The Hunter Heads West

Been a little while huh? Way too long. Just been busy trying to keep my head above water.  The past few weeks I guess the water level risen a little higher than usual.  I'm good though, God is good and definately a part of my life.

Right now Im working on a show Off-Broadway, called "The Heart Is A lonely Hunter", I mentioned it in my most recent entry.  The play is a stage adaptation of the Carson McCullers novel.  This is actually a remount of a production we did a few years ago in Atlanta. Ever since then the playwright, director and our producer, The Acting Company, have been trying to find a space to do it here in New York.  Its taken this long, but here we are in tech week at The New York Theatre Workshop.

nytw.org

A typical play will rehearse for 4 weeks, and then run in performance for 4 weeks or longer.  During the first 4 weeks, the actors rehearse in a room that is taped on the floor, ideally to the exact measurements of the stage.  We have as many costume and prop pieces as are available in the room for us to use. At the same time, while the actors are rehearseing in the room, the crew is onstage building the set. They hang lights, build furniture, lay new floors, bring in whatever the scene description, set designer, and director want.

THEN, during "tech" or "tech week", the actors move  onto the stage.  This is when all hell can brake loose because when you add dim lighting, a fog machine, a costume with heels and a long coat etc.. its not so easy to just, "exit stage left".  Tech is all about bringing ALL the elements together.  Right now Im in my dressing room listening to them work music and sound effects into a scene that I'm not in.  Im not in most of the scenes in this play, but it's ok, I'm glad to be working, glad to be working at NYTW, and proud of the piece itself.

What else?  Still seeing my leading lady.  It's been a couple years now.  Crazy right? She has been in New Haven CT, performing in a new play at Yale Reperatory Theatre called, "Eclipsed".  It's a great play about Liberian women struggling for freedom and identity.  They just got really positive reviews and there is talk about moving to Broadway.  I've been up to Yale most Mondays, on my day off, to see her, another reason for the lapse in blogging.

Once the play opens Dec. 3, I intend to start temping in the day. The play is scheduled to run until Dec. 20. Working Off-Broadway is not about making big money. Dec and January may be tight, but, but.... drumroll,

I BOOKED OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In February I will be moving to Ashland Oregon for 8 MONTHS! From Feb. to Oct. 31!!!  Rent free!!! 8 MONTHS!!!!  In the middle of this freaking recession, i got steady work for 8 months. In the GORGEOUS Pacific Northwest no less! Such a blessing, and only the beginning, because apparently the actors there pool their money and fly in casting directors from Los Angeles. !!!  God willing someone will see me and say, "that skinny motherf^$^&r needs to be the star of my new movie!

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Wow Its Been A While!

I didnt even know if id be able to log back into this blog it's been so long. Computer was at the shop for weeks, been moving around, working... things have been a little crazy.  Its going on 9pm right now, i'm kind of tired, i'm rehearsing a show Off-Broadway at The New York Theatre Workshop called "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter", adapted for the stage by Rebecca Gilman. It's a beautiful play, based on the novel by Carson McCullers.  I was actually in the original production several years ago in Atlanta.

Tomorrow I'll write more about that and everything else, anxious to get caught up, but for now I feel like Im catching a cold, and Im gonna crash for the night. Glad to be back though.

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Audition Follow-Up

It went well.  Went really well I felt. I got a good nights sleep, ate a good breakfast, had no problems getting there, showed up on time, dressed appropriately, was vocally warmed up, knew all my lines, made strong confidant choices... did everything asked of me.

Does that mean Ill get the part, or even a callback? Not in this business.

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Macbeth

Today at 4:20 I have a pretty big audition.  I shouldn't even be blogging right now, I should be working on my lines more, but  auditions like this rarely come up, if ever, so I wanted to chronicle it.  I'm auditioning for the play Macbeth, which is being produced later next year at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis MN... and im auditioning for the big man himself!!

Hundreds, honestly im sure there are a couple thousand actors in New York who would do anything for this audition.  I was so overwhelmed and proud when I got the call.  Macbeth is usually played by a much older actor, usually by theatre/TV veterans, I saw Stacey Keach play the part years ago, and was in a production starring Bob Guccioli (Phantom of the Opera fame), a few years ago.  This production however is being directed by Guthrie artistic director Jow Dowling, and they are looking for an actor in his mid to late 20s!!!!!! That is crazy awesome! Plus the Guthrie is one of the premiere theatres in this country and in the world.

I go the audition last month while in Virginia, and have been working on it everyday since then.  I was given 5 scenes and told to pick 2. Im pretty much off book( Ive memorized everything), my concern is nreves getting the best of me. Its just like on American Idol, you can prepare for weeks/months, then walk in the room and forget your own name.

I chose the "If it were done when tis done..." monologue from Act 1, and the scene in Act 3 with Lady Macbeth where Macbeth begins with, "we have scorched the snake, not killed it..."!  Hot stuff baby! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Shakespeare.

It's the big leagues, its the hard stuff, and most actors can't do it.  Not only do you have to remember the lines, act the emotions, tell the story, play your objective, vocalize and articulate... but you also have to make the audience understand what is essentially a foreign language, to most. Like I said the fact that out of all the 20 something actors in NYC, they  called me in, whether I book this or not, says a lot about the level where this casting director and director think Im at. Im honored, and am signing off now to go use the bathroom, cause im nervous!

4:20 today yall, wish me luck!

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No Mannas'

A few minutes ago I almost got into a fight with a guy in the middle of this soul food restaurant, here in Harlem.  This is not the set up for a joke. Im just calming down right now, it happened about an hour ago.  This mofo got mad because he said I reached over his food. 

He was standing at the register waiting to have his to-go food weighed; a lot of places in New York are like open style buffett bars where you serve yourself, and pay by the pound on your way out.  I had just paid for my food and I was standing on the side getting some sauce, in a little to go container, when he says I reached over his open container.  He goes" man watch what you doin, don't be reachin over my food."..................Not in the mood to make a scene over his 2 stupid pieces of fried fish, especially since I didnt reach over his food, maybe, MAYBE, I did reach over the TOP portion of his open container(where there was no food), but either way, I said "sorry man."

That should be it, but no, he has to proceed with mumbling loudly," reaching over my food... man i oughta... don't be reachin over my sh$t"... etc..; then as im packing up, he goes, " I oughta take your food and throw it out the door"....,

Im not trying to sound all tough or bad ass, because Im not. But I also was bullied as a kid and learned the hard way that you ultimately HAVE to stand up for yourself.  Seek out confrontation? No. Try to peacefully resolve and walk way from trivial sh*t? Yes.

That would'nt be good enough here. ... I put my food down on the counter and I said , DO IT! DO IT! THROW MY FOOD OUT THE DOOR!" I threw in some other colorful words that I've picked up along the way. People don't expect this from me, he didn't either. I didn't know if he had a gun, or if he had buddies out front, or if he was a 3rd degree black belt, but it was clear he would not let this end with my apology.

We argued back and forth for a few minutes, heated, me asking if he really wants to do all this over some fried fish, and him about how I reached over his food.  There was no resolve here. Its not that he didn't want to accept my apology, he wouldn't even acknowledge it.  Not in a vindictive way, but in an ignorant way.  He had no rebuttle for me when I would ask, "didn't I just say Im sorry man?" He would just turn his head away and mumble..."reachin over my f**%ckin food", to which I'd reply,"Didn't I say Im sorry man..."Back and forth. Ultimately I walked out, like 2 broke lions roaring at each other, until it just subsided. Was his frustration, or my own related singularly to this to-go plate, to my actions, or to a lot more? I thank God that this all ended with noone, self included getting hurt. This guy and I were about to go to blows or beyond over 2 pieces of fried fish, and as I walked home, looking over my shoulder I thought about some of those who have killed or been killed over even less.

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New York Style

Came home to Va. Beach to deal with some stuff and to take a little break before heading back into the deliciously, perilous and deep waters of NYC. Virginia is for lovers, thats what im talking about. $1600 for an apartment with no bathroom sink, and where the roommate has to walk thru your room to get to the bathroom or kitchen... yea i passed on that one. Found something else though, and ill be back to deal with it soon enough.

Been to the beach a couple times, also got to go crabbing down at Rudee Inlet. Didn't catch any crabs myself cause I didn't have a net.  For whatever reason I thought I'd be able to scoop'em up from behind when I pulled them in close enough.  I got several within arms reach, the chicken gizzards and hearts seemed to be working,  but when I went to grab them, the suckers darted back into the sand faster than I thought they could. Luckily for me, people around me who were fishing and didn't want the crabs they were catching in their nets, took pity on me.  I still ended up coming home with about a dozen blue crabs!!

My 6 year old nephew is around a lot, its his summer break.  He thinks everything I eat is, "uhhh NASTY!" Crabs, ham hocks, even my TV dinners , I guess because their not his favorite food, oatmeal.  That's all he ever asks for, oatmeal.  I guess its good for you, so he gets a healthy daily serving. The other day I was seasoning some chicken that I was going to fry, and he watched me... "uhhh you're gonna eat that?"  Yes, I replied. "Is that New York style?", he asked. He's been asking me that with everything I make." Is that New York style?, Is THAT New York style?" I keep telling him, no its just my style. 

"New York style." He seems to think "style" or ways of doing things, are associated with locale, or where you're from. I'm trying to teach him that "style" is individual, and that "styles" change, just like we have to, as we grow and travel to different places, and do different things. My style has been influenced by NYC and the foods, flavors and aromas that I encounter there; but I balance that with my Virginia upbringing, and love of beach life. Pilgrims, journeyman, constantly at the edge of our perception.

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Still At It

So I got a callback for that CBS show! Yesterday I had a one on one audition/talk with the head of casting for CBS.  The appointment went very well.  I'm not sure how big the role was I was being seen for, but no matter what, I did what I wanted to do, which was to look good and make a good impression so that they will keep me in mind, and consider me for other projects as well.

Later in the afternoon I had an audition for an August Wilson play, Fences, that will be done in Seattle as well as Syracuse NY, its whats called a co-production, between 2 theatres. It went surprisingly well too.  Ive been seen for this play and for this particular character several times in the past few months, never booking it.  I went in with that baggage and essentially looking for the same results, but this director actually gave me an adjustment and had me do the scene twice. The time he gave me made me feel as if he actually was considering me... we'll see.

It's raining here  in NY, im trying to pay bills, and oh yea... in two weeks I have absolutely no idea where I will be living.

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Dancing Around The UpperWestside

This morning I had an audition for CBS.  A guest star role on this show with Juilliana Margalis.  It went alright, I can't really tell anymore.  I was dressed right, I knew my lines... we'll see.  Later this afternoon  I auditioned for this Vonage commercial. A funny spot, whoever gets it. It would be cool to get a callback for either of these gigs. I've been unemployed for so long.

The other day I was walking up the street, Broadway actually, on the upper westside.  The area isn't fancy or anything, but I guess it is considered to be upscale. 

As I was walking I noticed this older woman ahead of me.

She was in her late sixties, maybe early seventies even.  An elderly caucasian woman, thin frame, tall, she was wearing a knee length skirt so you could see that she still had the legs and turnout of a dancer. She clutched her purse  and walked deliberately, blending right in with all the other pedestrians.

I stopped momentarily to do something and she was off , that was our life encounter. Purchased my newspaper and started walking again, I came up a block further though and there she was, she had stopped this guy on the street... and was asking him for change. Yep.

It's hard to explain the juxtaposition of how this woman looked, with what she was doing. That's what made me mention her race.  It is not uncommon to see a minority panhandler on the upperwestside, but caucasian... elderly, dressed conservatively... this was something I had never seen before. She was so discreet and poised about it, most people didn't even notice what she was doing.

As I walked past this exchange I noticed up ahead, a man, caucasian, also in his late sixties.  He was dressed in a way that was "dressed up", shirt, pants and jacket... but mix matched, and at close view not laundered.  He stood on the corner with a strong posture , arms on his hips, arrogant even, and was looking back behind me... in that moment I realized, he was looking back at his wife.  He and the woman were together. 

They walked up and down Broadway completely together, but not acknowledging each other at all. It's like animals in the wild, if you didn't follow them with your eyes, you would never put together what they were walking around doing.  He walked ahead as she followed behind and begged strangers for money.  Not begged though, this woman was dignified in her request. It was a devastating thing to see; that she was burdened with the humiliating task, while he walked ahead. Or that his pride was so great that he couldnt bring himself to do it, and that his wife, recognizing at the same time their financial need and the incredible pride of the man she loves, could still bring herself to do it, putting her own feelings and pride aside... do they have no kids?... do the kids not know?... what were their jobs?... how did THEY come to this? It was intense.

She sure enough eventually made her way to me, and said directly, void of emotion or pity," do you have a quarter or some change?" She made the request a very matter of fact almost annoyed, "do you have change cause I dont have any quarters" kind of thing.

I told her no I didn't... because I don't, I don't know how I'm still in this city myself. She heard me and walked off... approached someone else with the same desperate, deliberate composure, while her poor husband looked on.

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"Jimmy"

No flashy title, just... today.  Amazing. A blessing... and a signature NYC experience.

I got up, like I normally do on Sundays now; I'm so proud of myself, I have been to church every Sunday this year, except for one in April when I went back home to Virginia, but even then I went to chuch that Sunday with my Mom. 

But on my own, with noone telling me to, or forcing me,  I've gone every Sunday to services here at my church, Abyssinian Baptist, in Harlem.

This morning I went and listened to yet another inspiring sermon and sevice led by Rev. Calvin Butts.  The subject was July 4th and American pride, and why we as a people should be proud, especially African-Americans.

 Afterwards I came back downtown to where I'm living right now, yet another sublet, but it's all good... and I ate a little something then headed back out.  I walked up 8th Ave. then hopped on the train to go up to 110 St. Thats close to where I was living before.  Central Park begins from the North at 110 St.  From there I rode my scooter, my Razor scooter.  Yep, I'm 6'1 and I ride a Razor scooter like none of these little pip squeeks can, all the way from 110 St. down to 59 St. Columbus Circle. Then, I rode back up Broadway to 72 St. where the road is really smooth and newly  paved and I hopped on the C train back down to 50, where I got off and rode my scooter down Broadway, thru Times Square, back to where I am living.

I almost bit it HARD on 42 St. in front of all these cornball tourists taking pictures.  I kept running though and pulled it together without falling.  My scooter, by the way is named "Jimmy".  Jimmy and I had an awesome ride today.  The weather was beautiful...I was realizing that if even temporary I have food on my table, a roof over my head,  people in my life who I know love me, and even if I'm not given another moment, God, life has been very good to me.  I thank God for every new morning and breath, because they are not gauranteed, and so many people go through life without realizing that.  I'm grateful for that appreciation.

  And for Jimmy.

PS I've still got pics to upload from outside the Apollo during Michael Jacksons' memorial, and the pic of me with crazy a$$ Tracy Morgan.

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A Tribute to The Gloved One

Theres no way I can let the day go by without paying my respects.  He was a fellow artist.

All the trial stuff aside, and the only reason I put it aside is because all of these cases seem to have been resolved with financial settlements.  As a Father I can tell you, without question, that no amount of money would ever shut me up if my child were harmed. No amount, ever, so to me the cases are questionable, as was his behaviour, no doubt.

Michael Jackson the artist, is who I want to recognize.

As an actor you need to be able to give your body over freely, wholly without personal judgement or anxiety, as a blank/neutral canvas, to take on the physical reality of the character you are portraying.  For many actors, myself included,  that is very difficult.  It requires stepping out of your comfort  zone,  way out hopefully, and doing things with your voice and body that can feel painfully silly or embarressing, especially when the point is for people to ultimately come and watch you doing it.  It takes tremendous courage to use yourself this way, to give over to what people might think and to just interpret the material, as an artist, with your full self. 

Michael Jackson was a cross cultural, multi-generational, artistic icon.  He made that artistic commitment repeatedly,  from the tip of his toe, to the highest octave in his register he applied every part of his instrument to the communication of his art and passion, I get the chills as I type and realize  that.  The courage and confidence of his slightest gesture, was as bold and eloquent... as timeless and universal, as the stroke of DaVincis brush. 

 A black star in our sky, gone out too soon, as deep and complex as his genius.

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