The good, the bad, and the UGLY

February 26th, 2010

There is so much to be thankful for. I am surrounded by people that are so talented that it’s almost unbelievable. On a daily basis I get to be inspired by my peers. This week was no exception. In a two day period I was able to see Private Lives at Chicago Shakespeare, Fiddler on the Roof at the Marriott, and attend a benefit celebration for a company I’ve worked with and have a place in my heart for: Bohemian Theatre Ensemble. This weekend I’m going to see some Tennessee Williams directed by my dear friend David Zak and last week I saw the stunning production of Oh Coward! at Writer’s theatre. Next week I’m going to see the opening of Chess at Theo Ubique, my wonderful friend Danni Smith in Living Quarters for Strangeloop theater, and the lovely Christin Boulette in Pride and Prejudice at the Chamber Opera Chicago. This is not to mention getting to see my roommate in Bailiwick Chicago’s  Show us Your Love every weekend. He’s one talented fellow.

If you didn’t get it, that’s the “good.” The inspiration, support, and strength I get from my friends, family, and peers is invaluable and keeps me going day to day.

We don’t really need to talk about the “bad,” do we? Poor wages, scraping by, rejection, blah blah blah blah blah. I get tired of talking about it. You get it. It’s not as rosy and glamorous as people who are NOT in-the-know would think.

Let’s talk about the “ugly,” shall we? This career can be hard enough as we briefly covered in the bad section. What makes it worse is ugly behavior. There is back stabbing, drama, jealousy, rumor starting, deceit, unhealthy competitiveness, downright vindictiveness, and the worst… bad-mouthing a peer to a fellow professional. It’s the underbelly of the Chicago theater community and it’s frankly gross. I have from one time or another been a victim of all of that behavior and so have most the people I know. It’s just not conducive to anyone.

Now we ALL TALK. That’s a given. And of course we’re going to bitch about each other from time to time to friends and lovers. Everyone in ANY career field does that about their co-workers. I would just like to request that we try to stay positive, that we try to be happy for each other’s successes even if it’s hard sometimes, and that under no circumstances do we attempt to hurt someone else’s career. We already have so many strikes against us just for the mere fact that we want to be actors. Why make it harder for ourselves than it has to be? And if none of that works just think about a little thing called karma. I strongly believe in karma and what goes around comes around. So let’s look out for each other!

I’ll leave you with a quote that was going around FB a couple of days ago:

We live in an era of enormous cynicism. Do not be fooled.

Don’t act for money. You’ll start to feel dead and bitter.

Don’t act for glory. You’ll start to feel dead, fat and fearful.

We live in an era of enormous cynicism. Do not be fooled.

You can’t avoid all the pitfalls. There are lies you must tell. But experience the lie. See it as something dead and unconnected you clutch. And let it go.

Act from the depth of your feeling imagination. Act for celebration, for search, for grieving, for worship, to express that desolate sensation of wandering through the howling wilderness.

Don’t worry about Art.

Do these things and it will be Art.

John Patrick Shanley

AND PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE SHOWS AND SUPPORT LIVE THEATRE!!!!!!!

play3279

Private Lives

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Following his celebrated production of Amadeus this season, CST’s own Gary Griffin directs Noël Coward’s stylish, savvy comedy about the people we can neither live with—nor without. Divorcés Amanda and Elyot meet up again quite by accident—on their second honeymoons, with brand-new spouses in tow. Fireworks fly as their reunion reveals just how quickly romance—and rivalry—can be rekindled.

Thru - Mar 7, 2010

Fri, Feb 26: 7:30pm
Sat, Feb 27: 3:00pm & 8:00pm
Tue, Mar 2: 7:30pm
Wed, Mar 3: 1:00pm & 7:30pm
Thu, Mar 4: 7:30pm
Sat, Mar 6: 3:00pm & 8:00pm
Sun, Mar 7: 2:00pm

Price:$44-$75

Show Type: Comedy

Box Office: 312-595-5600

www.chicagoshakes.com

play3487

Fiddler on the Roof

Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire

This Tony Award-winning musical has captured the hearts of people all over the world. It is the bittersweet tale of a family coping with a changing world. Tevye, a Jewish dairyman, and his family live in a small village in 1905 Tsarist Russia. With the help of the local matchmaker, Tevye and his wife are in search of acceptable husbands for their three lively daughters. While their daughters are determined to break tradition and marry the men they love, Tevye begins to face bigger issues as Jews are being persecuted in his homeland. A hopeful celebration of the human spirit, Fiddler on the Roof features an unforgettable score with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein.

Thru - Apr 25, 2010

Wednesdays: 1:00pm & 8:00pm
Thursdays: 8:00pm
Fridays: 8:00pm
Saturdays: 4:30pm & 8:00pm
Sundays: 1:00pm & 5:00pm

Price:$35-$55

Show Type: Musical

Box Office: 847-634-0200

www.marriotttheatre.com
0811213803Not About Nightingales

CCPA at Roosevelt University

First written in 1938,the script remained unproduced until 1998. This early work was written by Tennessee Williams when he was only 27, before any of the great plays that established his later reputation. Based on true events, this play attempts to shine a spotlight on the corruption, degradation and murder that occur in prisons, outside the light of social norms of human decency. In the setting of an “escape proof” prison, acts of torture and brutality replace humanity, in this work that Williams described as filled with unprecedented violence and horror.

By Tennessee Williams
Directed by David Zak

Friday and Saturday Feb. 26 and 27 at 7:30pm
Sunday Feb. 28 at 2pm

$10 General Admission
$6 Students/Seniors/ INDUSTRY

(312) 341-3831

play3163

Oh Coward!

Writers’ Theatre

You’re invited to a marvelous party at Writers’ Theatre! Weaving together songs and literary delights, Oh Coward! celebrates one of the theater’s greatest entertainers, Noel Coward. His effervescent music and charming quips combine for an unforgettable evening of the most memorable tunes of the 20th century.

Thru - Apr 18, 2010

Fri, Feb 26: 8:00pm
Sat, Feb 27: 4:00pm & 8:00pm
Tue, Mar 2: 7:30pm
Wed, Mar 3: 7:30pm
Thu, Mar 4: 8:00pm
Sat, Mar 6: 4:00pm & 8:00pm
Sun, Mar 7: 2:00pm & 6:00pm
Wed, Mar 10: 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Thu, Mar 11: 8:00pm
Fri, Mar 12: 8:00pm
Sat, Mar 13: 4:00pm & 8:00pm
Sun, Mar 14: 2:00pm & 6:00pm
Wed, Mar 17: 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Thu, Mar 18: 8:00pm
Fri, Mar 19: 8:00pm
Sat, Mar 20: 4:00pm & 8:00pm
Sun, Mar 21: 2:00pm
Tue, Mar 23: 7:30pm
Wed, Mar 24: 7:30pm
Thu, Mar 25: 8:00pm
Fri, Mar 26: 8:00pm
Tue, Mar 30: 7:30pm
Wed, Mar 31: 7:30pm
Thu, Apr 1: 8:00pm
Sat, Apr 3: 4:00pm & 8:00pm
Sun, Apr 4: 2:00pm & 6:00pm
Tue, Apr 6: 7:30pm
Wed, Apr 7: 7:30pm
Thu, Apr 8: 8:00pm
Fri, Apr 9: 8:00pm
Tue, Apr 13: 7:30pm
Thu, Apr 15: 8:00pm
Sun, Apr 18: 2:00pm & 6:00pm

Price:$40-$60

Stage: Performed at 664 Vernon Avenue

Show Type: Musical

Box Office: 847-242-6000

chess_img_0580-sm

Chess

No Exit Cafe

Chess is a Cold War musical, first premiering in the 1980s, with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by former ABBA members, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. Among the notable hit songs from the cult musical are One Night in Bangkok and I Know Him So Well.

Presented by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre

Previews: Mar 5 - Mar 6, 2010

Regular Run: Mar 7 - Apr 25, 2010

Sat, Mar 6: 8:00pm
Sun, Mar 7: 7:00pm
Thu, Mar 11: 8:00pm
Fri, Mar 12: 8:00pm
Sat, Mar 13: 8:00pm
Sun, Mar 14: 7:00pm
Thu, Mar 18: 8:00pm
Fri, Mar 19: 8:00pm
Sat, Mar 20: 8:00pm
Sun, Mar 21: 7:00pm
Thu, Mar 25: 8:00pm
Fri, Mar 26: 8:00pm
Thu, Apr 1: 8:00pm
Sat, Apr 3: 8:00pm
Sun, Apr 4: 7:00pm
Thu, Apr 8: 8:00pm
Fri, Apr 9: 8:00pm
Thu, Apr 15: 8:00pm
Fri, Apr 16: 8:00pm
Sun, Apr 18: 7:00pm
Thu, Apr 22: 8:00pm
Fri, Apr 23: 8:00pm
Sat, Apr 24: 8:00pm
Sun, Apr 25: 7:00pm

Price:$15-$30

Show Type: Musical

Box Office: 800-595-4849

www.theoubique.org

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

play3916

Living Quarters

Trap Door Theatre

Subtitled After Hippolytus and first produced by Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in 1977, Living Quarters recasts the mythology of Theseus, Hippolytus, and Phaedra into an isolated Donegal homestead.Commandant Frank Butler returns home to Ireland as a hero after saving nine United Nations peacekeepers from enemy fire during a siege in the Middle East. Reunited to celebrate Frank’s triumph are three daughters and a son by his first marriage and the young wife Frank married days before his deployment. But the revelation of secrets kept while Frank was away threatens to divide the Butler house forever.

Presented by Strangeloop Theatre

Thru - Mar 14, 2010

Thursdays: 8:00pm
Fridays: 8:00pm
Saturdays: 8:00pm
Sundays: 2:00pm

Price:$10-$15

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 773-276-0458

www.strangelooptheatre.org

pride-prejudice-group

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: A Musical Play

Jane Austen revisits her rejected first novel, First Impressions, and overcomes all obstacles to transform it into the timeless classic, Pride & Prejudice. What writers Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs have accomplished is not just a powerful, musical retelling of a classic love story. They show us, through the journey of the author herself, what it takes to create a masterpiece. See Elizabeth and Darcy’s romance come to life from a whole new perspective and immerse yourself in Austen’s creative process as she interacts with the very characters she has created.

By Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs
Directed by Steven Daigle
Orchestra conducted by Victoria Bond

Saturday, February 27, 2010, 7:30pm
Saturday, March 6, 7:30pm
Sunday, March 7, 3:00pm (with Christin Boulette Dorton)

Chamber Opera Chicago Office/Studio

Tel: 312-951-7944
FAX: 312-951-7948

play3907

Show Us Your Love

Mary’s Attic

Show Us Your Love celebrates love and relationships, featuring both comic and dramatic selections from some of Broadway and Off-Broadway’s very best, including HAIR, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, PIPPIN, FLOYD COLLINS and BROOKLYN THE MUSICAL. Audience members will have an opportunity to “show us their love” by informally voting for their favorite shows, which will influence Bailiwick Chicago’s show selection process for future seasons.

Presented by Bailiwick Chicago

Thru - Mar 28, 2010

Sundays: 7:30pm

Price:$15

Show Type: Musical

www.bailiwickchicago.com

Posted in Harmony's sage advice, Musings, Talented Colleagues | No Comments »

Dancers

February 24th, 2010

51aniavrohl_ss500_

When I was five years old I was in ballet. My favorite book, which I still have in tatters and bound with brown tape, was Little Ballerina. I had a collection of tutus which I modeled shamelessly. Well, for whatever reason, I stopped. I think I asked to stop or maybe my parents couldn’t afford it anymore. For whatever reason…I stopped.

il_430xn112415424

Skip to high school. One of my closest friends, Tori, was a ballerina. I went to a couple of her recitals and ballets. I was so inspired by it. I signed up to start taking lessons again. I never made it to the first one. I couldn’t afford it and I lived about a 45 minute drive away. I was 15 at the time and couldn’t drive yet.

il_430xn112415526

Skip to college…well my third college (long story). I was a musical theatre major at Columbia College. I had to take ballet and jazz. I had to go shopping for a leotard as a grown woman which was a little frightening. I got through it though and I really LOVED barre work. It’s just you and the barre working on technique together. What I did not love was when I had to go “across the floor.” Those words make me shudder. Basically that means everyone takes turns going from one side of the room to the other doing some sort of combination of dance steps while everyone else watches. Horror. That’s the stuff of nightmares I tell you.

little-ballerina-carole-spandau

I used to DREAD class because I knew that after my beloved barre work that I’d be required to “go across the floor.” I remember one day I was crossing Roosevelt Avenue downtown to get to class. If you’ve never been to downtown Chicago, you’ve missed out on the lovely wind tunnels that the sky scrapers create on certain streets. Roosevelt is a REALLY wide street, and when the wind is really going it can be really difficult to cross. You really have to bare down and make yourself as grounded as possible. One day it was so windy that my feet were barely staying on the ground. A bunch of ballerinas that were walking with me GRABBED ON TO ME. Their fight or flight reaction was to grab the STURDY one. “Her stocky legs will keep us from blowing into Lake Michigan!” I’m not sure why I just shared that story. I suppose I am still incredibly bitter about it. :-P How dare they!?!?!?!?!? :P

ballerina3

Jazz class was almost all floor work. I would feel myself hyperventilating and breaking out into hives while crossing the dreaded Roosevelt wind tunnel to get to class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And then as soon as class was over I started dreading the next one. I wasn’t even the worst person in the class or anything like that. I just had a phobia of people watching me GO ACROSS THE FLOOR. ACK! Anything but that!  Needless to say I became an acting major after the first year. I’d love to say that it’s due to me wanting to focus more on my acting. And to be fair, that was the majority of it. BUT I’d be completely full of it if I didn’t admit that part of it was my floor work phobia.

ballerina5

If I have these kind of issues in dance class, you can imagine how I feel about DANCE CALLS.  hahaha Okay, honestly my phobia is way less debilitating than it used to be. I can make it through a dance call and not need a xanax instantly. I have also been in dozens of shows at this point that I’ve had to do some sort of choreography in. I’m not completely hopeless, but I know that I will never be a real dancer. I can fake it till I make it, but that’s about it.

ballerina9

I have so much respect for dancers. It’s hard to even put it into words. I think it’s so beautiful to tell a story completely through your body. It’s amazing and I’m always in awe of it.

ballerina12

The Aida dance call (which I was FACILITATING not dancing in) was REAL. The choreographers, Kevin Iega Jeff and Gary Abbott, are the Artistic Director and Associate Artistic Director respectively from the Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. The dance they put together for the dance call was so beautiful and passionate. There were moments of yearning, moments of anger, and moments of grace all worked into this 32 bar cut that they choreographed. I don’t know how Aida is all going to come together yet, but I can say completely confidently that the dance portion of it is going to be PHENOMENAL. I seriously can’t wait to see what they do with it. I continue to be inspired.

Posted in Embarrassing stories, Harmony's stories, Musings | No Comments »

My secret weapon

February 23rd, 2010

Ahhhh the joys of having a graphic/web designer as a roommate/best friend. Not only did Eric design my website and this blog, but he also does all of my photo retouching. Normally this just means getting rid of bags under the eyes, but as you’ll see he went above and beyond his duty of friendship!

3251_573422175687_48607109_33640486_3875148_n

So this was the original shot that I picked to be my headshot. It’s not that bad. The pros: I liked the mischievous look in my eyes. It’s very Harmony. I like that the angle tamed the angularity of my nose a bit. AND let’s face it, the girls look good. The cons: I was strapped for cash so the retouch of my hair color didn’t happen before the shots. I’d like to point out that the discoloration did not look THIS bad in person, but when you put very bright lights on me and put a white background behind me this is what you get. I had also walked through a rainstorm to get there and try as I might I could not get the curl to stay or the frizz to leave. There was also the typical things to retouch…such as bags under eyes, my bra poking through, and horror of horrors…some deodorant residue on my dress!

red

This was the first attempt. I had decided that I was going to dye my hair to match the bright red at the ends of my hair, so Eric matched my roots to the bottom part of my hair and my eyebrows to match. He changed the contrast of the photo so that I wasn’t quite so washed out. I told him to leave my crow’s feet alone. And he did. You can’t really tell online, but if you saw the photo you would see the lines. I like them. They add character. I DO NOT, however, like wrinkles UNDER my eyes. So I had him zap them. He also fixed the bra problem, the deodorant incident, he whitened the whites of my eyes, and in an effort of pure disclosure: he slimmed the bottom of my arm a tiny bit.

dark-brown

So I used the red one for a while. I felt a little silly, like I was trying to look like Jessica Rabbit or something. Instead of  going for the bright red I decided to try for an auburn or brownish red. I dyed it the night before I had a double audition day. I could tell that it was darker than I had anticipated, but it wasn’t until I woke up the next day that I saw how freaking dark it was! This picture is NOT an exaggeration. So I knew I couldn’t show up at auditions with brassy red headshots and dark brown hair. That’s a major NO NO. Eric to the rescue. In about 10 minutes he changed the color of my hair in the headshot to match. With the dark brown hair it looked a little silly with a white background, so we settled on this heather gray instead. I got so many compliments on my headshot that day! Little did they know….well I guess they know now…that Eric had just done some last minute computer wizardry right before I had to walk out the door to get to the auditions. Oh and on a side note…I booked one of the shows from those auditions! :-)

brown

After the color faded a bit it looked more like this and still does. So Eric changed the color again. This is the shot that works for me right now. Of course since I’ve been using it for a while, I’m ready for a change, but that’s just my nature. I get bored. Maybe I’ll return to this:

blonde

Sigh….I miss being a blonde.

Okay so I sincerely apologize for posting 8000 pictures of myself. It’s obnoxious. There is a point to it. I wanted to show the skills of my roommate and I also kind of wanted to take away some of the mystery around it. The blonde picture I don’t have an excuse for. I like it. It makes me feel pretty. SO THERE! But seriously, we are constantly barraged with photos of perfect celebrities. Guess what? They’re not perfect. I mean I guess there are people that are more perfect than others, but most of them need a lot of help with make-up, hair, and yes a retoucher. If the above photos can be the same girl as this girl…..(seen with Eric):

20268_611933982717_48607087_34905581_6256789_n

…then seriously anyone can be made to look good with the right team.

That is my lesson for the day.

I won’t post another photo of myself until 2011. I promise.

Harmony

Tags: ,
Posted in Embarrassing stories, Harmony's sage advice, Talented Colleagues | 2 Comments »

Scenes from BEHIND the casting table

February 17th, 2010

I’m completely exhausted and my brain is fried. Callbacks started today. There are so many lessons to be learned from being on the other side of the casting table. Some are as common sense as “don’t apologize for mistakes, be prepared, and have a good attitude.” Others are way more subjective. Everyone in that room has opinions and is drawn to certain things. Some things are agreed upon. Some aren’t. I’m learning my own aesthetic and my own taste. Like for instance, I am much more drawn to someone who puts emphasis on their acting before their singing. I suppose I didn’t need to sit behind the table to tell you that. ;-)

Another thing I found myself responding to very much was people’s energies and how they held themselves. It must be from my Laban training. :-) (What is Laban you ask? I will do a post on it. I promise. In layman’s terms, it’s a study of different energies. Curious? Janet Louer is THE WOMAN…for coaching or Laban.) Everyone brings a different energy into the audition room with them. Some are light and playful. Some are grounded and regal. Some ooze sex. It’s so interesting to see. What REALLY impresses me is when someone walks in with one energy and then when they perform they transform to something completely different, but an energy that is still them and equally genuine. I like to be surprised!

So what advice do I have? Unfortunately, nothing you haven’t already heard. Go in. Be confident. Make strong choices. Be nice to everyone. Be patient. The biggest piece of advice I have is to leave the audition/callback in the audition room. My roommate is fantastic at this. I, on the other hand, sometimes take to my bed with a xanax. Just kidding! Sort of. I’m getting better at dealing with it.

The thing is, you really don’t know what the casting team wants. Sometimes the casting team doesn’t know what they want. So many things go into it and just because you don’t get the job doesn’t mean you weren’t EFFING awesome. It sucks, it’s not fair, but that’s just the way it is. Sometimes it’s look, sometimes it’s matching actors up, etc. The one thing it definitely is, is OUT of your control. So do this to please yourself! Do the auditions for you and then leave it in the theater Gods’ hands. If it’s right, it’ll happen. If it’s not, it won’t. It’s that simple. (Note to Harmony: read and heed your own advice!)

The last thing I can say is both encouraging and discouraging I suppose. Discouraging first: There is A LOT of talent out there. A shocking amount. There is a ton of competition. None of us are irreplaceable. It’s amazing how many truly talented, lovely, intelligent people will come out of the woodworks for a project they believe in.

BUT as a working actor I take comfort in the fact that I have stood there before, against all the talented people that Chicago has to offer, and guess what? I GOT THE JOB. And I keep getting the job. It hasn’t always been the job I wanted, but it’s THE job. I stood there and out of gobs of talented people, they chose me. If you think about it that way, it’s pretty special.

So I’ll leave you with that thought. If you didn’t get it, that was the ENCOURAGING part of it!

Oh by the way…..Operation Flapper Dress is working:

Created by MyFitnessPal - Nutrition Facts For Foods

Posted in Harmony's sage advice, Harmony's stories, Musings | No Comments »

The Flapper Dress Project

February 11th, 2010

1920_flapper_01

So right now I’m supposed to be answering THIS question: What has your trajectory as an actor been up to this point and where do you want to go from here? (p.s. I promise I’ll stop dropping cryptic hints and let you guys know what I’m talking about soon.) Instead of answering that question, however, I find myself procrastinating and writing this blog.

So what is the Flapper Dress Project you ask?  Really it’s a fancy title for a weight loss effort. My rehearsals for Oh Boy! start a month from tomorrow so I’m doing a 30 day overhaul. Oh Boy! is being set in 1923. Let’s just say the flapper is not my most flattering dress shape. I’m much more of a corset and bustle kind of girl. So starting tomorrow I’m back on Jillain Michael’s 30-day shred and a low carb, low fat diet (pretty much like South Beach). I’m also restricting my booze intake to the weekends and only red wine and bloody marys :-) .

So now for the inevitable…I KNOW I’m not fat. I just want to point that out before all my friends start worrying about me. BUT I do have to wear a flapper dress and none of us want to see that right now. AND I DO have to do the Charleston (God help us all) and I really would rather not have things flopping around whilst doing so. The space at City Lit is only so big after all, and ingenues can’t have flabby arms. It’s my rule, no one else’s.

So….if you see me in 7-11 sitting on the floor ravenously eating a bag of barbecue chips, please slap me good and hard across the face and escort me out of there with some semblance of dignity. Thank goodness I’m not working in Munster, Indiana right now. Those Munster Doughnuts would be my downfall.

So wish me luck!

beaded-chiffon-flapper-dress-1920sfringealberta-ferretti

Posted in The Scoop on Harmony | 1 Comment »

The Scoop on Harmony/ Big changes are a’comin

February 7th, 2010

I haven’t done a scoop in a while, and the last long blog I wrote was a little depressing. It’s part of living a creative life or ANY life for that matter. Ups and Downs. Ebb and Flow. Feast and Famine. Flood and Drought. Highs and Lows. ummmmmm….you get the idea.

Anyway, I feel pretty UP right now. I’m really enjoying my time off now that I have gotten over the initial panic of gloom and doom, and never working again, and other such nonsense. I am able to actually take care of my body. I am able to sit down and plan my next move. More on that later, but first here are some things coming up and going on!

In my hiatus from theater (I’m being dramatic. It’s only two months!), I am keeping myself busy in other ways.

I have always been extremely interested in casting. In my last update I talked about how the new Bailiwick Chicago asked me to be an Artistic Associate. Well, at my request they have expanded my role to include casting assistant.

I’m helping them cast AIDA and I’m having a wonderful time. I’ve been on the other side of the audition table before, (Someday I’ll talk about my old theater company, Blue Moon Studio Theater. But not today!) but never with a project as difficult and interesting to cast as this one.

It is nothing less than an education to watch auditions. There are people who thought they did horrible, that worried for nothing and got called back. There are people that came in and were so amazing we were thinking of shows we could produce JUST to showcase them, but that just weren’t right for this particular project. Those people, if they’re like me, will feel bad that they didn’t get a callback not knowing what a fabulous impression they left on us. It just goes to show, you seriously never know what’s going on in that audition room. Just go in, do what you do, and leave the rest to them. Don’t try to figure out what they’re thinking. It’s fruitless and frustrating. Easier said than done, right? I know.

The thing I’m loving the most about casting is that I can make sure that some of those crazy talented people that aren’t known yet can be seen. It feels so good to do that.

18549_1306275853584_1131170718_30953804_6436095_n

Another behind the scenes venture for me is SHOW US YOUR LOVE, a musical review also produced by Bailiwick Chicago. I’m only house managing this one, but I have to plug it because my INSANELY TALENTED roommate, Eric Martin, is in it (And he designed the poster). AND one of my best friends and crazy talented herself, Kate Garassino is directing.

SHOW US YOUR LOVE features songs from HAIR, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, PIPPIN, FLOYD COLLINS and BROOKLYN THE MUSICAL to name a few. Audience members vote for their favorite selections. So you, in fact, will help us pick our next season. So come, listen to some tunes, vote for your favorite shows, and afterwards have a drink with me!

pd1846994

After all that behind the scenes work I’m gonna be itching to get back on stage. I can’t tell you how excited I am to get started on OH BOY! Not only does it re-unite me with some of my favorite gals, Jenny Grubb and Annie Passanisi, but I get to work with Sheldon Patinkin again who is a mentor of mine and one of the people I respect most in this business.

Sheldon is not only brilliant and timeless…think the Dumbledore of Chicago theater, he casts me in pretty roles!!!

He’s the reason I got to wear this:

n48607109_30971740_70953n48607109_30971737_61153

******************************************************************

After a year of this,…

2416_66374585129_652170129_2098534_2024_n5768_582278687167_48607109_33982433_6972796_n

*******************************************************************************************

…this character actress/occasional leading lady is so darn excited to play an ingenue! It’s just so different from what I normally do and I’m positively thirsty for the challenge. I’m playing Lou Ellen and I sing a song about how all I want in life is to be a housewife. I seriously couldn’t be more different than this character and I couldn’t be more thrilled to play her.

OKAY…SO THIS IS THE LONGEST BLOG IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD! But the title is “Big changes are a’comin” so I have to talk about the changes. I mean, it’s in the title! You can sue or something for false advertising, right? Who am I kidding? No one read this far down. Maybe my roommate did because I made him and my mom because she loves me. Hi Eric! Hi mom!

Well since it’s just the three of us I’ll let you in on a little secret. Something huge is coming. It’s so exciting and so game changing that I can’t even talk about it on here lest I jinx it. I know! I know! I’m a tease. You both know what it is anyway.

I am more excited and terrified of this venture than anything I’ve ever done including bootcamp and a one-woman show. I will know in 2 weeks if I can share it with the world or not. Until then I at least want to thank Janet Louer, David Zak, Scott Olson, and Sheldon Patinkin for supporting me on this new and scary adventure. I love and respect all of you more than you’ll ever know.

Completely exhausted and deliriously yours,

Harmony

Posted in The Scoop on Harmony | No Comments »

A show about a bargewoman and a horse…

January 13th, 2010

I realize that a whole show went by and I didn’t really talk much about it. In my defense I was really crazy busy. I was working, doing shows, benefits, concerts, auditioning, taking a class, etc. Well now that I have some time (ebb and flow) I figured I would post some pictures from the production Wind in the Willows that I did.

Dressing Room Buddies!

Dressing Room Buddies!

Hallie and Bertha!

Hallie and Bertha!

Sisters!

Sisters!

Show Besties!

Show Besties!

The Bargewoman and her Horse!

The Bargewoman and her Horse!

We thought the show was about us...

We thought the show was about us...

22040_606645271337_48607109_34765187_6583317_n

And let's face it....IT WAS! (There are no small parts, just small actors. :-P )

22040_606645665547_48607109_34765195_3409131_n

This lovely lady has played my SON twice. Don't believe me?...

n48600768_30336182_4627

Ragtime. Columbia College. Circa 2005? 2006? Something like that.

Cheers!

Harmony

Posted in Show Promotion | No Comments »

TIME OFF

January 12th, 2010

It’s 6pm, do you know where your actors are? Chances are they’re throwing their script in their bag. Perhaps they’re digging through their closet desperately trying to find their jazz shoes. Some are just getting off their “real job” jumping on the train and trying to make it to rehearsal in time. Some are probably grabbing a slim fast and a cheese stick at 7-11 hoping it’ll be enough to get them through until after their show.

Where is this actor? This actor is playing on my computer, baking a naughty cheesy potato bake, and getting ready to watch BIGGEST LOSER. Which is appropriate, because honestly when you’re between gigs it’s hard not to feel like the “biggest loser.” I know it doesn’t really make any sense. I have a show I’m really excited about that opens in May. So I’ll probably start working on that in early April/late March. So really worse case scenario I have three months off. That’s not the end of the world, right?

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT. For an actor it is. And if they say otherwise, they’re lying. When most of your friends are actors, the question you hear all the time is, “What are you working on right now?” We all ask it. We’re all guilty of it. I, and I would guess others too, fear not having an answer to that question.

For non-working actors the answer is usually, “I’m really looking forward to having some time off.” And this is partly true, but for ambitious actors there is always that panic of where the next job is going to come from. Or if you have a show lined up, you worry about what you’re going to have after that. It’s a constant struggle. There is absolutely NO job security. ARGH it’s enough to make me want to go back to the Navy. At least they have benefits and a retirement plan. LOL

Don’t worry, I’m not going back to the Navy. It’s really not all that drastic. I guess I’m just having a little diarrhea of the brain. It’s time to figure out what to do with my three months. I have some ideas! It’s been three years since my last cabaret so I’m thinking about writing another one. We’ll see. I want to take an on-camera class. It’s something I’ve been interested in a long time. Those that know me best know that my ultimate dream isn’t Broadway anymore. If I could have any career I would want to be on a detective show on tv! I know that sounds silly, but dreams are allowed to be silly. I think the reason I never even considered tv/film an option is because I’m a little overweight and I always assumed you had to be a size 0 to even think about it. That brings me to my next thing. Since I work from home and now have evenings free I have absolutely NO reason not to overhaul my diet/exercise regime. I have Jillian Michael’s 30-day shred, so how about I do a 90-day shred?

After all, my next role is an ingenue.

In a flapper dress.

And ingenues can’t have flabby arms. It’s my rule, nobody else’s.

katewinsletattending2009bambiawards0uvc36gdjvhl

I call on Kate Winslet, my patron saint of AWESOME to get me through it.

Thank you for listening to my madness.

Yours always,

Harmony

Posted in Harmony's stories, Musings | No Comments »

All I want for Christmas is you…

December 22nd, 2009

I’m sitting here watching the snow on my first day off in a long time. I feel really peaceful and pretty happy. If you had talked to me last week I was terribly low and frustrated. Such is life I suppose. Ups and Downs. Days like this are so special. Time to myself, beauty outside, and a positive outlook. What more can I ask for really?

We get distracted in this business. We are all so anxious to reach the next rung on our success ladder that sometimes we forget to take a breath and just enjoy the climb. We are not all destined for greatness. And even if we are, there is always a higher level of greatness to achieve. If we’re constantly yearning for something better that is not a very happy existence.

This year has been a little rough. I haven’t felt truly artistically stimulated since I did Bernarda Alba last fall. I’ve worked consistently, and they’ve all been good experiences in their own way. I would just love to do a show that makes my “gut rumble and my heart want to explode.” (-the lovely Kate Winslet) Funnily enough my two favorite theatrical experiences this year involved understudying. Going on for Man of La Mancha and Bombs Away were definite highlights of my year.

In the meantime I have tried to make the shows I’ve done as challenging as possible; I always want to learn something. I took an audition class with the amazing Doug Peck and Andy Hite. It really inspired me to work harder and not rest on my laurels. And I just keep trucking along. I look forward to the new year and new challenges.

Some words of sage advice for actors before I go:

1) For those that are still doing non-equity work, don’t be afraid to speak up when safety is concerned. With shows with smaller budgets a lot of times corners are cut to save money. If you feel unsafe at any time because of the set, costumes, or any other reason, SPEAK UP! You may be labeled a difficult actor for a day or two, but it’s better than the alternative of really hurting yourself. When you aren’t a member of the union, the only person truly looking out for you is YOU. So remember that.

2) Until you have a contract in your hand, you are not truly cast in a show. Remember that it feels great to be wooed for a part or a show, but that it doesn’t mean anything. A lot of times directors need to make sure that there are good people at their auditions. Basically they need to cover their bases. They need at least one person that will work for their production to show up at auditions or callbacks to cover each role. That doesn’t mean that when the audition comes that they won’t decide to cast the newcomer instead. So while it’s flattering, try to ignore it. Show up, audition, rock it out, and leave it to the Gods to decide.

That’s all! I really hope that all my friends and fellow artists have a wonderful Holiday. I’ll be with my family and I hope you’ll be with yours whether real or acquired. Enjoy each other. Treasure your lives, your loves, and your talents. I wish you the best in the New Year!

Love, Harmony

white_christmas_colors_fan2011842jpg

Posted in Harmony's sage advice, Musings | No Comments »

The Scoop on Harmony

November 10th, 2009

There is so much going on right now to fill you guys in on!

Man of La Mancha closed at Theater at the Center about a month ago. I got to go on for the Antonia track twice! It was a fantastic cast and such an amazing experience. I loved it. Watching Jim Harms play Don Quixote night after night was like getting PAID to go to an advanced acting class. So inspiring.

As Antonia.

As Antonia.

As Fermina.

As Fermina.

n154413687294_8356This Saturday, November 14th, I’m performing as Hope in the Anything Goes Victory Gardens Benefit. It’s a casting auction. Basically people bid on what part they want to play in a full-fledged production of the show. I’m part of the medley presentation that shows them what they’re bidding on.

I’ll be singing such songs as It’s De-Lovely, You’re the Top, Anything Goes, and I Get a Kick Out of You.

It should be really fun!

You can get more information HERE.

*

*
*

*

indexaspxI am currently in rehearsal at City Lit Theatre for The Wind in the Willows, a musical adaptation by Douglas Post of the timeless book. It’s really cute and the music is really great.

I’m playing the Bargewoman, a weasel, and Mrs. Otter.

It should be a lot of fun and it’s appropriate for children and adults.

We start previews on November 27th.

You can get more information HERE.

*

*

16252_177658361547_167107886547_3435597_2439401_n

As many of you know the new Bailiwick Chicago just had their official launch. It’s a terrific group of people and they are all really passionate about bringing Bailiwick into a new and exciting chapter while still honoring it’s 27 years as Bailiwick Repertory.

Anyway, I was recently asked if I wanted to be an Artistic Associate and I happily accepted. Bailiwick has always been a home for me. It was home under the helm of Artistic Director Emeritus David Zak and I know it will continue to be so in the capable hands of Kevin Mayes.

I was also asked to perform in Bailiwick Chicago’s Christmas Benefit. It’s going to be a greatest hits of all our favorite TV Christmas moments. There will be food, drink, song, skits, and tv clips. It’s December 13th. Don’t miss it! You can find out more information HERE.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

a4711-1-72dpiAnd finally, I’m so excited to be working again with City Lit Theatre on Oh Boy! this May with the legendary Sheldon Patinkin directing. I have so much to say about this man, but I will leave it for it’s own post instead of tagging it on to the end of this one.

Oh Boy! is a mad-cap, screwball comedy/musical with music by Jerome Kern. I am so thrilled and honored that I get to work on this production and that I get to work with one of my mentors again!

Posted in The Scoop on Harmony | No Comments »

« Older Entries