New Year New York

I haven't written a blog in a very long time. I'm not saying that now that it is 2007 I'll be better at it, but perhaps this year will bring me so much to tell everyone that I won't be able to resist!

I am still here in NYC following my heart and achieving my destiny. I have been to many places and done many things since I last wrote. I have finally become a member of Actor's Equity association through doing a show at Mt. Gretna Playhouse over last summer. Right after I got back to the city I booked a show in the NY Musical Theater Festival (The Screams of Kitty Genovese) and that was amazing. While I was in rehearsal for that I was asked to come in to audition for a production of Guys and Dolls which was to perform at the Macao International Music Festival in China. I got the gig and performed the role of General Cartwright. It was a blast. We had a 38 piece orchestra in the pit and the theater was sold out every night. All 2000 seats! The best part is that it brought Justin & I back to working together in the same show! How I loved it... even if I really didn't get to see him that much cause he did a lot in the show and I only had like 2 scenes. Although... they did write a reprise of Sit Down You're Rockin the Boat just for me! That was something else!

As for a day job, I have been working at MetLife with my roommate Nathan. (Although he is about to leave me for a wonderful apartment on his own--- which I totally understand and say if I could afford it, Lord knows I'd be doing it too!) They are great at MetLife and while it is a temp job I like it there. They understand where my goals are and know that if I were to get a show I would leave.

There were many things that happened last year... Equity card... Met some people who will be life long friends... James B. Kerri. Lisa H. Piper A. On and on... And on Dec 4th I had a really amazing experience. I had my first (of many to come) Broadway callback. It was for Disney's The Little Mermaid and I was called back for the ensemble. In truth though... I think I was called back as a possible Ursula understudy. I was amazed to actually get the callback really. I did the EPA way back on Oct 3rd. (I only remember the date because I thought it was funny that I was doing an audition for the show on the day Disney was releasing the 2 disk dvd of the movie) It had been 2 months since I auditioned and I hadn't heard anything until that moment. Tara Rubin is casting the show and she was at the door and brought me into the room. She complimented me on my coat (it was gold and fabulous!) I thanked her. I met the assistant Music director Brian and they had me sing. I sang the song that had gotten me the call in the first place- Love you Didn't Do RIght By Me- from White Christmas the movie. Lovely jazz ballad and NO ONE does it! Brian when I was done said how that was one of his favorite songs and asked what else could I do. I offered him a lyric soprano or a big belty number. He asked for the lyric so I sang How Could I Ever Know from Secret Garden. He said how that was another of his favorite songs. He looked at Tara Rubin and there occurred a silent communication between them. She turned to me and asked me if I needed to be any where right away. I said I was happy to wait. She said, well we want you to go back out into the hall because we want to you sing for a mystery guest when they arrive. I happily called into MetLife to say I might be a little later than I thought and I sat down to await the arrival of the Mystery Guest. It was only about 30 to 40 minutes later when a man went into the room. Tara came out and asked my back in. Brian said why don't you sing from the bridge out in Love you didn't... I said sure and I sang it. Then he asked for the end of How could I ever know... I did that. The mystery guest asked Do you have anything balls out big and belty? I offered up The end section of the Lilias White version of Brotherhood of Man from How to Succeed. He said that was fine. I sang that very well. He turned to them nodded and got up and left. There were 3 other people who he was supposed to see by this point, but he only saw me. They were to bring the others back another time. And that was that... my first callback (really my first 2 callbacks) for a major broadway show. And I couldn't have asked for anything to go better. I left there knowing that there wasn't a note I could have sung better, a song or style I wish I would have had the chance to show them. I sang all three of the songs I was deciding between when first thinking about this callback. ALL THREE of them! I looked good, sounded better, presented myself exactly as I am and I left knowing there wasn't anything more I could have done. At that point (while walking up Broadway after leaving the Hilton Theater-where the audition happened) I looked up and said to God... It's yours now. There isn't anything more I could have done. It's up to you now. And that is true. Even know I know that to be true...... Well..... I don't believe I got it. They are almost through with casting and from the message boards it looks like they are going a different way with Ursula. It was possibly to be Emily Skinner (who I actually look a lot like), but it looks like they changed their minds and now are casting skinny Sheri Renee Scott. Who I look NOTHING like! :o) Well at least it isn't because I wasn't good enough. I just wasn't right for what they decided to do. The cast list isn't out yet, so I think I'll always have it in the back of my mind that there is still some reason to hope... but I just don't think it is meant to be right now (no matter how wonderfully the timing was lined up to my life. Reh begin March... Out of town run in Denver in July which is just a short car ride for my grandparents from Goodland- back to the city and opening on Broadway in November. Perfect... but alas...looks like the Lord has something else in store for me.) Anyway... it wasvery exciting to be in a situation like that and realize that I did more than just hold my own... I was shining so brightly. And I will again.

In fact... I didn't do too badly in an audition I had yesterday. It was for the first Equity production in the US of Jerry Springer the Opera. I went in and sang my tooshie off. (3 songs) and they asked me to come back today and dance. It was a tap call which I loved! Had a great time and did it well. I don't know what will come of it all, but it was fun. Nathan was even called back too! It's on our list of things to do... do another show together... I think we specifically said Broadway show together, but who knows... maybe it will transfer to Broadway if we get in it! How nice would that be!

Before that starts rehearsal (if I get it) I have actually been asked to do a one woman show based on the life of jazz singer Mildred Bailey. She was a big gal like me and had the most versitile voice. So it is an honor to be helping to create a show using her music as a storyteller for her life. I'm working with Kirby Gosnell on that and we will be recording a demo pretty quickly here over the weekend of Feb 16th & 17th. Looks like the show might be produced by 2 equity theaters somewhere in NY state- so there would be a short run at each. Gotta love that! A new show.. just for me... singing jazz like I love to sing. How I wish it could be done here in the city too! Well maybe, just maybe that is in the future for it.

Well anyway... that is pretty much all that is going on in my life. Nothing on the romance side... not really looking actually. Just concentrating on my career. Men take up too much time anyway... :o) always demanding your time... that too will come when it is meant.

I suppose I named this post "New Year New York" because besides turning 30 like I do next month, I know that this will be a huge year for me and my career. Things are happening. I am here finally in the place I am meant to be in the time I am meant to be here. And things are happening. SO I'll just keep trudging away. Walking in faith. Walking with love and determination. Always forward...even when it seems like the path has turned back...it really hasn't... it is always going on...

Thank you for being an important part of my life. I am so glad you are here.
Loving you!
Shawna