TZEITEL

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!

I was finally cast in something! I was cast in the Village Light Opera's FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

playing the role of Tzeitel - Tevye's oldest daughter - no she isn't the one who sings "Far from the Home I Love" - no she isn't the one who dances the ballet either - she's the one who refused to marry the gross butcher and decided to marry the diminuitive and somewhat wimpy tailor Motel - breaking the TRADITION of matches being made by the matchmaker and defying her father who already decided she should marry the butcher Lazar Wolf. (Tevye wants her to marry the gross old butcher because he is SUPER rich and - we all know what Tevye wants - MONEY - hence the famous "If I Were a Rich Man" song.)

So - this production pay anything - not does it get equity points so why do I care? Well - first off - it is AMAZING to be that in high school and college I couldn't get cast in ANYTHING - and in New York - I managed to beat out people with degrees - and people who DID get the roles in college and highschool - for a role. And we are talking good school like Manhattan School of music! I heard everyone else audition - we were all IN the room together - I was freaking out - they were DANG good! I was honored and humbled to even be in the mix with them! I thought for SURE I wouldn't make it past the first cut - I thought my only chance for getting cast at all was to play Chava - because she dances a ballet - and - well - let's face it - few opera singers are proficient at that. But I was cast for a character that does NOT dance ballet - I was cast purely on my voice (oddly - my BELTING voice) and my acting ability!:) I consider it a huge honor to be cast amongst this company!

Secondly - I did it without kissing u to anyone - a lot of people apparently put in a lot of kissing up time between Pinafore and this - one who is now suing the company claiming they didn't cast him because he is Asian - and they should cast him no matter what because of the kissing up time he did. (Side note: I love how no one EVER takes into consideration that they weren't the best one there for whatever role --- I always think SOB! i wasn't cast because I suck! I seem to be the only one who thinks this way.......I should maybe change that...) Even during Pinafore - I just came in - did my job - hardly socialized - and left knowing I put in a good day's work. And I HOPE the work is paying off in my performances and auditions!:)

Thirdly - I reallllly need experience getting comfortable in front of an audience - witht he lights - the lights continually throw me. Cara said at my concert last night I looked more comfortable than she had ever seen me - and it was no accident I was getting more callbacks. (Actually - I was just SEEN for things last week - but she does have a point - I was EXCITED to go on stage - not nervous I would mess up. I was like - alright -let me show off!) Anyhow - it's been a reallllly long time since I've had to carry huge chunks of a show - and this will be fabulous safe experience - where I can build confidence and comfort - and just feel at home on a stage and creating truthful moments in front of audiences. Good practice for when I'm cast as Ariel somewhere!:)

Fourthly - I can invite AGENTS!!!!!!!!!! AND CASTING DIRECTORS! To come seeeeee meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! And maybe LIKE me - and sign me - and get me appointments - so I CAN BE SEEEEEEEEEEN!:) And get PAYING WORK! And EQUITY! Equity paying work! And the great white way! Alright - perhaps I'm getting carried away - but it is a great opportunity that has the potential to open several doors! I am thrilled beyond measure!

I don't think I'll get cast in the knock off Phantom. I had an AWFUL audition today. After all the work on Meg - they had me read for another girl - who I hadn't looked over at all! It was horrible! And it was me and a bunch of 12 year olds - followed by the WEIRDEST dance call I have ever been too. I'm not sure who was more confused - me - or the choreographer- or the 12 year olds... Anyhow - my dancing was great - and - they were weird and left our headshots on a table so I could read what they wrote on it - they said something about a strong voice on mine - which is good - but BOOOOO on my acting! NOT truthful good work there. Scatterbrained awful phoning it in work! But that's ok - I can't do BOTH Phantom and Fiddler - they conflict - and Zeitel is the MUCH better role of the two! Bummed I didn't put forth my best work - but still thrilled about Zeitel!:)

I also have to see a lot of shows - there are apparently two AMAZING Shakespeares playing at BAM - and I want to see IN THE HEIGHTS.

But really what all of this makes me want to do is get a an actual theatre JOB JOB JOB that PAYS PAYS PAYS so there will be no more pretty princess dress-up or floor buffing - or dog sitting - but even Kenneth Branagh had to do crap - so - if Kenneth could do it - so can I! ...for now...

TZEITEL is a good start!:)