I'm just a HAIRy guy....

First week of school. Check.

First set of auditions. Check.

First set of call backs. Check.

First time seeing my name on a cast list at the University of Utah. MAJOR CHECK.

That's right, ladies and gents. About three months from now, you will see a much more harry (and hopefully much less flabby) version of Michael. I've been cast in my first show here at The U. I'll be performing as a tribal member in HAIR The Musical November 11-20. Hell. Yes.

HAIR HAIR HAIR HAIR HAIR HAIR HAIR HAIR!

Honestly, I could not be happier. I couldn't have asked for more. I am so excited to do what I love with new people, in a new place, with a piece of theatre that is unlike anything I have ever done. It will be a challenge for me in every way. But that is what excites me the most.

Also, I'm not allowed to cut or shave any part of my body. And that means ANY part. Joy. 

As my second week at school begins, I get the feeling more and more that this is where I'm supposed to be. My acting class is amazing. We have a great group of kids who are bonding and growing by leaps and bounds. I'm making friends, getting out of my comfort zone, and having a blast.

Let's just hope it continues to go up.

-mikey-

Well, we're here!

So. It's begun. I have officially survived my first day as a student of the University of Utah's actor training program. I've been looking forward to this day for months. And now that it's over I wonder what I was so nervous about.

Though it's only the first day, I already have a few things to stress about. Auditions for three different shows are this weekend. (eek!) Two of the plays I haven't read. (eek again!) and the musical (which I've at least seen) I'm not even sure I'm allowed to audition for! I've got a lot of preparing to do....

I think I'm going to enjoy my classes. My acting class is going to be... well... I don't know. I'll leave that judgement for a later date. It's definitely a "fundamentals of acting" class. This means we probably won't be doing very much scene work. It's kind of a bummer because I feel like I've taken this class before (more than once). But it's good to have a refresher I suppose. And there are a couple people in the class I can't wait to get to know.  My queer theatre class is going to be awesome I think. It's basically just reading a bunch of plays and discussing them. That is definitely right up my alley!

Tomorrow I only have one class (though it's two sections). I'm looking forward to it though, it should be fun. And I'm REALLY looking forward to my private voice lessons. Hopefully they won't be too difficult. 

So, here goes nothing. I hope I can keep up with it all. I'm sure I'll be overwhelmed at some point. But as of right now, the future is looking bright!

Living on a Latte and a Prayer

I'm not really sure what this blog is. It is three in the morning, and I started thinking. Bad combination.

I've spent the last month and a half focusing the greater part of my energy on a musical that I've grown to love and a company that I believe in more than almost anything. I don't have a job. I don't go to school. And I have next to no social life (except Wednesdays of course). It's a strange feeling, being able to focus almost everything I have on theatre. At school my "other" classes took my energy for part of the time. And while theatre was always at the top of my list of important things, there were always a few things that seemed to get in the way. I hope that the last month and a half is kind of a preview to what the next few years of my life will be. As far as school goes, I no longer have to take any classes outside of the performing arts building if I don't want to. And living in (or near) salt lake will give me the greater opportunities as far as auditioning goes. Living and breathing acting is going to be amazing.

On the other hand, I'm freaking scared out of my damn mind. Come August 22nd, I will no longer be at the top of my game. At CEU I pretty much knew where I stood. I knew what I had to do to get what I wanted. At the U, I'll be lost. I look forward to the challenge of having heavy competition. I am excited to have to fight my hardest for everything. But, as invigorating as that is, it's frightening. I remember feeling that way when I made the move to CEU. It didn't take long for me to find my place, but for a short time I was afraid I wasn't going to make it. And here I am again, afraid that the moment I walk in the door everyone will be able to see through me.

As hard as it may be to believe, I'm quite an insecure person. (NO WAY! Michael? Insecure? Who would have thought?!) I'm rarely impressed with myself and my work. In fact the best compliment I usually give myself is "Man, Michael. Look at you! You really have these people fooled into thinking you can act! What morons!" I constantly live in fear that one day people are going to see that I'm really faking my way through everything. But until that day comes, I suppose I just have to keep faking.

Closing Night

I've rehearsed, opened, and closed dozens of plays in my life. After a while, they seem to blend together. At least, most of them do. In fact there have been a few times when I have to think for a minute in order to recall a character's name, or a playwright. But every once in a while, a play comes a long that is simply a blessing to be a part of. Our Town has been that for me.

Ironically, this play is the one show this season that I was not looking forward to. I had read the play before and was bored to tears. I simply just didn't get it. The only thing I was excited about was that it was going to be done in the round (or 3/4 rather) and I was excited to experience that. But, contrary to my expectations, Our Town has become one of the greatest theatrical experiences of my life.

I think there are several reasons for this. For one, the play is just simply brilliant. It isn't an exciting read, that's for sure. But it plays just beautifully on stage. The characters are written so well. And the situations are heartbreaking, to say the least. The show is poignant and easily touches the hearts of the audience members.

It also helps to be directed by someone that I  can easily connect with artistically. Todd and I have very similar approaches to acting and directing. I understood his vision from the beginning, which made the end result easier to reach. Along with a great director, the cast is just as incredible. we have a great variety of actors on that stage. There are actors in the show that have never been on stage before along side actors who have degrees in theatre. It was amazing to see the experienced actors reach out and lift up those that needed help, and to see the newbies bring in fresh life to the program.

I have a relatively small role in this play. Though my character is on stage often, he does not do much emotionally or dramatically. I think this was a blessing though. Because I didn't have much to work on character wise, I could focus my attention on creating believable relationships on stage. I also had the opportunity to sit back and observe the journey that the other actors went on.

I was (and am) simply amazed to see the leaps and bounds the actors took in the show. Especially Bethany Gilmore and Isaac Jones, who play Emily and George. The experience of seeing a young actor truly feeling  and emotion on stage is chilling. These are two very talented actors. Each of them, in their own way, create such believable emotion! It is heartbreaking to watch and an utter joy to act with them.

Through this journey, I watched as this piece touched lives. It reaches the audience each night. I like to think that they exit the theatre with opened eyes. But even more importantly, it touched the lives of the actors. I think each member of the cast will walk away from this show a better artist than when he or she went into it.

I cannot express how proud I am of this production. It is a testament to me that theatre does not have to have bright lights, gorgeous sets, and beautiful costumes in order to reach out and grab the hearts of it's viewers. All it takes is a group of people who love the art and love each other.

Being in theatre is, simply put, making magic.



Bethany Gilmour, Scott Westwood and Isaac Jones in Our Town