I Hit the Ground Running!

     Since I arrived here on Sept. 1, I've been doing A LOT of auditions, especially after I found a place to live.  That is always a huge hurdle and feels soooo good once jumped! 
     I live in Harlem, just north of Central Park.  117th Street is a quiet, tree-lined, one-way street  but close enough to the bank on the corner, a large grocery across Lennox Boulevard and the 2/3 subway a few feet away.  It's an excellent location!
     I share the apartment with another actor, Walter, who currently is in a show which is part of the Irish Theater Festival.  He's an EXCELLENT actor, btw!
     The city is full of surprises, even though there are many shows on TV based here.  For example, Central Park has rocky cliffs in it, which I've never seen on TV.  The northern part of the park and down its west side, is full of hills and trees.
     Another surprise is the subway.  There are many parts that look just like London but many others that have long, large tunnels, many shops and last night, a group of three old black dudes about my age, singing a capella spirituals and rocking the roof!  Before you could blink, they asked me to join in...what fun!
     However, I had to soon get to class, lead by Dale Brown of "Tara Rubin Casting."  We sing songs there and Dale gives us his impressions.  He's very humble about it but has been in the business a long time and really knows what he's talking about.  At the end, several agents will come to watch and maybe some of us will get signed. 
     At the first class, I sang "New York, New York" and "Cellophane Man," a song from the musical, "Chicago."  I don't think I made much of an impression, especially with a somewhat clogged throat so this week, I wanted to "bust loose" and do a song that I feel that can rock, "Great Balls of Fire."  I had sung the song earlier in the day in an audition and it seemed to get a BIG reaction and I was hoping to get a similar one...but it didn't happen, not here, anyway.  However, I really think that there is a time and place for this song, especially if I want to release the showman inside of me.
     Dale then had me sing another.  I chose, "Guv'ment." a song from "Big River," also a song that lets me let loose more than the pretty songs typically sung by lots of people.
     I particularly like the funny songs the other people in class sing!  It can really let their personalities show.  Already, there are tooooo many wonderful singers here...but not actors!  ;)  It's up to the actors to take back center stage!
     For lunch today, I'll be meeting up with a guy who was a student of mine in my classes in Rotterdam, ten years ago.  He's an amazing guitarist working here. 
     After that, I'm off to a TV audition, some sort of version of "Myth Busters" but having to do with sports.  All for now...