casting

last week was a busy one. as evidenced by the picture at left, (my bedside table,) the amount of preparation and outright work I've done on my audition as an actor for 'the shadow box,' uwec's final mainstage show of the 2008-2009 season, as well as for my audition as a director for my production of 'the vise,' has left me little room for anything more than a base, slovenly existence.

after a stressful audition, (I did an aids-related death monologue from 'as is,') and a callback during which I saw my fellow theatre students produce some of the best work, off of a cold read no less, than I've ever seen from them before, I could rest. it was impressive and humbling, to be in the company of such talented actors.

I snagged the part of 'brian,' a writer (like me!) an english professor who is dying of cancer. the play is a very tender, heartbreaking, and often tender exploration of the birth of hospice care, set in three cabins on the grounds of a california hospital. my cabin, the best cabin, is cabin two, in which my young lover, mark, is at odds with my visiting ex-wife, beverly, who forces him to face the fact that I will die, and soon. brian is a gentle character; beverly says 'he's always falling in love with the wrong people.' it should be an exciting challenge.

at right is a picture of riverside theatre, the 200-odd seat thrust space in which my production of 'the vise' will perform. I was told upon my first tour of uwec's theatre spaces that it was modeled on the famed guthrie theatre in minneapolis, and whether or not this rumor is true or just some bullshit claim to fame, the space does indeed resemble the original guthrie stage. 

thrust staging is difficult in an exciting way for a director. I was trained to think of directing as a series of pictures, (as I assume most are,) and to think that way with an audience on three sides will force me to make stronger, more defined choices in my creation of pictures. I am thinking of using specific goya and velasquez paintings in my research for strong lines and dynamic, emotional moments. say that with a straight face.

we had an unexpectedly low turnout for our one act auditions. they are usually the foremost outlet for new freshmen to gain experience and exposure within the department, but I guess nobody told the freshmen that. at left, brittany gusho, dominique sicard and I are seen bartering for bodies as we fill fourteen roles with twelve actors.

impressed with performances and work from callbacks, my casting was relatively easy. giulia and andrea are highly intensive emotional roles for actors, so I knew I would have to make those choices first. I was graced with the benefit of having equally talented people open up for use in the two smaller roles, antonio and anna, and am excited with how well rounded the cast ended up being.

other exciting developments this weekend included a trip to the art student association photo party, where I snapped a respectable 250 photos in the span of two hours. at right I am seen posing with a set of very large wings sticking directly out of my head. I am spending an inordinate amount of my life in dirty basements.

there was a scenester kid dance party at the brat-cabin saturday night, to send off a friend to the peace corps. 

I will probably never again see so many flanneled bodies shotgunning cans of mgd to lady gaga singles. 

probably.