're goal is to pull the funny from Shakespeare. I just don't get it. There were a few saving graces, but on a whole, poor concept. I'm not going to mention names or details because I'm not a reviewer. Just an actor with observations.

And thus ends the re-cap. Tomorrow we read and patiently await casting decisions.

--Soundtrack for this entry:

--The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace

--Cause you wanted to know

Sunday Funday auditions

So today was nice action packed day of being a working actor. Or being an actor in NY at least. First up was filming my section of the soon-to-be vrial sensation, Getting Even With Shakespeare trailer. That's right kids, a trailer for theater. If the big guys can do it, why can't we, eh? And in the spirit of the show it's smart, funny, and plays with the beloved characters of the cannon. Should be a rollicking good 2 to 3 minutes. My stuff was easy and took at most 20 minutes to film and then it was off to prepare for not one but two auditions this afternoon/evening.

Both pieces are new works being performed this fall and were asking for something dramatic and a little on the darker side. So ya both got the same monologue. Lucky you. In hindsight I think it's time to work on new contemporary monologues, but I'm still happy with mine. I am always confident that no one else ever does mine. Yeah, they're that obscure.

So two auditions. One in the village and the other in times square area. I was a little nervous being late for theatter one but thanks..I think to the rain. I really think the rain kinda put me In a little funk and I'm pretty sure I won't be being called back.

For either of them.

The second one I was kinda put off because the place was double booked so we were all sitting in a hallway auditioning. Lovely. Shouldn't let me effect me but it did.

Also thinking that fringe might conflict with both rehearsal schedules, but it's still better to audition than not. Keeps you in practice. On your toes.

And now I'm avoiding the tony's. Just not a fan of awards shows. Until I get one I'm sure.

Some more Fringe Press

I'm more and more impressed everyday that we keep getting little mentions. Is it the name? Getting Even with Shakespeare? I mean it's catchy. Is it the writer? Probably not. Surely it must be the talent? Could it be that the first run was sold out and extended 3 times? Whatever it is...we're getting noticed as these publications flip through the 200 or so shows participating in Fringe this year. So whatever the reasons...thank you!

So here are two new links. First up is a quick little article in BackStage mentioning a few shows. Us included: BackStage Article. They only mention a few shows and somehow we got picked? nice.

And the second one is from playbill. Also just basically mentioning some trends in this years fringe, Shakespeare among them. So here is the playbill article.

So I guess no pressure, right? I hope that something comes of all this. It's a great show. A great group of people. And soo much fun. I could easily see this being my job every day..(hint hint all you broadway producers reading my blog)

It's sadly not often that you're truly proud of all the work you do in a show. That's the sad truth of independent downtown theater. It's mostly being proud of moments. or being proud you survived. But this is very different. It's a piece I'm proud to be in and work on. And I feel probably the best fringe show I've done to date. Come on Shakespeare!

Aside from all this, I have a ton of little projects up in the air. 25 Cents for Love has a final edit and a composer! So details to come soon. There is a teaser trailer somewhere on this blog. I think on the right hand side. Scroll down. I just changed the lay out and this is new to me.

Fringe Website

Oh yeah. One more thing....

FringeyNYC here we come!

So this wonderful new comedy I was a part of in January of aught 10 has been accepted to the NY International Fringe Festival. Yes! I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that in passing on here. We're slowly getting underway. It is deffinitely a "get in and get your hands dirty" kinda venture. I'm a fan of raising the child with the entire village. So hopefully this will get us somewhere.

I wish I had more info to give to you but I can send you some links. Sadly we don't know much more than we're doin' a show! Our dates/times/venue wont be announced for some time yet. So because of that this is going to be a minor update. Link wise, here is the FaceBook Page. Go there. Like it. Help us get a buzz going.

As well as good ole FB...come on twitterverse, follow the production via twitter. It should be entertaining. Right? I hope?

As well as ways you can support us, here we are given a quick little nod at Broadwayworld.

And Lastly, on Fringe's facebook page, we're called out due to our producer's sarcastic facebook comment...

"Broadway world notes some trends at FringeNYC 2010! (And yes, GETTING EVEN WITH SHAKESPEARE, you're mentioned!) Perhaps the world IS ready for anti-Bardism! (And Bardism, of course, we've got that, too!"

You can't beat that. It's great to know that the people at Fringe have a sense of humor and are willing to play just as much as we are. This was in response to us not being mentioned in another article. I'm definitely pumped for this summer. It's great to be in Fringe again and It's great to be doing such a fun show. This one definitely has potential.

A Slice of Life

I have been SO slack in keeping up with this little blog. My apologies dear (non)readers. I have been busy though. I assure you. This has been a good month for auditions and projects on the Horizon.

Getting Even With Shakespeare is underway and I'm awaiting re-writes. We go back into rehearsals within the month and it should be one hell of a time. The official blurb for the NY Fringe: "Five tragic heroes walk into a bar...and they're pissed. When not dying nightly, Macbeth plays paintball, Juliet deals ecstasy and Lear (unsuccessfully) avoids storms. Enter a lawyer who proves the play is the thing to catch the Playwright King."

Most recently though A Slice of Life is finally finished and the final copy is in my greedy little hands. It's a cute short (20 minutes) about love and pizza. Filmed for NYFA by Louis Levy. Overall I'm really proud of my work in it. Although you can see some moments of me "acting." And I invite you all to point and laugh with me. But it's a really cute little story and great fodder for my reel.

The short took about a week to film with a few extra days for reshoots. We filmed in Oct and to be honest, I'm impressed with this turn around. Usually we're left waiting forever for copy, if we even receive one at all. So thank you Mr. Levy.

So I wont ramble too much, I know you're all anxiously anticipating. So here ya go...Enjoy!

A Slice of Life from Patrick Pizzolorusso on Vimeo.

Starring:
Patrick Pizzolorusso
Michele McNally
Massimo Di Giovanna
Neil Levin

Directed by Louis Levy

A story about Love and Pizza.

Auditions: The Acting Company

Mail outs Mail outs Mail outs!

They're so crucial but if you're like me you get so lazy that you dismiss anything that can't be submitted to online. Or you'll spend all day compiling a list of shows and people to send your info to and then one by one dismiss the likelihood of being cast in any of these projects.

I am forcing myself to stop that thinking. It's going to get me no where. So after some crazy times the past month or 2 I'm back in the swing of things. This is just to show you all proof that I am compiling mailouts. Sonnet Rep...CALL ME IN. Just saying.

Along with Mail outs, I've been keeping a close watch on the equity call list. I mean, I have my EMC card. I need to use it right? It doesn't mean I'll get an audition, but it's a foot in the door. (Just tell that to the Anne Frank audition last week)

Today however I am happy to say I woke up as early as I could and trudged down to equity for..no not the my fair lady audition. The Acting Company's audition. They're doing R&J and I believe the Tempest this season. I do love me some Shakespeare. I should have known it would go well. I bumped into fellow blogger/actor Sarah on the train downtown. And on line outside the building I bumped into a few other friends. Made some in the waiting room. By 10:40 I was done. Sure I was up at 6:30, but it's better than waiting around all freakin day.

The casting crew were very kind and asked for another piece. Always a good sign. It's as if they're thinking...."ok, we liked that, but what else can he do." So like all things...now we wait and see. I just hope I impressed them enough to call me in for a call back.

In other news Getting Even with Shakespeare is coming back! It's been accepted to the Fringe. I'll post more info as I get it. But upwards, eh? Ever Upwards. It's been a good week so far.