The past eleven days have seen quite a bit of action and miles on the road... There were 4 auditions, another one requested, and some casting news as well... and if you read really closely, you may find out how to see a clip from Damn Yankees...

Audition #1:  On Saturday 10/3 there was a casting notice for a show in South Florida called Temptation: A Rock Musical... It was near Miami on Sunday the 4th, an open call, at 1:00 pm.  They wanted a rock song, and to be prepared to dance... It was 7 hours away, but I was already booked to be in Broward for the Cantorial auditions on the 5th, so really all that it amounted to was getting up VERY early to start driving.  I had decided to do Tempted, by Squeeze, and downloaded the music so I would have it for the accompanist.  By the time I arrived at the audition it was about 1:30, but since it was an open call, as long as the auditions were still going on, I was fine.  I changed clothes and went inside... To say this was a strange audition would be putting it mildly. 

The notice had said that they were looking for more people and that the show was starting rehearsals very soon... In actuality they were starting that day, so most of the people that were there were already cast.  They were sitting around a small tv, watching a dvd of a live performance and when they finished they went next door to start their rehearsals, and the choreographer was going to audition me... she asked if I had a CD to sing with... and I told her I only had sheet music (which is standard for professional auditions - rarely do you sing with a track).  Her piano player hadn't show up, so I actually sang acapella.  When I was done... we talked a bit about the show rehearsals... (Saturday/Sunday/Monday through the month of October) and I asked if rehearsals were paid... they were not... and when and where the show was running... and she couldn't really give me an answer... said I needed to talk to the director and that he would be in touch...  she gave me two cd's, one of all the music in the show, with vocals and one without vocals.  I left there thinking... this doesn't seem very professional at all...

I drove 15 miles north to my hotel... checked in and sent an email to the director... informing him that I had auditioned, that I had been given the music, thanking him for the opportunity and asking for more detailed information about performance dates and the length of the run...  He wrote back thanking me for auditioning... and told me that he heard I was great, but that he regretted to inform me that the role he was thinking of me for, was already cast.  But that if anything opened up, that I would be the first person I would call.  He then asked if I could make arrangements to get the cd's back to the choreographer (15 miles south of where I was...)

I wanted to say... "if the role was cast, why did you have me get up at 5 in the morning to drive down..." but what I said was... thank you... and I told him that they could pick the cd's up from my hotel, but that I couldn't afford the time to drive in the opposite direction the next day when I had an audition scheduled.  Arrangements were made for a rendezvous the next morning to give the cd's back and I counted myself lucky that this not so professional audition didn't pan out...

Audition #2:  The next day I went to Broward Stagedoor Theatre to audition for the play Cantorial... I had purchased the script, researched Jewish Cantorial Music online... gotten an actual recording of the text the ghost chanted repeatedly through the show from the Dean of Music at a Jewish University in Massachusetts and I felt I was very prepared.  The director, was someone I had auditioned for before and if you'll remember correctly, this would be the first audition that I would offer to pay for my own housing if needed.

I felt the audition went very well... the director and producer remembered me and we had a brief conversation in the audition room... but I felt that I was not going to be the right type in their eyes because of my age... the breakdown called for late 20's to 30's (and I'm not in my 30's anymore, but can definitely play in my 30's) and when I got there, they were originally not having me read for the role... I asked if I could read for it... and they said of course... I read two scenes for the lead... then a brief discussion between them and they asked me to also read for the lead's father... (a role I'm far too young for)  I stayed and read... was thanked for coming in and driving down... and afterwards, sent the director a letter of thanks.

I mentioned a request for an audition, and I'll touch on that briefly... I goe a request from a theatre in Jupiter to submit for the role of Bob Cratchit in a Christmas Carol, but the production was only for one weekend and didn't pay enough money to warrant me relocating to South Florida.

As I started making my drive back North after leaving the Stage Door Theatre, I was pulling onto the Turnpike and my cell rang with a number that I didn't recognize, and I let it go to voicemail... it was the choreographer from the auditions the day before... the director had called her and said he had an opening... so she was calling to offer me a role... $100 per performance, no pay for the rehearsals...  I called her back and got her voicemail and said that I would need to know more details... how many performances are scheduled... when and where... and asked her to call me back... I did not get a call the rest of the day... That night, I emailed her and the director, asking for specifics and in the morning, got a short reply from the director saying... Jef... I'm sorry, but Kelly should have told you that the role was filled... I think they didn't know how to handle all my questions and so they moved on to an actor that wouldn't need specifics.  My instincts tell me I was right about this...

Later that day, I got an email from the Director of Cantorial, saying he was very sorry he wasn't going to be able to cast me, but that he enjoyed seeing my work again and he thought that I should send some footage of me singing to the producer of the theatre, because she may want to see me for some of the shows on their season.  I was not surprised about not getting cast based on the feeling I had when I was there... but I felt I made a good impression... and I sent an email to the girl who scheduled the auditions asking for the producers email address based on the directors suggestion.

A BRIEF WORD ABOUT STUPIDITY...

Some people I am close to said that he was "stupid" not to cast me... but I want to make sure that everyone knows that being cast is, of course, the ultimate goal, but that if you're not right for a part... the secondary goal is to get called in again for other projects that you might be right for... it's an entirely different process than local auditions... I have been cast in roles in local productions that I was totally out of type for... and I like to think I did a good job on them, but the talent pool of people at the professional level in large markets means that you have to be both talented and the RIGHT type... and type may be, for some producers, even more important than talent...

now... back to finishing up Broward Stage Door... On Thursday, the producer for the theatre emailed me from her personal email address and said that she was looking forward to getting my materials.  And that's what I mean about making connections. SO... her request now means that I have put three new videos up on my youtube channel... www.youtube.com/jefcanter 

There is a clip of "Goodbye Old Girl" from Damn Yankees... a clip of "Make 'em Laugh" from Singin' in the Rain... and a clip of the "Chava Sequence" from Fiddler... there are a couple of other clips on there as well... but these are the new ones...

Audition #3:  On Tuesday of last week I saw a notice that a local production company was looking for an actor to do an Industrial Video for the Department of Health for the State of Florida...  I emailed my information to the production company, was emailed the script (I'd be auditioning for the role of a High School counselor) and was asked to come in for a screen test.  I worked up a piece of the script, and went in the next day to meet with them and test.  They said I was the perfect type for what they needed (see type is important) and they were very impressed by my credits and the fact that I was off script for the 5 or 6 lines they needed for the test...  They said they felt very good about it, and needed to run the footage by the client, and that I should hear back from them within about 48 hours...  I was put on hold for the dates of production (meaning, we're pretty sure we're going to use you, please don't book any conflicts for this time frame) and I waited to hear back...  The pay for this job would be very good... basically almost what I would make in three weeks of stage work... and it drives home the reason why most actors seek out movies, TV's and Commercials... there's a lot more money and a lot less work involved... 48 hours was up on Friday... and Friday evening, I booked the job.  I will film the week of 10/19 for 2 or 3 nights...

Audition #4:  Saturday morning I got up early and drove to Orlando for auditions at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre.  "Hamlet" and "All's Well That End's Well" running in rotating rep starting in January.  I had sides to read and was asked to choose one from each show to perform.  I really felt out of type for any role in Hamlet but, having to choose one, I chose the role of the ghost of his father... for All's Well... I chose the role of the Lavanche, The Fool... for which you all will attest I am the right type!

I arrived with plenty of time to change... and prepare and was to be the first appointment after their lunch break.  I was ushered into the room and the artistic director asked what I was going to do for them... I told them... started in on the Hamlet scene... and felt something I hadn't felt in so long, that I was shocked... I felt NERVOUS... not in a way that my performance was being altered... but my knees were a little jittery...  In hindsight, I'm sure it's because Shakespeare is not my forte... and I had made a very bold characterization choice for my second piece... All's Well is a comedy and playing the role of the fool, I went all out... and both the artistic director and the director for the plays laughed out loud (had they laughed at the Hamlet piece... that would have been for a different reason).  When I was finished, I left the room, thanked the audition monitor and asked how long it would take for casting decisions to be made... It may well be a month until we hear (or don't hear)... So... I'll send out a notice if anything happens...

This week is the Tallahassee Ghost Tour that Kendall and I are acting in... (she's also acting as a tour guide two of the nights...!) Then next week, I shoot the video for the State of Florida and that Friday night... I drive to Fort Meyers to audition for Prather Entertainment Group... they have three theatres and a touring show as well.  So no rest for the weary...

If you're interested in the Ghost Tour... the poster is below... I will be playing General Leigh Read all four nights and Kendall will be leading one tour on Thursday, one tour on Friday and playing a lady of the evening on Saturday and Sunday...