Hello folks! Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. For those of you who don’t know, I will be attending this winter’s AMTC (Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ) Shine event in Orlando. This is an incredible opportunity that I thank my parents for making possible. I will be leaving tomorrow morning to take a plane down to Orlando, and on Tuesday begins a 6 day event of auditions and seminars. You should see the agenda, it is literally packed with workshops, lectures, and showcase events. I will be busy every minute I’m not sleeping.

AMTC invites 50-100 “VIPs”, producers and agents to come to this twice-yearly Shine event and try to find some talent for whatever company they represent. Some notable names on the list are companies such as Tyler Perry Studios, Twentieth Century Fox, Sony, Arrow Records, and MGM. They sit for an entire week watching performers sing, act, dance, and model. This is an incredible opportunity to open up doors in many entertainment avenues.

I will be performing in 7 different events, mostly singing and acting, as well as attending all of the seminars I can fit into my schedule. Please pray that I perform to the best of my abilities, take whatever opportunities may be handed to me, and that God may find glory from me this week. I will try to keep you updated, wish me luck!

Check out AMTC’s website: http://www.amtcworld.com/

Although I terribly miss being onstage for my alma mater, I absolutely loved watching my friends in Olivet’s production of These Shining Lives this past weekend, as a part of Olivet’s Homecoming.

Set in the 1920-30s, These Shining Lives is the story of the women workers of Ottawa, IL, employed at a local watch factory, painting watch faces with pure radium. The plot follows the eventual terminal illness of the women, focusing on the case of Catherine Donohue in particular, and the subsequent lawsuits against the negligence of the company to protect its workers.

I had the privilege of working with Jenny Ward from Olathe, KS in last year’s production of All My Sons. Ward, with her slight build and strong personality, was perfectly cast as Catherine, the focus of the play. She shone as a mother and wife trying to hang on to her humanity in the face of impending death. I sincerely hope I have the opportunity to see her again as Catherine in a professional production.

The rest of the cast rounded out to make a wonderful show. Although it is a heavy play, and at times reminded me of Will Smith’s “Pursuit of Happyness” in the way it is a somewhat depressing story to tell, it is incredibly inspirational, showing the tenacity and courage of the human spirit.

This is a play you need to experience. It is visually and aurally impressive as well, with great sound and lighting, and a set designed and constructed by Olivet alums, including yours truly. These Shining Lives is showing again this weekend at Olivet Nazarene University, with a 7 o’clock show on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18 and 19, and a 2pm matinee on Saturday. Don’t miss it!

Are you ever escaping anything when you go to the theatre? Getting away from the worries you encounter everyday, for a few glorious hours when you can be transported to an entirely different world, and think about someone else’s problem for a change, instead of your own?

Of course, there are forms of escapism that are very destructive, like alcoholism and drug abuse, and those are only the most obvious ones. But I think attending the theatre can be one of the healthiest ways to get away for a while.

Working where I do, I encounter many varying types of personalities, both in the customers that visit and the employees I see many times a week. Some of them are the sweetest people I’ve ever met, while others can just be downers on my day. I try to keep my attitude in the former category. And it’s interesting watching members of the latter. They will literally seek each other out to swap stories of complaint. It must be hard to be in that frame of mind all of the time. These scrooges of the world are stereotyped in theatre constantly. Life is much more obvious on the stage.

So that brought to my mind that we could all use a break sometimes, which reminded me of my time in Orpheus Choir at Olivet. Every year in the fall we would present Orpheus Variety Show, a comedy variety show that would last about an hour and a half, showcasing the talents of the choir members. I’m reminded of the words of our choir director Dr. Jeff Bell, who always told us our job was to give someone on campus a break, a short time when they didn’t have to worry about their job or homework. They could just let go and have us take care of their mood. He took our task very seriously.

Incidentally, I’ll be going to OVS tonight, for the first time since graduating. It’ll be interesting being in the audience instead of onstage. But for that amount of time I’ll be able to completely let go of anything weighing me down, and be completely drawn in by the community event of live theatre. And I encourage you to try it as well. If you’re in the Kankakee area, come to Larsen Fine Arts Center at Olivet tonight and Saturday, Oct. 21 and 22 at 7 or 9pm. And just let go.

Why is there a seemingly endless supply of funny?

It seems that no matter how much you’ve laughed in your life, there’s always room for more. Even those that have lived an entire life can be introduced to experiences that make them laugh. And it’s not a rehashing of past funny, it’s something entirely new.

Recently I got a new job as a cashier at Cracker Barrel. When there is some down time I get a chance to people-watch on occasion. I’ve noticed that a lot of couples, even though they’ve been together for ten years or more, only need each other to laugh. Most people haven’t gotten bored with each other, which is an obvious blessing.

Of course, reliving past experiences can be funny as well, even if the actual experience wasn’t funny at all. That’s when you hear the phrase, “Well I’m glad we can laugh about it now,” or, “Too soon?” Sometimes it looks like we can find humor in anything.

Next Tuesday The Origin will be at Prime Time and Grandparents Day at Olivet. These are people who have seen their fair share of funny. Our job is to continue the hilarity, and although we’re performing some brand now material, Kenny and I are also performing one of the oldest sketches in the book, Abbott and Costello’s, “Who’s on First.” Certainly an old sketch done hundreds of thousands of times, but somehow still funny. As long as the English language survives, so will that classic sketch. So if you’re elegible, we hope to see you at Prime Time Day at Olivet. It’s going to be a Cracker Barrel of laughs.

It’s always good to have standards. When you make a decision before you absolutely have to, you’re more likely to choose the best route. If you decide at the beginning of a semester, “I will not skip my morning classes because I might be tired,” you’re more likely to have a better record than if you decide every time you wake up whether or not to attend.

In the same way, in any profession, one has to make preemptive decisions and learn to follow through with them. And theatre is no different. Theatre requires dedication and commitment, even when one doesn’t feel up to the task. And to perform a role means to put whatever you’re feeling aside, and immerse yourself into the character, committing wholly. You have to decide to do this before it is ever an issue.

Recently, I StumbledUpon this Code of Ethics for Theatre Workers. It’s a dedication to the process of theatre, created by a group known as The Circle Players, founded in 1945. It’s something to consider, for anyone involved in performing. Take a look:

1. I shall never miss a performance.
2. I shall play every performance with energy, enthusiasm and to the best of my ability regardless of size of audience, personal illness, bad weather, accident, or even death in my family.
3. I shall forego all social activities which interfere with rehearsals or any other scheduled work at the theatre, and I shall always be on time.
4. I shall never make a curtain late by my failure to be ready on time.
5. I shall never miss an entrance.
6. I shall never leave the theatre building or the stage area until I have completed my performance, unless I am specifically excused by the stage manager; curtain calls are a part of the show.
7. I shall not let the comments of friends, relatives or critics change any phase of my work without proper consultation; I shall not change lines, business, lights, properties, settings or costumes or any phase of the production without consultation with and permission of my director or producer or their agents, and I shall inform all people concerned.
8. I shall forego the gratification of my ego for the demands of the play.
9. I shall remember my business is to create illusion; therefore, I shall not break the illusion by appearing in costume and makeup off-stage or outside the theatre.
10. I shall accept my director’s and producer’s advice and counsel in the spirit in which it is given, for they can see the production as a whole and my work from the front.
11. I shall never “put on an act” while viewing other artists’ work as a member of an audience, nor shall I make caustic criticism from jealousy or for the sake of being smart.
12. I shall respect the play and the playwright and, remembering that “a work of art is not a work of art until it is finished,” I shall not condemn a play while it is in rehearsal.
13. I shall not spread rumor or gossip which is malicious and tends to reflect discredit on my show, the theatre, or any personnel connected with them-either to people inside or outside the group.
14. Since I respect the theatre in which I work, I shall do my best to keep it looking clean, orderly and attractive regardless of whether I am specifically assigned to such work or not.
15. I shall handle stage properties and costumes with care for I know they are part of the tools of my trade and are a vital part of the physical production.
16. I shall follow rules of courtesy, deportment and common decency applicable in all walks of life (and especially in a business in close contact with the public) when I am in the theatre, and I shall observe the rules and regulations of any specific theatre where I work.
17. I shall never lose my enthusiasm for theatre because of disappointments.

I believe this is a great example of committing preemptively, and one who does so is more likely to follow through with these principles. If you want to take a look at the website where I found this, the link is below. Until next time, happy performing!

http://www.lastagetimes.com/2009/08/a-1945-code-of-ethics-for-theatre-workers-surfaces/

Auditioning seems to be a stressful time for a lot of people. I know some people who almost get physically sick. So why can it be such a hard time? I think a lot of it has to do with throwing yourself out there, putting all you have on the line for other people to judge. Few people like to be judged, so the whole process of auditioning should seem insane to a lot of people.

I, for one, actually enjoy auditioning. I get a rush from it, similar to performing, but just a little different. The idea of being evaluated comes to the forefront at an audition, you are in competition with others, as opposed to working with others in a performance. I guess one reason I like it is I’m a competitive person by nature. And I’ve been auditioning since before I can remember. The worst part of an audition for me is when it’s over, when the director says, “alright, that’s all we need from you, we’ll let you know.” Even if I felt my audition went well, I can’t help but be disappointed that it’s over, that I’m done performing for them. That attitude may stem from when I was little, when I would perform for my grandma. We have video of me standing on a little box, then jumping onto the carpet shouting, “Clap grandma!” And she would oblige every time, giving me the ovation I deserved. I blame her for any need for attention I may have.

So how can a person get better at getting through an audition without traumatizing themselves? One thing I usually think to myself is, “What’s the worst that could happen, they say no?” Putting it in perspective can help. Auditioning is rarely a ‘make it or die’ kind of venture. Another thing one can do is use that nervous energy to their advantage. Use your ‘shakiness’ to add to your character somehow. You’d be surprised how you can the emotions rushing through you to your advantage. And finally, just keep auditioning. There’s no method better than experience in this line of work.

Along the lines of auditioning, I have a final story. All four years of high school I auditioned with my trumpet for the Iowa All-State Music Festival, a huge music concert that includes an orchestra of around 200, a band of over 250, and a choir of over 600. It is broadcast by PBS, and is the highest honor a Iowa high school music student can have. I was always the only one from my school to audition. My junior year my dad took me to the audition site nearest our home, which was still a couple of hours away. The home room/warm up area for the instruments was the gym of a large school. There were hundreds of other kids there. Around 45 minutes before my audition, I leaned up against the wall of the gym and slid down to sit. As I sat, I suddenly felt something in my pants give way. After examining them I had the horrible realization that I had ripped my pants! I had a huge tear across the seat of my pants from end to end, and if I stood up, it created a huge flap covering my rear. I couldn’t believe it, this was truly the worst thing that could happen. I asked my dad to determine the severity of the tear. He lied, and said it wasn’t that bad. I tied my coat around my waist to hide the atrocity, then began warming up for the audition. There was nothing else I could do! My dad and I planned it out so as I walked into the audition, I casually handed him my coat, and made sure to face the judges the entire time. Honestly, I was physically the most comfortable I’ve ever been at an audition, it’s not like my pants were confining! As I walked in, there were two people sitting across the hall from my audition room. One said to the other, “Do you think he knows his pants are ripped?” My dad assured him that I was indeed aware. This is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me in an audition. It was also the only year that I made it into All-State.

I think one reason I did so well in the audition is that I was too busy worrying about my pants that I couldn’t worry about my playing, I just did what I had practiced for so long. My audition took care of itself, without my nerves getting in the way.

So don’t let your nerves control you too much. Show whoever you’re auditioning for what you can do, and if they don’t want to use you, move on. Such is the life of an entertainer. Thanks for reading, if you have your own audition story leave a comment! I’ll update again soon!

The desire to be a part of something larger than ourselves is a longing that God gave humankind when He first made us. Of course the only complete fulfillment of that desire is a relationship with God himself, but there are other, wonderful ways to become a part of something that is not possible alone, that exists only through a the weaving and intertwining of our lives with the lives of others.

Theatre is one such instance. Theatre is only possible through the extended effort of many persons coming together for a time to create something outside of themselves, yet somehow still comes from within them. This even includes audience members, who are drawn in for the short moments of a production and invited to become a part of this larger effort. This is one aspect of theatre that makes it so irrisistable to me. Even though I may have never met any of the people in a certain audience, for the few moments that I have with them we share life together, and even though we may never see each other again, we will have always shared that short time together. If this is the relationship that can form between a cast and an audience, think of what relationships are possible inside a cast!

This concept of community is beautifully illustrated in the video below, a collaboration of over 2,000 singers from all parts of the world brought together for one song through the miracle of YouTube. The choir was the brainchild of composer Eric Whitacre, who composed and conducted the song, entitled, “Sleep.” Learn more at ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir.

Jerry Cohagan, professor of theatre at Olivet Nazarene University told me, “I believe that theatre, at its best, can be worship.” I can see why this is true, for a few reasons. One is that through theatre, and the community it builds, we are affirming the desires God has placed within us, and in doing so, we may draw closer to Him.

I’m pretty new to this whole blog thing, but I thought I would follow Kenny and begin with some of my own thoughts about why we’re working to get Origin started. It’s always been my dream to have theatre be my day job, and what better way to make sure that happens than helping to direct a theatre company? I’ve noticed that even though it’s not a lifelong dream of mine to work as a pizza delivery boy, as long as I’m onstage or at least involved in theatre in some way, I’m content. In some ways theatre gives me my purpose, I feel like it’s what I was meant to do. And without it I’m dying a little, kind of like what Kenny has mentioned. Theatre makes an impact. Theatre helps you discover, dream, and imagine beyond what we thought possible. All of us at Origin believe in the power of theatre, and also believe that more people need to experience excellent theatre.

We’ve already had some positive feedback on our idea of producing children’s theatre, traveling to schools branching out from the Kankakee area to perform short plays adapted from fables, required reading, and creative writing from the students themselves. That means hopefully, eventually, we will be going to a different school nearly every day of the week to put on a show. When that happens, theatre will officially be my day job! So there are a lot of things to be excited about, but also a lot of details to cover. My mini project right now is drafting a letter to send to surrounding schools to ask if we could come and perform for them. I’ve never had the desire to re-enter high school, yet here I am, officially requesting permission to visit every one in a 25 mile radius.

If you have any ideas on what we could do to market ourselves or what we could dramatize, let me know at merrick@theorigintheatre.org

So here we go! I’ve never written consistently, so I can’t promise I’ll be faithful, but I’ll try to keep everyone updated with what I’m doing, as well as what’s going on with Origin, as at least some of this blog will be on Origin’s site also. So wish me luck!