Interview: Andrew Keenan-Bolger Talks ‘Newsies’, ‘Submissions Only’ and How To Dance With a Crutch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:03 — 11.7MB)

After talking to Andrew Keenan-Bolger, who play’s ‘Crutchie’ in Disney’s new Broadway musical, Newsies, I feel like a slacker.

Andrew created the role of ‘Crutchie’ from it’s first read-through to it’s run at the Paper Mill Playhouse and now in it’s limited engagement at the Nederlander Theatre. And if starring in a Broadway show wasn’t enough, he’s also the co-creator, producer, director and star of the incredibly hot web-series, Submissions Only. The show follows a group of friends in New York City as they go on auditions and callbacks and is always fun to watch with generally laugh out loud moments.

All of his time is spent on both shows and various other projects that he’s juggling, and he even told me that when he’s not on stage in the second act of Newsies, you can find him on his computer editing video. “I perform better, I think, when there’s a lot going on,” he said. 

Andrew’s been in the Broadway productions of Mary Poppins, Beauty and The Beast, and Seussical, TV shows and film. He’s funny and quick and just talking to him gave me a huge jolt of energy.

I talked to him about auditioning, Submissions Only, Newsies and how to dance with a crutch. 

Follow Andrew on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube and check out his blog! Read more

In order to succeed you must BE. DO. HAVE.

Written by Jamison Haase, L.A. On-Camera Training Center

Most actors start at the end.

Most actors after having moved to Los Angeles right away set about trying to find an agent. They think to themselves, “I need an agent in order to get auditions so that can be the TV/Film actor/star that I want to be.”

They struggle to find an agent, or on the very outside chance find someone, but still rarely get auditions, let alone callbacks and bookings. Over time, they grow more and more frustrated, and shed more and more tears not realizing that they were doomed from the start.

Ultimately, they were really saying, “Once I have the career I want, THEN I’ll start working hard, and THEN I’ll be the person I want to be.” You don’t have to be caught in that cycle. I know, because I was thinking that way when I first started; spending five years of my life not understanding the key to real success. 

One simple phrase, “Be, do, have.” Read more

The Hustle of Modern Hollywood According to Christine Lakin

To many, the Hollywood lifestyle still seems like a glamorous dream. The actors we idolize seem impervious to the pitfalls of average Americans.  However, even the entertainment industry has been affected by the current economic crisis.  Just like every other industry, fewer jobs are available now than in recent years, and the competition for the jobs that are open is even more cutthroat.

Christine Lakin has been acting since her teenage years, when she appeared as a series regular on the 90s sitcom Step by Step.  She has also been featured in more than two dozen series and 17 movies. However, like most of the country, she has seen her career and life change dramatically over the past few years. Now, instead of a constant slew of various auditions and offers, she is adjusting to creatively expanding her search and working in different parts of the industry.  

Lakin echoes sentiments being uttered in nearly every industry in the country.  “In the past five or six years, studios are not doing as many films. And that means that you have more movie stars going into television — not just to star in series, but also to do three-or-four-episode guest roles,” she states. “And that trickles down to people like me, and pushes a lot of us into the category where we’re just trying to make a living.”   Read more

Interview: Michael Steger on ’90210′, How He Got His Start and Bad Auditions

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 12:07 — 8.4MB)

90210 just started its fourth season and the kids from West Beverly High School are growing up. Some are headed to college and some are going right into the world to make a name for themselves.

Michael Steger’s character, Navid Shirazi, is doing the latter; taking over his father’s porn business (man, if my dad had a porn business….) and trying to make it into something legitimate.

I talked to Michael recently where he said that Navid is basically a 19-year-old kid “trying to find himself.” We talked about his time on the show and how he dealt with the new showrunners, how he got his start and one particularly bad audition.

Follow Michael on Twitter!

90210 airs on the CW on Tuesdays at 8/9c

For the full interview, click the audio link above or download it from iTunes

You have new show runners this year. When that happens, how does that work?  Do they call you and talk to you about your character, or so it more like, “This is the direction we want to go?”

Michael Steger: Well, we were always kind of, you know, a bit nervous because we didn’t know what to expect, but they all made appointments with us. We had like an hour-and-a-half meeting about character and it was great because, you know, they mentioned that they were really big fans of the show, that they really didn’t want to change it. They just wanted to continue it and add on to it because they really dug what Rebecca [ ] did the past few seasons. So it was a seemless transition where they wanted to continue the exploration of the character.  Read more

LEGOLAND California’s 2011 Halloween season – BRICK OR TREAT

LEGOLAND California’s 2011 Halloween season – BRICK OR TREAT

GENERAL INFORMATION:

LEGOLAND California is seeking strong character actors and actresses to be a part of their 2011 Halloween season, known as BRICK OR TREAT.

We are casting for Mail Order Monsters a live stage show as well as Boo Crew characters (See below for descriptions)

Auditions will take place at LEGOLAND California. Directions listed below.

AUDITIONS FOR ADULTS:

We are casting multiple adults (ages 16 and up) for various roles (Please see character descriptions). Auditions for adults take place on Monday, July 25th and Tuesday, July 26th starting at 5:00PM. All auditions are held by appointment. To schedule your appointment, please email auditions@legoland.com

Adults should prepare 2 comedic monologue, which demonstrate distinctively different characters. Each monologue should be no longer than 1 minute in length. Please bring a current photo and resume.

CALLBACKS:

Callbacks for all roles take place on Thursday, July 28that 6:00PM sharp

PAY:

All roles pay $20.00 per hour for performances and $14.00 per hour for rehearsals and training.

REHEARSAL/ PERFORMANCES:

To see the full production calendar, please visit our website at www.legoland.com/auditions

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:

MAIL ORDER MONSTERS (A live stage show):

Howlin’ Howie (Male): A werewolf who needs to learn to howl and be scary. He starts as like a wimp (Ala cowardly lion) but is taught to harness his inner Howler (and Bronx attitude.)

Zac the Zombie (Male): Zac starts as a prim and proper zombie who is well dressed. He has a British accent and a limber physicality (Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz). As the show progresses he learns to grunt and walk more stiffly like a real zombie would.

Jester Funnybones (Male or Female): The jester is a magical and mischievous Halloween expert who is willing to help but only for a price. He/she is upbeat and funny as long as it serves his/her purpose.

Hubble Bubble (Female): She is a witch who only bakes cakes, no potions. She is dressed as a Susie Homemaker (June Cleaver type) but with the help of the audience has a drastic transformation in looks and attitude. By the end of the show she learns to cackle, brew nasty potions and become a stereotypical witch.

Understudies: We are casting one male and one female understudy to play any combination of the roles above. The understudies might also perform as Boo Crew entertainers if they are not used in the live stage show.

BOO CREW

The Boo Crew operates multiple functions of the Brick or Treat party nights. They act as show hosts, general entertainers, character actors and guest service ambassadors throughout the park. Two members cast as Boo Crew will be trained as understudies for Mail Order Monsters.

Scarecrows (Male or Female): Strong character actors with equally strong, family friendly improvisational skills. Must be able to turn bullet points into full character bits. Will provide directions and general information to guests in a humorous fashion. Able to interact with guests, in character, while maintaining strong humor.

Howlin’ Howie (Male): A typical werewolf with an attitude. This Character interacts with kids and conducts Howlin’ contests to find the best “Howler of the Hour”. (This is a different performer than the one that appears in the live stage show)

Hubble Bubble (Female): A nice witch who loves to dance! Hubble Bubble and her sidekick, Zany Zelda throw a raging dance party all night long with the kids. Actresses should be in good physical condition and able to dance with kids for up to 4 hours straight. (This is a different performer than the one that appears in the live stage show)

Zany Zelda (Female): A freestyle witch with a “rockin” attitude. Zelda loves to dance and party all night long! Actresses should be in good physical condition and able to dance with kids for up to 4 hours straight.

BRICK OR TREAT Party Nights Emcee (Male or Female): Host of the costume contest with improvisational skills. Good microphone vocals and strong stage presence needed. Able to efficiently communicate with concise instructions to guests in an entertaining manner.

An Easy Solution to the Audition Waiting Game

Written by Dallas Travers, CEC

A lot of actors express frustration about not having access to their dream auditions.

They say that if only they could “get in the room” they’d be able to book the job.  Perhaps you don’t need to “get in the room” at all before auditioning for a role you desire.  Maybe you can instead film an audition for that dream role and submit your DVD to the producer, casting director, or director of the film.

Did you know that Vera Farmiga landed the role of Madelyn in Martin Scorsese’s film, The Departed because she created an audition tape and sent it directly to Mr. Scorsese?

Mick Brown interviewed Farmiga for the August, 2008 edition of The Telegraph where he wrote, “In lieu of attending auditions, whenever she read a script that interested her she would make a mini home-movie of the character she wanted to play, acting out the part while a friend fed her lines. ‘With the program on a Mac you could really edit it in a very clever way, fade in and fade out, have intimacy with the mikes, the lighting, and have the luxury of takes – you could make yourself as ugly or as beautiful as you wanted. They always resulted in a meeting – a flight over to Los Angeles to meet the director. Even if at the end of it all I didn’t get the role it would be fine because I’d already executed it in my own living-room’.”
Read more

NYC: Auditions for ‘Stomp’ April 25th!

STOMP AUDITIONS IN NEW YORK CITY, APRIL 25 2011

STOMP, the international sensation, is holding auditions for extremely athletic men and women between the ages of 18 and 35 for the New York City company and the national tour.

STOMP is a non-union percussion and movement piece.  However, members of Actors Equity and other unions are not excluded from auditioning.  Percussionists who move well, and dancers with percussion skills are ideal.

Auditions will begin Monday April 25 2011.  Sign up takes place between 10 AM and 2 PM.  You must sign up on Monday to audition; no late sign up will be accepted.

Wear hard soled shoes or boots. No heels, sneakers or tap shoes.  BE PREPARED TO MOVE.

Auditions take place at The Orpheum Theatre, 126 Second Avenue between East 7th & St. Mark’s Place in Manhattan.

People auditioning must meet U.S. employment eligibility requirements and should be prepared to stay in the NYC area at their own expense through April 30^th as callbacks may last this long.

For more information, please visit stomponline.com/auditions.

If you are unable to attend these dates and would like to be considered for future auditions, please send your headshot and resume to:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Liebhart-Casting-NYC/152812568083328 or Vince Liebhart Casting, 70A Greenwich Avenue #102, New York NY 10011

Rob McClure: “I didn’t start really working a lot until I stopped striving to be the actors I admired and started to just embrace me”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:39 — 12.9MB)

If you’re anywhere near San Diego, I highly recommend going to see the new musical, Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin at the La Jolla Playhouse.

Written by Tony Award winner Thomas Meehan (Hairspray, The Producers, Annie) with music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis, it follows Chaplin’s life from his early days in London, his rise to be the greatest film star in the world and his downfall from scandal.

The show is fantastic and one reasons for that is its star, Rob McClure. He plays Chaplin and from the moment he walks on stage to the minute the show is over, you will have witnessed something special. I seriously cannot say enough good things about his performance.

I talked to Rob about the show, his research, how he got his equity card and a whole lot more! (And be sure to check out his incredible advice to actors!)

For the full interview, click onto the audio link above or download from iTunes.

How did you get the part?

Rob: About 3 months ago my agent called and said they were doing a Charlie Chaplin musical. And believe it or not maybe about a year ago I mentioned to my wife, “You know, I would love to play Charlie Chaplin one day…” – and I started to think, “Maybe one day if I get the time I’ll write one.” Little did I know that Tom Meehan, like Tony Award winning Tom Meehan was already on it [LAUGHTER] and he and Chris Curtis had written it this amazing show.

So my agent called me and they scheduled an audition and I went in and I had about 3 callbacks. I was doing a show in Boston at the time so I was taking the train down every Monday on my day off to go to these callbacks. And the final callback was probably about 5 o’clock on a Monday and they said, “Well, what time do you need to get back to Boston the next day?” I said, “Well I should probably be on a train around noon” and they said, “Ok, well come back tomorrow at 10” – and I live in Philadelphia so I was going, “Okay! [LAUGHTER] This is going to be a little crazy” And then they said, “And have a minute long Chaplinesque thing ready.”

So I’m like, “Oh great, it’s 5 o’clock on Monday and by 10 o’clock tomorrow morning come up with a minute of…genius, essentially.” [LAUGHTER] So, I went home and was up till 3 o’clock in the morning with my wife trying to come up with something and finally we came up with something for Flight of the Bumblebee. I brought in the music for Flight of the Bumblebee and a fly swatter and it was basically me versus an invisible bee. [LAUGHTER] And that was sort of the final audition before they offered me the part.

But I felt a…I felt a strange connection with Chaplin for a long time. My great-aunt Marion always used to tell me growing up that I looked like Chaplin and she was sort of the only person around me that would reference him a lot. So she used to tell me growing up that I look a lot like him. So I’m in this audition process, I’ve gone to 2 callbacks, and my aunt Tressa – her daughter, my great-aunt Marion passed away maybe about a year ago – my aunt Tressa, her daughter calls me and says, “We were going through your aunt Marion’s storage stuff and she painted a 5 foot portrait of Charlie Chaplin – do you want it, cause I know she always used to tell you that you look like Charlie Chaplin” and I said, “You’re not going to believe where I’ve been all week…” And 2 days later I got the part and she gave me the picture.

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Performer Track’s Brian Vermeire: “If you don’t treat this like a business, it’ll be treated like a hobby”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:29 — 27.8MB)

Performer Track is an online tool for actors to track their career. Not only does it give you organizational tools but it also help you track your auditions, workshops, submissions and so much more.

I talked with Brian Vermeire, one of the main guys behind Performer Track. He loves his product and from talking to the people who use it, they love it as well.

We talked for a good while so this is only part of the interview but Brian has a lot of good information to give. Click on the audio portion (or download it off iTunes) above for more.

For more details, go to performertrack.com. And as a bonus, if you use code: FRLC9 you’ll get 2 months off your first year!

You started the company?

Brian Vermeire: Yeah, it started about 10 years ago. It all came out of a need. I was the “typical performer.” Every time I got called by my agent, by my manager, by a random casting director who could get a hold of me directly I would quickly grab a sheet of paper, a scrap piece of paper, or a sticky note—whatever I could write on—and I would quickly jot down where I’m going. When it came to going to the audition, I would lose the information, I would have to call my agent, “Where am I going again? Who am I meeting with? Okay, okay.”

And it never mattered to me. What mattered to me was being the best performer. I’d go in there and give it my all and then just forget about it. I did Meisner for a couple of years, and I was told by other acting teachers that I had to just go audition and then forget about it, which is a huge disservice to your business as a performer. And it’s an awful thing to do for your business. In realizing I was doing everything completely wrong, without ever understanding that it was wrong, I just thought, “No, I don’t want to be bogged down with that information. I’ll just go do it and if I get it, I get it. That’s all I need to know.

I was watching my friend at the time, and every time she got called by her representation, she would always get out the same college ruled notebook and pull it open, she would rattle off  the same questions, have everything in her mind and ask the questions in a very succinct, rhythmic order. And she would put everything in one spot. And I thought that was genius, that’s great, I should do that. So I made myself one and we were carrying those around and it didn’t take too long before our friends started asking us “Hey, how do I get one?”

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Independent Producer/Director Zak Forsman’s advice to actors

This post is one of three in a series of posts from the San Diego Film Festival. If you ever get a chance you really should go. Great films, great people and incredible access to filmmakers.

The festival is in — and I would have posted these sooner but I had some major audio issues and transcribing the panels were difficult.

Zak Forsman is a writer, director and producer of independent films. His films are mostly improvised which makes all of the performances look completely real.

Take a couple minutes to read what he said on the panel. It’s a peek on what the other side is thinking… and if you look at it from an actors perspective, it can be excellent advice.

Zak Forsman:
How many filmmakers are in the audience?  Because that’s about all I can share.  I can’t really share the actor’s point of view on this.  But I can tell you some lessons I’ve learned and some of the experiences that I’ve had and what I’m hoping for.

The key thing that I’m looking for with an actor is whether they’re able to internalize direction and actually make a change.

So, we provide them with 2-3 pages of sides.  They’ll come in.  They’re asked to read it however they’ve prepared it, and if that goes well enough and we like them, I’ll give them an adjustment that could be ridiculous.  It could be off the wall.  But I would like to see them chase a different objective using the same words to see if they can truly internalize my direction and be authentic.

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