So much has happened since my last scoop. I’ve had sort of a fantastic theater streak. I’ve also had some crazy personal problems. Not sure how to write about it all. I guess I’ll just do some word vomit and just apologize ahead of time for it. I apologize. There, I apologized. So, read on at your own risk I suppose. I did warn you. No complaining later.

First an update on Steppenwolf, since so many people have been so supportive and want to know the outcome. I did not get accepted to the School at Steppenwolf. I did, however, get offered an “alternate” position. Basically, if someone can’t go I am on a short waiting list of who they will call. It’s not exactly what I hoped for, but it’s a feat none-the-less. I am extremely proud of myself. I did something that was so extremely intimidating for me and I came this close to getting it. I hadn’t done a non-musical audition for close to 5 years, so I’m going to pat myself on the back a bit. I’m going to take a moment to be proud of myself, even if it’s just for almost getting in.

I have had a lot of questions of how the whole process works from people that might be interested in attending in the future. So here goes. I had to fill out an application, write two essays, give a $50 application fee, and get a letter of recommendation. I sent three because I’m a freak. After sending in your audition packet you get notified by email whether you’ve been granted an audition or not. This year they granted 260 auditions. For the audition I had to do a monologue, have a second monologue ready just in case, and pick a scene to do. They gave me an option of 5 scenes. I picked the Frankie and Johnny scene and did a monologue from Keely and Du.

I then waited about 2 1/2 weeks and got my notification by email. This year of the 260 people that auditioned for the school, they accepted 28 people and then have a small “alternate” list. Another thing to keep in mind is that Steppenwolf fills their school in the same way they would cast a company of actors. They want different types and personalities. They said it is all about the mix of people. So, I would only be offered a spot in the school if the person who couldn’t go fit my type, or I filled that slot well. I’m guessing one of the older actors would have to drop, since I have heard that they only accept like 2 people over 30. Did I just give away my age? SHIT.

That brings me to my other bit of news. I’m just thrilled to announce that I was just cast in the 75th anniversary season production of A Little Night Music at Peninsula Players. I’m one of the Liebeslieder Singers. I couldn’t be more excited. It’s in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin. Greg Vinkler is directing. There will be much more information on this show to follow!

And FINALLY Oh Boy! starts rehearsals next week. I feel like I’ve been talking about this show FOREVER. I’m so glad it’s finally going to be underway. I was cast at the beginning of the fall, so I’m really happy to get started. Unfortunately Sheldon Patinkin is no longer directing. He needs a little more time to recover from his surgery. Fortunately, however, Terry McCabe is our new director and Sheldon will be popping his head in from time to time to give his advice. I’m very excited about this project. I’ve read the script a couple of times now and my character, Lou Ellen, is hilarious and not in an obvious way. I think everything she says is funny, so hopefully I can do her justice.

So that’s all the theater news…and it’s so exciting. I have two projects that I’m really passionate about coming up and I got a serious confidence boost through Steppenwolf. I probably wouldn’t have even auditioned for Peninsula Players if it hadn’t been for my experience with Steppenwolf. It has really given me a renewed confidence in myself. I feel like I’m not an idiot. I’m not wasting my life. I can actually do this and it’s time to raise the bar for myself and go after things that maybe I was too insecure to go after before.

The thing that I’ve learned in this last couple of weeks though is that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. I have been so stressed out about other personal aspects of my life that it was hard to enjoy the theater accomplishments I was achieving. I haven’t been eating well, been drinking way too much, and I’ve been a big ole worry wart. We dream about breaks like I’ve gotten in the last week or so, but I think in our dreams we’re also happily coupled, our families are in great shape, our friends are fantastic AND we get great theater news. It doesn’t work like that. You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life. The facts of life. You like that? I’m thinking about writing a song. No copyright infringements!!!

Seriously though, it’s all good. The good and the bad. Take the bad with relish. It makes us human. It makes the good so much sweeter. And another thing…don’t be afraid of life. Don’t be afraid to take a chance. Put your neck out, seriously what’s the worst thing that can happen? You can fail. That’s it. If you don’t take big risks, you won’t get big rewards. I am no longer talking about theater, but it can apply to theater too of course. Now my brain is wandering. I was doing so well at staying concise. I did warn you though. hmmmm what do I want for dinner? What is the meaning of life? If a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, did it really fall? So many questions. Goodbye. See you in hell.

Harmony

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.

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!

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:

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After a year of this,…

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…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

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 Fermina.

This 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.

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I 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.

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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.

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And 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!

I’ve been neglecting my blog! I’ve been so busy though. I closed Cousins Grimm two weekends ago and actually ended up going on for three performances of Bombs Away. I had so much fun it was almost criminal. I was up there with some of my best friends, and we basically had a party on stage.

There is something so extremely exhilarating (yet terrifying)  about having to perform with little to no notice. In the Bombs Away situation I had about a week to get ready. For those not familiar with Bombs Away, it was a Forbidden Broadway type cabaret (spoof on musicals) where all the cast members were on stage for pretty much the entire show.  It was so satisfying to challenge myself in that way, especially when I feel like I succeeded. I haven’t felt that alive on stage in a long time. There is just something about stepping in to a show you haven’t quite mastered that is extremely satisfying. You have to trust yourself completely. There is no time for doubts. The things you discover in this type of situation is remarkable. The spontaneity is delicious. You really are living IN the moment. It was gloriously fun and I’m proud of myself.

Now, I’m not suggesting to people that they don’t prepare fully for their shows. PREPARE FOR YOUR SHOWS! But if for some reason you are put into a situation where you have to be performance ready in very little time don’t freak out! You can do it and you can do it well. Just remember to do it in increments. Even with a short period of time you have to let your brain rest and marinate. I worked on it for about 6 hours a day for 3 days. I would do a session for three hours, take an hour break (this is VERY important) and then work for three more hours. After that I would leave it completely for the day. It’s important for your brain to have that time to soak it in.  Before each show I took about a half hour to walk through my track in a speed through. Also, it’s a time of high stress so make sure you eat well, drink lots of water, and get plenty of sleep to avoid getting sick. I’m sure this is common sense to most, but if I can help someone I’m happy to.

After closing those two shows I went right into rehearsal the very next day for The Man of La Mancha at Theatre at the Center. I’m covering Antonia and the Housekeeper. I’m having a wonderful time. It’s such a fantastic group of people. This is my first Equity show and I’m soaking in as much as I can. I love watching the theater veterans in the show. Their experience is so vast and their performances look effortless. It’s also such a beautiful show. It’s so moving. Jim Harms (Don Quixote), Ericka Mac (Aldonza), and Joe Tokarz (Padre) break my heart in the finale every single day. I feel really blessed to be part of this production.

My other tidbit of news is that I’ve been cast as Lou Ellen in City Lit’s May production of Jerome Kern’s Oh Boy. I’m so excited. This show re-unites me with director Sheldon Patinkin who is one of my mentors and legendary in his own right. I am also doing the show with the ridiculously beautiful and talented Jenny Grubb. We’re the female leads. This will be my fourth show with her! We’re very excited.

That’s it for now. Happy fall everyone!

Love Harmony

Here’s the update. I’m still in moving limbo. Our finished construction date keeps getting moved back. Now it’s August 1st. Hopefully it’ll stay there. I’m also getting ready to open Cousins Grimm. It’s a new musical that opens on July 12th at the Hoover-Leppen Theater at Center on Halsted, in Chicago.

“The Cousins Grimm is an original new musical that reworks the timeless fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm into contemporary urban fables filled with lesbian and gay characters. These stories of love, death, friendship, betrayal, and families of all kinds are beautifully interwoven with edgy humor and memorable songs.”

After that I’m working on Man of La Mancha at Theatre at the Center.

I still can’t talk about the cabaret that’s in the works, but soon. SOON!!!!

After that I’m planning on taking a damn cruise to the damn bahamas for some much needed R&R. I’m very excited about that.

So that’s it. I’m excited about moving, I’m excited about opening my show, and I’m excited about working with Theatre at the Center for the first time. I leave you with a sneak peak of Cousins Grimm.

In this clip from our benefit, I’m Mimmy, the evil witch/step-mother. This is an excerpt from “She’s Dead.”

I don’t have much theater stuff to talk about right now because WE’RE MOVING. Ugh. I think it’s in the top 5 of my absolute least favorite things to do. I get stressed out because there is so much to do and then I get paralyzed because there is so much to do and I don’t know where to start. So most of my blogging urges have been fulfilled on my other blog. My home design blog. Yes. I am fully aware that I’m a weirdo that has too many blogs, but thanks for pointing it out.

Because we’re moving I gave myself a break from auditioning. Well the move date has been pushed back so I don’t have an excuse anymore. So I’m back at it again next week. I’ve submitted for a lot of plays and I’m REALLY excited about it. I love plays. I never get to do them. The last play I did was in 2006. It was Angels in America and I was blissfully content playing one of the coolest parts in theater: Hannah Pitt.

I love plays because they don’t stress me out as much as musicals do. All you have to do is tell your story truthfully. It’s still a heck a lot of work, but you don’t have to worry about hitting the right note or fear you’re making a mockery of the dance steps. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE musicals! And I feel very lucky that I’ve gotten to do so many of them. I’m just excited about the possibility of doing a play…that’s all.

Next up for me: Cousins Grimm (A musical ) directed by Scott Ferguson. We start rehearsing this week. I’ll let you guys know more about it in another post.

I’m also really excited about a cabaret that will hopefully happen this upcoming year with me and some KICK ASS chicks! I can’t wait to share the news. But I have to wait until it’s official. I hate waiting!

That’s it for now folks. Just a quick shout out…thank you guys so much for visiting my blog. I’ve been shocked at how many visitors I’ve been getting. You guys make me feel all special and stuff! For serious…thanks!

P.S. Wish me luck on finding a gosh dern apartment!