UPCOMING AUDITIONS

PHOTO: ACTORS' THEATRE'S Production of Twelfth Night 2001

ACTORS’ THEATRE Auditions for Summer 2009 Season Saturday March 14, 2009 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) & Sunday, March 15, 2009 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) German Village Meeting Haus 588 S. Third St. Columbus, Ohio 43206 - Call 614.444.6888 to arrange 5 minute auditions. Actors’ Theatre 2009 Season: The Three Musketeers Directed by John Kuhn (May 28 to June 28) The Tempest Directed by Pam Hill (July 2 to August 2) As You Like It Directed by John Kuhn (August 6 to September 6). http://www.theactorstheatre.org/


CURTAIN PLAYERS Auditions for Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon Directed by Lisa Billing Comedy 4 men, 2 women 02.08.09 & 02.09.09. http://www.curtainplayers.com/


EMERALD CITY PLAYERS Auditions for "Cliffhanger" By: James Yaffe Directed by: Linda Sopp Performances: April 24 - May 9, 2009 Auditions: Sunday, March 1, 2009 - 7:00 PM Monday, March 2, 2009 - 7:00 PM Auditions will be reading from the script. http://www.emeraldcityplayers.com/audition.htm


GALLERY PLAYERS An open audition for the final production of Gallery Players' 60th season will be held Sunday, March 15, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Monday, March 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. The Tale of the Allergist's Wife is the story of how one woman deals with her own mid-life crisis. This production will run three consecutive weekends, from Saturday, May 9 through Sunday, May 24. Please call (614) 559-6248 with any questions. http://www.jccgalleryplayers.org/auditions.php


OU STUDENT FILM CASTING CALL


Synopsis:

John is an old man who continuously plays a single recording of his daughter's violin music. He lives in a broken worn-down house, where he sifts through past, present, and dream, in an effort to punish and then forgive himself for not being able to be a father to her.

Character Description:

John is a 60-75 year old white male. He wears a tattered flannel shirt and old faded slacks. He wears a black eye patch and walks with a slight limp; both are injuries he incurred from the military service. He listens to a short single cassette recording of his daughter's violin solo constantly; it is both beauty and pain for him. He mostly doesn't know what he's doing and is trying to forgive himself for never being able to function as a father. If he can forgive himself, he will be ready for his death. He takes up painting because he can't get a particular dream out of his head. He keeps an ongoing conversation with a daughter he never really knew. He constantly challenges his mind with past, present, and dream to figure out why things work the way they do.

Interested actors can contact Chris Lange at cinepaint@gmail.com or 651-983-5779.

ACTING IN COLUMBUS - featured in the Columbus Dispatch

PHOTO: SHARI LEWIS, DISPATCH
Richard Mason, at back, watches Brian Willis, left, and Mohamud Muhidin perform in his class "Acting for TV Commercials" at the Ohio Theatre. The class included Renee Beall, front center, Andy Kramer, center, and Alphonso Sanders.

Acting for TV Commercials preps aspirants for the small screen
Sunday, January 18, 2009 3:24 AM By Nick Chordas THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

It wasn't how Dwight Pigg expected to spend his 45th birthday -- staring at a fixed point on the wall and extolling the virtues of a glow-in-the-dark remote control. "No more fumbling around. And it glows in the dark. Glows in the dark! And here's the best part -- it's only $19.95!"The exercise was part of "Acting for TV Commercials," a seven-hour class yesterday inside the Ohio Theatre. Pigg, a mortgage loan officer from Westerville, was one of nine aspiring actors who attended.

"In this day and age, you have to convince someone to pay attention to you in less than 10 seconds," said teacher Richard Mason, a 27-year acting veteran and founder of Acting in Columbus. "That means you have to be a dynamic performer. It's tough. People don't have any idea how tough it is."Pigg's wife bought him the class as a birthday present because she was "tired of me watching TV and saying, 'I can do that better,' " he joked. "Besides, there have to be some parts out there for a middle-aged balding guy."

Before the afternoon was over, the students learned the basics: how to find a reputable agent, going through the audition process ("It takes 15 auditions to book one job") and, eventually, how to perform for the camera. They even learned the finer points of chewing food convincingly.All that didn't come cheap. Mason charges $200 for the afternoon. Lunch is not included, although snacks are provided. Welcome to the business, indeed.

The monthly class, held inside the chilly confines of rehearsal studio No. 3, usually caps out at 12 students. Mason, who also works as a casting assistant, said he was surprised by the number of students who attended yesterday's session. "Because of the economy, I was panicking that I wasn't going to have anyone," he said. "Acting classes are a luxury, and the industry has been hit pretty hard. Advertising is one of the first things companies tend to cut. "It's a tough time for breaking into the industry, but there are still jobs out there."

Landing those jobs is the tough part. Renee Ritchey, a 40-year-old account executive from Worthington, said she caught the acting bug 15 years ago but never truly pursued a career before the camera. Not surprisingly, her acting resume is limited, including roles in community theater and a commercial for Big Bear in which she dressed like the Easter Bunny.Her first take was deemed "too stiff." The second take, after Ritchey was instructed to loosen up with 15 jumping jacks, worked just fine.

Mason said that 60 percent of the people who take his class book a job within two months -- more than one for SafeAuto Insurance. "SafeAuto is kind of a rite of passage for actors in Columbus," he said. He said that actors can be paid $3,000 for a regional spot that runs 13 weeks, while a national ad for the same run can deliver a paycheck as high as $10,000.

That kind of payday sounded good to Brian Willis of Columbus. The 34-year-old food service and catering employee has been told for years that he "should be in commercials" thanks to a deep, commanding voice. "I don't know if I was too scared to do it before or what, but now seemed like a good time to give it a shot," he said.
nchordas@dispatch.com

UPCOMING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

Acting for TV Commercials - Introduction to Acting for the Camera - Sunday February 15, 2009 1:00pm -8:00pm $200

Learn how to audition for and break into the local commercial and industrial industry. If you already have an agent but want to increase your "Bookability" this workshop will give you the edge over your competitors! This workshop will give you experience with the actual audition process. You'll work on-camera all day doing both prepared and cold readings, and receive plenty of feedback from instructor Richard Mason.

This class is limited to 12 students - As of February 4, 2009 there are six (6) slots available

Eight-Week Scene Study for Beginners - Saturdays beginning March 22, 2009 - May 10, 2009 10:00am-12:30pm $200

No matter what the medium, acting principles are the same and scene study is the place to learn them. This is the Mother Ship, the arena where you work on acting as a craft and art form, developing acting techniques you will be able to use anywhere. Actors are assigned scenes which they rehearse outside of class for presentation in class. Stage plays comprise the primary source material. This workshop also presents a good opportunity to prepare monologues that you will need to use in the industry. At the end of this eight-week course students present their scenes and monologues at our public STUDENT SHOWCASE.

This class is limited to 12 students - As of February 4, 2009 there are ten (10) slots available.

Acting for Film - Saturdays beginning March 22 - May 10, 2009 1:00pm-3:30pm $200

This intermediate level class, ideal for actors who have some training and/or previous experience, offers a focused introduction to the process. Actors work, stage, and shoot several film scenes during the eight-week session. We work in depth on concepts central to the actor's role development for film. We use Shurtleff's 12 Guideposts as our basic text to help students make strong choices with a wide variety of scenes. Your ability to make active, personal choices is essential for dynamic auditions and performances.

This class is limited to 12 students - As of February 4, 2009 there are nine (9) slots available.

THEATRE ROUNDTABLE UNIFIED AUDITIONS



"An opportunity to showcase your talent to many producers at one audition For Adult Actors"


The Theatre Roundtable of Central Ohio is now accepting registrations (and 30 copies of resumes, with 30 copies of headshots attached to the back) for its 12th Annual Unified Auditions, to be held Saturday, February 28th. Auditions will start at 10:00am and will continue through mid afternoon.
Those auditioning will come before a panel of Artistic Directors and Producers representing 20-25 theaters. These auditions are for adult performers (H.S. Seniors applicable), both Equity and Non-Equity. If you are unable to be present for the actual audition process that day, you may still submit your resumes and photos for the producer packets to be distributed that day.

Why should I audition?

· This is your chance to “Strut your stuff” in front of casting directors representing theaters from Central Ohio. With this one audition, you will make an impression on many theaters at once, as opposed to taking the time to schedule individual auditions with every participating theater.
· If you have worked with one or more of the organizations, this will be your chance to remind the casting directors who you are and what you are capable of and perhaps how you’ve grown in your craft (and just maybe what they will miss out on if they don’t include you in an upcoming production)!
· This is a chance to have your name, resume, and headshot put in the hands of casting directors throughout Ohio (even if you are unable to attend the auditions on the 28th, remember that getting your name and information in front of people can be just as important as an audition).

The Unified Auditions event is FREE for all Individual Members of the Theatre Roundtable that have paid their 2009 dues in full. If you are not an Individual Member of the Theatre Roundtable, but would like to audition, there is a registration fee of $20. This fee, in addition to participating in the auditions, will also entitle you to a membership in the Theatre Roundtable as an Individual Member (benefits listed on the application form).

The DEADLINE (to guarantee an audition slot) for receipt of the registration forms, resumes/headshots is Friday, February 20th. Late registration of auditionees (including day of the auditions) WILL BE ACCEPTED(based on time slot availability).

An Actor’s Guide to Auditions

Theatre Auditions

Auditions may be for individual productions or for an entire season. They can also be for one theatre company or for several as in the case of regional combined auditions that happen around the country, particularly from January through March. Auditions for individual shows usually involve reading from the script. The actors may read with other actors throughout the audition, or the actors can read lines with a staff person. Generally, there are two basic types of auditions: open casting auditions, also well known as “cattle calls,” and casting auditions, or casting interviews.

Open Casting Calls - TV/Film

Open casting calls are usually open to anyone who finds out about them. It is not unusual to find a varying array of types or plain individuals with not much acting experience trying out for these roles. Obvious advantages of open casting calls are that anyone can try out, even if the person doesn't have an agent. And so for the actor not yet with an agent it might be an opportunity to land one by impressing a casting director well enough so that a referral is made.

There are disadvantages to open casting calls as well. For one, with so many tryouts audition time is severely limited. A good impression has to be made very quickly (an advantage for a trained, experienced actor). Another disadvantage is that casting directors often use open casting calls to fill what are mostly minor acting roles. Sometimes, casting directors use open casting calls to meet new talent and re-evaluate veteran actors to see how much they may have improved. Another theory is that the casting director is not sure what he or she is looking for in terms of the type of person to fill a particular role, thus resulting in this kind of audition that insures an array of types. For most actors in these auditions, the tryout won't lead to a role, but by impressing the casting director enough, you could be kept in mind for future projects.

Closed Casting Auditions - TV/Film

Most established actors, especially those with agent, set their sights on attending casting auditions. A casting audition occurs when a casting director releases the news that a certain role is being cast for, that requires an approximate age range and appearance, such as a certain ethnicity, height, build or look. This information is normally filtered to agents through particular channels such as Breakdown Services, Ltd., The Link, Theatrical Index, and other information sources, and your agent (if you have one) sets up the casting auditions.

When agents receive word of a casting audition, they immediately send out all the actors they represent who fit the type, and whom they think hve a good shot at winning the role. Normally showing up for auditions like these means having to see many actors with your likeness or resemblance, somewhat of the opposite of the open casting calls.

CRAFT NOTES by Ed Hooks

“Mickey Rourke, ‘The Wrestler’”

Mickey Rourke, for better or worse, has spent most of his adult life preparing for the role of Randy “The Ram” Robinson in the new film “The Wrestler”. The blending of actor and role is seamless, moving, thrilling and profoundly correct. His work here is more testament than character portrayal, and that is why this low budget, almost-off-the-radar film is an instant classic.

When, after the final credits roll, you walk out of most good movies, you enjoy a feeling of satisfaction. Your ten dollars was well spent. When you walk out of “The Wrestler”, you feel as though you have personally been hit by one of the many body slams that were shown on screen. You have taken a rare journey into another human being’s soul.
In my acting classes, I teach that all humans act to survive. We each pursue different strategies in life, but we identify with the impulse to survive in one another. When a baby is born, the first thing she does is try to live; when a person dies, the last thing she does before dying is try to live. What we have in “The Wrestler” is the final gasp of a man who wants more than anything to live, but who has made just about every wrong choice one could make in life. He has lived on his own terms, and the fruits of that effort are catching up with him in the opening scene.

Just as “Rocky” was a metaphor for the early career of Sylvester Stallone, so too is “The Wrestler” a metaphor for the mid-life career of Mickey Rourke. Speaking only for myself, I admired Rourke’s early acting work, as in, say, “Diner”. He was very organic. But then he went badly off track and began to play out his ragged self-destructive personal life in the press while trashing his own career. He totally quit acting at one point and became a professional boxer. But he was too old to be boxing and wound up having a lot of his bones broken. Then he made a futile attempt at resurrecting his acting career. At his lowest, he was reduced to playing a supporting role in an Enrique Iglesias music video. I don’t like to see anybody self-destruct, and so I turned off to Mr. Rourke. I looked the other way and silently wished him God Speed.

The first I heard of “The Wrestler” was when it was awarded The Golden Lion at the 2008 Venice Film Festival. I took notice but, even considering that award, was inclined to dismiss it simply because of Mickey Rourke. Then I read that Fox had bought the film for $4 million at Sundance, and that audiences were becoming enthusiastic. Still, I resisted. Finally, I watched the trailer on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61-GFxjTyV0) and I was sold. I attended a morning screening in Chicago the day after it opened and was stunned. When I returned home, my wife asked how I liked the movie, and I replied, “It is like getting hit with a sledge hammer.”

“The Wrestler” is set in the world of professional wrestling and, as such, is extremely violent and bloody. If you are the kind of person who can’t get past that, then this is not the flick for you. However, in my view, life itself is often violent and bloody, and we learn nothing about the human condition if we are not willing from time to time to look at that in the light of day.

I should also mention how much my respect for Marisa Tomei went up after seeing “The Wrestler”. This 44-year old actress is up there on the screen playing a stripper/pole dancer, with and without make up. Emotionally and physically, her performance, too, is a raw nerve exposed. This may not be a light-hearted date movie, but it is definitely a rare cinematic experience. I whole-heartedly recommend that every artist see it.

HAROLD PINTER, 1930 - 2008


One of the 20th century’s most influential playwrights has died in London at age 78, after a seven-year battle with cancer. Pinter’s plays were famous for their emotional intricacy and underlying air of pent-up violence. He was so unique a writer that a new dictionary word was created in his spirit: “Pinteresque”, meaning emotionally complex, cryptic. Peter Hall, who has directed more Pinter than almost anybody, says that his characters use words to inflict wounds upon one another. Pinter was also known for his use of meaningful pauses in dialogue. When acting in one of his plays, new actors must first learn that those famous pauses are not simply pauses; they are choices, with intention. Acting has almost nothing to do with words. But it has had a lot to do with Harold Pinter. His death is a great loss to theatre.

Acting in Columbus Student Andy Kramer Needs Your Votes!


Hi everyone, I really really need your support by voting for me. I auditioned for a Safe Auto commercial a few weeks ago by singing the Safe Auto Jingle. It was filmed and my video will be posted to this site for all to view: dothejingle.com. The voting begins on Jan. 19 and ends on March 20. If I get the most people to vote for me I will get an advertising contract with Safe Auto to do commercials and different things for them. This could really help me with my acting career!! SO PLEASE PLEASE TAKE A SECOND TO GO TO THE SITE AND VOTE FOR ME!!!!!! I love you ......

BOOK OF THE MONTH


RESPECT FOR ACTING by UTA HAGEN

"This fascinating and detailed book about acting is Miss Hagen's credo, the accumulated wisdom of her years spent in intimate communion with her art. It is at once the voicing of her exacting standards for herself and those she teaches, and an explanation of the means to the end. For those unable to avail themselves of her personal tutelage, her book is the best substitute." —Publishers Weekly

"This is a textbook for aspiring actors, but working thespians can profit much by it. Anyone with just a casual interest in the theater should also enjoy its behind-the-scenes flavor. Respect for Acting is certainly a special book, perhaps for a limited readership, but of its "How-To" kind I'd give it four curtain calls, and two hollers of "Author, Author —King Features Syndicate
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