Choices

A few weeks ago, I saw a post on a website for a theatre that I have been looking at announcing their summer season.  This week, I looked back to see if any additional information had been posted (audition information, performance dates, etc).  Oddly enough, the Wagon Wheel is staging Joseph and the Amazing Techincolor Dreamcoat as is a local theatre group.  My experience with the show goes back at least 16 years when I saw it on Broadway.  I was on spring break tour with the BGSU Men’s Chorus which made its way to the Big Apple.  In 1999, I auditioned for a local production; however, I was not offered a role.  The next summer, a neighboring community group staged the musical.  This time, I was cast in multiple walk-on roles.  I actually was responsible for selling Jacob the coat of many colors.  Later, I was one of Potiphar’s attendees and carried a large fan adoringly waving it on him.  Later still, I was one of Pharoah’s guards and hauled Joseph to the King’s feet.  Being my first role with this theatre, I must have made quite an impression as the following year I was cast as Motel in Fiddler.

The Wagon Wheel is a theatre about an hour and a half away.  The stage is quite interesting as it is in “a round.”  The stage is smack in the middle with the audience surrounding it.  This would be a very unique experience for me as I have never before acted on a round stage. I have never auditioned for what can only be considered a summer stock situation.  There are a total of 6 different shows over the summer (Joseph, Brigadoon, Nunsense, High School Musical, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and A Chorus Line).  If what I feel is correct, each person who makes the cut will be involved somehow in each of the shows whether it be on or off stage.  This would mean a neccessity for quick memorization, characterization, dedication, hard work, and more commitment than ever.  Sounds like a complete drag to me…. AAARRRRRRRGH!  That is funny.  It sounds like a totally rewarding as well as professional experience.  An open call was announced for SUNDAY(?)  March 22 at Western Michigan University.

I know that I have a lot to do between now and then.  I need to find 16 measures of an up-tempo song and a ballad.  I have half of that.  Not to mention Meet Me in St. Louis. However, I KNOW that that will not be a problem.  I think I can prepare and be involved in one show at the same time.  Especially if I will need to learn to balance six at once.  But if all else fails, I can always come back and audition for another production of Joseph.