Just stuff: March 6, 2009

What a weird week. Was it just me or were a lot of people out of sorts this week? It was a mix of weird moods, poor sleep and the resulting headache and bitchiness and off and on weather I think. My kids were also really up and down this week. A lot of it is our pervasive need for a positive change in the weather that sticks around for more than 6 hours.

On Sunday I auditioned for a part in a local production of The Laramie Project at the Albright Theater in Batavia.

The Laramie Project tells the story of Matthew Sheppard, a young gay man who was beaten and left to die tied to a fence. Based on interviews with residents of Laramie, Wyoming, this theatrical experience will move audiences with first-hand accounts of cruelty, bigotry, compassion and love. Rated PG 14

April 24, 25, 26, May 1, 2, 3, 8 & 9
Show Times: Friday & Saturday 8 PM, Sunday 2 PM

The only theater I've done in 25 years was a production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at our church a couple years ago. It was a little scary making that initial decision to go to the open auditions this time. But once I got there and watched a few of the other actors read it all came back to me. My first reading was a little too fast and awkward but by my third or fourth time up there I was more at ease and able to put a little individual spin on my reading. Sarah went with me for moral support and during my last reading the character I was reading used the phrase, "SOL (shit outta luck)" and afterward she said that at first she thought I had improvised that because it sounded so natural. (I think she may have heard me say it in real life a few too many times!)

It helped that I had made myself familiar with the material beforehand. I saw the call for auditions in the paper a couple weeks ago and immediately wrote it in my planner. It was a gut instinct and I went with it. I knew the performances would be after I had closed the store and I felt I needed to mark that with something new and positive. The next day I stopped at the bookstore and picked up a copy of the script. I read it through a couple times and then went back and marked all the female monologues with Post-it arrows and started reading them aloud at every opportunity I had. I read a few to the dogs and cats and when I felt confident enough, I read them to the girls and Steve.

Needless to say I was very excited to get a call Wednesday from the director offering me a part. I did a little dance around the store, sent my husband a text, posted an almost incomprehensible message on the private message board I hang out with my online friends and updated my Facebook status. I haven't been this excited about something in a long time. Sunday evening is our first read through with the rest of the cast. I can't wait.

On another unrelated note: CAN WE TALK AMERICAN IDOL? I used to blog about AI on a regular basis and after a year or two I just couldn't take it anymore. Last year I swore I was going to give it up. But I just can't quit it! They have seemed to have dialed back some of the really annoying stuff like making fun of the mentally impaired and emotionally unbalanced (for the most part, more on that in a second.) It also seems that the overall talent of the contestants has gotten better and better. We're no longer subjected to Goat Girls and Marines that need Metamucil for the most part. That said...

What the hell with Tatiana? Seriously. First they brought her back for the Wild Card round, way to screw with an already messed up girl. Then they spend time laughing at her obvious "issues". The final straw was last night Paula giving the girl way more drama feeding attention than necessary. Just tell her no and get on with the show. Because of all the ego stroking and "oh God let's let her down easy so she doesn't commit suicide in my driveway" crap made the show go overtime and I missed Anoop Dogg get named as the 13th finalist. At least now I have a reason to watch.