That's how many many students I will have seen audition by 9pm tomorrow...if no one else adds.
The only reason Monday's three hours and tonight's five hours were not entirely mind-numbing was that all auditioners are between the ages of 9-18.
Which means I can forgive them.
Poor monologue choices, poor song choices, freshly memorized pieces, choreographed gestures, no projection...you're forgiven. Sometimes I forgive them because it's clear that their parents told them it was a good idea to mime a little pig's tail or to bring in an actual dog. Sometimes I forgive them because they just have never been taught what to do. Sometimes I forgive them because they're singing "Lullaby of Broadway" and dancing along with some compressed choreography enhanced by a cardboard wrapping paper tube.
Of course, some of the students border on amazing and I'm really excited about the prospects of this upcoming project. (And one of those kids sang "Mama Mia" a capella along with do-do-do-do-do-dos.)
And I totally have a crush on one of the other directors--and he's totally the father of a local oft-seen-on-Seattle-stages actress. I've never had a crush on someone's dad before; it's oddly refreshing, much in the same way that laughing at the artistic director's comment of "All these kids are blending together for me. I look at them and think 'white kid,' 'white kid,' 'white kid.'" can add that extra bit of perspective when you're wondering why anyone's parents would get them a commercial agent.
Posted by Ida at September 14, 2004 09:25 PMOh COME ON. Not even a *hint* about the identity of the "oft-seen" actress?
Plus: trophies, yo -- you deserve prizes for sitting through that, or at least a cocktail.
Posted by: molly at September 16, 2004 07:55 AMIndeed I do deserve an alcoholic reward. Ye gods.
There is in the works a plan for all of the directors to go and see the local high school's production of Candide.
That's right: the musical...because that's totally appropriate and simple for them to learn and perform by November 11th.
(Hints: Pride and Prejudice and Arcadia)
Posted by: ida at September 16, 2004 09:20 AMOkay, I totally know who the actress is, but who's her father? Does he work around town often?
I'd never met him prior to this, but he's directed at the unnamed theatre fairly regularly and that's all I know so far. But he's just totally nice and funny--y'know, sparkly eyes and salt-and-pepper hair.
Posted by: ida at September 16, 2004 11:08 AM