BU Audition 1/31
As I mentioned, I changed my audition for Boston University kind of at the last minute. My mom and I drove to Manchester NH in a snowstorm on Friday night and stayed in a hotel there. The next morning we went into Boston (parked and took the tee). It was really easy. We left a bunch of extra time, and I arrived an hour early for my 11:00 audition. A lot of people did though, and the info session started early, while I was in the bathroom! They took our headshots and resumes before the info session. It was just one woman running the whole thing because her colleague was sick.
The info session started out kind of slow and then...BAM. I fell in love. I already knew the program was cool but MAN. It was amazing. You can pick acting or theatre arts, and within theatre arts you can concentrate in whatever, but everyone's together the first year. And it's totally possible (but hard) to do a major or minor. BU is honestly incredible. I was thisclose to overlooking it and I am so glad I didn't. They have a musical theatre concentration, but when I asked about it the woman was VERY clear that BU students are actors first and she graduated from a BFA MT program and essentially said everything I feel and believe. And an internship is required for theatre arts, and study abroad is required for both. And the entire junior year is Shakespeare in the acting program. And as a senior thesis, theatre arts majors form a theatre company together. It's glorious. Agh.
Anyway, after I had fallen in love, we all went upstairs and they posted a list of who was going in which hour. I wasn't until 2:00 so Mom and I walked to get lunch in the FREEZING COLD. I was so cold I couldn't even function when we got back. I felt kind of sick as well. But I forced myself to go hang out with the current students and I am SO glad I did! It made me feel way better, and they were all great. We talked about actual THEATRE in addition to the school/program/audition process. I was one of the last (because of switching my audition date so late, I'm sure!) and the woman from the info session was evaluating me. I did my monologues--it actually might have been the most connected I've been to them since NYU (thanks Utah guy!)--and then I sat down to talk to her. She was like "so you went to Circle in the Square" and I was like yeah and she was like "so did I!" and I was so excited I practically knocked the table over. She asked why BU and I talked about the freedom thing and how I'm interested in management and wrote a play and that it was so great not to have to decide. And I asked a couple more questions about the program. She verbally asked where else I was auditioning, and I told her the whoooole list (minus walk-ins, so not that long) and from her reaction, I got "oh, the usual suspects." You know? It wasn't that weird except when I was trying to remember them all. Not as bad as I was expecting. We chatted about Circle and stuff some more and then she was like "nice work" and I left. And on the way out I asked about the senior thesis thing. It was really casual. And I was like "thanks I had a blast!"
UGH EVERY TIME I AUDITION FOR A SCHOOL I FALL IN LOVE WITH IT HELP
The info session started out kind of slow and then...BAM. I fell in love. I already knew the program was cool but MAN. It was amazing. You can pick acting or theatre arts, and within theatre arts you can concentrate in whatever, but everyone's together the first year. And it's totally possible (but hard) to do a major or minor. BU is honestly incredible. I was thisclose to overlooking it and I am so glad I didn't. They have a musical theatre concentration, but when I asked about it the woman was VERY clear that BU students are actors first and she graduated from a BFA MT program and essentially said everything I feel and believe. And an internship is required for theatre arts, and study abroad is required for both. And the entire junior year is Shakespeare in the acting program. And as a senior thesis, theatre arts majors form a theatre company together. It's glorious. Agh.
Anyway, after I had fallen in love, we all went upstairs and they posted a list of who was going in which hour. I wasn't until 2:00 so Mom and I walked to get lunch in the FREEZING COLD. I was so cold I couldn't even function when we got back. I felt kind of sick as well. But I forced myself to go hang out with the current students and I am SO glad I did! It made me feel way better, and they were all great. We talked about actual THEATRE in addition to the school/program/audition process. I was one of the last (because of switching my audition date so late, I'm sure!) and the woman from the info session was evaluating me. I did my monologues--it actually might have been the most connected I've been to them since NYU (thanks Utah guy!)--and then I sat down to talk to her. She was like "so you went to Circle in the Square" and I was like yeah and she was like "so did I!" and I was so excited I practically knocked the table over. She asked why BU and I talked about the freedom thing and how I'm interested in management and wrote a play and that it was so great not to have to decide. And I asked a couple more questions about the program. She verbally asked where else I was auditioning, and I told her the whoooole list (minus walk-ins, so not that long) and from her reaction, I got "oh, the usual suspects." You know? It wasn't that weird except when I was trying to remember them all. Not as bad as I was expecting. We chatted about Circle and stuff some more and then she was like "nice work" and I left. And on the way out I asked about the senior thesis thing. It was really casual. And I was like "thanks I had a blast!"
UGH EVERY TIME I AUDITION FOR A SCHOOL I FALL IN LOVE WITH IT HELP
UNIFIEDS Day 2!
This morning started with an interview for DePaul's theatre management program. After the day before I was nervous about feeling sick/nervous. Nervous about feeling nervous. That's me.
I was also late because we weren't sure if the 1 train was running normally downtown (it was) so we took a cab to 96th. And got bagels. Anyway, after SPRINTING from Penn Station, I got there just in time and went right in the room. The guy interviewing me was the dean and his name is also Dean. I only made 9 jokes about Community. Then he talked to me about my and where I see myself in 10 years or what one musical I would produce (I said Mean Girls or Monsters Inc) and dream casts. I basically geeked out for half an hour about Courtney Wolfson as Cady and Jared Gertner as Damien and Molly Hager as Janis (you cannot deny that she would slay). It's a very cool program and it's quite easy to get a job right when you graduate. From what he said, it seemed like the interview is more of a formality. Which is good because I would love to go to DePaul!
After the interview, I went to Pearl and cancelled my Penn State audition. I'm glad I did. It was way too much, and it's not the right type of school for me anyway. I could tell by the way the people standing outside the door were dressed. There are just different types of MT kids. I never would get in there anyway.
I came back at 3 for UArts. I was really nervous because I was supposed to do a choreographed dance in the room and I didn't know mine as well as I could have. But I talked myself off the ledge and went in there. My monologues went OK but I honestly could have been more connected. I was at times but I'm still thinking a lot about how I sound. Then I went to do my songs and realized that my speakers were missing a battery! I was like "I'll get it" but they said to sing a cappella. And they were like, do you need a starting note? I said no, I have perfect pitch, and I sang my pieces probably way better than I would have had I been accompanied. It was the best technical singing of my ballad so far, I think. Then they called me over for an interview and we talked about how they're all about creativity and doing your own work and it's so cool. Ugh. They did ask me why UArts and why musical theatre. I asked about Shakespeare training and they were like "we treat all work as new work" and I was like AWESOME. And we talked about my parents being musicians. Then at the end of the interview I was like "do you want me to dance or?" And they were like "oh yeah, please, dance!" And I was like "but my speakers? Should I get the battery that fell out?" And they were like, "just dance with no music! Actually, don't worry about it" so I said "I can just do a split or something" and they said "hahaha yeah do that." So I sat in a split for a few seconds and left. And that was it for Unifieds! I almost did a walk-in after for UWSP but they weren't really in the room or they were eating lunch or something so I just went home because I knew we had to leave the city. It was a great, great time. I wish I could do more. I really do love auditioning, I mean it. The end.
This morning started with an interview for DePaul's theatre management program. After the day before I was nervous about feeling sick/nervous. Nervous about feeling nervous. That's me.
I was also late because we weren't sure if the 1 train was running normally downtown (it was) so we took a cab to 96th. And got bagels. Anyway, after SPRINTING from Penn Station, I got there just in time and went right in the room. The guy interviewing me was the dean and his name is also Dean. I only made 9 jokes about Community. Then he talked to me about my and where I see myself in 10 years or what one musical I would produce (I said Mean Girls or Monsters Inc) and dream casts. I basically geeked out for half an hour about Courtney Wolfson as Cady and Jared Gertner as Damien and Molly Hager as Janis (you cannot deny that she would slay). It's a very cool program and it's quite easy to get a job right when you graduate. From what he said, it seemed like the interview is more of a formality. Which is good because I would love to go to DePaul!
After the interview, I went to Pearl and cancelled my Penn State audition. I'm glad I did. It was way too much, and it's not the right type of school for me anyway. I could tell by the way the people standing outside the door were dressed. There are just different types of MT kids. I never would get in there anyway.
I came back at 3 for UArts. I was really nervous because I was supposed to do a choreographed dance in the room and I didn't know mine as well as I could have. But I talked myself off the ledge and went in there. My monologues went OK but I honestly could have been more connected. I was at times but I'm still thinking a lot about how I sound. Then I went to do my songs and realized that my speakers were missing a battery! I was like "I'll get it" but they said to sing a cappella. And they were like, do you need a starting note? I said no, I have perfect pitch, and I sang my pieces probably way better than I would have had I been accompanied. It was the best technical singing of my ballad so far, I think. Then they called me over for an interview and we talked about how they're all about creativity and doing your own work and it's so cool. Ugh. They did ask me why UArts and why musical theatre. I asked about Shakespeare training and they were like "we treat all work as new work" and I was like AWESOME. And we talked about my parents being musicians. Then at the end of the interview I was like "do you want me to dance or?" And they were like "oh yeah, please, dance!" And I was like "but my speakers? Should I get the battery that fell out?" And they were like, "just dance with no music! Actually, don't worry about it" so I said "I can just do a split or something" and they said "hahaha yeah do that." So I sat in a split for a few seconds and left. And that was it for Unifieds! I almost did a walk-in after for UWSP but they weren't really in the room or they were eating lunch or something so I just went home because I knew we had to leave the city. It was a great, great time. I wish I could do more. I really do love auditioning, I mean it. The end.
I was also late because we weren't sure if the 1 train was running normally downtown (it was) so we took a cab to 96th. And got bagels. Anyway, after SPRINTING from Penn Station, I got there just in time and went right in the room. The guy interviewing me was the dean and his name is also Dean. I only made 9 jokes about Community. Then he talked to me about my and where I see myself in 10 years or what one musical I would produce (I said Mean Girls or Monsters Inc) and dream casts. I basically geeked out for half an hour about Courtney Wolfson as Cady and Jared Gertner as Damien and Molly Hager as Janis (you cannot deny that she would slay). It's a very cool program and it's quite easy to get a job right when you graduate. From what he said, it seemed like the interview is more of a formality. Which is good because I would love to go to DePaul!
After the interview, I went to Pearl and cancelled my Penn State audition. I'm glad I did. It was way too much, and it's not the right type of school for me anyway. I could tell by the way the people standing outside the door were dressed. There are just different types of MT kids. I never would get in there anyway.
I came back at 3 for UArts. I was really nervous because I was supposed to do a choreographed dance in the room and I didn't know mine as well as I could have. But I talked myself off the ledge and went in there. My monologues went OK but I honestly could have been more connected. I was at times but I'm still thinking a lot about how I sound. Then I went to do my songs and realized that my speakers were missing a battery! I was like "I'll get it" but they said to sing a cappella. And they were like, do you need a starting note? I said no, I have perfect pitch, and I sang my pieces probably way better than I would have had I been accompanied. It was the best technical singing of my ballad so far, I think. Then they called me over for an interview and we talked about how they're all about creativity and doing your own work and it's so cool. Ugh. They did ask me why UArts and why musical theatre. I asked about Shakespeare training and they were like "we treat all work as new work" and I was like AWESOME. And we talked about my parents being musicians. Then at the end of the interview I was like "do you want me to dance or?" And they were like "oh yeah, please, dance!" And I was like "but my speakers? Should I get the battery that fell out?" And they were like, "just dance with no music! Actually, don't worry about it" so I said "I can just do a split or something" and they said "hahaha yeah do that." So I sat in a split for a few seconds and left. And that was it for Unifieds! I almost did a walk-in after for UWSP but they weren't really in the room or they were eating lunch or something so I just went home because I knew we had to leave the city. It was a great, great time. I wish I could do more. I really do love auditioning, I mean it. The end.
Unifieds Day 1 Part 3: My Audition Horror Story
After my audition for Webster, I went out to lunch with my mom. We got to the smaller Pearl Studios building (this was my only audition there) way early and sat outside the University of Utah room. I was already tired, I think. The girl working the table told me about how much music is in the acting program, and I decided to audition for that and not MT. I looked over the audition requirements and it said 2 contemporary monologues and a song, a cappella. So I was like, cool, that's what I've been doing all day, I'll just go in and get this done. They let me go in way early because they had a break. So I went to sit down by the table and tell the acting guy what pieces I was doing, and he was like, "so your classical piece?" I didn't even say that the paper they handed me had specifically said 2 contemporary monologues. I was just like, ummmmmm Beatrice from Much Ado! Which I had done for an audition (for my summer program) a year before and not touched since. I knew I wasn't going to remember all of it, and it's like a 45-second monologue. But alas. I tried in vain to go over it in my head as they were interviewing me--I think they asked what sort of acting training I had done, but I wasn't all there. Then I got up to do my monologues, and I started to feel really sick. Like, nauseous. I weirdly put my hands on my hips because I felt so bad, and I tried to gather myself together in between pieces, taking a way long time to hopefully make myself feel better. It did not make me feel better. I had no time to get in the moment and I basically said my contemporary monologue. As for the classical, it was a bit better actingwise, but I left out the middle third. HaHAHAHAHA. Then I did my song and I was like, "I'm really sorry but I'm feeling really sick" and they said "like you're going to throw up?" and I said "maybe???" and they were like "yeah go and come back if you feel better" so I left and kind of collapsed in the hall for a few minutes and had some Tums and then I went back in the room, still fighting it, while they were like "sit down." And they talked to me more about what I had just done (which was pretty terrible because I was too busy not vomiting to act). I got up to leave and said "well thanks for putting up with me not feeling well!" and they were like "no we're not done with you we're doing corrections." So we talked about my objective and tactics and stuff, and he kept going "breathe!" and made me say the last like like 20 times. I would have been totally into it if I hadn't felt SO SICK and knew what I had done was not at all representative of me as an actor. The guy was like, I'm glad you got sick because you were actually honest at that moment. It was definitely a wake-up call about my monologue getting stale, and doing too many auditions in one day. And having a classical monologue ready just in case....
So, I will not be applying to University of Utah. I wish I hadn't gotten sick but I'm glad that I did it because the guy gave me some good tips. It's really, really hard not to be on autopilot after a while, and as an actor you cannot be. I definitely learned, but it was still a horror story on quite a few levels.
Oh, and I did let the alum who was proctoring know that the monologue requirements on the sheet were wrong! Haha!
So, I will not be applying to University of Utah. I wish I hadn't gotten sick but I'm glad that I did it because the guy gave me some good tips. It's really, really hard not to be on autopilot after a while, and as an actor you cannot be. I definitely learned, but it was still a horror story on quite a few levels.
Oh, and I did let the alum who was proctoring know that the monologue requirements on the sheet were wrong! Haha!
Unifieds Day 1 Part 2
When I reentered Pearl Studios after exploring the other buildings, I had to wait forever for the elevator and I thought I was going to be late. I think I said so, and the lady in front of me was like "don't worry honey, I'm supposed to be watching auditions right now!" So once we got in the elevator, I asked her what school she was with and she pointed to a poster in the elevator for SCAD. I was like, that's where I'm going too! She said she had another person before me, which was awesome. I camped out with my inspirational playlist and waited. When they called my name, I didn't hear because I had notice cancelling headphones on! Lesson learned. Beware of headphones. When I went in, I did my one monologue (I used my longest one) and song (I used my best one which is shortest). I finished my song and the auditor that I met in the elevator went,"you're obviously trained. You have a really nice voice" and I was like ??!?!?!?!?!?!! because as you know I think my voice is the weakest thing, comparatively. She also told me about the program and asked what I was looking for. I told her how I'd been to Savannah because my grandparents winter there and how much I liked the artsy vibe and she said "I think you'd be happy there." It was the only time I listed a school's location as a reason I was interested, which I'm proud of. And this was a walk-in for a school I knew very little about, so it's OK. :) We chatted a little more and I left. It was pretty quick but very nice. I let my new friend Abby use my speakers while she did an audition for SCAD and then headed to Webster.Webster, for the record, is very very tight with its admissions department. I've gotten multiple calls from them. They left messages. I had never heard of a school actually calling unless it was to tell you you are accepted! That's actually totally unrelated to my audition experience, but whatever. I got there 15 minutes early and had to (very messily) fill out a form saying why I want to go there and some other stuff. They also wanted a letter of rec. The person before me was at another audition so I got to go in early. There were two men behind the table-the head of MT and one professor-and I cannot say enough how nice they were. I did my monologues first and then my songs. My accompaniment was recorded on my phone and it was terrible quality, but I did what I could. Then they were like "pull up a chair" and they asked me a few questions, and if I had any. I wanted to know about taking classes with acting majors and study abroad, I think. They might have asked me why I picked the school, and then MY PHONE RANG. Well, vibrated. What could I do? I had to have it on to play my accompaniment. We joked about it though. They were like "it's your mom saying how did your audition go!" The last thing I was asked was "how are you in the face of adversity?" or something like that. I said pretty good, which is true. But I was awkward about it: "I know I'm not that good, so how could it offend me coming from someone else?! I just want to get better! I'm all about the process!" I think they got it/me though. After I left I was sitting outside the room waiting for my mom to call and the head of MT left the room and said hi to me, like called me by name, which was SO nice. It's gotta be the Midwestern thing, right?
I'm going to finish day one in a separate post that will not be as fun because it is my second true *spooky voice* audition horror story.
UNIFIEDS Day 1 Part 1
At last the time has come! I am reporting live from Unifieds in New York. The first thing I did when I got here around 9 was look around for walk-ins. I found one at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design, which is really cool) and signed up for 10:00. Then I went to the 12th floor and found Cornish. They only had slots at 10 and 2, and I have Webster at 3. So I went back downstairs, moved SCAD, and auditioned for Cornish at 10.
They started with an info session and I was so into everything the woman said (she was an acting teacher there and had an alum with her). Then we did a bunch of exercises connecting with each other. It is usually something I struggle with, but thanks to Circle in the Square I did way better with it than usual! Niko, my cousin, was supposed to be in the 10:00 as well but ended up switching to 2. I found my friend Nathaniel before, and as it turned out his boyfriend was in my same audition group. It was an hour of listening to inspirational music and meeting people.
Then I went in and did my monologues and one song a cappella. They laughed through the comedic one and I came dangerously close to breaking character. Ha ha ha. And then we had the longest most in-depth interview and they asked the coolest questions! She asked me if I write so I her about my play and she told me to submit it as one of my essays and look into their original works track. I also mentioned that I went to Africa and produced my cabaret, which she thought was cool (like, she said so. I'm not inferring). And she looked at my resume and asked me about playing Maria in Twelfth Night and said it was a good role for me. Yay! I could go on all day about how great that interview was. At the end, she said to tell the monitor that I had a fee waiver.
I had a long break after Cornish so I went to explore the other buildings. Pearl studios is in two--mainly the one I started in, but also across the street--and Ripley-Grier is a block up and has mainly non official Unifieds schools. I figured out where DePaul was and signed up for a walk-in for University of Utah. Then I came back to the main Pearl building for my SCAD audition. Which I will put in another post because this is ridiculously long.
They started with an info session and I was so into everything the woman said (she was an acting teacher there and had an alum with her). Then we did a bunch of exercises connecting with each other. It is usually something I struggle with, but thanks to Circle in the Square I did way better with it than usual! Niko, my cousin, was supposed to be in the 10:00 as well but ended up switching to 2. I found my friend Nathaniel before, and as it turned out his boyfriend was in my same audition group. It was an hour of listening to inspirational music and meeting people.
Then I went in and did my monologues and one song a cappella. They laughed through the comedic one and I came dangerously close to breaking character. Ha ha ha. And then we had the longest most in-depth interview and they asked the coolest questions! She asked me if I write so I her about my play and she told me to submit it as one of my essays and look into their original works track. I also mentioned that I went to Africa and produced my cabaret, which she thought was cool (like, she said so. I'm not inferring). And she looked at my resume and asked me about playing Maria in Twelfth Night and said it was a good role for me. Yay! I could go on all day about how great that interview was. At the end, she said to tell the monitor that I had a fee waiver.
I had a long break after Cornish so I went to explore the other buildings. Pearl studios is in two--mainly the one I started in, but also across the street--and Ripley-Grier is a block up and has mainly non official Unifieds schools. I figured out where DePaul was and signed up for a walk-in for University of Utah. Then I came back to the main Pearl building for my SCAD audition. Which I will put in another post because this is ridiculously long.
MLK Weekend Part 2: NYU Artstic Review
So, immediately post-Emerson I hopped on the Megabus to NYC! Mine was supposed to leave at 3 but it was delayed so they offered to put me on the 2:00 which ended up leaving at 3 anyway. Whew! 5 hours in a crowded bus is a long time but I got there on time and made it to my cousin's apartment in Brooklyn. I had all of Monday free, so I met a friend and we went to Zabar's and Levain Bakery, and checked out the NYU area. I rushed La Boheme at the Met and it was lovely! The next morning I went right to the audition. I got super lost on the subway and ended up taking a cab from Union Square so I could get there early (it's so close it was like $5). I got there at 8:45 and they started right at 9. I chatted with a bunch of super nice people. Also, you know how they say to be as nice as possible to everyone on the campus? That is REAL. I was warming up in the bathroom and the song evaluator came in and I smiled and chatted with her, totally not knowing she would watch my audition. The same thing happened with the monologue guy. Anyway, the info session was done by the head of the drama department and he is super great. I had done an info session at NYU last spring and all the same stuff was said. Again, I asked some pretty specific questions about options after the first two years of primary training. NYU is so cool. If only I could get in/afford it. Sigh.
The kids were once again brought to a different floor than the parents and split into 4 groups of 4 for MT and acting. They let you audition for both, which I did. My group was acting, then singing, then dancing.
I was one of the first to go for monologues, and they went really well. I was very honest (I almost cried at the end of my first one and had to pull it together oooop). The adjudicator was so so nice. He worked with me on one of them (told me to do it like I was at a fancy restaurant) and asked me a lot of questions. It was a great interview. I was super candid about my interests, and why I want to go to NYU, etc. Some questions asked were "why NYU?" (I said academic structure--actually, I said "at first i wanted a conservatory but then I asked myself, am I done learning about other stuff? HELL no! (Oops)--as well as freedom to choose training and minor in producing), "what studios are you interested in?" (I said Meisner because I've never been trained in it and Experimental Theatre Wing because of my interest in new work as an actor and producer), "what do you like to do in your free time?" (Alpine skiing and reading autobiographies, plus my job)...he was like "you have a LOT of interests" and I was like "lol yeah" and he was like "no that's good" and I was like "well I think it's so important to be educated as a person in order to be a good actor like I said" and he was like "awesome that's what we are about" and I was like "I know woohoo I love this school see ya" and I left.
Then for singing I was kinda nervous but when I gave the accompanist my songs he was like "these are awesome song choices!" And that put me at ease. The song adjudicator lady asked me my vpice type (I said soprano but still working on the middle) and how long I had taken voice (I said 3 years because saying 6 would have made me look worse). Again, the uptempo went great and the ballad was meh. The evaluator was very nice and she said "it seemed like you were connected to the first song, were you getting caught up in the singing?" And I was like "lol yeah" but she said don't worry about it and so I didn't and it went a lot better.
And then we had the dance call. I do not dread dance calls because I love them and think they are a blast. This one was not. It was hard and it was the dreaded Fosse. I mean, it was taught absurdly fast. ABSURDLY. We were the biggest mess. It was pretty much a disaster. Thank God they also consider you for acting studios!
I'm still in love with NYU, although not so much just NSB. It was a fantastic day. Except for the dance call. Then I bought myself socks and falafel and went home.
The kids were once again brought to a different floor than the parents and split into 4 groups of 4 for MT and acting. They let you audition for both, which I did. My group was acting, then singing, then dancing.
I was one of the first to go for monologues, and they went really well. I was very honest (I almost cried at the end of my first one and had to pull it together oooop). The adjudicator was so so nice. He worked with me on one of them (told me to do it like I was at a fancy restaurant) and asked me a lot of questions. It was a great interview. I was super candid about my interests, and why I want to go to NYU, etc. Some questions asked were "why NYU?" (I said academic structure--actually, I said "at first i wanted a conservatory but then I asked myself, am I done learning about other stuff? HELL no! (Oops)--as well as freedom to choose training and minor in producing), "what studios are you interested in?" (I said Meisner because I've never been trained in it and Experimental Theatre Wing because of my interest in new work as an actor and producer), "what do you like to do in your free time?" (Alpine skiing and reading autobiographies, plus my job)...he was like "you have a LOT of interests" and I was like "lol yeah" and he was like "no that's good" and I was like "well I think it's so important to be educated as a person in order to be a good actor like I said" and he was like "awesome that's what we are about" and I was like "I know woohoo I love this school see ya" and I left.
Then for singing I was kinda nervous but when I gave the accompanist my songs he was like "these are awesome song choices!" And that put me at ease. The song adjudicator lady asked me my vpice type (I said soprano but still working on the middle) and how long I had taken voice (I said 3 years because saying 6 would have made me look worse). Again, the uptempo went great and the ballad was meh. The evaluator was very nice and she said "it seemed like you were connected to the first song, were you getting caught up in the singing?" And I was like "lol yeah" but she said don't worry about it and so I didn't and it went a lot better.
And then we had the dance call. I do not dread dance calls because I love them and think they are a blast. This one was not. It was hard and it was the dreaded Fosse. I mean, it was taught absurdly fast. ABSURDLY. We were the biggest mess. It was pretty much a disaster. Thank God they also consider you for acting studios!
I'm still in love with NYU, although not so much just NSB. It was a fantastic day. Except for the dance call. Then I bought myself socks and falafel and went home.
MLK Weekend Part 1: 1/18 Emerson Artistic Review
I had written an entire post on the bus and it deleted itself when my phone died. But here I go again.
So I was feeling really, really shitty the whole ride down and all that night at the house of the friends we stayed with. It honestly sucked. My audition probably would have gone lots better if I hadn't felt like throwing up the entire time.
Anyway, I was not in a warming up kinda state, so I was glad to see that they had a room for us when I got there. I arrived about 30 minutes early (which they said to) and nothing but registration happened in those 30 minutes. The current students were nice but I didn't feel like talking to them because I felt so sick-also, I hadn't prepared questions. I tried to distract myself by chatting with fellow auditioners and I met some cool people. Then we had a Q&A with faculty during which I, again, tried not to vomit. I think I did ask some really specific question though. They said 50% is based on academics, and rhey consider you for the BA theatre studies/acting and BFA acting when you audition MT, which is chill. Anyway, we were split into groups when we registered and I sang/acted first. Acted first, actually. The lady was nice but I was awkward. My monologues went okay but then she asked me why I picked them. I was like "BECAUSE I DEEPLY LOVE AND CONNECT TO THEM." And then she asked if what I would choose if I could play any non musical role regardless of race or gender. I said Isabella from Measure for Measure, and she was like "why" and I was like "...because I also hold everyone to a high moral standard. And I would never be cast as a nun." I do relate to Isabella but I can't really explain why. Well. I can but it makes me sound like a frigid bitch. Ah well. Anyway, then I asked about acting classes together the first year and she was like "talk to the students about that" and I was like "I did but I'm still confused." So she gave me a sort of rundown and I said thanks and left. Then I sang, and my first song was fine even without a proper belt warmup, but the second one went TERRIBLY! I cracked all over the place and...ugh. Again, oh well. The auditor knew Bill (my voice teacher) though and we chatted about past students of his who went to Emerson.
The dance call was a lot harder than Hartt's! We danced to "On Broadway" and it was taught pretty fast. And there were double/triple pirouettes which was surprising. I know a girl who auditioned there two years ago and she said the dance was easy. So yeah. I got it by the end, and the lady gave us notes which was AWESOME (she complimented me on taking direction!), but I was still dizzy and I fell over during one of the doubles. Lol. It was still a good experience though. Afterward my mom went home and I got on the bus to NYC to audition for NYU!
So I was feeling really, really shitty the whole ride down and all that night at the house of the friends we stayed with. It honestly sucked. My audition probably would have gone lots better if I hadn't felt like throwing up the entire time.
Anyway, I was not in a warming up kinda state, so I was glad to see that they had a room for us when I got there. I arrived about 30 minutes early (which they said to) and nothing but registration happened in those 30 minutes. The current students were nice but I didn't feel like talking to them because I felt so sick-also, I hadn't prepared questions. I tried to distract myself by chatting with fellow auditioners and I met some cool people. Then we had a Q&A with faculty during which I, again, tried not to vomit. I think I did ask some really specific question though. They said 50% is based on academics, and rhey consider you for the BA theatre studies/acting and BFA acting when you audition MT, which is chill. Anyway, we were split into groups when we registered and I sang/acted first. Acted first, actually. The lady was nice but I was awkward. My monologues went okay but then she asked me why I picked them. I was like "BECAUSE I DEEPLY LOVE AND CONNECT TO THEM." And then she asked if what I would choose if I could play any non musical role regardless of race or gender. I said Isabella from Measure for Measure, and she was like "why" and I was like "...because I also hold everyone to a high moral standard. And I would never be cast as a nun." I do relate to Isabella but I can't really explain why. Well. I can but it makes me sound like a frigid bitch. Ah well. Anyway, then I asked about acting classes together the first year and she was like "talk to the students about that" and I was like "I did but I'm still confused." So she gave me a sort of rundown and I said thanks and left. Then I sang, and my first song was fine even without a proper belt warmup, but the second one went TERRIBLY! I cracked all over the place and...ugh. Again, oh well. The auditor knew Bill (my voice teacher) though and we chatted about past students of his who went to Emerson.
The dance call was a lot harder than Hartt's! We danced to "On Broadway" and it was taught pretty fast. And there were double/triple pirouettes which was surprising. I know a girl who auditioned there two years ago and she said the dance was easy. So yeah. I got it by the end, and the lady gave us notes which was AWESOME (she complimented me on taking direction!), but I was still dizzy and I fell over during one of the doubles. Lol. It was still a good experience though. Afterward my mom went home and I got on the bus to NYC to audition for NYU!
Hartt 12/13 Audition Recap
So, I live about 3.5 hours from Hartford and my grandmother is recovering from hip surgery in Worcester. Thus, we decided to combine trips.
I had 4th block off so we were supposed to leave at 1:30 but we actually left around 3:30 or 4 because we still had to pack. The roads were TERRIBLE. It was a bad run (right now is exactly a month later and we have 2 inches of snow which is not much for VT). I had finished my audition dress in my sewing class THAT DAY and I was so excited.
Anyway, my mom was terrified because the driving was so bad but we made it there around 8 or 9 only to discover that she had forgotten her entire suitcase and our toiletry bag. Thankfully, I had packed my make-up and stuff separately. But we did an emergency Target run and we were starving so we got takeout from Chili's. I went to bed at like 11 or midnight and it was insanely dry in the hotel room so I slept with a wet towel over my face. I really, really need a personal steamer.
That night I also discovered that I had printed my full song in the wrong key, 2 steps up. I decided to get up early and print it at the hotel business center. I had the cuts in the right key but it said on the web site to have the whole song ready.
So in the morning, my voice was of course TERRIBLE like it usually is in the morning and Mom wouldn't let me warm up in the hotel room. So that was fun. But anyway, we packed up and went to the business center to print out the music. And the printer would not connect to either of our computers. So we left, late (registration went from 7:45 to 8:15 but I thought that meant "get there at 7:45 or else") and without the right sheet music and I was of course freaking out and hadn't eaten anything and hadn't warmed up.
But then we got to Hartt and everything was perfectly eerily calm. I was not late at all. I was actually right in the middle. The MTs gave you a form to fill out where you listed your pieces and vocal range and--surprise!--SAT scores. That was pretty good to hear for me, because as I have said many a time, my SAT scores are the best thing about me.
I had plenty to fill out the form and get dragged about exploring the building by my mother. It's kind of circular and really cool and totally separate from the other parts of campus. The current students were the coolest ever and I cannot say enough about how at home they made us feel.
There was a room where we could stretch, etc. before the dance call and there were a couple of groups of kids that seemed to all know each other but I started chatting to all us awkward misfits in the corner. Everyone was dressed pretty similarly (obviously, as there are not all that many versions of a leotard and tights). I wore leggings over my leo, but I usually wear a skirt and that's what probably half the girls there did. I also wore black jazz shoes--everyone did. (I mean some wore tan but you know what I mean.)
We were led into the dance studio where they had square barres (they were THE COOLEST) all over the floor and did a ballet warm-up. I've had 3 years of ballet and my level seemed about in the middle of everyone. I didn't fully check them out though because I was pretty concentrated on my warm-up.
Then we did some across the floor things--jazz runs, pirouettes, etc. All of it was pretty much exactly like something we would do in one of my dance classes. Maybe a little easier. And then we learned a combo to Jesus Christ Superstar which was taught pretty fast but everyone seemed to learn it. I tried to get into the acting, semi-successfully. I didn't feel like a lot of people did, but as I mentioned, I wasn't really looking for that. We did the combination in big groups and then groups of 5ish, by number aka when you arrived. So I was right in the middle. There were 4 boys and 18 girls, I believe.
The dance call ended at 10, and my audition time was 10:40, so I had enough time to change and warm up a tiny bit in the car before I had to go in. They took my headshot and resume, obviously, as well as the form from the beginning. The students chatted to us while we waited outside the room. They were so, so, so nice. And all the kids were shy but lovely.
When I went in towards the beginning (they do it by when you apply) they were still asking for "32 bar cuts but we might cut you off" but I'm pretty sure they switched to 16 soon after. They were already behind when I went in.
There was a man and a woman behind the table. I gave the accompanist my tempos, which went pretty well. The only thing was he gave me a bell tone and not the intro which I had practiced so I started my 16 bar cut and then like 2 notes in I went "oops lol 32" and started over. I did the uptempo, which I feel much better about, first. And I thought I really acted it. And then the ballad...I was nervous about singing it and like...not so much. They cut me off right at the end. It didn't go particularly horribly, and I guess not as horribly as I was expecting, but still not great. Yeah. As I was singing it, a part of me was thinking "I have to change my ballad. This is not showing me off." It's a song I love to death, but it's just not in my best vocal area. Then I did my monologue and got oddly emotional. I mean, I was really feeling it, which I didn't expect but sometimes happens in audition rooms. In the past it has not-happened, like this summer in my scene study class. So I didn't expect it to...but it did! Yay!
And then I was done and it was 11 and the next group was starting to arrive. It was really very quick. Some on-campus auditions are supposed to last the whole day but mine was done by lunch!
All in all, I had a lovely time at Hartt and I cannot wait to go to Emerson this weekend :)
In other news, I have decided to buy myself socks and sushi after every audition from now on.
I had 4th block off so we were supposed to leave at 1:30 but we actually left around 3:30 or 4 because we still had to pack. The roads were TERRIBLE. It was a bad run (right now is exactly a month later and we have 2 inches of snow which is not much for VT). I had finished my audition dress in my sewing class THAT DAY and I was so excited.
Anyway, my mom was terrified because the driving was so bad but we made it there around 8 or 9 only to discover that she had forgotten her entire suitcase and our toiletry bag. Thankfully, I had packed my make-up and stuff separately. But we did an emergency Target run and we were starving so we got takeout from Chili's. I went to bed at like 11 or midnight and it was insanely dry in the hotel room so I slept with a wet towel over my face. I really, really need a personal steamer.
That night I also discovered that I had printed my full song in the wrong key, 2 steps up. I decided to get up early and print it at the hotel business center. I had the cuts in the right key but it said on the web site to have the whole song ready.
So in the morning, my voice was of course TERRIBLE like it usually is in the morning and Mom wouldn't let me warm up in the hotel room. So that was fun. But anyway, we packed up and went to the business center to print out the music. And the printer would not connect to either of our computers. So we left, late (registration went from 7:45 to 8:15 but I thought that meant "get there at 7:45 or else") and without the right sheet music and I was of course freaking out and hadn't eaten anything and hadn't warmed up.
But then we got to Hartt and everything was perfectly eerily calm. I was not late at all. I was actually right in the middle. The MTs gave you a form to fill out where you listed your pieces and vocal range and--surprise!--SAT scores. That was pretty good to hear for me, because as I have said many a time, my SAT scores are the best thing about me.
I had plenty to fill out the form and get dragged about exploring the building by my mother. It's kind of circular and really cool and totally separate from the other parts of campus. The current students were the coolest ever and I cannot say enough about how at home they made us feel.
There was a room where we could stretch, etc. before the dance call and there were a couple of groups of kids that seemed to all know each other but I started chatting to all us awkward misfits in the corner. Everyone was dressed pretty similarly (obviously, as there are not all that many versions of a leotard and tights). I wore leggings over my leo, but I usually wear a skirt and that's what probably half the girls there did. I also wore black jazz shoes--everyone did. (I mean some wore tan but you know what I mean.)
We were led into the dance studio where they had square barres (they were THE COOLEST) all over the floor and did a ballet warm-up. I've had 3 years of ballet and my level seemed about in the middle of everyone. I didn't fully check them out though because I was pretty concentrated on my warm-up.
Then we did some across the floor things--jazz runs, pirouettes, etc. All of it was pretty much exactly like something we would do in one of my dance classes. Maybe a little easier. And then we learned a combo to Jesus Christ Superstar which was taught pretty fast but everyone seemed to learn it. I tried to get into the acting, semi-successfully. I didn't feel like a lot of people did, but as I mentioned, I wasn't really looking for that. We did the combination in big groups and then groups of 5ish, by number aka when you arrived. So I was right in the middle. There were 4 boys and 18 girls, I believe.
The dance call ended at 10, and my audition time was 10:40, so I had enough time to change and warm up a tiny bit in the car before I had to go in. They took my headshot and resume, obviously, as well as the form from the beginning. The students chatted to us while we waited outside the room. They were so, so, so nice. And all the kids were shy but lovely.
When I went in towards the beginning (they do it by when you apply) they were still asking for "32 bar cuts but we might cut you off" but I'm pretty sure they switched to 16 soon after. They were already behind when I went in.
There was a man and a woman behind the table. I gave the accompanist my tempos, which went pretty well. The only thing was he gave me a bell tone and not the intro which I had practiced so I started my 16 bar cut and then like 2 notes in I went "oops lol 32" and started over. I did the uptempo, which I feel much better about, first. And I thought I really acted it. And then the ballad...I was nervous about singing it and like...not so much. They cut me off right at the end. It didn't go particularly horribly, and I guess not as horribly as I was expecting, but still not great. Yeah. As I was singing it, a part of me was thinking "I have to change my ballad. This is not showing me off." It's a song I love to death, but it's just not in my best vocal area. Then I did my monologue and got oddly emotional. I mean, I was really feeling it, which I didn't expect but sometimes happens in audition rooms. In the past it has not-happened, like this summer in my scene study class. So I didn't expect it to...but it did! Yay!
And then I was done and it was 11 and the next group was starting to arrive. It was really very quick. Some on-campus auditions are supposed to last the whole day but mine was done by lunch!
All in all, I had a lovely time at Hartt and I cannot wait to go to Emerson this weekend :)
In other news, I have decided to buy myself socks and sushi after every audition from now on.
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