An Infomational Audition
On May 24th I was invited to audition for the Landestheater for some potential solo roles for next season. I think for many reasons it was one of the best auditions I've done. First, I was already familiar with the theater and know what the acoustics are like from the main stage. Also, I was familiar with the accompanist who played for me, since he also played for my original audition, as well as all the people who sat in the audience and heard me sing. Finally, I was familiar with Coburg itself and didn't have to travel or sleep in a hotel or take a long train ride to get to the audition. For all these reasons it is really no wonder that I felt really relaxed and at ease when I walked out onstage to sing. I also tried to keep my own advice from the last several months and just be as relaxed and confident as possible.
After I rehearsed my two arias with the accompanist, we went downstairs to the main stage to wait in the wings for my turn. There was one girl who sang before me, then I sang, and then two tenors sang after me. After I sang my first aria I think everyone looked a little surprised. I know it was good surprised, but maybe they weren't expecting my aria (Non so piu) to sound that good in the big hall. Big hall, big pipes, good combination. Anyway, they asked to hear something else and I sang my big "Trouble in Tahiti" aria because they do a lot of musicals and light opera here and the director of Tacoma Opera said that is an aria I should always bring with me to auditions so people can see my personality right away. After I sang the two arias, I was told by the General Music Director that they would talk amongst themselves and get back to me and that was that. I was only onstage for about 10 minutes, but that was at least longer than the girl who went before me and only sang one thing.
When I got back home from the audition my roommate came home about 20 minutes later. She came right up to me and gave me a big hug and told me what a great job I did. Apparently it's common for theater employees to sneak up into the third balcony and listen to the auditions. So unbeknownst to me, there were about 8 people, including my roommate, up in the balcony watching the auditions that day. I eventually found out who they were, but I think it's for the best that I didn't know they were hiding up there.
Labels: Theater Life
Catching Up
Well, it looks like it's been a few weeks since I last posted, so I wanted to write a hello and catch everyone up on life in Coburg.
Hello Dolly Comes to an End in Bamberg
On April 18, 19, and 20 the Landestheater took Hello Dolly on the road to Bamberg. It was our last three performances of that show and I think we really went out in style. Bamberg is a very beautiful old city about an hour away from Coburg by bus. On the afternoon of our performances, we would load up our charter bus about three hours before show time and head out. The fields along the (mostly country) roads leading to Bamberg were in full bloom as spring finally decided to make an appearance. The theater in Bamberg is nestled among lots of windy little streets where cute shops and restaurants hide around every corner. A group of us from the choir tried a new restaurant each night, which was really fun. I tried to order something each night that I knew I couldn't get back in Coburg. My personal favorite was sushi night. :)
The performances themselves were interesting because the stage, wings, and dressing rooms in the theater are vastly different than in Coburg. The stage itself is smaller and some of the sets had to be trimmed to fit the stage. However, there were still the same number of people trying to move around onstage, meaning we had to tread carefully to make sure we didn't tip over into the orchestra pit! The wings of the stage were also different, with one side being so narrow that the chorus was literally pinched together before one scene when we all have to enter en masse from that side of the stage. Finally, the compact dressing rooms were located two flights of stairs up from the stage, meaning in between our entrances we had to climb back upstairs to get changed and then go back down for our next entrance. Needless to say, although it was fun to take our show on the road, there really is no place like home!
Premiere of Jesus Christ SuperstarAt the end of April we had our premiere of Jesus Christ Superstar. The preparations for this show were very intense and even though everyone was very tired, the adrenaline was definitely pumping on opening night. I have a few solo lines in the show so I have to wear a cordless microphone that's taped to my cheek and wrapped around to the port that I wear around my waist. Soundcheck for the mics means I have to be at the theater early every evening, but getting to stand like a rock star onstage and belt out my favorite tunes for the sound technician makes it worthwhile.
We had heard several weeks ago that tickets were selling fast for this show, but I was not expecting the crazed mass of people that cheered for us after the performance. I have never seen the theater so full before and our curtain call lasted probably about 15 mintues. The energy that poured onto stage from those 500+ people who came to hear us was really incredible and now I think I understand why groups like the Rolling Stones don't ever stop touring. It really is an amazing experience to have people clapping and cheering and whistling for you. Oh, and there's even stomping, too. When German audience members are really pumped, they also stamp their feet so it sounds like this crazy rumbling roar coming from the audience. Very very cool.
Next SeasonSince Jesus Christ Superstar was our last premiere for the 2006/2007 season, musical rehearsals now are focusing on next season. We have started rehearsals for the first two operas (La Boheme and Frau Luna) that will premiere at the end of September and in October.
Also, I was recently asked by the opera stage manager (who used to sing professional opera) if I would be interested in forming a musical troupe to sing in a set of shows next year. He has performed these shows in three other theaters around Germany and they are sets of nostalgic songs with poems and comic scenes interspersed throughout. The shows are based in different time periods, including the turn of the century, 20s-30s, 40s-50s and 60s. I saw a video of a production and it looks like a ton of fun. The shows will most likely be in the smaller Reithalle theater, which seats 100.
Finally, I was asked by the general music director if I would like to come in for an audition to sing a couple things as a soloist for next season. He said they have me in mind already for some things but want me to do a formal audition for the rest of the staff. I'm a little nervous about this audition, but a date and time hasn't been set up yet, so I guess now all I can do is drag out my audition music again and keep practicing! I'll keep you posted as to what happens.
Labels: Theater Life
