Every year I find myself involved in a reading or doing a bit part in a show, it keeps my acting skills sharp and I enjoy especially since I started out pursuing an acting career here in New York many years ago. This year, I would've missed the opportunity to read a role in LETTER FROM THE BISHOP entirely if I hadn't taken a moment on my birthday to check the cascading birthday greetings on Facebook. Those cascading birthday greetings make turning another year older not just palatable, but desirable. :)
Anyway, playwright Tony Adams contacted me about an audition and I managed to wedge it into an already somewhat packed Birthday schedule (that started with a trip to Cafe Angelique where I did some serious loafind and ended seeing CARRIE: THE MUSICAL - if you didn't see the revival, you missed an incredible show)
I think this was one of those cases where since it was a total last minute thing, I didn't have time to think about it too much and just went and did it and moved on with my day. I got a callback and did that too without too much thought and just read the way my gut told me to.
And then suddenly I'd been cast in the reading and I hadn't stressed about it at all. Now why can't life work like that all the damn time?? LOL
The reading, set for Monday June 11th was firmly in the gathering storm of Pridepocalypse... There was some rehearsal (pictured above), and then the reading at St. Clements with a nearly sold out crowd (it was free of course but you still had to make reservations) and a talkback after the show (pictured left)
I played the role of Father Mark, a middle aged gym obsessed Catholic priest who gives dissenting reasons for other priests to come out and have a married life.
It's a position I would never take in a million years so from an acting standpoint, it was a great exercise.
The space is great but as we weren't miked, I found myself having to project more than I was used to. For most of the past 14 years I've done weekly shows in bars with mics locked to my lips. My ability to project has just been diminished through lack of practice. Thankfully it was easy to pick back up again but I'll definitely have to work on my stage voice again if I do this more in the future.
Audiences responded well and after a talkback, a bunch of us convened at The Ritz for drinks and light conversation before turning in for the night. Thanks to my co-stars, Jimmy Moon, Dean Wrzeszcz and Kenneth Averett with stage readings by Lynne Henderson. :)
Where the show will go from here is a question but it will always remain an important part of my New York Gay Pride experience, 2012. :)
You can follow where the show goes next by checking out the show blog at A Letter From the Bishop :)
Recent Comments