Represent!!

So it's been a little bit since I last posted. I'm trying, I really am.  I blame the heat for slowing me down.  Somehow we skipped over Spring and Landed in Hell. Don't know how that happened, but at least the world didn't end like the 'crazy' predicted it would.

In fact, the world did quite the opposite for me. Thanks to the magic of...well..friendship? Desperation? Reaching out to people you care about?  I had a meeting with an agent last week and wouldn't you know...I'm a freelancer.  It couldn't have gone any better.  Well, it could have.  But I was contacted today about a possible upcoming project.  So fingers crossed on that.  The only bad thing I did was...well, 2 bad things.  1, I don't speak Italian which with my look and last name I guess people assume.  When I said no, there was a communal..."aaawwee" from the room.  Oh well.  And number 2, I'm apparently too theatrical.  Which I suppose makes sense since I am literally just coming off of Macbeth, and I'm a classic stage actor.  I have had a few oncamera classes throughout the years.  But we all know what acting classes are like.  Lot's of money and hardly any real benefit.  There are good ones out there, but there is a lot you have to wade through *cough TVI cough*.  They did suggest I could benefit from some commercial classes.  Which i agree with and am in the process of working on that now.  I have a workshop with Liz Lewis Casting and am highly considering one-on-one because of its more intimate setting and...$$.  So thats what's coming up for me education wise.  But the moral of the story?  I'm working with About Face Talent.  I'm excited, really.  They're extremely nice and personable and were fairly genuinely interested in me.  At least I hope.  So thank you all for your wonderful well wishes. The Universe heard and has delivered.  Now...let's start booking, eh?  A nice little perc from this is that my NY casting account is now free.  I know, it's $5.  But come on, every little bit helps, right?  And my Actor's Access profile has their name attached to it.  Looks nice up there i think.

Actor's Access

  And in related news, I also interviewed another manager this past Wednesday and they too liked me.  Even more so.  Probably because the gentleman and I have a similar sense of humor and my little quips that sometimes slip out landed on like minded ears.  Not to mention they like my look. So there are good things coming this summer.  I hope.

  In fact a good thing about both...neither really have anyone of my look or type on their roster.  So..this could be very good.

Or no one casts my look.  I'll let you know.

Jobs for Actors

Everyone has their little trick, or secret about how to work the system.  You know, pay rent and audition.  Rehearse and be able to eat at the same time.  It gets tricky being an artist without a trust fund.  I should go to that audition, but I need to work so I don't freeze in the snow.  I do like having an apartment, and warmth.  And food.  And a jacket.

Sure there are servers and temps and some people have managed to get jobs at theaters themselves.  That's great to be able to at least work around the hub of your artistic endeavor.

Well I find myself in a state of employment re-evaluation and am here to say...I do web design.  I do it fairly well.  And fast. And inexpensive.  I say this not as someone looking for work...althought I am...all artists should have a home on the web.  All of them

 It's a place to showcase your work, dance footage, sculptures, reels.  Anything.  A presence online is one of the biggest tools so many people either discredit, feel they can live without or just plain can't afford.  Well if you don't use  me, please use someone.  I'm happy to help consult, or build.  Whatever you're looking for.  And being artists..we're starving, right?  Some for art, but all for money.  So I'm inexpensive.  Let's talk.

I cannot tell you how many auditions I've gone into where the casting director actually did some researched and watched some of my videos, or referenced a photo online.  It helps people.  It really does.

So here is what I do.  Web Design.  Post cards? I'll help.  Business cards?  Yes, those too.  Help with your resume?  Let's make it look amazing.  And of course, get it all online.

Let's design your home online.

Starting Things off Right and other New Years Sounding things

So I've officially neglected my poor little blog here over the past few weeks.  The new year is off to a crazy start, so I've been a little distracted.  As all you people whom I follow know, I just now finished reading all the posts I've missed over the past few weeks.  But now I know all about your lives.  Soo...here is mine.

2011 has been amazing. I don't really go for resolutions.  I prefer to make afirmations? State "I'm going to do this, or that will happen."  I also believe in the power of writing things down.  Makes it feel more important if you write down, "I'm going to land a commercial agent."  Its there. Looming at you.  Taunting you.  Forcing you to mail out those lovely little packages.  And off they go!

So I have my personal list, one of which is repeated every year.  Basically, I will build off what I've done this year and step up from there to the next level.  Well...I think I've already done so.

First off, 2011...I'm booked through May.  Yeah...sounds good, right?  Probably make room for some small projects here and there, like that skills reel...damn you time stop slipping away from me!!!  But I'm booked for almost half the year.  Currently, thanks to my "friendanager" Samantha Mason I landed a role in a new piece at Theater for the New City.  Damn spiffy credit.  And not much of a time suck either.  I'm on stage for 15 minutes.  I timed it.  It's great, in and out.  It's about waiters.  So most of us can related to the dialogue.  And so this is my month of January.  In a basement decorated like a bar at TNC.  I don't mind.  It's fun so far.  We opened last night and will run through the month's end.  If you get a chance, come check it out..Age Out is the name of the show. INFO!!!!

After that, as I think I've written before, I head into rehearsals with the American Globe!  Woohoo.  Playing Macduff and Duncan in..you guessed it..Macbeth.  I get to chop of the bastard's head.  Who wouldn't want that?  I'm itching to get to our first readthrough/rehearsal/orientation next Saturday.  You can bet I'll be telling you how it went.  I freakin' love Shakespeare.  I really do.  And the man's been good to me.  I can't think of a better way to spend 3 months this spring.

Speaking of Shakespeare...send some good vibes my way this weekend.  After the MTA trying its hardest to make me miss my audition for Virginia Shakes yesterday....CALLBACK!  For Guildenstern.  Seriously, better and better as the year unfolds.  Sunday I have an audition for Texas Shakes, so just roll over those good vibes, k? Thanks.

Last huge thing..I'm not officially hovering around all three unions.  I've been EMC for quite a while with Equity.  Which suits me just fine.  This time of year it's slow for stage.  Most things are cast...(see my year through May)  At the end of last year I joined AFTRA thanks to a project I was in going union.  Gotta love that.  And this past Wednesday...remember that whole thing about waivers for sag and all that good stuff?

Number 3 in the can!  That's right.  I'm now SAG-Eligible.  Not 100% yet, the paperwork is being filled out now.  But this past wednesday I earned my last one.  Being an over the top studio audience member for a web series.  Thank you Webseries.  Thank you!  So what's that mean for me?  I can join SAG.  Whenever I want.  And it means that I can now submit to everything and anything.  SAG and NON-SAG.  Cause I can basically join if need be.  So rock on!  Happy 2011..I see good things for not only me, but all my friends.

American Globe!

Just a quick update because it's amazing news.  American Globe called and I'm in!  Full report to come.  But YES!

Measure for Measure for Measure..

Thanks to the advice from many friends all over (including Sarah) I went ahead and auditioned yesterday. I wasn't sure if I should do it seeing as it conflicts with something else that is in the may/may not happen pile. But in the end it's always good to audition. It keeps your options open and it's great practice.

So the audition was for another production of Measure for Measure. This time up in Maine. And at a really nice space, paid. Who could ask for more? They are looking to stage it with an air of American Gothic, Tennessee Williams. I had just seen the Glass Menagerie and so the cadence was in my head. And of course I can't help but picture Kevin Spacey from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

So I go in and do a little puck. There is nothing like hearing "My mistress with a monster is in love" in that condescending southern accented attitude. Laughs right off the bat. I didn't get far till the director asked me to stop with plenty of compliments and gave me adjustments.

Did that adjustment just fine..here comes another. Perfect. Then the singing. We were asked to sing 16 bars of anything. I chose "Bring me Sunshine" By Willy Nelson. Yup...I listen to him. Then they asked for something more folky...Alice's restaurant. Which by the end the director had chimed in and finished off the chorus.

All in all it was a great audition! If i get it, great. If not oh well. It's one of those that you walk away knowing that you nailed it and if you don't get it, who cares. Just means I didn't fit the look. But damn I did good.

Now of course if IF i were to get cast there would be some decision making going on real fast. But we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

In other news, one of my auctions on ebay sold. Yay supplemental income.

Shakespeare Anywhere

Well boys and girls, I've got another gig in the works. And the turn around for this is REAL quick. I'm working with a company called Shakespeare Anywhere. The name of the piece is Shakespeare Pizza.
I know! What more could you ask for? Pizza? Bard? Sign me up.

Opens this Sunday August 9th! Sooo Sooon.

The concept of Shakespeare Anywhere is to "to bring Shakespeare to unexpected and underserved places. Our productions are "bare bones style," which allows us to perform with little or no set, sound, or lighting."

Shakespeare Pizza includes a cast of 4 performing selections from His plays and poetry as well as musical pieces interspersed.

"Shakespeare Pizza"

Ignazio's Pizza

4 Water Street

Brooklyn, NY

(Dumbo)

Ticket price? FREE!!

When? Sunday august 9, 16, 23.

Time? 1 pm and 2:45 all three Sundays.

Starring:

Patrick Pizzolorusso

Regina Gibson

Robbie Baum

Traci Thomas

Get directions from their website: www.ignaziospizza.com

The idea:
Have some of the best pizza in New York, a good beer, and a great time! Let us entertain you with performances of Shakespeare monologues and sonnets, and hot music played by our very own talented actor-musicians!

Happy Accidents...Tempest

So I am currently in rehearsals for Shakespeare's: The Tempest as Sebastian. The show is being produced by Hudson Warehouse. This is part of there summer festival of free outdoor theater. The venue is the Soldier's and Sailor's monument on 89th and Riverside drive. Tempest runs the month of June, weekends @ 6:30. Followed by Hamlet and then Midsummer.

Its looking like a nice little season.

The choreography of this show is being done by our very own Maria Colaco which, come on, can you beat that?
And talent wise, I'm surrounded by excellent classical actors. If rehearsals are this much fun, imagine what the show will be like.
So on to Happy Accidents:

There is a bit. There is always a bit in Shakespeare, right? Well the group traverses the playing area from audience right to audience left. Enter right. Exit left. Shows we're traveling. Pretty basic concept.
Well..not for me apparently. Or maybe its all my years watching Scooby-Doo as a child. 

So at one point Ariel, not the fish, scares this group of shipwrecked men. Enchanted somewhat and completely out of sorts they run off screaming and wielding swords at nothing.

Well I, of course I did it on purpose, ran off in the wrong direction. This caused my character's partner in crime to naturally follow. A second later we ran across the stage again exiting in the proper direction.
Laughter
Laughter
Laughter
and of course..."Keep it. It's in."
Sometimes its so hard being naturally funny.

I love when mistakes on stage bring about moments that might never have been found or would have been difficult to create without that spontaneous panic that over takes you.

So come on out and join the fun..
Thursdays - Sundays for the Month of June @ 6:30
at the monument at 89th and riverside:




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