The Diva is in the Details – Big Apple of my Eye

New York, with its pulsing life force and streets filled with dreams, seemed like the perfect place to do a quick turn-around trip to meet up with my fellow Divas for our monthly meeting.  We started the evening with dinner at Room Service , record our possibly very first podcast (!), compare notes and discuss our accountable goals for the coming month.   We were so excited to get the idea of meeting off the ground and to have our first inspirational first call last month where we shared ideas and wrote down our goals for this meeting.  This month was all about accountability, seeing how we did, discussing the challenges we had been facing, and in the supportive environment we have created, share our newfound accomplishments and dreams.   We then headed over to attend a Dallas Travers workshop that I spoke about before but that Maren and Abby hadn’t seen yet.  As expected, the workshop was loaded with not only incredible and specific applications for your career but also inspiring stories and ideas to change the very way we think about the business, thus freeing ourselves to be successful within it! 

Divas with Dallas

A man can’t walk out on his own story

I was sitting in a movie theater when this quote rang out from the screen; one that was said from one character to the other who was at the end of his rope and had decided to run from his problems instead of staying back to face them and find a solution.  The quote affected the hero who eventually found his voice, turned back to face the task at hand, turned the plot and saved the day along with his dignity.  Walking out of the theater, on the drive home, and an hour later, the quote still stuck with me.  It is true of course.  I know the way I want my story to go but I must have the courage and strength to turn each page and write the next chapter - to not quit.  Some chapters have been harder to write than others.  Some chapters I’ve flown through with ease.  With other chapters, I’ve hovered over the blank page with pen in hand, not sure what I wanted to make of that part of the story or even where the story was still headed.  But I always knew with certainty that if I closed the book, still filled with blank pages of challenges never faced, obstacles never overcome and dreams never realized, the story would remain incomplete, unwritten, and would die at my hands.  Keep writing the story with ingenuity, turning the pages with courage and life will take flight.

The “Threat” of Preparation

Excited and nervous performers stand in the hall outside the stage door as they wait for their names to be called.  As most do in times of idle, just before the fiery launch, they replay the things heard from the mouths of many throughout the climb.  They begin the non-advisable process of comparing their skills with others in the three areas of interest:   the voice, the skill to portray the emotions behind it, and the movement of the body through space.  These are what are perceived to be the highly demanded trifecta of the Triple Threat. 

I stand with the rest of them, tightly clutching my songbook to my chest as I close my eyes and perform my first ritual of taking two, long, deep breaths that serve to calm and ground me.  I remember the hours of practice behind me; the many phone calls, networking, researching and coaching that has lead me to yet another opportunity to be my best before those that want their solution to walk into the room.

I, long ago, gave up on worrying about what I lack in any area of the trifecta and decided to instead focus on my biggest strengths.  I believe I have a key in my pocket.  Something that I hope others will see as important and that will unlock the door for me.

The fourth threat is comprised of all that happens before stepping in front of anyone and taking the first breath that soars the voice to the back of the room.  It is what happens before the brow furrows in consternation with a character’s angst or before the hands reach in a plea or embrace.  Before the ultimate expression begins are all that has happened when no one was looking; the hours of coaching, researching, and preparing and the many years of building a good reputation and strong working relationships.  The fourth and final arsenal, I hope, will help to see me to the finish.

Equity

It hit me on the quiet drive home from the second to last performance of Guys and Dolls this weekend.  The only decision I had made about it up to this point was to ride the fence for a little longer, trying professional auditions only, but still not gaining Equity status until I had gained professional credits.  In those quiet moments on the drive home, I took a moment to be honest with myself as to why I had decided this.  Was it really because of the advice of others that I had sought out?  Was it really out of practicality?  I realized the decision to ride the fence was because I was still harboring trepidation because I was simply scared.  But on that drive home with one performance left and with an open book full of empty pages after it to fill, I decided that enough was enough.  With an upcoming business trip to New York in just over a week, with my hotel just a cab ride away from the Equity office, it was the perfect time.  What was I waiting for?  The time to launch my biggest quest is now.  I’m burning daylight.

Now with the show closed, along with the pivitol experiences gained from it, the path has been lit and is so clear that I have no choice but to take it and to take it fully, with the fence to the side.  The support from my friends and castmates has been overwhelmingly supportive, with the continueous messages of good luck bringing me to tears.  This choice, this path, will make my special little lit corner of the world become much larger and brighter.

Roadmap

I briskly walked off stage left, through the stage door and towards the dressing room just after my lines that close Act I; when my character has defiantly stated her claim in the face of the emotions and pain she is feeling; one of her great defining moments.  It usually takes most of the route back to the dressing room before the defiant look finally leaves my face and my breathing returns to normal.  I have so worked Sarah’s emotional responses into my body that it takes a few minutes to decompress.   

Scene Cheat Sheet

It was during tech week that I sat down to carefully plot out my character’s extensive roadmap on my scene cheat sheet, a practice that I started long ago.  The sheet includes some cue lines, scene changes, blocking notes and costume notes if needed.  During tech week and for most of the first weeks of the run, I would have the sheet out at all times for reference and would carry it with me; finding places to tuck it, or hide it backstage just in case. 

It was only last night, the night before the closing night of our production, when I walked off the stage after that energy filled conclusion of the first act, did I realize that the cheat sheet hadn’t been opened for reference but had stayed folded in my first hiding spot since placing it there at the top of the show.  I went backstage later to grab it along with my water, telling people around me who were not used to seeing me backstage during that time that I was “housecleaning.”  A moment of sadness came over me as I returned to the dressing room, holding it in my hand, knowing that I only had one final show where the sheet would be used.  As cast members happily chatted around me during intermission, I opened the sheet, written on the back of a mock pamphlet, and looked at it again.  The sheet was now almost as soft as tissue and the writing smudged from frequent handling.  As I sat and looked at the summary of my character’s evolution through the production, the sadness was replaced with a realization about my life and what had caused the sadness.  There was nothing to be afraid of.  Once the roadmap is in place, I can look up and out into the world to live the life I have plotted for myself.

Guys and Dolls Cast Interview Series – Amy Armstrong (Sarah)

When this final interview of our series is published (the tables are turned as I’m interviewed by my co-lead), we will be moving full throttle into our final two performances before we close on Saturday.  It will be an emotional finish for me as I’m sure it will be for others in the cast.  I am forever grateful to have been given the opportunity to play Sarah again.  I gave her life and, in turn, she’s given new life to me. 

Amy – WMV

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This concludes our series, which was so much fun to do!  A special thanks to those who were interviewed:  Joe, Gary, Ellen, Ben, John, and Jack. 

Final performances are March 11 (7:30PM) and March 12 (2:00PM).  You can buy tickets at the door or online here.

Guys and Dolls Cast Interview Series – Joe O’Neill (Sky)

Our series continues as I interview my co-lead, Joe O’ Neill who plays Sky Masterson in our production.  Joe gives some insight into his character, his take on life in the fifties and handles my surprise wildcard (literally) question with ease.

Joe – WMV

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We are coming in to our final week of our Guys and Dolls production with only two shows remaining – March 11 (7:30PM) and March 12 (2:00PM).  If you haven’t gotten tickets yet, you have only two more chances to come and witness a cast and crew that is not only dedicated to the production but having the most amazing and joyous time!).  You can buy tickets at the door or online here.

Guys and Dolls Cast Interview Series – Gary Snyder (Music Director)

We continue our interview series with Gary Snyder, our Music Director, who was given the charge of taking one of the most wonderful musical scores ever written and making sure that it was portrayed in its truest fashion.  In our interview, Gary shares his method for preparing and rehearsing the cast and also shares his interesting music background!

GarySnyder – WMV

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We are coming in to our final week of our Guys and Dolls production with only two shows remaining – March 11 (7:30PM) and March 12 (2:00PM).  If you haven’t gotten tickets yet, you have only two more chances to come and witness a cast and crew that is not only dedicated to the production but having the most amazing and joyous time!).  You can buy tickets at the door or online here.