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ONE POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH AUDITIONS FOR AN ACT OF THE IMAGINATION: I've noticed at the Guild web site that director Justin Reiter is calling for both the male roles to be in their mid-fifties. And, where I think I can play a fifty-five year-old man, it will take some hair color. There will surely be talented actors in the actual age range. This won't, of course, stop me from auditioning, but, it does make me a little less hopeful. Right now, I don't know of another theatre production in the area I would be interested in auditioning for.

FILM MAKING WORKSHOP: Last night and today, actor Clancy Brown is part of the presentation of a free film making workshop at Urbana University (Urbana, Ohio) titled "The Art of Cinema." Unfortunately, I did not find out about it until yesterday afternoon and there was no way for me to free up my time to get there. Too bad; any information I can get would be great. Plus, I like Clancy's work and it would have been neat to meet him. He and the other industry insiders who are doing the workshop are all Urbana natives. A fact I did not know about him.

NO MA, I'M NOT IN A MOVIE YET: I have gotten no call from the Paper Dolls people. The longer it is the less hope I can muster. The Cincinnati fellows doing the Stephen King short did not contact me after I sent my résumé and headshot, which is a pretty clear indicator on that score.

MY SHOOTING SCRIPT: Plugging along.

FINAL NOTE: I had thought about posting yesterday that I was cast in a major supporting role in Papers Dolls, with a $100,000 salary -- as an April Fools item. I decided not to, in part, because not every one who visits this site is from the western cultures that have the tradition. Still, I almost did it.

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Talked with Mike (Boyd -- the director) today and I may run sound for the show. It all depends on who runs lights. If the guy who is currently on board to run sound switches to lights, I may run sound, if Mike needs me.

THE VIDEO OF MY AUDITION MONOLOGUES: Last night and this morning I processed the last of each performances I had taped when I was prepping for the auditions for the Blithe Spirit stage play and the Paper Dolls movie. I sort of felt like I used to when I smoked pot. I would come up with these really great sets of lyrics, while high, and think as I was writing them, Wow, man! This is fucking brilliant! The next day I would read the amateurish crap I'd written and cringe. Watching the monologue performances wasn't quite that bad, but, I was not as happy with them this weekend as I was at the times they were shot. There are several problems that need dealt with. I have already been aware, from these tapes, that I am too kinetic and I gesture too much. I had convinced myself I had done better at calming that habit. Looking at the tapes again I don't see nearly enough improvement. I also have this quirk of snapping the tip of my tongue on the roof of my mouth, which creates a little clicking. There also seems to be a general, if subtle, self-conscious nervousness.

I was going to send some Mp4 movie files of the performances to a couple of my friends, but, I'm not too sure I want them to see those performances.

I am definitely going to continue taping myself performing monologues, etc. It seems to be a very good tool for working on skill, especially presence, which is half the game.

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Lately, as I leave or enter my apartment, I think to myself, Jesus, Guy, you need to clean your damn home up. It is a certain truth that you can tell how involved I am in a project (or, projects) by how much disarray my apartment is in.

My apartment is in what can be modestly called Great Disarray.

One could shoot an episode of The Odd Couple in my place as Oscar's, before Felix moved in. And I am not using near the hyperbole some of you may think.

I spend much time at the computer (movie project, web site, novel, short story) either creating or doing the related business, at the Guild (somehow working a show or as a board member), or in some stage or another of prepping for an audition. Then, there is that place of employment.

As I have said before, I don't actually "hate" my 40-hour-a-week, paycheck job. But, it really gets in my way. Everything I care about doing has nothing to do with the way I keep my rent up, pay the electricity, feed myself, yadda yadda. That's not to dismiss that if I am going to have to earn money outside of my true ambitions, mine is a lesser pain than most "jobs" I could have. Though I could do without the petty office politics -- how many of you can relate to THAT? Still, I do have a job to pay that rent, etc. -- which is good.

Yet, I am trying to cram the real passions of my being into before and after that eight hours a day. Sometimes I look at my agenda and cringe at all there is to do. And, believe me, I miss my goals for the day, or week, or whatever, on an exceptionally regular basis (Anyone happen to notice how the Winter 2004 literary update, at the site proper, ended up as the Spring 2005 update?)

Of course, I am not alone in this dilemma. I know a lot of people in this boat; and I'm sure there are people reading this, whom I don't know, who have already invited me to "join the club."

It helps to know that I'm not alone in this situation. Well, save for that part of my ego that loves the concept of being, as I have heard it called, Terminally Unique. I still do find myself, at times, anxious about all that I want to accomplish. Moreover, some of it, as is its nature, is so insidiously uncertain. Will I ever get a literary agent? If then, will an editor ever say "yes" to the manuscript for the first novel (or second, or whatever)? Will I see my novel in print? It's not that I don't think I've written one worthy of it -- that doesn't really seem to be the hallmark of being published. There's enough absolutely horrendous crap on the book store shelves to prove that; some of it on the NYT best seller's list.

The other day, one of my acting compatriots said how she'd love to be a "working actor": not necessarily a Big Star, but, someone who worked all the time in her craft, who paid the bills and lived a nice life, financially.

Me too.

I have known since I started this new journey, that even if that is a destination I am looking for, arriving there, under the best of circumstances is an improbable occurrence. So, starting back at acting, in my mid-forties, not being an exceptionally stunning specimen of male beauty (not that I think I am the troll under the bridge), and in most real senses of the term, starting back at scratch at cultivating my acting abilities, I am looking at an even more improbable arrival at a successful acting career. Still, the journey, as it has been the last eighteen months, has been rather fulfilling.

I can say that about writing the first novel, too. And the first half of the first draft for the second, which I have not attended to much since this whole acting thing came up. I have, on the other hand, attended to a few things which had bugged me about the first manuscript. I have "fixed" a few things which I really always thought needed fixing but did not have immediate ideas about. So, the delay in publication has its up points.

Then there's music and me.

My friend, Lou Lala, has been making some truly nice music, writing some really good rock-&-roll songs, and has most of a CD's-worth of recording done -- this being the music I wrote of wanting to use in my movie. I have been pining some lately to jump back in that swimming pool, too, in part because of Lou's work. I have a sort of sensory deprivation from not having made any original music for such a very long time. It was February of 1990, at Lou's house in fact, where I laid down most, but not all, of the tracks for a song: multiple layers of bass work and -- in Harry Nilsson fashion -- harmony back vocals of my own voice. Since then, the closest I have come to musical work is slightly revising a set of my lyrics to use as the epilogue for my first novel. I am using my songs as those written by the protagonist of my novel series.

Of course, I have performed as a singer twice in the last few months: as a balladeer with Chris Shea in The Diviners and as Godfather Drosselmeier in Nut Cracker. However, though "How Tedious and Tasteless" (The Diviners) is a fabulous song to sing, and a right worthy challenge to accomplish, none of this is the music I love to sing the most, that being rock, pop and jazzy styles. So I am yearning to be active in the music art form again, too.

And there is this movie project I'd like to get off the ground with no terribly clear idea yet how that is going to happen. That, however, is simply a detail or two that needs working out when the time comes.

Too many passions and too much gusto to do it all RIGHT NOW!

I am apt to sometimes get a little stressed.

Went home from work Monday with what I am sure was a stress headache. Would have tried to get something done during this downtime from work, but: headache, sleep, you know.

What I know is I need to wear all these things -- these agendas I set and rarely meet -- as a looser garment. I am, after all, the one who sets these agendas that sometimes daunt me. I really don't want to cut into the ambitions, either. I just need to lay myself back a little better.

There is, too, the gym, which I usually try to get to six times a week: cardiovascular on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; weights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. That happens except for when it doesn't. But, it is great stress reducer, and good for my self image. It's not the results that I mean are good for my self image, it's the action. I feel good about being a gym guy. It's more-or-less a crude sort of meditation. I also must admit I have not been doing much true meditation lately, either. It may not be a bad idea to bring that back in the routine along with a better appearance ratio at the gym.

I guess I also ought to start thinking about picking up my apartment

To be honest, I sometimes do stress management well. During some periods it can even be "I often do." I think I've been in this, what do I call it, a minor funk? I think it was the result of my little revelation this weekend; you know, the blow to my ego I suffered from watching the videos of my monologue performances. I'm a little ticked that I haven't gotten much better, that I am not farther along with my skill. I had been feeling like, thinking that, I was coming right underneath the line of "Very Good." I see it more now at "Okay -- but needs much improvement." And I am frustrated by it.

That I am back into the craft of acting is pleasing to me. I actually have a certain delight even that I am willing to be critical of my own progress -- it's important to me that I am serious about this. Yes, I am happy to be acting again, but, you'd better believe that I regret greatly that I don't have several decades of work under my belt, that I have not grown into an excellent veteran actor who sometimes maybe even has earned the right to be called brilliant.

I strive to be brilliant at this. And I am disheartened that I am even farther away than I had thought. But, by god, I know which way the mountain lies and I got my hiking boots on.

HOW TO WRITE A MOVIE (?): Speaking of the movie project, I am averaging about a scene a day (sometimes less) in terms of the shooting script. I also am not allowing myself to kill ideas for shots when I know I may not have the means to achieve them.

For instance, there is a type of shot known as the shuttle. Shuttle simply means that the camera is moved during the shot. Simple term, but not always a simple accomplishment. If the camera operator is top notch, it can be done with a shoulder mount; but, he or she better be really good -- a smooth camera motion while on the shoulder is hard to achieve. It's more reliable to mount the camera on a tri-pod, then mount that on a moving platform, which usually needs to be on a track, the whole devise tempered for shock adsorption. There may be a way to achieve that on a modest budget, but, I am not aware of the resource at this moment. I am hopeful I can discover the resource, so, I am writing the shuttle shots in when I think that's the best shot -- with a mind on how to shoot otherwise.

GEARING UP FOR THE AN ACT OF THE IMAGINATION AUDITIONS: The auditions are about a week-and-a-half from now. I am looking at the script a bit more and will start working on the script. The director has encouraged prepared monologues, so I will be rehearsing some as well. Don't know if I am working up something new or going with one I have already used. I have an inquiry into the director as to whether he would want one with a British character (since those in the play are), but, I have not received a response yet.

I already have expressed concern that I may not work as the type he's looking for, in terms of age. That isn't going to keep me from the auditions, however.

MISCELLANIUOS:

I am considering writing some monologues for audition purposes, too. In fact there's a short one in my screenplay that might work well. I don't know if this is a frowned upon thing or not. Going to ask around.

At this point I feel safe assuming I am not getting a callback for the Paper Dolls movie. Though I still feel reluctant to think about dipping into my vacation time, yet.

Have bought a ticket to see Natasha Randall and Craig Roberts in Iris this coming Saturday, in Cincinnati.

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I also must give a warm nod to the performances of Mikhail Roberts (no relation to Craig) -- whose mother sat next to me at the show -- for his work as the seventeen-year-old Rick; Matthew A. Pyle also was good as Nick, who was Iris' boyfriend, among other things. And, for her acting debut, Embrya deShango did nice work as Iris' therapist, Hallie.

As for the story of the play, let's just say I doubt there will ever be a film version shown on The Disney Channel.

I actually will see both Tosha and Craig later today, as I am going to a reader's theatre performance that will feature a one act play written by Bob Garvin, whom I met via Tosha. It will be at the production offices owned by John-Michael Lander.

MOVIE PROJECT: I can say that I have officially moved into a new phase of the pre-production. Yesterday I took my mini-DV camcorder and shot some interior and exterior footage on campus at Wright State University as location scouting. I'll be doing more on campus, probably next weekend.

I am making progress on the shooting script, as well. It's slow but productive.

MORE PREP FOR AN ACT OF THE IMAGINATION AUDITION: Have begun in earnest the out-loud practice/study of the lines, and will do so as soon as I finish this and pack up my lap top*. Strolled around the pond at Yellow Springs Park (see a picture [393 kb]) and got through about the first eight pages of dialogue. I then went to a favorite spot at Glen Helen Park (see a picture [429 kb]). I feel okay about my readings, but, I think I will withhold final judgement until I have videotaped myself and watched that. I am sure I have a good handle on the English accent -- least the educated one for the main character Arthur. I need to make it more middle class for Sgt. Burchitt. I will accept that role if offered, but, I would rather have the lead, of course.

I know that Craig is auditioning for the son, Simon.

*RIGHT NOW, I'M SITTING AT ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPOTS TO SIT AND COMPOSE. A BEND IN THE LITTLE MIAMI RIVER AT JOHN BRYAN STATE PARK (SEE A PICTURE [505 kb]).

By the way, none of these nature shots are recent.

INTERESTING SHORT STORY IN THE WORKS: I have been taking breaks from the shooting script to work on a new short story. The first I've started in a while. I'm only a little ways into it, but, so far it has my attention. Of course, it's new to me, so that is not an extraordinary reaction for me to have.

By-the-way, again, if you haven't visited the site proper, I posted one of my stories in the Spring 2005 Literary Update. A story called "The Prophecy of Your Birthday." It was originally published in The Rockford Review, vol.XXII: no.3 (Autumn, 2003).

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THE ONE ACT PLAY READING OF CHOICES BY BOB GARVIN: Attended the reading of Bob's one act, Choices, and liked the script. Good verisimilitude to the story line and well-written dialogue. It's a lovely vignette, at the moment, but many at the reading suggested it could be a full-length play and I agree. It is ripe with dramatic and humorous possibilities. And it's about love -- can't go wrong there.

I must say the three men who did the dramatic reading did a good job. Richard Young, who is on the Guild board, read. An actor I newly met, Chuck Ramsey, and one I have seen around but never officially met, Aaron Skira, were the other two. Lisa Sadai -- Guild board and actor -- read the narratives.

Another one act, The Old Flame, by Montgomery Holland was read, too. Cherie Cooper, whom I saw in The Laramie Project at The Dayton Playhouse, was one of the readers. She sang about half of the pop song "Close To You," and I must say she has a wonderful voice. Chuck Ramsey pulled double-duty and read a character in The Old Flame, too. Lisa read the narrative for this, too. The other actors were Nathan Webber, Tyler Davis, and Kristen Sando. The Old Flame was nice work, too, and the actors did well. Cherie, by-the-way, is directing Godspell at Dayton Playhouse. That opens in a few weeks.

FEEDBACK ON MY SCREENPLAY: Got some good input from Tosha about my screenplay, too. First, she seems to think the running time will be closer to fifteen minutes, rather than the thirty that I am guessing. I'm going to have to sit with it and try to read it in real-time, allowing for the actual timing of action, and see. I think she may be right that it's not quite thirty, but, I still would guess it's longer than fifteen.

Beyond that there is a fuller exploration of one relationship that she has suggested and I believe it merits a hard look.

So I may be dropping back from the shooting script for a spell to add in or change some of the screenplay, first.

Tosha had lots of good things to say about the story, which is always gratifying to a writer.

EVENING ADDITION TO THE DAY'S ENTRY

HUMAN RACE THEATRE GENERAL AUDITIONS: I noted today that the general auditions for the new season are in just about a month. The Race being the Equity theatre in town. Thing is, after my little self scrutiny over the weekend I am back to where I was a few months ago. I may wait until I've been cast in a few more roles before I audition there. I still am seriously considering the general audition at The Rising Phoenix, which is in July -- that being one of the other close by professional theaters. Ya'll remember my non-casting in Blithe Spirit, there?

There's also La Comedia Dinner Theatre in nearby Springboro. But, as some of you -- (the fraction of a handful of you) -- who have read earlier entries may know, I am not usually enthused about musicals, and that is what La Comedia does. But, it is a professional gig and that is a good thing for my résumé. They are doing Jesus Christ Super Star in the fall. I could be Pontius Pilate. Clearly too old for Jesus or Judas. "Pilate's Dream" and "Trial Before Pilate" are both interesting songs and in my range.

BRUCE CROMER IN WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINA WOLFE: Local actor Bruce Cromer will be George in Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival in May. I have every intention of going to see him. I missed him twice at The Race, in the last few months.

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I have decided to extend perhaps two scenes to better look at one relationship -- as was suggested to me by Tosha Randall -- and to address another issue left a little too opaque. I can't imagine these additions will add many more minutes.

There are, by-the-way, currently twenty-one scenes, though I may add one more short one.

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Grabbed some plays by British playwrights to go monologue hunting for Monday and Tuesday: John Arden (Serjeant Musgrave's Dance), Noel Coward (Brief Encounter and Still Life), Tom Stoppard (Arcadia, Dalliance, A Separate Peace, and Undiscovered Country). May grab some more before the weekend.

As for that general audition at The Human Race, I have gone ahead and asked for that day (May 16) off, too. Might cancel it though, but, we'll see. Saw at the The Rising Phoenix web site that the general auditions there are June 18 and 19. I hope I have to set an early appointment on the 18th -- due to the 4:00 call for the 5:00 curtain of An Act of the Imagination.

PAUL McCARTNEY WILL KEEP ME FROM OTHER AUDITIONS: This Friday, I will be buying tickets for the Saturday, Oct 22 Paul McCartney concert in Columbus, Ohio. That means I will not even attempt to be in the second Guild play next season, as that will be the second Saturday of that show's run. The play will end around 7:30. Paul will take the stage about 8:00, over an hour east of the theatre. I have no plans to be in Dayton at 7:30 that night. Ultimately, however, though I'm not ready to say what play it is -- I should not jump the official announcement of the season -- I will say that I don't really think there's a role for me in that play, anyway.

This would also count out an audition for Jesus Christ Superstar at La Comedia Dinner Theatre because there is an 8:00 show on Oct 22. I say "would" because I've just been to the La Comedia web site and realize that there are Wednesday and Thursday matinee performances, and the shows run ten weeks, so, unless I am really willing to burn up some vacation time, La Comedia is out as long as I have a day job.

I would even stay away from The Race and Rising Phoenix for Paul's concert. One may question my sincerity as a "serious" actor, in light of this. Hey, Paul is Paul, and I can't allow myself to not see him. I might think about a road trip for another show, but the friggin' $197 per ticket for a good seat is already far more than I ought to pay (but I will). A road trip, with a possible overnight -- even if in a cheap motel -- and possibly another vacation day, is beyond the expense I can do.

Clearly, I'm a big Macca fan. Something extraordinary will have to be in the works for me to not go see him in concert. Even at the extortionary ticket price -- paid $250 for one during his 2002 U.S. tour. That's one reason the bloke is a billionaire, because of fools like me!

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Yeah, I was wrong.

Got an email this morning from the casting director. I have a callback in Mason, Ohio, probably at or near King's Island, on Saturday, May 7.

So, I have gone from all day off this coming Monday, and, in late; out early from work on Tuesday, to, no gym after work either day, using that time to prep for Monday and Tuesday auditions for An Act of the Imagination. Of course, I'll do lots of prep work between now and then, including much of the weekend.

Now I'm back to banking vacation leave for the principle photography of Paper Dolls -- which is to be starting around mid-August or so. As of my August 5 paycheck, I'll have 71.96 hours of vacation: just shy of two weeks. That, if I use none between now and then. I haven't a clue at this point how much I would need if cast -- but, you know, "safe side" and all that.

Let me completely expose my neophyte status in all its glory by saying I am very pumped that I would get the callback. I was relatively sure the whole screen test was purely an exercise for me. Still, I know I am only a little closer to being cast; I still need to be wise enough to know that odds still are against me. But, geez, I got a callback. I had not expected this!

The appointment will be officially set and sides will be emailed to me, probably later today.

*FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, "SIDES" ARE EXCERPTED PAGES FROM A FULL SCRIPT -- USED IN AUDUTIONS.

Now I am back to feeling a little better about my acting, if only cautiously so.

PROGRESS ON THE SLIGHT RE-WRITE OF MY SCREENPLAY: I'm in the midst of adding onto a scene in the script and will add one more short scene, not long after the one I'm in now. I think this will address the problems discussed a few entries ago.

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I also mis-spoke, yesterday, when I said the callback audition will be in Mason, Ohio, near King's Island; actually, it will be in Madison, Ohio, on Lake Erie, the opposite side of the state. I am South West, Madison is in the North East corner. I have arranged to drive up Friday afternoon and stay the night with a friend who lives close to Youngstown. Probably will be about an hour drive from his place to the audition, but, that's better than a five-hour drive right before I audition.

RE-WRITE OF MY SCREENPLAY: I think it's done, though I haven't re-timed the scene with additional dialogue, nor timed the new scene. Back to the shooting script, where I have already incorporated the re-write, even if I haven't put in the shot set-ups for those scenes, yet.

ODDS & SODS:

Got a floor seat for the McCartney show -- for those who care. No, not toward the front, but, not in the back, either. Kind of mid-ways back, in the center.

Going to be the theatre host for Long Day's Journey into Night, both tomorrow night and Sunday, May 1.

Going to see Jake's Women next Friday, at Brookville Community Theater. The next night, I am using my Dayton Theatre Guild season ticket to be an audience member for LDJIN. Haven't bought my ticket to see Bruce Cromer in Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival in May, yet. But I still have them plans. Need to plan for Godspell coming up at The Dayton Playhouse, too. And there are some others I'd like to get to.

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I actually am, at this very moment I write this, taking a break from memorizing the text, letting what I've acquired so far settle in, assimilate, germinate a little before I finish the process. I've actually taken catnaps before while in this process; I find it helpful, especially when I am in information overload status. Today I was starting to stumble over the parts which I had just previously been sailing through -- that indicated: "Break Time."

LOCATION SCOUT FOOTAGE I SHOT LAST WEEKEND FOR MY MOVIE PROJECT: (It's a couple hours later, and I'm taking another break) -- Yesterday morning I took a good look at the footage I shot the week before on campus at Wright State. I shot it in letterbox screen -- that's how I plan to shoot the movie. The main location looks as good as I expected it would. The other location I shot looks good, too. There will be some hot spot problems (meaning places with a lot of white light glare) but I am hoping between myself, a good director of photography, and a good high-end camera, that issue can be dealt with.

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT "SOUNDED" GOOD LAST NIGHT: As I said I would be, I was the theatre host for last night's performance of LDJIN at the Guild. I purposefully tried not to watch it, and only "saw" what amounts to less than a minute of it. I want to experience it as an audience member next Saturday as freshly as possible. But, I heard it -- and it "sounds" good. Though I did occupy myself with duties and such to keep me from attending too carefully to the performance. I know the audience was impressed.

APR 25 ADDENDUM: One of the WriteGallery regulars got nit-picky on me so now I have to clarify; The audience was impressed with the performances of the actors, not with the fact that I had occupied my time. Geez!

WILL MY CAR MAKE IT TO LAKE ERIE FOR THE PAPER DOLLS callback?: I was out and about earlier today running errands, including picking up a headshot for the audition tomorrow, and I noticed a wabble in the front right wheel of my car. I have doubts about a 250 mile trip. I'll have it looked at next Saturday morning, but, there's a real chance I'll be renting a car for the trip to the callback audition.

And I just got that damned credit card down to zero balance, and wanted to keep it there for a while. Well, either way, repair or rental, I'm looking at likely no less than $200.

Well, I'm off to rehearse (and video tape) my Stoppard monologue, as well as further study the script for An Act.... First, I'll get into the clothes I plan to wear -- a suit -- as well as gray my moustache and hair, to get me into the mid-fifties. (Or should that be, under the circumstances: "grey") I want to see what the effect is of the whole.

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We were told by the producer that they knew what we could do and they didn't need to see any more. But, well, the cynic in me thinks perhaps that was just politeness. Yes, I think the old, "And It's On To The Next Audition" will soon be posted here.

I KNOW HOW I'M GETTING TO CLEVELAND: Speaking of the "next" audition, I checked on the cost to rent a car for the weekend, when I go to the Paper Dolls callback, up by Cleveland. After tax is tacked on, it'll still be under $40. My car's gettin' old. Even without the wobbling wheel, it's worth forty bucks to leave it at home and spare it the 500-mile round trip.

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JAKE'S WOMEN: Off to see this tonight at Brookville Community Theater. Looking forward to it.

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT REVIEWS: Both Dayton Daily News and Dayton City Paper have reviewed LDJIN. Russell Florence Jr. (DCP) gave the show a mixed review. I haven't seen all of Terry Morris' (DDN), but from what the start of the article suggests, it's more positive. I'll see the play tomorrow night.

K.L. THE NOVELIST: Just sent another batch of query letters regarding my finished novel to literary agencies.

SCREENPLAY: Few more tweaks to the new scenes.

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Shocking, shocking..........just shocking. Actually, I have heard an unofficial cast list and it sounds like a good one.

I have decided I am a weird guy (I think a few others have already concluded that). I have lately been having this doubt about my acting abilities; but, now that I know for absolutely sure I did not get cast as Arthur, I've been thinking about how well I would have done in the role. Yeah, now that I don't have to deliver....

Well, the guy whom I've heard is cast as Arthur will do a great job.

JAKE'S WOMEN: Spent a nice evening last night at Brookville Community Theater seeing Jake's Women. As I said before, I have never seen Alex Carmichal on stage before but I did see him audition for The Diviners. I knew from there he's a good actor and he reaffirmed that last night as Jake. I also very much enjoyed Becky Lamb as Jake's sister Karen. This must be about the fourth time I've seen Becky on stage and I have always liked her work. Heather Gorby -- Sheila -- is a young lady I've seen around the theatre community but finally saw perform here, and I much enjoyed her performance. Heather also appears in the Dale Grow short, Coming Up for Air, which I auditioned for the end of last year. I believe Ms. Gorby's in a few films.

The shrink, Edith, was done well by Cheryl Mellen, another lady I have seen around the theatre community but finally saw on stage. The rest of the cast were all ladies new to me: leading lady Elena M. Monigold (Jake's wife Karen), Marissa Phillips (Jake's daughter, Molly, at 12) -- though she did audition the same night that I did for this play, Jodi Cruea (Molly at 21), and Elisabeth Anne Wenzel (Jake's dead wife and Molly's mom, Julie).

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT REVIEW IN THE DDN: I got to see the whole Dayton Daily News review, by Terry Morris, and it is indeed a good review, much more evenly praising than the Dayton City Paper review was. Well, I experience the show tonight.

GEARING FOR PAPER DOLLS: The callback audition is one week away. So, it's learn-the-pages time.

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It was top-rate performances from the cast. Kathleen Cleary gave a wonderful portrayal of the morphine addicted Mary Tyrone, whose moods could abruptly alter by great degrees in an instant. Greg Smith's vulnerable James Tyrone was quite moving to me. His Act III monologue was even more effective than when he read it in auditions; and it was very impressive then (may have even won him the part).

Philip Smyth and Chris Shea were damn fine as, respectively, Edmund Tyrone and Jamie Tyrone (the role I wanted). Amber Brandt was perfect for the role of Cathleen, the Irish servant (and her Dublin accent was right on the money).

Today, I am again the theatre host. This time I'll watch the performance, no longer worried about spoiling my audience experience.

SORDID LIVES -- BACK WITH A VENGENCE!: The show is coming back the second and third week of July 2005. Don't know if I'm going to be Mama or not. I have made it known I would be able to be back and I assume I will be the stage manager if not also Mama. There is an idea floated out there about Mama in each performance, which I don't think I ought share here -- since it is at present, just talk.

THE 2005/06 SEASON AT THE GUILD: I noticed last night that the new season is included on an insert in the LDJIN program; that is certainly an official announcement. So now I'll talk about the shows from next year I have an interest in, as an actor.

First up is Gross Indecency: the Three Trails of Oscar Wilde by Moises Kaufman (Sep 2-18). It can be played with nine actors (and perhaps a creative director could stretch it more). With the possible exception of Queen Victoria, it's an all-male cast. The auditions are July 11 & 12. I started reading it, but things have interrupted me. I am interested as it has looked good so far. Of course, if a miracle happens and I am cast in Paper Dolls there could be a conflict with rehearsals. Again, I go back to that bit about this being the sort of problem I'd be thrilled to have: shooting a professional movie and needing a schedule allowance for the fine stage play I have been cast in.

Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan is next (Oct 14-30). I don't think there's a role for me in this, but, that wouldn't matter anyway because this is the one that has a performance the same day Paul McCartney is in Columbus, Ohio. And so shall I be in Columbus. I might offer up to be the producer for this show -- and do a little better job of it than whatever the heck it was I did for Grace & Glorie.

The third show is Belles by Mark Dunn (Nov 25-Dec 11). This is an all-female cast, so I know I am not in the running for this one. There's no Mama role in this one. Again, unless I am cast in a play at another theatre, I could either produce or otherwise be crew for this.

2006 begins with Jerry Sterner's Other People's Money (Jan 13-29). I haven't read it yet, but have been told there is a role or two I could pull off. This one auditions November 28 & 29.

The next 2006 slot has one I am much interested in: I Never Sang For My Father by Robert Anderson (Mar 3-19). I've read this one and I can really see myself in the role of Gene. We won't discuss that I read this and imagined myself in the role before my critical reassessment of my acting via tapes of my monologues. Yeah, well, auditions are January 16 & 17, and I'm going anyway.

The season ends with Bright Ideas, a dark comedy by Eric Coble (Apr 28-May 14). I havent read it yet, but have had a few folk run it by me and it seems to be a comedy along the lines of To Die For or Mean Girls, in mood if not in plot. Don't have a clue yet if there's a part for me.

OTHER AUDITIONS: I do plan on doing the general audition for the 2005/06 season at The Rising Phoenix, which will be June 18 & 19. I, of course, don't need to worry about an early slot on Saturday June 18 as my only time to be there, since I am not cast in An Act of the imagination.

I've decided to wait until, at least, the Spring 2006 general auditions to try-out for The Human Race Theatre Company. As impatient as I am to push forward, I want to have honed some skill to a proper level for whatever I am trying to do.

Actually, I shift back-and-forth on this acting ability stuff. It may be more that I want to have a better self confidence before I go after an audition at The Race. Yet, I don't seem to feel this trepidation about the Paper Dolls callback. Then, the other thing there is, how often will I get an opportunity to audition for a professional film while living in the Dayton area? The chances do come around, but, not with great regularity. So I just can't walk past the Paper Dolls door rather than walking through it.

I may also be making a bigger deal out of The Race than I ought to. But, I still think I want to have more experience back on stage before I shoot for The Race. Think about it, I've only had two real roles with lines and an active drive to the story line since I've come back: Johnny Pateen in The Cripple of Inishmaan and Godfather Drosselmeier in Nut Cracker. Not that the other two count for nothing, especially the Balladeer in The Diviners. It's a thin layer of new stage experience though, and much less than I'd wished for by this time in my "return."

I am, of course, aware I'm nowhere close to alone in this pining for more roles on stage. There are many fine actors in the area, hell, everywhere, who want more time on stage than they're getting -- not a small minority of them more deserving to be there than me. So, no sense bitching, but, no sense lying about my desires, either.

As for other audition opportunities, I am trying to learn of more information resources and have a few now. There were a couple short student film opportunities I've recently been made aware of. They are Wright State University film school student films. I contacted both producers with queries about more information but neither ever responded. Of course, I'll also start scoping out the rest of the Dayton area theaters for their 05/06 seasons.

THIS'S & THATS:

For the rest of the week, I will concentrate more on the sides for next Saturday's Paper Dolls callback, than anything else. Though there's a good chance my lap top will open at lunch everyday and one document or another dealing with my own movie project will be up, with a heavy probability it'll be the shooting script. I doubt I'll be doing the in bed by 8:00, up at 4:00 routine this week. If I do, that early morning slot will be for Paper Dolls.

My new short story has been neglected the past week or so, but, you know, that's not always a bad thing. When I get back to it, it'll be with a fresh perspective on what has already been done and the potential for where it can go.

Still have to sometime soon secure a reservation for Bruce Cromer in Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. I also plan to see Bradley Kasch and Lisa Sadai in The Glass Menagerie coming up at Sinclair Community College, along with the other forthcoming productions I have recently mentioned.

The television stays off when I get home, too. Don't know if every lunch time will be script study, but, my evenings will be. And, if not tonight, then tomorrow, that dreaded DV camcorder will be taking its shots at me.

Now that I think about it, tomorrow night I have a Guild board meeting, so the evening rehearsal will be a little short. Hell, I'd even go early and use Guild space, but, An Act of the Imagination is likely in rehearsal. So, to make up for the lost time, I will again have Paper Dolls for lunch tomorrow.

I'm gearing up for it. I have not yet video taped myself. I have shied away from that. Will bite the bullet and do so this evening. In fact, save for a likely haircut after work, my evening is all about the three pages of script (yeah, it's three, not the two as I'd earlier stated).

It's not like I'm going to go read for a major role in a big-budget movie. The role is most likely three minutes on screen in an independent movie that probably will not get anything close wide distribution. For a freshman like me, however, this is a pretty big thing. It is a professional screen gig, even if I shouldn't be planning to quit my paycheck job based on the check I'd get if cast.

Bytheway, the haircut is because I had just gotten one only days before the screen test, and I figure a hefty amount of why I was chosen for a callback was the look the director, et al, saw -- so, I ought to go back looking the same.

I also am trying to give my character the same persona as the "Jake" I did for the screen test. Seems Mark Archer saw something like what he had in mind for the doctor.

Some of the language in the script seemed a bit awkward at first, but, now that I am off-book (or "off page") I have been able to smooth it out. There also are two cases of misuse of the word "whom," which I am correcting because it's clearly not Archer's intention to have the doctor misappropriate them. The character description says specifically that the doctor is "well-spoken." Oh, and I'm not going to be stupid or arrogant enough to say, (insert David Lettermen's dumb-guy voice here): "Um, I corrected your grammar in this part." I'm just gonna go in there and be a well-spoken doctor.

IMPATIENCE GIVES ME SECOND THOUGHTS: So I've been going through this:

Jesus, K.L., you're turning forty-seven in less than six weeks. Maybe a guy pushing fifty needs to say, "Screw your self doubt! If you know you CAN be a good enough actor to be on the Race stage, then force yourself to get there. Do the damn audition this year! Stop being a coward, fortheluvapete.

Another part of me says I am being wise to hold off until I've put more time in on stage, cultivated and sharpened my skills.

Who knows.

The calls for the May 16 appointment are accepted starting 10:00 tomorrow morning. 51% chance I won't make the call. I'm sure what I see on tape tonight will influence me greatly, one way or the other.

Yes, I taped myself doing the lines from the audition script last night. No, I didn't like what I saw much. It got okay toward the end, but, I really am far too animated. It's a "performance" thing, too. I don't do it near as much when I am not "acting."

I also lack much presence, in my opinion. Maybe I have presence, but it looks different to me than what I expect, so I can't see it.

I've rented my "vehicle" to take the trip. I say it that way because they did not have the economy class car I had reserved, when I showed up; all they had was a 4-wheel drive Dodge Ram. Bytheway, the "under $40" does not include damage insurance. It's still about $75 for the weekend -- not including the King's ransom in gas I'll be shelling out -- which is still less than I had originally expected; the $75, not the gas hog wallet sifting part.

I doubt that I post to the blog while up there. I will be writing to it and an account will be here by sometime Monday, I'd be pretty sure of that.

IMPATIENCE LOST THE BATTLE: Based on my lack of great satisfaction with what I did on tape last night, I have allowed 10 a.m. to come and go, this morning, without making a call to set an appointment for The Human Race Theatre Company 05/06 general auditions; I am passing, this year. I just don't believe I am ready, yet. I'm a little frustrated that I'm not ready, too.

Here's a tip: if you are ever on I-70 driving through Columbus, Ohio, don't use the 270 bypass. The theory is that it will save you time and aggravation by allowing you to escape I-70 through the Downtown area. I have never once, that I can remember, experienced 270 as a good idea. Friday night it added an hour to my trip. Granted, it was a traffic jam due to a wreck, but it seems to always be something like that. I did spend the time going over the Paper Dolls lines.

Of course, most of the four-hour trip (well, five, Friday), was spent on the lines. I'd do the lines for a few minutes, then I'd listen to one of the two CD's I brought (1 or the first half of The White Album, both being The Beatles); or I'd listen to the radio; or I'd just be quiet for a while.

I arrived at my friend Denny's, in Leavittsburg, Ohio, a little after 9 p.m. Denny Lawrence, as an aside, is one of my life mentors. He is, in most ways, one of the wisest people I know. He's a classic trouble maker -- meaning that not only is he willing to point out that the emperor has no clothes, he believes it a shirking of public responsibility by anyone who can see that emperor has no clothes yet says nothing. One of the greatest things he ever taught me is that the trial and error of "doing" is far more effective than sitting down and "thinking out" the perfect plan before moving into action. Close to that: "Ninety percent of life is showing up"; and, a quote I have at times tacked onto my email signature: "You don't have to build a mansion to get out of the rain." It seems fitting that I spent the night at his place before I went on my first callback for a professional movie audition. In some ways, Denny can be directly credited with the fact that I am doing all this.

I didn't rehearse the lines at all Friday evening. I visited with Denny, then around midnight or 1 a.m. I went to bed. I did go over the lines in my head before I went to sleep, and quite purposefully, to try and make them what my mind would be centered on during REM sleep. I do know that I more-or-less had dreams related to the audition and the script, but, I have only the vaguest remembrance.

The alarm was set for 8:00, but I woke up at 6:55. So, you know, I just went ahead and got up, got myself ready and dressed in my audition suit: black slacks, as close to a conservative tie as I could find in my collection (loosened a little), white shirt with the top button undone, for the white doctor's coat I used a larger white shirt made of thicker cotton. My shoes were black dress. I was supposed to be a surgeon who just came from the operating room, so technically I'd be in greens or grays, but, I was just going for the idea of dressing as the character, to at least look like a doctor, if not exactly like one who just came out of surgery.

Stills of me, dressed as the doctor, from the Thursday, May 5 rehearsal video.

Denny's property is on a little river -- which I didn't get the name of. I went to the bank and rehearsed the lines for a little while, maybe twenty to thirty minutes or so. There's some business with a handkerchief -- the doctor wiping sweat from his forehead -- and I wanted to get that cued in correctly from the script. I also wanted to directly attack this "over-animation" I take issue with in my performances.

My audition appointment was at 11:40. Allowing for Madison to be an estimated hour from Leavittsburg, and hedging my bet against possible traffic delays or getting lost, I left a little after 9 a.m. I also like to get to auditions early so I can get a little more relaxed in the location and the space, especially when it's a new place to me.

There were no travel hitches and it was probably around a fifty-minute trip. I arrived in Madison just about 10 a.m. It was a lovely drive, too. There's a lot of really lovely forestry in North East Ohio. Pretty much it was all rural, the entire way. And Madison is a small town, probably incorporated as a village, but that's just a guess on my part.

The audition was at the Madison Combined Martial Arts center. I had wondered about why it would be there. The answer is that the establishment is one of several such owned by the co-producer of Paper Dolls, Richard Fike. Fike, as well as a former special agent for the U.S. Department of Defense, is a stunt coordinator and fight choreographer, and has worked in film for seventeen years. A partial credit listing is in the films Out of the Black, A Better Way to Die, The Cut Off, and Best of the Best III. And, obviously, he's a martial arts specialist.

Mark Archer, who is directing and producing the movie (and as I've mentioned, wrote the screenplay) produced the critically acclaimed 1997 independent movie, In the Company of Men, which won a Film Makers Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival.

A few things that I found out from Fike: Paper Dolls is part of a trilogy. Richard (Rick) said that even if Mark does not cast someone he's auditioned for Paper Dolls, he does like to draw from a pool of actors he's seen in the past and had interest in. So he could contact someone later, for another project even if the actor wasn't used in the current one. Archer has other projects on the planning board, too.

There were several young ladies from the Dayton area at the callback. Two of them were sisters who were in the production of Trojan Women I saw in February, Tierney Deaton (Hecuba in TW) and her sister Lauren (Fayruz in TW). Only Tierney was auditioning, Lauren was along as moral support. There was also a young lady named Adrienne, who actually lives rather close to me, and is involved with a Dayton area, interactive dinner theatre troupe. It's a Creek wedding sort of a thing, and I feel like a big ol' doofus because I can't remember the exact name and I use to see casting calls for it all the time. To make me feel like an even goofier doofus, I gave the young lady my card, but, still can't bring the exact name of the production to mind!! There was also another young lady, accompanied by her father, from Dayton, and one who's going to school south east of Dayton at Ohio University -- their names I did not catch.

Madison's a nice little village and I walked around, going over my lines and enjoying the small town ambience. There was a lovely little coffee shop right next to the martial arts center and the brownie cake I ate for breakfast from there was good comfort food.

As for the actual audition. I did the scene with an actor named John Woodruff, who is already cast in the movie. How did I do? Well, I don't feel like it was disastrous, but, I didn't leave feeling like I killed, either. I am, naturally, concerned about this frantic energy thing, and am afraid I did not control it well. Archer did direct me to be a little more deliberate as the doctor and I am not too sure I gave him what he wanted that second time. I guess we will see, either by my being contacted again for another audition or an offer of the role, or, by the lack of any contact -- sending another message, altogether.

One thing I do know is that if cast, it would probably not take up more than six days of my time, and some of that might be over a weekend, so, I am well covered in vacation time if an odd twist of happenstance occurs and Mr. Archer has a different opinion than I about my audition.

Well, here's hoping. What the hell. I may not feel any real sense confidence that I'll get cast. But, by god, I showed up!

And it drank a lot of gas between South-West Ohio to North-East Ohio and back. I spent a total of just more than $80 on gas. I had planned on perhaps $35 or so.

I did complain about the disparity today when I dropped Goliath off. They took a day's rental, about $27, off my charge. That's close enough to fair compensation that they have not lost my business. I include this only because you'd better believe I'd post here if they had not attempted to make things right. So, fair is fair.

MUSIC FOR MY MOVIE: First off. Lou Lala and his band of merry players have begun recording two songs especially for my movie. I still will have their whole cannon to chose from, but I like that he's chosen these two with the scenes in mind.

And despite that I have this hankering to write a new song for the closing credits, I have realized that I wrote one about ten to twelve years ago that is perfect. It will be a capella, and there is a heavy probability that I will have a female vocalist in the lead melody position. I even have a particular woman in mind. Like the cast, however, I will not approach her until this production has some wheels on it.

AUDITIONS FOR FUTUREFEST AT THE DAYTON PLAYHOUSE: Every year The Dayton Playhouse hosts a summer production of new plays, which have never been staged before. Some of these will be staged, others will just be done as dramatic readings. Each play gets one performance over the festival weekend.

This year the FutureFest is in July, the weekend right after the Guild revival of Sordid Live's closes. I was asked recently if I was going to audition for FutureFest -- by Saul Caplan, as a matter of fact. My first instinct was that I have an allegiance to Sordid Lives, as the stage manager if not as Mama. But, several folk have pointed out that either role can be easily taken on by someone else. SL director, Greg Smith, thinks there may not even be a big time conflict as The FF plays don't rehearse every night. I would be concerned as the SL stage manager about missing some tech rehearsals. I can't see how that couldn't happen.

Still, I have been urged to "go for it," and so I probably will. And, of course, though I haven't set the appointment, yet, I will do the general audition on June 18 or 19 at The Rising Phoenix.

CAST OF AN ACT OF THE IMAGINATION AT THE DAYTON THEATRE GUILD: Here is the official cast list for AAOTI. I have, in one way or another, worked with most of those cast. I know it will be a wonderful show, despite my absence from the stage.....(!!!!!!) -- and, please do read the good humored intention into the last half of that last sentenced that I mean to be there.

THE CAST IS:

Blake Senseman as Arthur Putnam
Barbara Coriell as Julia Putnam
Craig Roberts as Simon Putnam
Jim Lockwood as Det.-Sgt. Fred Burchitt
Sarah Gomes as Holly Adams
Wendi Michael as Brenda Simmons
Teresa Connair as Brooke

What the Dollar Baby project is about is that Stephen King sells new film makers the rights to make a movie from one of his short stories for $1 and a copy of the finished film. Here are links to a couple pages with unofficial information:

www.liljas-library.com/dollar.html
www.creature-corner.com/?type=news&id=74

SHOOTING SCRIPT FOR MY MOVIE: I am actually making good progress though it does not seem so. Of the twenty-two scenes I only am in Scene Five -- and I'm already at Shot Setup# 54. Though I'm not done with Scene Five, I seem to be averaging ten to fifteen shots per scene. I don't know if that's a norm or not, but, I can see how it makes for a long day for a few minutes of action in the finished product. It may be that I'll need to simplify later. Right now I'm going to include all the shots I want. When I get my DP, he or she will have an idea or two on the situation. At this rate I am looking at two-hundred to three-hundred shots for the whole thing.

PLAYS PLAYS AND MORE PLAYS: Tomorrow I see The Glass Menagerie, with Bradley Kasch and Lisa Sadai in the cast at Sinclair Community College. Saturday it's Godspell at The Dayton Playhouse. Sunday, May 22 I'll get to see Blithe Spirit for free at Rising Phoenix as I will usher there. Probably sometime else that weekend I'll see Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe at Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. And Sometime this month I ought to squeeze Cabaret, at Wright State University, in.

"Were you brilliant?" you ask.

Ehh! Who knows. Well, actually, I was not brilliant. Once again it certainly wasn't a train wreck, but, we'll see if the two gentlemen were greatly impressed or not.

SOMETHING TOTALLY UNRELATED TO MY ARTISTIC VENTURES: I have, on several occasions, mentioned an old high school friend, Jim Rittenhouse, AKA Alfie Doolittle in the 1974 Wilbur Wright High School production of My Fair Lady. Jim and his wife, Susan, adopted a young Chinese girl, whom they named Meredith. Without getting into the great details of the story, it became known that Meredith had a paternal twin sister, whom was also adopted by Americans. The sister was also named by her parents: Meredith. The newly released June 2005 issue of Good Housekeeping, with Goldie Hawn on the front cover, has a feature article about the two Meredith's and their families. I met Meredith Rittenhouse several weeks ago. She's a lovely, precocious little girl. Check out Jim's web page (www.marmotgraphics.com/jim/) for all the details of the fascinating story, which I think is ripe material for a cable movie on the likes of Lifetime or The Hallmark Channel, or some such.

*(ADDED LATER IN THE DAY)
ANOTHER FULL-LENGTH FEATURE OPPORTUNITY: Just saw at the web site for my own Dayton Theatre Guild, a casting call for psychological thriller, The Monster’s Mind, which will shoot "in and around the Miami Valley area from mid-July to early August." I have sent a query for info.

This was the first time I've had the privilege of seeing Lisa act; there was the stage direction narratives at the recent reading of one acts, but that's a different animal. I must say I was impressed -- she is a fine actor. Bradley, once again delivered a good performance. This is the second time I have seen Elizabeth on stage. The first time she had a few opportunities to shine as Nadira in the chorus of Trojan Women, and did; this time she had plenty of chance to shine and did so effectively. The scene between her (Laura) and fourth cast member Chaney M. Morrow (the gentleman caller, Jim) is executed perfectly between the two young actors with a lot of electricity and sexual tension. The pregnant silence just before Jim kisses Laura was magic. I guess you can tell I liked Chaney's work, too.

The play was directed by local actor Brian McKnight, whom I have seen on stage once, with Natasha Randall in Crimes of the Heart. He's a good actor and clearly a good director. Plus he's a major Beatles fan which spots him 60 out of 100 points before all other things are considered.

One of elements of the production which I assume is to Brian's credit, is that Laura had no perceptible limp or other manifestations of something to make her "crippled," despite that it is mentioned frequently. The idea I get from this can be either that her crippledness, if you will, is only a definition created by the crippling machinery of this sad family -- or that, being that the story is remembrance by an older Tom, he has edited out the physical manifestations. Either way, it is an interesting touch.

As already stated in an earlier entry, tonight it's Godspell at The Dayton Playhouse.

AUDITIONS FOR THE FULL-LENGTH FEATURE, PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER, THE MONSTER’S MIND: I've been in contact with the director, Brett Hatten and he's sent me a copy of the side between the two male leads. I have an interest in one of those characters. There may be problems that prevent me from even auditioning for that role, however. There certainly may be reason for Mr. Hatten to not consider me. It's the shooting schedule.

principle photography will be three weeks starting in mid July. Though he told me via email he does think anyone will be needed for more than twelve shooting days (each week being six days for a total of eighteen days). If he is shooting during the day on week days -- which is relatively likely -- I could not commit to a big role in the movie simply because I would not have enough vacation time from work. Plus, I really want to have some banked for the possible miracle that I get cast in Paper Dolls and need perhaps as much as few days in early September.

Hatten and I have not had the conversation about this yet, My hope is that he will tell me there are a lot of late afternoon and/or evening shoots. I can likely bring off half or partial vacation days, with an occasional whole day off. I will try again for a phone call today, to see where his temperature is on this.

I am not trying to be arrogant enough to think somehow I am a given in this lead role I have an eye on. It's more the idea I think I must have that: 1) don't expect to be cast -- but -- 2) look ahead at the landscape if you are cast; what needs to give in other areas, including other potential productions?

At this point I have not decided to not audition for the role. There, too, are other roles in the movie which may demand less of my schedule. I can't, however, abandon the opportunity to go after a lead role in a full-length feature, even if it is a low budget production. If there's a way to get this done, I want to find it.

The other side of that is, I can't walk away from Mark Archer's Paper Dolls project, either, despite that I would only have a few minutes screen time. This project has the potential of a big franchise with a major studio eventually behind it. And Archer is developing a television show. I can't afford to miss a chance to be on his radar. I suppose I already am to a certain degree. I'd still like to work with him just so I am a bigger blip on his screen.

Thing is, in a manner that I doubt is rare for many an actor, I want my cake and eat it too. I'd like to be involved in both these projects. And I'd love to at least feel like I have a shot at the lead role in Hatten's project.

I have a copy of the novella, The Monster's Mind, by A.J. Conley, on its way to me. I will research this regardless of whether I am going for the big role or not.

It was a fine ensemble cast. Roger Watson, whom I've worked with once (in Sordid Lives) did a strong vocal as John the Baptist on "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord." Out of a crowd of fine performances I was most impressed by James Roselli, who came relatively close to stealing the show, mostly with his versatile comic timing and antics. Stacy Emoff (Sordid Lives, again) gave her strong vocals to her "Stacy," who was really the Mary Magdalene character. And she had some wonderful comic moments. Gina L. Beck had her own musical moments with her soprano voice, as "Gina."

The adept cast of this entertaining musical is finished out with the talents of Tom Richard (Jesus), Stan Cole (Judas), Rachel Hering ("Rachel"), Cerelia Bizzell ("CB"), Kip Moore ("Kip"), and Nathan Weber ("Nathan"). The band was musical director Tom Larrick on keyboard, Chris Robinson (guitar), Abby Williams (bass), and Jerry Francis (drums).

By-the-way, Bruce Brown (on the board at The Dayton Theatre Guild) designed the really cool set that represents a section of Dayton known as The Oregon District -- a little strip close to downtown with bars, restaurants and shops. It's a happening spot on the weekends, especially in warmer weather.

CATCHING UP ON MISSED BUSINESS: I really didn't directly complement Saul Caplan's job as director of Jake's Women and feel that is an oversight on my part, because I think he did a great job. That goes for Mike Boyd's direction of Long Day's Journey Into Night, too. So, hats off to both.

I am looking hard at ways I can commit to the production schedule in a way that makes it not a waste of Hatten's time to even read me for the lead role I have my eye on. The issue is having enough vacation time to cover principle photography. And it's difficult -- nearly impossible -- to get time off without pay from my employer. As I've said before, it's not that I am assuming I am some kind of lock for that part, I just don't see sense in reading the role if I can not commit if cast. But, clearly I will go for him if I can.

The three weeks of production I previously mentioned will be eighteen production days (three six-day weeks). I suspected the shooting would be during the day time. My last email from Hatten confirms that.

My last hopes have to do with exact scheduling. First item is when morning call will be. If it is late enough, I can drop into work and give them some time then take vacation leave the rest of the day. If the call is late morning (say 10-11 a.m.) I can go into the office at 7 a.m. (which is my start time anyway) and work for two to three hours then come to the set.

Second, of course, is that weekend shoots are not a problem, whatsoever. In fact if the production week happens to be Saturday through Thursday (or something that has Sat/Sun as two of the six days), that can make it possible even with early morning calls, because I can do up to around thirty hours of vacation each week. And, Hatten has said even the principles will not be needed for more than twelve shooting days.

If there are both late morning calls and Sat/Sun in the mix, that's even better. But if either is there, I can likely commit. If neither of those are in the cards, I may still read for a supporting role that would take less shooting time -- say five to six total days.

Brett has emailed me back and said I should go ahead and audition and see what happens. I have ordered a copy of A.J. Conley's novella and should have it tomorrow. Thus, I can not only have a grip on the character I have my eye on, I can have a decent idea of the supporting roles, if I need such.

Now the rest of this text was originally composed by Dodie Lockwood (actor and the fund raising chair for the Guild's board). I have modified it only slightly, to suit the needs of the blog:

The event is a self-guided tour of downtown art galleries, condo’s and apartments. Restaurants will be open and entertainment will be scattered throughout the downtown area.

The Dayton Theatre Guild has agreed to provide entertainment -- "THEATRE KARAOKE" -- at the old Courthouse at Third & Main, which has just been newly restored. The Courthouse will be open for tours. We will be out front, weather permitting, or inside if necessary.

We will be reading from the 2005/06 season’s scripts and will take turns reading selected scenes (similar to auditions, but no pressure). We'll rotate the scripts with each reading. This will be pretty casual and we will also invite passers-by to join in the fun.

There is plenty of room for lawn chairs off to each side of the front steps of the Courthouse, so bring a chair if you have one handy.

If you live close enough to Dayton area, are an actor or have been yearning to try, stop by. "THEATRE KARAOKE" will be this Friday, 5:00-10:00 at Courthouse Square in Downtown Dayton. I'll be there about 6:30 or 7:00. Love to meet some of the WG or K.L.'s Blog visitors. You don't have to join in the readings if you don't want. But, come watch the event. You can even travel a long distance if you are so inclined.

WHY I LOVE PROJECT GREENLIGHT. PART 1: If you don't know what Project Greenlight is, check out the official web site: projectgreenlight.liveplanet.com. But in a nutshell, it's a contest put together by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to help other hopeful film makers (screen writers and di