Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Back to basics

That's what kind of voice lesson I had today. Didn't sing anything, just vocalized and worked on breathing and other technical stuff. We discussed a couple of possibilities for this year's recital (date TBD) and what kinds of things I need to do to progress. While I didn't do any "real" singing, we did some good work; now I'm psyched to work on getting back into a habit of practicing so I'll be ready when things come up instead of scrambling to prepare.

Another audition next week, so I'll be practicing my audition pieces (they want you to bring one and a spare) in addition to my "homework". Gonna be a busy week, in a good way.

Saturday, March 03, 2012

Waiting for the "rushes"

I had a photo session this afternoon for some new headshots. I wasn't all that crazy about the ones I'm almost out of, and my face is a lot thinner and my hair a lot shorter than in the old ones, so I had lots of good reasons I needed new ones.

The photographer is a lyric coloratura and has also done a lot of musicals, so we had fun chatting about shows we've known and loved while she put me up against walls (and bushes, fences and other props) and shot me. :)

We shot outside because she prefers natural light. I was glad I was able to get a session now, before tree season kicks into gear and my eyes get all itchy, red and swollen. While we had a sunny afternoon for it, it was also rather windy; she retook a lot of shots because an ill-timed breeze blew my hair into my face. Several times she had me toss my head to try to trick my hair into staying out of my face; sometimes that trick even worked. :) She also commented that I have the coloring she always wanted (she's a redhead). Funny how we always want what we don't have; I've sometimes wished I were a redhead.

She told me she'd start editing sometime tonight, with a few of her preliminary pics to be posted on her Facebook site. This will be the first time I've had headshots in color, though I'll probably get some in black-and-white too. I'm looking forward to the results.

Back in the audition saddle again

Auditioned for a production of Fiddler Tuesday night and a Rodgers & Hammerstein review this morning.

The Fiddler audition was fun. The accompanist was playing random things as people came up to the stage or left it; I got "The Night They Invented Champagne", so I danced across to the accompanist to hand him my music. The reading was fun, too, though I didn't get to read the Yente speech I had practiced. Partly because of that, I didn't fancy my chances of being cast. Four days later I haven't heard anything yet, so I'm taking that as a "no, thanks."

Today I was auditioning at callbacks. This was something of a gamble, as I'd gotten no response to two attempts to see if that would be OK. They let me sing, but didn't give me the callback music. I didn't expect to be cast because this company tends to cast college-age and 20-somethings for their musicals. However, I hadn't auditioned for them in about a year and a half and wanted to remind them how I sound and let them see what I look like now that I've lost weight and cut my hair. The artistic director didn't recognize me at first and must've told me at least 3 times that I looked "awesome!", so even though I was too old for them to cast me this time, they know what I look like these days. ;)