Not long after I posted my last, I got a message from Tara, the stage manager of Woolf, that indeed callbacks were rescheduled for this Wednesday. They're still looking for Nick. So that puts me in potential play for two shows. I may get neither, but if I get Woolf, can I do La Mancha? I mean, I know I could do it, but will I be taken out of the running if I get Woolf? I guess I'll just have to wait and see what develops. I may be offered neither, I may not get Woolf, I may drop dead tonight; all possibilities. In the interim, I'll study George and study Don and see where the metaphorical chips fall.

I may have messed up a chance to play George. I'm not positive mind you but... The stage manager called on Tuesday night and asked me to come to a callback late Saturday afternoon or early evening. Now, keep in mind, I've already done two rounds of this process. Well anyway, I'm going out of town this weekend and so responded that I could not do Saturday but that I would do Sunday if requested. And? I haven't heard anything back. Might mean nothing, probably means something.

The bright spot, and it is very potentially bright, is that Man of LaMancha auditions are next week. Now Maurer Productions, being all Perryed up, is going to have lots of talented people auditioning but I figure I've got a decent shot at Don Quixote. John M. who is directing, kind of signalled that doing both shows was not going to happen so, even if the Woolf knocks, I will need to make a quick decision as to where my best option lies (lays?). Of course, had I been cast three weeks ago in Woolf, I'd have no current dilemma but, so goes life in the small theater.

Of course the Phils won the pennant, making three times in my life (1980, 1993, now. I wasn't alive for the 1950 series, just missed it!) Go PHILS!

Well this is certainly interesting. I got a phone call from the stage manager of Woolf to let me know that there was going to be another round of callbacks next week, skipping this week entirely, date and time tba. I can only assume that there were other auditions, although I can't even assume that. There were only two of us reading for George. How difficult is that? Flip a coin, I don't know. I have stopped trying to read the minds of directors; it's dark and dirty in there. I haven't even wanted to get back to other people (Marthas) who were at the callbacks; what if they haven't been called back? If the measure of a good show is the agonizing over casting, this show will be spectacular.

Pat Bartlett called me to alert me to an opportunity to gain equity points by understudying several shows at Two River Theatre Company in Red Bank, NJ. This sounds like an excellent opportunity (it also sounds as though they're hard up for men "of a certain age." ) I would LOVE to jump at the chance but unfortunately Red Bank is at least 75 miles from my home. More from my work. While I am tempted to declare bankruptcy and jump at it; I haven't yet grown the balls. Given the current economic debacle I just can't give up work; not yet anyway.

Went to the callbacks for Woolf on Tuesday; still no word. The director said he would let all know yea or nay so I guess there's just no decision yet. Always a fun thing to wait. I believe I did a good job but, as I said below, that really doesn't mean anything. I could be too something: old, young, tall, thin, heavy, dark...too me in the end. Or else...I fit right into the director's vision. We'll see what happens.

The callbacks were interesting in that there were but two of us called for George, about four for Martha, only one Nick (I figure he got the role) and I think three Honeys (that's the character's name, not a rude comment upon their looks). Dianne W. and Ruth M., both directors in their own right, were up for Martha. I didn't know the other people. The director was nothing if not thorough. He had pretty much every combination of actors read together. He certainly saw all of the possibilities. I have a feeling I'll know something today, tomorrow at the latest. I'll let y'all know.

I had the audition for V. Woolf on Tuesday and I must say I believe it went smashingly. That is usually an indicator that I will NOT in fact get the role. I'm not superstitious, just that my internal barometer usually bears no resemblance to the instrument internal to the general director. And so I've been shocked to get certain roles and tremendously disappointed not to get others. I did get an immediate call back for Tuesday and so at least I ought to know soon.

The director inquired as to whether or not I was willing to cut my hair and my beard. Seemed he was more interested in dedication than actually having already made a decision but, as is my usual, I replied that hair regrows. A good role is worth a make over. It only takes about 6 months to grow a tail again and in the meantime, I can be a stealth democrat, infiltrating conservative conclaves on behalf of the good guys.

I saw a goodly number of theater friends at Kelsey as I usually do; Michaela, Nick and Dani rehearsing Rocky Horror, Susan, and Pam and Nancy and Ruth and Eliz. doing King and I. I do want to be in that crowd again.

Tuesday is the audition for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf at Kelsey. I've worked up a monologue from An Empty Plate at the Cafe du Grand Boeuf. I wanted to find one from Woolf, but George really doesn't have to much in the way of monologues. I don't know this director although I've done a number of shows at the theater so it should be interesting. I suppose I'll begin getting real ego invested after the audition, as is my wont. For now, it's just nice to know I have an appointment at a theater on Tuesday and hence an excuse to be there as other than an audience member.

BTW, these posts get sent automatically to Facebook so if you want to see them as well as other stuff from me and my "friends" go over to Facebook.com and search under my name. You may need to join to get a look though. Speaking of Facebook, although I have a lot of people who have given me permission to view their pages ("friends"), I still sometimes feel like a lurker. Not with the people my age understand, it's more with the youngins. I usually don't write anything in response to their posts or chat them up because I'm concerned they'll be grossed out by the mere proximity of age and decrepitude near their pages. Every once in a while one writes me though, so that's nice. I must say though I've begun feeling seriously old when I read the energetic stuff a lot of my young friends are engaged with. That's probably the greatest thing about youth; the boundless energy and endless optimism that there is time. Speaking of time though, it's short just now cause I've got to go to a wedding.

I apologize to those bored individuals who, like me, cruise sites on their down time looking for even the faintest whiff of something interesting to read. God knows you rarely read it here! Anyway, there is at last some movement in something other than my GI track. I had a very enjoyable dinner with Marco, one of my old pals from the NET last week. It was good to see him; it's been a while. Of course I frequently see his mama, but that's another story. Anyhow Marco is producing The Investigation, a play by Peter Weiss at the NET and asked if I'd be interested. Since we ate around the corner from the NET, I dropped by to pick up a script. I saw the Doyles and a couple of other friends and it was, all in all a good night.

The Investigation is about the trial of captured Nazi guards and principals at Auschwitz. It is a bleak, bleak, show. Nevertheless there are some strong dramatic possibilities and I was thinking of seeing if they'd fit me in but then I got an email from Kitty G. at Kelsey asking me to try out for Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe. This has got to be one of my favorites. I would LOVE to do that show. Coupled with the fact that it's not a good time for me to do an intense rehearsal schedule ala the NET, I regretfully turned down the opportunity. I admire the fact that the NET is staging the show; it's not your usual community theater stuff.

It's really good to have a couple of choices, even if it turns out I don't get anything. At least I'm working on a monologue again.

To close, I'm sending a good thought to Chuck D. Hope all is well dude.

This is a boring series of posts, I agree. Nothing is happening as far as acting is concerned. I am not actually complaining, I've had my share of good roles in recent years, but I'm itchy. I miss having a show to complain about. It is indeed the dog days. I looked at Christmas Carol at the Walnut for about five minutes but I don't think I want to take a week off of work to play Scrooge again, even if it is at the Walnut. The show, as billed, runs an hour and it just seems...I don't know, not the right one for me right now. There are good roles on offer for Montgomery Theater among others but, if I can't place myself in those roles, I'm fairly certain the directors won't either. So, I sit at the beach. Not exactly heavy lifting I'll admit. One thing I am is rested.

Dismal times for your reporter, at least as far as theater is concerned. Looking over the TAG pages there are some decent shows going up but, either I'm not suited for roles in the show or I'm not interested in roles in the show. I'll wait for some better fare to come along. I'd rather sit on the beach than regret a decision to be in a show. I've gotten some offers to play some small parts but again, not interested. Oh well, I've been up, I've been down. Something will come up.

Well, I just heard from the director of K&I and I did NOT get the role. I really do appreciate the call and the rapidity with which I got the news. Although I am once again smashed and feel lower than whale shit; at least I feel respected. So now I look for other opportunities for rejection or approbation. Stay tuned to this channel for more episodes of, "I got your role right here."