Callback...

I have had some luck in the past few weeks submitting for local auditions and getting called in. Today I am going to callbacks for an original musical which is set in 1940s Germany. For the original audition, they asked us to prepare a 32 bar song in the style of Kurt Weill or general cabaret. They also asked for us to have a monologue ready in case they asked for it. Upon reading the audition notice, it seemed as though it was a dramatic musical (it’s about a German man’s guilt for working in the army during and after the war). But based on what happened in the audition, it became obvious that the story was less serious than I had anticipated.

I walked into the room, handed the director my headshot and resume, and went to the pianist to hand her my music and describe was I needed for the accompaniment (“Someone to Watch Over Me.”) I started singing the song, but instead of watching me the director was looking at my resume (which is pretty typical). I saw him look down towards the bottom, and then he burst out laughing. This could only mean one thing- that he had read my special skills and lingered on the last one: “Can slip out of handcuffs easily.”

Because he laughed so loud, there was no way I could ignore it. So, as I was singing (and in between phrases) I demonstrated, physically, how I would be able to slip out of cuffs- my thumbs are double jointed and allow my hand to contort to become the size of my wrist. But imagine this scene while I am singing a sweet and loving Gershwin tune. Something was a little off, for sure. But, that is actually a cabaret style of singing- responding to your audience, even if you are mid-song. I thought, “Well, if they like goofballs, then maybe I have a shot...”

After the song, they asked me for another contrasting song, and then I did my monologue. The monologue, I was certain, was nowhere near the style they needed. But, how many 1940 cabaret style Holocaust monologues do YOU have in your back pocket? After the monologue, the director asked something that took the audition in a whole other direction, “If I were to ask you what circus act you would be able to perform, what would it be? Can you actually slip out of handcuffs? Do you have anything else circus-like?” Clearly, this was not the dramatic musical I was been expecting. I directed to him to another one of my special skills listed on my resume: “short and tall flag twirling.” (Believe it or not- I was not even accepted onto the flag team in middle school- it was for the popular girls only- so my experience was twirling in my driveway WISHING I could be on the flag team. Very, very sad...)

I also said, “Truly, all I can do is be funny. I would be the person in the circus who didn’t have an act, and just tried to do what everyone else was doing, but failing miserably. I can’t put my legs behind my head, but I would be damned funny trying.” (I guess that person is called the clown.)

That must have done it, because the director said, “Well, I would like to call you back. Here is some music to learn. We’ll see you on Friday.”

So, now I am in Starbucks, waiting for the callback to start. I’ll let you know how it goes...