This video reflects on a big lesson I began to learn in my 20s -- I had a whole meritocracy/report card mentality around working in the theatre. Work hard, and the casting deciders should be like teachers and reward you with roles instead of grades and awards. Didn't work out. The other thing I learned is what a wise acting coach Elizabeth Gamza described as "standing for yourself" and how I was indeed not doing it. I'm getting there now. Work hard on the right things and for your own satisfaction, confidence, and sharing your skill. Results will show up how they will.

I went to an EPA a couple months ago. They were holding a call for The Queen of Versailles in NYC, and I was like -- that's in Boston all summer, I should put my face in front of them. I watched the documentary it was based on, decided there was one character I could be right for, and I decided to sing "Holding to the Ground" from FALSETTOS with a little lyric twist. I changed the key, transposed it myself in Finale, and rehearsed the shit out of it. I even did it for my students in studio class (and got some terrific feedback -- thanks beauties.) I took a train to NYC, didn't tell many folks I was going, and wandered around solo until my audition time. I got to Ripley Grier super early, rolled up to the ID counter, and saw I was standing next to one of my long-time LA kids (who's now very much an adult and kind of tearing it up in NYC these days.) We hugged big time, and she shared with me she was having some vocal scares after a big contract she'd just done. We grabbed a room, and I was able to give her some body work and SOVTs to work with until she could get in to see her NYC teacher. It was a gift to see each other, and it was hilarious that I showed up for an audition and ended up teaching. It's my purpose. My audition was successful -- I got an impressed, "Oh okaaaay" from the pianist :). I sang my song well. Carrie Gardner said "thank you," and I left. I didn't hear anything back, and I look back on the experience, and I did very good work. That was a successful audition. And I got to help a student and friend who I love very much.