Sunday, February 12, 2012

Most Guys Have No Lyrics Left...

I think I am set to write another blog. All "writer's block fighting substances" are both within arms reach and consumed. Now. Where to begin...?

Everything's ready! See you on March 1st!


Sincerely,
Cry-Baby Foizey







...You just got Punk'd. SRSLY.--- Scott posted something today on his FB. He said something about "18 days away from opening." Ummmmmm...Yikes. Now, I'm not "worried" in a sense that I don't believe we are nearing being ready or that we won't be. I'm merely shocked at A.) how time has flown and B.) how it's hit me that in the next two weeks things are going to fall into place. And I am excited for that. I WANT MY LEATHER JACKET!...(In my trailer, please). The set is on it's way in, providing us a home for our alternative John Water's Brainland. I have now tried on a few articles of what, soon, will make me look way cooler than I am in real life (Thanks, Amy). And I have met the "sound guy" and the "lighting guy," (for lack of knowing their names). You know what all of this means?...I'll tell you:

Given the talents I have come to know in this show, even from day 1, we have always had a "good show." But now?...Now we are dangerously close to a good production. And what's exciting about that is, for us as a cast , rehearsing and adding all of these new elements makes the show as fresh to us as our first read thru. In a sense, we get to experience this show from square 1. Once again the show becomes different every time we rehearse (because it was kinda stagnant for a while. Fun. But stagnant. Blocking is a tedious but necessary process). Now we get to experience the show in it's entirety and in succession like you will when you come see it (BECAUSE YOU WILL COME SEE IT!!). I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do...And I think you will.

You just bought tickets....It's called sales. (ABC-Always Be Closing, suckers!)

SO!...As you can see, there are definitely rainbows and unicorns all over what's about to hit the stage. Good times, happiness and fun. But, I've got work to do. Personally. I'll write to tell you about what's great and awesome. But as a reader, I like honesty. So here it is...

I'm having a tough time harnessing Cry-Baby's character for any length of time. There are good parts. Parts that are visceral, honest and accurate. But they seem to stick around only for a few moments. I can't put my finger on what is yanking me from my focus. But, it needs to knock it off. The times I feel most like CB is when he's pissed. For some reason, I don't know why, CB is most honest when he is angry. Mainly because, I think, he is angry. And there are parts of me that are angry. Now I just have to find the parts of me that are misunderstood and in love. I think adding these elements I mentioned earlier: costume, set, props, sound etc.. will help to keep my mind where it is supposed to be. When people look like they are in the same world that my brain is supposed to be in. When the "mini stage" is more than for corners composed of chairs and the mic I sing into is chrome and dope. I know adding these things takes time...

But it's time.

Basically it comes down to this: We have a great show. But, now it gets exponentially better from here out...Hang on. I'm going to "smoke a square." (*insert think time*)

Okay. Now that Baldwin is good and dead, I can get into what I am most excited about.. I am amazed at what Scott is able to both see and fix from behind the show sitting at a keyboard. But, I think I speak for all of us when I say, I can't wait for him to get in front of us and work the shows most intimate details and dead space that aids in our/my dropping focus. For him to see what the audience will see, more so than he already does. I hear he works wonders at this point in the process and I'm anxious to see what newness is still kept secret after almost two months of rehearsal. It's in there and I can feel it.

The choreography is cleaning itself. The harmonies are both rediscovered and earning their place. The other characters are exciting and learning things about themselves. And, the cast is growing hungrier for a responsive house.---> All ingredients for a good review. We got to move into the performance space a few days sooner than expected. This helps, too. The way that New Line operates and thinks is A.) smart, B.) inviting, C.) exciting, D.) raw and E.) original. I feel fortunate to get to be a part of such a great company and in the company of such great people. I'm also fortunate to get to say that this, officially, will not be my only New Line show. I won't pull focus from "Cry-Baby," but I am anxious to just mention that I am very much looking forward to "High Fidelity." Word.


SHOUT OUTS!
  • Lenora: Stop breaking my character focus, you hilariously crazy biotch.
  • Pepper: Get your tubes tied.
  • Allison: I read your blog. You're your own worst critic. You're totally owning this character. Remember what we talked about, the other day? If you're uncomfortable, you're doing it right.
  • Mona: Nice face! Good lookin' out.
  • Dupree: Teach me how to do the splits.
  • Baldwin: If I wasn't required to hate you, I would go for you over Allison. Humor is the way to a man's heart.
  • "Director Guy": I knew I could trust you.
  • Whiffles: You are so whiffly. It's fun knowing you off stage. If the audience only knew...
  • The guy who plays "Everyone Else": Who else could do what you can?...I'd genuinely like to know.
  • Wanda: Keep praying. It looks good on you.
  • Jennifer (who I just nicknamed "Moment Maker"):  Your moments are a couple of my favorite. I'll never get over it. And that's awesome.
  • "Everyone Else" and Allison: Let's get moving on "Drop Dead Fred."
  • Jared: Keep up the good work. (Who's Jared?)...He's my friend. Don't worry about it.
  • Mufasa: You inspired me.
  • Santorum: Stop it. 
  • Nicholas Cage: you're welcome to "stop it," too.

I think that's about it. 

My wine is gone,
Mr. Walker