Final Thoughts...

Hello All,
I realize that I never actually wrote any final thoughts. I think this had something to do with the shock of coming back to NYC and actually staying in one place for more than a few days. Like anything, travel can be addictive, and having the opportunity to meet new and wonderful people every day was too exciting to give up easily. What I gained from the tour was not only a bunch of connections to follow up on, but also a view of theater outside the confines of New York. The communities we came across were varied and vibrant, and I hope I have the opportunity to work in all of them some day.
I write now because I have received a job offer that is a direct result of our tour! This is the first job offer from the tour, although it should be noted that Bret is currently performing in The Goat with The Bay Theatre in Annapolis, MD. The offer actually came from a connection that we made on the tour that led to a NYC based audition last February. It is so amazing how these things can work. For instance, Bret auditioned for The Goat before we left for our tour (in September) and was unable to make the callbacks...and the subsequent callbacks...and so on, until he was finally offered the part in April. Though my journey didn't take nearly so long, I heard nothing from the theatre until last week. These are the surprises we cherish. When my phone came up with a Milwaukee number I thought, "What old friend of mine is trying to bother me?" (I am, as you may remember, from Milwaukee). When I listened to the message it was the artistic director of Milwaukee Shakespeare calling to offer me a role. I was thrilled about this offer for many reasons. First of all, I have always wanted to get into the Shakespeare world. In grad school we spent an intensive semester studying Shakespeare in every discipline, but until this summer (I am performing Beatrice in a production of Much Ado About Nothing) I had never had the opportunity to perform a full length production! Secondly, it is my first salaried production with an Equity house. This means working with real professionals, and earning some EMC points. I was cast as Katherine in Love's Labours Lost, and I will also understudy the Princess. This is one of the few plays of Shakespeare that I know absolutely nothing about. As soon as the offer was made I gave the play a quick read (partially because I had to choose between this and another offer), but until that moment I knew nothing of it.
And so it begins. We have both made great strides since graduating almost a year ago. Not only have we both officially begun our professional careers, but we have explored the theater community in a way that few people have. What we have gained is not only confidence in auditions, friends across the country, and opportunities to come, but also we have gained perspective. And that is something we had to do on our own. I will be sure to keep you posted as the rehearsal process begins. Until then, thank you for following our journey, and please remember to check in once in a while.

Final Thoughts from Bret

I am back in my apartment in Brooklyn, listening to my favorite NPR show (The Brian Lehrer Show, for those who are interested). Needless to say, I am surprised to be back so soon. I was not looking forward to returning to NYC and now that I am here, that sentiment has not changed. Maybe it is because I have to go back to work. Maybe it is because I will be in the same place instead of moving every 3 days. Maybe it is because I am not with Emily all the time. It's probably a combination of all those things. But I want to bring the energy, fun, and pace of my life on the road to my life here.
In terms of the trip, I think we accomplished much more in 5 weeks on the road than we ever would have accomplished at home. And I do not just mean meeting people and making business contacts. I think that much of our "work" was in touching base with the friends and family we have around the country, and seeing where and how they live. Now, when I talk to Rich in Portland, Emily's parents in Milwaukee, or some future friend from Missoula, I know more about their daily lives because I have seen their cities and actually stayed in their houses (well, not the future friend's house). I like knowing the specifics of people's daily lives.
And we are also much more familiar with the specifics of regional theatre. We saw ten plays during the trip, and looked in on dozens of theatres transitioning into their next production. There are several vibrant, energetic, and skilled theatre communities outside of NYC. Where to settle down? As one theatremaker told us, "don't feel like you have to decide right away where to be." This theatremaker also told us to find and follow our spirit. I have heard that advice before. Hearing it from strangers reinforced the words of my teachers, friends, and (some) family. "Tap into your life-force," "focus on developing your craft," "value yourself for your relationships, not for the last acting job you had." So I think the world is sending Bret, perpetual worry-wort, a strong message.
Ok I will stop boring Emily with my over-long post. Stay tuned for more from us, as we go on our Lunar Audition Tour! Friends and family, please consider the cost of traveling to the moon when you consider Christmas gifts for us. Oh--Halloween update! The last trick-or-treater of the evening was a little girl dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. She even brought her little dog along with her, and said "trick or treat" and "thank you." So thank YOU, little girl dressed as Dorothy. This blog post is for you.

Wine and Nintendo

Here we sit, drinking wine and preparing to play Lynn Hyde's 8-bit Nintendo. Tomorrow Bret returns his car to its resting place. *tear* And Emily boards a plane set for the great metropolis of Brooklyn, New York.
Thus ends our physical journey, but not our artistic journey, nor this blog. We will return to give updates on what comes of our trip, and we will each write our own "final thought".
Today we had two auditions in Pittsburgh. They were both good, solid final auditions. We also took a tour of downtown Pittsburgh's cultural district, thanks to Kim Hyde, and enjoyed a celebratory nap.
Anyway, now our attentions must be put in their proper place. The Nintendo. And so we will save the wrap up for sometime soon.

Choo Choo! Last stop!

Bret and I have arrived in our last stop on this tour...Pittsburgh! We are staying with the wonderful and generous parents of the lovely Lynn Hyde in their amazing guest suite on the third floor. They had dinner for us (and wine) and they told us all of Lynn's deep, dark secrets. Just kidding. That was just to check if Lynn is reading this.
We stopped last night in Iowa City, as I'm sure you've read in Bret's blogs (I don't read his-they're boring), to equally lovely hospitality from Christine and her girlfriend, Claire. We had a great night making pizza and conversation. We also dressed up. Christine was a Sheriff, Bret was a Chip n' Dales Reindeer, Claire was Christmas (sexy Christmas) and I was a sexy cat doctor (as in I was a cat). We'll be sure to post a picture once I have my connecting cord back.
This trip is starting to wrap up and needless to say, I have mixed feelings about it. We have spent all of our post grad-school days planning and preparing for this trip, and sometimes I can't believe I'm on it, let alone that it's almost over. I know we have accomplished a lot, but it's such an invisible, intangible accomplishment that I feel a little anxious and empty.
Once we return home, however, we will have a million things to do to follow up and continue to strengthen these connections we have made. It is all about the courage to continue our persistence. After all, one auditor told me "I must admire your persistence in all media." And I got that appointment.
Two auditions left tomorrow. Afterwards? Utter collapse and celebration. Then, a flight home to NYC.

Halloween

Ok, for all you kids out there reading ACTORS ON THE ROAD, I have a few things to tell you about Halloween.
The requirements you must fulfill on Halloween are quite simple.

1) You have to dress up. This should be fun; you should WANT to dress up. You do it so that the people handing out candy can be surprised and delighted by the imaginative costume you wear.

2) You must say "trick or treat." Holding out your bag and saying nothing is not acceptable. You are not a homeless orphan (no disrespect to homeless orphans).

3) You must say "thank you." It is polite, and I just gave you candy for free.

It is surprising how many of your contemporaries do not do this. One girl, when asked what she was, actually said "nothing." And parents, taking extra because there are "two more kids in the car" is walking a very, very fine line. If your child cannot walk to the door, then perhaps he or she should not be out on a cold fall evening in the first place.

The Breadbasket

Driving through Nebraska and Iowa, I was struck by how friggin BIG this country is. It is humungous. I know I spelled that wrong.
And although I am not a huge fan of "America the Beautiful," there really are amber waves of grain. The drive along Route 80 through Nebraska and Iowa was pretty spectacular. Sure, it was flat, but the farmhouses and fields looked like the ones you see on postcards. We arrived in Iowa City a couple of hours ago, and now Emily is a Hot Pilates. Yeah, I am lazy. But I volunteered to stay at her friend Christine's house and hand out Halloween candy. So can I ask, where are the trick-or-treaters? The one year I am ready with a bucket of candy and a real house, they don't come.
And Happy Birthday to my bro Rich Jusky, who turns 25 today. Thanks for making this day even scarier.

High in Mile High

Just kidding. We arrived in Boulder, CO on Saturday night. First, we took in a terrible touring production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. If it is coming to your town, don't waste your money.
Auditions in Colorado went very well. One person Emily had been trying to reach for a logn time called her "the most persistent little auditioner" he had ever met. She did secure an appointment with him, and he loved our work. "Very clean work," he said.
Colorado is beautiful, by the way.