Broadway Director/Choreogropher as well as another Broadway Choreogropher were there. Not just one thing on broadway. The Keynote Speaker Jeff Whiting has directed-soooo many broadway shows. Hairspray, Hair, Wicked Anniversary, Jersey Boys, Young Frankenstein-off the top of my head. That's not the end of it at all. He has been in numberous broadway shows then started directing and choreographing. He actaully is from Utah and then moved to New York and has been there for a long time. I learned SO MUCH.
So, before hand I registered to audition for the Pyramid Prize at Open Jar Institute. I knew nothing about this before hand. The Open Jar Institute is a training program taught by broadway directors and stars and casting directors, etc. I registed online and got my audition to be at West Minster because I would be at UTA. So I brought a long my sheet music and was excited. It was an audition for acceptance into that training program in New York, but one lucky high school student would be chosen to go there free tuition. So any way good audition opportunity I decided to do it.
UTA started Thursday afternoon. Friday morning we heard from the keynote speaker Jeff Whiting. Holy freaking bananas. He said everything I've always wondered and wanted to hear. He told his story a little, said some experiences of him at audtions from the directors point of view to let us know what the directors are thinking. He said once he was having auditions for Hairspray. 4,000 people showed up. I won't go on about his talk but just know he is amazing and has done countless shows as director, choreogropher, casting director, as well as acting ,singing ,and dancing. Okay so he's the real deal. He is the founder of Open Jar Institute and he created it because he says when he moved to New York he learned everything the hard way and wanted to give people living in New York the reality and the current tips and connections and all that. So this is the guy I was auditioning for.
The rest of Friday there are breakout sessions with lots and lots of workshops you can choose from-from lighting to makeup to accents to dancing to acrobats to stage combat. Everything. So I went to a dance audition from a way fun guy. He was a really energetic preformer person. We danced and also he talked a little bit about dance auditions. He auditioned 64 times before he ever got told yes. Anyway, great class. Super fun!
Then 5 high schools in Utah were showing their school play and -(By the way EVERY high school in Utah is here. Lots of kids.) we went to Sweeney Todd at Judge Memorial. It was THE WIERDEST MUSICAL I HAVE EVER SEEN. Why in the world would anybody want to put that show on? It's sooo creepy and evil and dark and scary. Didn't love it. I didn't like the play but the actors actually were fantastic. But it was 3 hours!!
Okay. Sweeney Todd ended at 5. My audition started at 5. Freaking out. I was the only person from my school going to this audition but my teacher still knew and said it would be fine. We get back on the bus and go back to W.M. I run run run into the building and they said I would need to do the dance audition first because it was the last group. Usually you sing first and then dance..but since I was late I did it this way. So luckily I was wearing dance clothes. So I left all my music and bags with my friends and ran downstairs into the dance audtion room!
This was SO. FUN. Holy cow I can't express how much I loved this audition. The choreogropher, James Gray was EXACTLY. Exactly how I pictured broadway choreogrophers to be like. If you have seen the TV Show "Smash" he reminded me of the director in that. He was from England and had an English accent. He was a phoneomenal dancer and also as endless shows and tv he has choreographed and what not. He was just such the real deal...I don't know how to explain him. He wasn't mean-but he was just so professional and treated it like a professional audition. So I was a tiny bit late but still caught on. So he taught the dance combo, everyone ran it maybe...3 or 4 times. Then once in groups and then it began. He called 4 people at a time with our resumes. He called me first but I was kind of glad cause I had to hurry and go sing. So me and 3 others went out and did the combo...then we did it again and he said thank you.
I couldn't believe how he could know in that short amount of time, when it seemed like 60 percent of the time he was writing on our resumes and not watching! He watched, looked down and wrote, looked up and then it was over! I learned a TON from this. Not as far as dancing. This is what I learned: It really has almost nothing to do with the actual steps...because EVERYONE CAN DO THEM! The dance was not hard. At least if its a dance audition and dancers come...it was not hard...dance wise. This is why it's hard..because everyone can do it..you have to stand out be the one that he looks at! So yes you have to be a good dancer by adding your own personality and everything. I guess if you didn't dance you might not get it..but it wasn't like tripple pirouettes and stag leaps or anything. Just fun sharp broadway choreogrophy. I wasn't too nervous for that though it was so fun for some reason. So as far as how I did...like I said I definitely got all the steps..I have no idea as far as standing out though. Oh well I did the best I could.
So then. I run run run upstairs. Drinking water running through my song. They called my name and 2 other people. The three of us went in the auditorium together. Here comes a twist in the plot: We go to none other then Jeff Whiting himself, and he said that the accompanist actually was playing in a show that night, and she had to leave. So if we would please come to his vocal workshop Saturday morning, and audition for him then. Okay. So we left.
You may think I would be relieved..but I was kind of dissapointed because I've never felt more excited and less nervous for an audition then this one and I just was ready and in the zone, so I was dissapointed I couldn't get overwith and be done and still had to sing in the morning. But anyhow that's show business! ;) (Right Izzy?)
I could either go to his workshop at 9:30 or 11:00 so I chose the 11:00 one. At 9:30 I went to a broadway bootcamp dance one, with the same choreogropher who did the dance audition. So fun again! This guy is just the best! His accent is glorious. He gave some amazing tips and told some funny stories of bad auditions and stuff. I LOOOOVED his class!
K. So then I go to the vocal audition workshop...Jeff asks everyone who wanted to sing for him to work on their song to raise their hand and he would draw their name from a hat. So the workshop went he drew names, they came up gave the music to the pianist, sang, and then Jeff would work on it and help them make it so much better acting wise so they weren't even thinking about singing..it was incredible. He had lots of tips and techniques. He called my name to make sure I was there cause he knew I had to audition, but he ran out of time and I never sang at the workshop. So I went up to him on the stage when it was over to remind him, and he said -Oh yeah stick around for a minute.
So 5..7 minutes later after everyone was done getting pictures with him and getting his autograph, he goes over to the accompianist and says "Anne do you mind staying and playing on more?" as she was getting ready to leave. And then she said "Yes anything for Annie!"
Yes! Anne Puzey was my musical director in Fiddler on the Roof, Cats, and Joseph! So we knew each other! Anne Puzey directs many shows at Hale and is obviosly amazing if she is the accompanist for this conference. She's just the best in Utah and does everything. It was good because if she said "Anything for Annie" That means he knows she knows me and she liked working with me. ...trust me since she is so professional, sometimes at the Children's Theatre some kids made her pretty frustrated..that's all I'll say. Anyway. So I gave her my music took my spot and auditioned.
It was.. well it was good. You don't ever feel you did your best at your audition and always think of things you could have done different. When I sang it with my voice teacher I was so much stronger acting wise, but I still did fine. I don't know it wasn't what I wanted it to be but it wasn't bad. So then he said "Wow that was worth the wait. Thank you, you're very talented." And then he had to go.
So lot of things I knew.
1. What I had learned from his workshops...you NEVER KNOW what the director is thinking. They might have loved you but it doesn't mean they are going to smile and praise you. He said most actors always think the directors hate them if they don't get picked, but there is too much that goes into play.
Anyway I am just glad I auditioned. I learned more at this then I have at anything else. I can't believe how productive you can be in one day! This is why I hate school. School stops me from doing so many things. We go to school, then have 2 hours of homework and I'm like How am I supposed to spend my time doing anything productive and fun and challenging if I have to sit here and do Chemistry for an hour and a half. Anyway.
SO. side note. So Tonight I got home and was telling my mom all about it and every single thing I could remember. I told her about Jeff and how he went to Brighton and BYU. And then she's like Well how old is he cause maybe he had your dad. And I'm like OMG I didn't even think of that! He's like 40 ish something so maybe! So I run out into the garrage and find a yearbook from 89-90. Go to the index...look up Whiting and he was there! Oh my gosh! And he was like Drama sterling scholar, and voted "most talented" and in drama club and choir and I thought it way cool. I wish it would have crossed my mind then so I could have seen if he had my dad as a teacher. My mom or me might email him and ask him just out of curiosity.
Annie! This is like a dream. I can't believe how many cool things you are doing and awesome people you are meeting. I loved your comment about "show business". You've been dealing with amateurs for too long!! Sounds like a totally amazing experience.
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