DC Regional 09-10 Season

I was looking through several local companies’ seasons, and I thought now would be a good time to highlight the shows I really want to see in the D.C. area.

First is The Musical of Musicals, the Musical at Metro Stage in Arlington. I love this soundtrack but have never actually seen the show. If you like musicals, this is a great show that makes fun of Sondheim, Kander and Ebb, Webber, and more. It is fast and witty.

There are two shows I really want to see at Arena Stage. First is The Light In the Piazza by Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel. It was a big hit among my NY friends, but again, I have never seen it. It will be a scaled down version of the Broadway production, but I still look forward to hearing the songs in context and look forward to see what Molly Smith, Arena’s A.D., does with this musical.

The second show I really want to see at Arena is Sophisticated Ladies. I have actually seen this show before, but this time it will star Maurice Hines, whom I love. I worked with him at Arena’s announcement of the Mead Center, and he was so charming and talented I can’t wait to see what he does with this role.

Speaking of roles, did someone say Helen Mirren? Yes, she will be at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in September, and I cannot wait to see this. Tickets were sold out so fast that I will be one of few who get to see her in the only U.S. engagement, and I can’t wait. Yes, that is me looking forward to seeing a play.

Just when you couldn’t believe I was looking forward to seeing a play...I am also looking forward to another play, and a Shakespearean play at that. As You Like It at the Shakespeare Theatre Company will happen in November / December. I worked on this show in college, and I really do enjoy it...and this production in particular will take an interesting twist and will be a pretty large scale production. I have always been impressed with the technical work at STC as it is often as good, if not better, than shows I have seen on Broadway.

Another play. The Picture of Dorian Gray at Round House Theatre in Bethesda. I want to make this book into a modern musical, so I want to see how Roundhouse has adapted it and see it on stage for the first time.

I am also excited about The Last Cargo Cult at Woolly Mammoth Theatre. It is a one man show by Mike Daisey, and I just think the concept is interesting. This is taken from the website: “…Worshipers of cargo left behind by American GI’s, these islanders build meticulous bamboo replicas of Western engineering, re-enact scenes from internet broadcasts, and summon American power through sympathetic magic. What does our economic crisis mean to them, and what can they teach us about wealth and wishful thinking?” Interesting right? We will see.

Ford's Theatre is doing Little Shop of Horrors in the spring, and this is another show that I adore. I have seen it on stage 4 times and look forward to see how Ford’s takes on this giant plant. It is one of those musicals that is just fun to see.

I saved Signature Theatre for last. Why? Because I want to see everything in their season. I love the work they do and love musicals, so I will try and see everything. They have one play this year, I Am My Own Wife, and it will be directed by the very talented Alan Paul. I have never seen a show directed by Paul before, nor have I seen this Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Other shows in their season are Dirty Blonde, Show Boat, Sweeny Todd, Title of Show, and a new musical titled Sycamore Trees.

So, there you have it. My DC play list for this year. Which shows are you looking forward to?

Catch Up WithThese People

Recently my favorite Director / Choreographer team joined up for a new production, Catch Me If You Can. It is a musical adaption of the movie that started Tom Hanks.

Who is that team? Jack O'Brien and Jerry Mitchell. I was thinking back to why they are my favorite, and when I first started to follow them. I actually learned about them from a report I had to write about them in college. Yes, it was just a one-page summary on each of them, but it made me learn who they are and taught me a lesson about how important it is to know people before you “know” them.


Peter Sargent made us write those one-page reports in Lighting Design class. We were assigned people in whom I assumed we might have interest one day. Well, I can’t tell you how many times Jack and Jerry (I say that like we are friends0 have come up in conversations over the years.


Knowing people in the business is so important. I always ask how many students know who Cameron Mackintosh is when I teach at the Missouri State Thespian Conference. I have learned to not be shocked when no one raises a hand.


I encourage you all to poke around the Internet Broadway Database and learn the names of the greats and see what they have worked on. It will make you a better student of our business.

Ask My Friends – Headshots

Today I chose Nick Coleman to give his advice about headshots. Nick and I went to High School together at Nixa. Nick was also the one to haze me into the local Thespian Troupe, back before they stopped the hazing part of that. He is very smart and has gone on to do many great things...one of them is starting a photographry business. If you are in New York and need headshots, check him out. You can also see a lot of useful tips on his blog. Here is what Nick wrote when I asked him for the Do’s and Don’ts of getting headshots done.

"Headshot Shmedshot, or Why Your Headshot Might Matter More Than Your College Degree

Guest post by New York Headshot photographer Nick Coleman - NYC Headshots for Actors that Work!

Greetings and salutations theater fans! When Jared asked me to write a guest post for his blog, I was first flattered, then honored, then I did a little dance in my photo studio to celebrate. What an opportunity to reach out to a whole new sea of readers!

Once I got over myself, I got to thinking... Jared had asked that I share some information on the do's and don'ts of getting your headshot taken, and how to ensure you'll get a great headshot during your session. That's a tall order for a quick blog post!

So let's get cracking...

As An Actor, I Feel Your Pain

When I was an actor first getting started in New York City, I was driven, hungry, talented (at least my teachers thought so), and READY for my big break. I arrived in the city with my black and white 8x10 photograph, taken by a friend from college, and I started looking for opportunity.

It's New York City! Opportunity is everywhere!

What I quickly found is that opportunities for actors come with an especially annoying caveat--they are mostly hidden behind closed doors. Want to audition for that great regional theater you've heard so much about in American Theater? First you have to get the audition. Want to be in that amazing television show that won all the Emmy awards? First you have to get called in by the casting director for a meeting.

And the sad truth is that no matter how much training you have, and how many accolades you've received, you can almost never get that audition or that meeting unless you have a great picture. Humans are visual beings... we trust what we can see, more than what we hear or read. "I gotta see it to believe it... Show me the money... Just you wait, I'll show you!... I'm from Missouri, you've got to Show Me."

Every project in theater, tv, film, and even commercials starts with an idea... someone thought of how the script would play out, and saw it in their imagination. And every person along the path of the project saw that same idea play out in their imagination too. So when it comes time to pick the actors, the first step in the process is "does that actor match the picture in my imagination?"

Your Headshot Is Your Mirror Image

If you want to be successful as an actor, your headshot must look like you. Nuff said. It can't look like you "on your best day" or "under the right circumstances" or with more makeup than you ever wear. It needs to look exactly like you do in the mirror. Why? Because when the production staff of that great project sees your photo, and call you in based off of it, they are saying "that picture of that actor looks exactly like the character in my imagination". If you show up looking even slightly different from that photo, you've just disappointed the imagination of the casting director, the director, and maybe the producer. You're an imagination killer! And they don't like that much.

Relax! It's Just a Picture!

Many actors make the mistake of not giving their headshot enough importance. But once you've been converted to the business-savvy headshot school, you might make the reverse mistake. Freaking out.

Don't!

Remember, the headshot should be your mirror image... which means the best shots are going to happen when you are relaxed, comfortable, and feeling most like yourself. If you're getting caught up in the feeling of taking a great headshot, you're on the track to a nervous, anxiety ridden hell-ride. Okay... that might be an exageration, but I have witnessed someone who got so worried about the way she looked she hyperventilated.

I'm Shooting Headshots Tomorrow--Help!

Okay... so here's my advice, distilled into some helpful bullet points. Whether you are in New York, Chicago, DC, Florida or beyond, these tips are all the same... how to make sure you have a great headshot session, with great results.

Know your type--what roles can you play?
Knowledge is power. If you know how casting people see you, you can make sure your pictures match the package.

Dress the part--do your clothes fit the bill?
If you are a leading man, dress like one in your headshot. If you are a nerdy, bookish type, dress like one.

Practice smiling--have you seen yourself smile lately?
Set aside some quality time with a mirror, and get to know your face. You might discover you look different than you used to.

Bring music you love--is there a song that makes you happy? Sad? Empowered?
Music makes us feel, andemotions show on camera. Bring a variety of music so you can play something appropriate to what you're trying to accomplish in a particular setup.

Take risks--do you always make the same face?
Variety is good. It give you range. Take risks in your headshot session. Be silly. Be goofy. Be angry. Be sad. Take lots of pictures. Give yourself choices. Deny nothing, and try everything. Exploring your range will lead to great shots.

Listen to your photographer--are you taking direction?
Your photographer is your guide through the shoot. He or she isn't telling you what to do but giving suggestions, and seeing what you do with them. Go along for the ride.

Know what you want--do you know when you got "the shot"?
The session is a success when you say it is. If you know what you want in advance, you'll feel good when you leave the session.

There are a lot more tips for getting great headshots, but follow these basics (and shoot with a great photographer) and you are well on your way to a headshot that will get you results."

Calendar

Today I was going through my calendar, and I was reminded of how important Calendar Maintenance is. If you are an actor, executive, or stage manager, managing your calendar is one of the most important parts of your job.

We only have so much time in a day, and making the most of your days is important. Every two weeks I take a look at the next month and try to schedule as much of my days as possible. By planning my schedule minute by minute, I never hit an open patch of time and wonder what I should do next. Schedule time for your to do list. Schedule “holds” for meetings you think will happen. I also suggest you schedule a leave time, when possible. By staying an extra hour will you really get that much more done? Taking time for yourself is just as important. In this business we could all stay late every day, and the mountains of work wouldn’t move down a bit because there is always more work.

Schedule your personal time in as much as you schedule your work. Remember, I am a big believer in Work / Life Balance.

“Keep the Drama on the Stage”

That is a quote from Angie, an old co-worker at Arena Stage. She used to always say that about the backstage drama, and it always made me laugh. I chose it as the title because today I am going to write about something in the news.

In case you have not been following the news about the upcoming shows, Broadway is about to get its largest (in capitalization) Broadway show. The price tag, estimated at 40 million; the show, Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark, a new musical about none other than Spider-Man.

The industry has been talking about this musical for years. With giants like U-2 and Julie Taymor attached, how could you not?

Well, maybe non-profits are not alone in the economic crisis. A publicist for one of the producers said in a statement that the work had stopped due to an unexpected cash flow problem. The statement also said they have a plan to get things rolling again soon and don’t think this will have an impact on the plans of the production. Previews are scheduled for February.

This will be a show to keep your eye on.