After HS however, I got accepted into the Southwest Shakespeare Conservatory which was run by my former HS teacher's wife at the time. It is a summer program, that is similar to boot camp but for actors. These days it is called The Scottsdale Conservatory Theater as it is now more closely associated with Scottsdale Community College as opposed to the Southwest Shakespeare Company. Track One of the Conservatory involves movement classes, voice classes, improv, text analysis, scene study and other fun stuff like mask work. We got 12 college credits for attending and passing. I actually got a C from one of my instructors.
It was really a lot of work but it was exceptionally fun too. I got to play Joan of Arc, which ended up giving me a great monologue for auditions. Which brings me to the first time I auditioned for The Southwest Shakespeare Company.
The show they produced first that season was none other than Hamlet. When I read Hamlet in HS, I promised myself that one day I would play Ophelia. Let's just admit that I'm a bit crazy and I identified a bit with the character. I was auditioning with all my classmates and all my instructors because Hamlet is a show that every classical actor wants to be involved with. I auditioned with my Joan monologue and the Julia letter monologue. I saw the director sit up and take notice and the other people behind the table whispering to her.
I was called back for the part of Ophelia along with one other girl who had not been in the conservatory. I read sides along with three of my male instructors for the conservatory who had been called back for the part of Hamlet. The man who eventually got the part of Hamlet thought he was too old and that the director might be looking at him for Polonius and me for Ophelia. I just inwardly shook my head because I felt he would make an amazing Hamlet. It turns out I was right. He was also the instructor who gave me a C.
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| I'm the one in front in the nightgown. |
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| Nunnery scene |
I got cast in the role and got the confirmation call from none other than my HS Drama teacher. Let me tell you, that was really cool. Rehearsals were grueling and it was difficult to get into the crazy mind set and make it believable but with the support of an amazing cast and great director, I somehow pulled it off. My Jr. High English teacher even came to see the show.
During one of the rehearsals (which was held in a VFW hall) a producer came to watch us. He was casting a show called Hamlet on Trial for the UK/AZ festival. I got called in to audition formally. Only two people from our cast were chosen to participate and I was one of them. The other actors that they got for the show were all equity (Actor's union). They also brought in Billy Connolly as a guest artist. They originally tried to get Vanessa Redgrave but she had scheduling conflicts so they brought him in instead.
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| He played a role in "Muppet Treasure Island." |
We only had one week to rehearse. The show had three different endings, and the ending was chosen based on what the guest jury decided. It was held at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix. It is a really beautiful theatre that has a ceiling that lights up to look like the sky and as the time gets closer to curtain time it turns it to look like the night sky. It was incredible.
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| OrpheumTheatre-Phoenix |
I had made cards for all the cast members the day of our one performance of Hamlet on Trial. The day of the performance was spent rehearsing because that was the only time Mr. Connolly could come. I had left a card in his dressing room and noticed that it had been tossed aside later. He was very stand offish towards everyone. I was not impressed.
That night, I found out the mayor of London was in the audience and we had a full house. Normally, the costumer would wait back stage for me to help me put on my robe. My costume was a sheer nightgown (I had a flesh toned body suit underneath) that was bright white and we didn't want people seeing me backstage. After, I did the "I have been so affrighted." bit, I came off stage hearing the deafening roar of the audience. There standing in the shadows was not the costumer but Mr. Connolly with my robe over his arm clapping. He then helped me put on my robe and approvingly said, "Bravo. That was very well done." in his thick Scottish accent. It is a moment I will never forget.
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| Me as Ophelia and M. as Hamlet |
After the show, there was a champagne reception. I was the only minor there and no, I didn't drink. However, Mr. Connolly pulled me near him and somehow we started bantering back and forth and became the center of the party. Later the director pulled me aside and confided in me that she was very concerned when she found out the producer had cast an 18 year old in the part of Ophelia. She told me that he had assured her that if she didn't like me during the first rehearsal that I Could be re-cast. I had no idea. She said that I was wonderful in the role. She also offered me a chance to move to NY and stay with her and her husband, if I wanted to try to make it in the Big Apple. I politely declined for several reasons, mostly because I was terrified.
And that is just part of the story.
