Theatre Thursday- Private Benjamin or The First Detour

Biology is driving me crazy right now and I had my first test yesterday. I am scared of the results of that test but for now some reminiscing of the theatre.

During rehearsals for Hamlet, I had gotten a call from an Army recruiter and basically told him there was no chance I was joining the military.  Fast forward several weeks,  I had finished up Hamlet and H on T and then didn't have anything lined up.  Southwest Shakespeare Company's next show was the musical A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.  At that time, I was not a singer and so didn't even bother auditioning.

So, I tried to attend Scottsdale Community College, but I couldn't really afford to go and didn't really know about financial aid or how to get it.  I didn't like my acting class because it was full of students who had no experience and let's face it, I thought I was better than them.  It wasn't challenging and so I wasn't doing very well.  It never occurred to me to ask my instructors or even the director of Hamlet (Lynda Linford) who was actually a part of the theatre program at the University of Utah for help on navigating the college world. 

I was sitting at home and I got a call from the recruiter again.  This time I wasn't doing anything and wanted a way to pay for college.  So, I dropped out of my classes and joined the Army.  (I actually didn't drop out of one of my classes correctly so I have an F on my record for Acting. Ooops!)

I learned a lot in the Army.  I felt a bit like Private Benjamin in some ways. I got in great shape. I got a free trip to Germany.  I studied Computers, had a Top Secret clearance and graduated top of my class.  Fun stuff.  

I also met my first husband in the Army. I got pregnant. I got out of the Army. I got married to my first husband and then gave birth to my first son. J1 was born premature and was in the hospital for a month and then came home.  

When J1 was about 6 months old or so I discovered that my first husband was cheating on me. I then divorced from him as he had no intention of leaving his mistress.

I moved back to AZ.  Met DH, got married, had A1. My X signed away his rights and DH adopted J1.  

After I had A1, I was struggling a bit with PPD that turned into full blown depression for a couple of years. I felt like I needed to get back into the theatre and that is when I decided to take Track 2 of the Conservatory.  But that will be for the next post.

Theatre Thursday- The First Conservatory Year

My senior year of HS I was awarded two awards: Best Supporting Actress and Best Overall Thespian.  Which basically means I worked my butt off and never got a major part.

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.

I'm the one in front in the nightgown.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Theatre Thursday - My introduction to theatre

Thursdays are going to be dedicated to my first love: theatre.  Spell check does not like to spell it that way, but I like to think of theater as going to the movies and theatre as live theatre.  There is something about living and breathing the same air as someone creating art.

Since I am working on eventually getting a BFA in Theatre Arts. I thought I would use this day to chronicle what I am doing to improve and what is inspiring me.  As I start though, I would like you to reminisce with me on how I got to this point.

I got into the theatre during junior high.  I wasn't successful in elementary school at an instrument and since I wanted a fun elective theatre seemed like it would be fill that category.  I loved it.  Unfortunately, I was very shy and very quiet.  My teacher told me I was good but that it was too hard to hear me.  So the next summer I spent the whole summer in my back yard practicing "projecting."  My parents worked during the week so they never knew what I was up to and  since it was scorching hot in AZ during the summer my brothers left me alone. My mother did discover I really did love the theatre and took me to see my first professional show, Fiddler on the Roof which was put on my the Arizona Jewish Theatre Company. I loved it!

The next school year I was still not cast in any of the big shows but I still helped back stage.  My ninth grade year I got some smaller roles but nothing huge.  The biggest thing that happened to me that year was an introduction to Shakespeare.  It wasn't in my Theatre class but rather my English class that I discovered a knack for understanding the Bards works.

We even got to take a trip to see The Southwest Shakespeare Company's Romeo and Juliet.  They kept it in the era it was written for and it was captivating despite some teenage rascals throwing Skittles at Juliet during her drinking of the sleeping potion monologue.  Juliet didn't miss a beat. I was entranced and vowed to work for the company eventually.

In high school, I continued with my endeavors. As fate would have it the drama teacher at my HS was also the co-founder for the Southwest Shakespeare Company.  As such, the company provided opportunities for HS students to act as "Wenches and Knaves" aka ushers for their shows.  I jumped at the chance and got to see many wonderful shows as a result.  I developed a keen love for Shakespeare during this time.

I kept getting cast in smaller roles along with backstage work in HS. I worked hard in order to try to improve my skills.  My senior year, the drama department put on The Tempest and The Matchmaker (the show Hello, Dolly came from).  In The Tempest, I played Trinculo, a clown and originally a part for a boy.

It was so much fun!  One of my good friends at the time, designed and made all the costumes.  My costumes had bells sewn all over it. So, backstage I had to wear a black robe and shuffle along so as not to create any noise as I walked.

The director of the Southwest Shakespeare Conservatory (an actor training program) was in the audience for one of the shows and told me I was just darling in the role.  But alas, this post is getting way too wordy. What came after is long enough for it's own story. So I will continue on next week.  

Exeunt Omnes