Life in da theatre

So early last week was spent in Milwaukee and Chicago. Oddly enough, I spent about a grand total of an hour and a half collectively in each city(travel included). I sped into town last Monday during a horrendous winter storm and auditioned for about 15 theatres in Milwaukee (I made it just in time). Chicago the next day was a much less harrowing experience, as I parked my car at the Cumberland Transit station and rode the El into downtown to audition in a tiny AEA office stuffed with actors overdressed or underdressed for Cincinatti Playhouse in the Park. Right after my 3 minute audition, I headed back to the train and shot out of town. Admittedly, it'd be easier to be in Chicago doing this stuff, but with general auditions being the crapshoots that they are, I feel I'm doing everything for my career that I can within reason.

Some guy just accidently hit me in the head with his flimsy plastic sandwich-board sign as he left the car I was in for the next- while the train was moving back towards Cumberland Station, of course. All in all, it was a good trip. I stayed with my sister in Madison in between auditions, and had a good visit.

I've had to saddle up recently and get back to temping- I start a week-long gig at 3M in St. Paul tomorrow. It's what I expected to be doing, having been spoiled at the Old Log Theatre for the last 5 months. I never took for granted how good I had it when I had it.

So, I'm not despairing by any means, but the unknown is back as it was before. The game is different, though. This Equity thing is what I wanted, so I'm getting used to this moniker and feeling out what it means.

So, if I don't score a summer acting gig, I have the Fringe. I'm actually excited about the project I have in mind, but I don't want to go hog wild in case I leave for the summer. Once March 14 comes around, and if I have no offers that conflict with late July/ early August, I'll be Fringing it. After that, I'll start putting things into motion. Either way I'll have someting to look forward to. It'll be an interesting few months ahead.