Apparently, yesterday was quite a fitting day for 70+ young people to start their auditions for our summer professional actor training conservatory program! It was “World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People” which I, ironically, did not know existed. My first role was the prince in The Prince and the Pauper in 8th grade. And I am SO grateful every single day of my life that someone introduced me to theatre at a young age and that so very many wonderful someones encouraged me along the way. I am proud and honored and humbled to work in the professional theatre industry and to pass the joy and the responsibility of art on to young people so that they may continue our mission in the same way that others passed it on to me.
Yesterday we saw 18 brave and talented young artists, on Saturday we’ll see 21 more, and on Sunday we’ll see another 34. ‘Judging’ auditions (I hate that word, by the way, because I guess that’s technically what I do, but I really don’t like to think that that’s how I do it) are simultaneously my most favorite and most dreaded time of year. I love meeting all our auditionees, getting to know them, and having them share their talents and aspirations with us (plus, it’s usually pretty fun), but I definitely feel the weight of the responsibility to make the right choices for each individual, for the group, and for program as a whole. I also clearly remember being in their shoes not too long ago – walking into an audition and feeling like my whole entire future was in someone else’s hands. And now, I’m that person whose hands someone thinks their future is in. It’s kind of a crazy feeling. I like to think I am one of the nicest and most friendly and encouraging auditioners a person could ever met. Yes, I make the choices, but no, I don’t determine their fate. The older I get, the more I realize that I had more control over all of my auditions and interviews than I gave myself credit for. The person auditioning me wasn’t out to ‘judge’ me – to find all my flaws, and they certainly didn’t hold the key to my future. They were, most likely, looking for all my good qualities and potential. And their ‘yes’ or ‘no’ wasn’t the start of my life or the end of the world. I held the key to my own future. But, of course, it’s hard to see those things as a nervous kid – to realize that auditions are just an opportunity to have some fun, and to share who you are and what you love.
Anyway, there were auditions day 1, and at lunch I ventured out of the theatre for an early afternoon stroll downtown (in the blowing snow/freezing rain. Thanks spring in Rochester) to pick up an awesome prize pack that I won in a recent giveaway from Hart’s Local Grocers…an old (late 1800s-mid 1900s) and now new again local grocery store that will be located next to The Little Theatre downtown that aims to sell food from local Rochester area farmers and other small businesses, which I love. In addition to being operated and staffed by the nicest, coolest folks, they’re also going to have the best selection of food! Farm-fresh locally-grown produce, Hedonist chocolates, Pittsford Dairy Farms milk and ice cream, Flour City breads and pastas, local meats and cheeses and condiments and baked goods…and Fee Brothers bitters. Which, coincidentally, was the giveaway I won – 4 delicious bottles of Fee Brothers bitters in black walnut, orange, Aztec chocolate, and whiskey that are going to help me craft some excellent old-fashioned cocktails (they also have a rhubarb bitters, among other tasty varieties, that I MUST own), and I also took home a soft, heathered Hart’s Local Grocer’s t-shirt. Pretty sweet gift basket if I do say so myself! I cannot wait to curl up in my cozy soft tee with a delicious cocktail after three long days of auditions this weekend and check out Hart’s when they open in May!
{Photo by Hart’s}
After auditions I drove out to the Greece Public Library to catch up with a few friends from book club to meet Eowyn Ivey, the author of our most recent read, The Snow Child. Eowyn has been living in Alaska (what a dream!) since she was a young child. She and her husband and daughters hunt and fish all their own meat and game, own chickens, keep their own land, and grow their own produce on their wilderness homestead. It’s really neat how she was able to use her own life as inspiration for some of the moments and scenes in her novel. Ted and I honeymooned in Alaska and we adored it there. Sitka and its surrounding islands are beyond gorgeous! We’ve dreamed of one day moving to Alaska and opening up our own professional theatre there, which may not be the most practical thought in the world, unless we plan to cater to bear, moose and eagles rather than human audiences, but a dream is a dream. Also, Eowyn an incredibly kind and genuine person. I really like her as a person and as an author! She’s so open and friendly, and her book was compelling and full of amazing detail and imagery and some great themes and metaphors. It was also just simply a lovely story, set in a lovely place, and with lovely characters I cared about. At the library she read aloud three passages from her novel and then opened up the floor to questions. I loved what she had to say and hearing her insights. She was so willing to share her thoughts and speak with everyone – thanking each person for their question. After her presentation she signed books and took pictures with book clubs. It was a really nice way to end the day.
{Clearly, we lowered the average age in the room by quite a bit. Photo by Writers & Books.}
{Chris, Richard, me, Eowyn Ivey, and Tate – a small handful of our book club meeting Eowyn. Photo by Writers & Books.}
Tonight I’m heading out to Williamson to see a former student’s performance in a production of Meet Me in St. Louis, and tomorrow evening a friend scored cheap tickets to the national touring production of Once and invited me along with her…so it’s a date!
What have you been up to lately?
{P.S. Don’t forget to vote for Ted to win a trip to Nashville’s 2014 CMA festival here! He’s a top 10 finalist, so he’s got a 1 in 10 shot. It takes less than 10 seconds to submit a vote. It’s the easiest (and kindest?) thing you’ll do all day! Even kinder if you email or Facebook your friends and family members this link and ask them to vote for Ted as well!}
